Carlos

I was born into a family of eight siblings. Both my parents were unemployed, and we lived in a shack with no electricity or running water. I remember we didn’t even have chairs and used to sit on wooden blocks. My older brother struggled with drugs and alcohol, causing fights at home. My father left home for ten years and was later injured. We often ran out of food, and I had to beg neighbors for maize meal, even though they were struggling too. Thankfully, my mother received government housing, which helped our situation. Though I felt angry and bitter at times, my family’s strong faith and support helped me heal and find hope. I managed to finish my studies and became a positive, happy person.

I grew up knowing about Jesus through my parents, but I met Him personally as a teenager. My sister helped me understand God’s love and that challenges are not impossible to overcome. She guided me to build a relationship with God, and through her encouragement, I got connected to Young Life. A leader took me to my first Young Life camp, and since then, I have grown in faith and leadership. Now, I lead young people from different backgrounds, helping them face challenges and work as a team.

Now as a DGL, I am studying Environmental Science at the University of Venda and will be the first in my family to attend college. My goals are to finish my studies on time and find a good job that helps me support my family and community. In ministry, I want to see the Young Life ministry in my village grow, with new sub-ministries reaching more people.