Melina

My name is Melina, and I live in northern Argentina, in the city of Corrientes. I live with my three siblings and my parents. My dad works as a bricklayer, and my mom works as a housekeeper. When I was little, my family wasn’t actively involved in our faith, but thanks to my grandmother, I started going to church at a very young age.

My teenage years were a difficult time for me; I felt empty and alone. Because of that, I was very emotionally dependent on others and struggled to stay true to my values. Discovering Young Life changed everything. There, I found true friends and learned to cultivate a genuine, daily relationship with God. Through this process, I learned to forgive and was able to restore relationships that had been damaged. After strengthening my personal relationship with Jesus, I began praying constantly that my family would also draw closer to the faith. God, in His great love, answered my prayer, and my family began attending church. Today we walk together in faith.

Now a Developing Global Leader, I will begin studying Nursing. This would have been impossible without the program’s help, given my family’s financial constraints. Thanks to this opportunity, I will be able to fulfill my dream of becoming the first person in my family to graduate.

My dream is to work in a healthcare facility, providing compassionate and loving care to people who are facing health challenges. My goal in ministry is to continue developing my leadership skills so I can keep investing in the lives of young people, listening to them, and above all, helping them discover their purpose in God.