“I used to have low self-esteem when I was a teen," Yuleicy says. "However, at the center they taught me that I was important to God and a valuable person. I enjoyed participating in all the activities and loved to receive letters from my sponsors. I felt happy knowing that they loved me. One of the most important things I learned was that I should share the love of God with others.”
Now, Yuleicy is 23 years old. As part of her education, she studied business administration and early childhood development. Her studies allowed Yuleicy to start working as a tutor in the Compassion center she once attended.
“I like to work at the center ... because I love serving God there," she says. "It is a privilege for me to work at the center where I have received love and care.” Most people in Yuleicy’s community of Nueva Colonia, Colombia, live in poverty, and teens often fall victim to drug abuse, alcoholism and gangs.
“Near my house, there were some teenagers who grew up with me. They started to have bad behaviors, became part of gangs and used drugs. After seeing how young people were destroying their own lives, I decided to do something.
“God put in my heart the desire of sharing with them His love. I used to go to share the gospel with people from my church, but I never had done it by myself, so I started to talk about God’s Word by myself. At the beginning, it was not easy. I was afraid about going to talk to young people. I had no idea of what to say, but they received me with a good attitude and now I feel confident giving them advice, praying and reading the Bible for them.”