<\/p>\n
I started having depression<\/a>, suicidal thoughts, and a lot of anger because of the hate that was in my heart due to all the problems that were going on at home. Between my family, there was a lot of fighting and a lot of arguments. I felt lonely because I felt like I didn’t have the support I needed at home.<\/p>\n My dad was barely home. He used to sell drugs, and he ended up in jail. Me and my mother didn’t have the best relationship. So I started falling deeper and deeper into pain, into depression, and that’s when I started thinking about committing suicide. I wanted to take away the pain, so I started drinking, smoking, hanging out with the wrong people, and getting home late.<\/p>\n I also would listen a lot to music, but all that didn’t take the pain. It felt good at the moment, but it did not take the pain away or the problems. I thought that cutting myself<\/a> would help ease the pain, but it did not. It made it worse. And I used to always think about how to take away my life.<\/p>\n Through all the suffering, I was going through spiritual problems<\/a><\/span> that I didn’t understand at the moment. I used to hear voices and see shadows. I couldn’t sleep at night. I had a lot of nightmares. And that’s when my life started falling deeper and deeper into the suffering.<\/p>\n Then seeing my mom suffer as well, with sicknesses and being in bed all the time and not being able to give me the support that I needed, I had to take care of my sister, pretty much raise her. I used to see my mom suffer through her sickness and also through all the problems that she went through in her marriage with my father.<\/p>\n My mother-in-law started knowing about my problems. She was already an Assistant at The Universal Church<\/a><\/span>, so she invited me to come to church. And I went for the first time. It was a Sunday at 10 AM.<\/p>\n When I started participating, I felt a weight come off of me. I felt happy, I felt this peace, and I knew God was the one who brought me that day. And that’s when my life started to change.<\/p>\n The pastor had mentioned doing a Chain of Prayer<\/a><\/span>, and I wanted that. I wanted a change of life. So, I committed to doing the Chain of Prayer. And I started coming more and more to church. The first thing that began changing was I started forgiving people who had hurt me in the past. The anger and hate were leaving my heart.<\/p>\n I felt this peace and this happiness. Participating in the services at church, the pastor used to say that for us to have a real transformation of life, we needed the Holy Spirit.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n I started reading the Bible. I started seeking the Holy Spirit with all my strength. I started fasting. My thoughts and decisions were connected to the Word of God. I used to ask God to give me His Spirit. And I started seeking and seeking more every day.<\/p>\n That’s when I received the Holy Spirit. And that was the biggest transformation in my life. That was the best gift that I received. That’s when my life completely changed in everything, from the way that I spoke to my thoughts and my heart. I was a completely different person, and people in my family noticed the change.<\/p>\n Me and my mother have a great relationship. She also comes to The Universal Church. My sister comes to church. So, it has been a blessing all around!<\/p>\n