I was very excited to share my testimony with everyone at the Summit on February 5^th because 6 years ago, to the day, I made the decision and commitment to follow Christ!  I want to share with you my life and how God brought me to a place where I realized the truth and was convicted to live my life for him.

I was very blessed to be raised in a fun and loving Catholic home with loving parents and three older brothers. We went to church every Sunday, and I prayed with my parents before bed, said grace before meals and we spoke openly about God in our home.

In preparation for Confirmation, I really dove into my faith and began to read the Bible on a daily basis. A new priest was appointed to our parish, the Fall after my confirmation, who was very involved in youth ministry. He invited us to Life Teen, a youth ministry program, in Brandon, MB. Through Life Teen I experienced fellowship and had a real encounter with the Holy Spirit for the first time. The moment I walked into the church I was overwhelmed with a joy that I had never encountered before and this joy continued to lead me back to Life Teen week after week and my love for the Lord grew throughout high school.

When I went to university, I became friends with a group of people who weren’t fully living the teachings of the Catholic Church. Without the support of my friends, it was very difficult to live the morals and values that I had established growing up. I realize now that I knew the teachings of the Church, but didn’t understand and know the truth deep within my heart.

I slowly let my morals slide and got involved in partying and an impure relationship.  Even though I was feeling guilty, I kept going to church every Sunday, without a clear understanding of mortal sin so I didn’t feel like I was doing anything that wrong. At the end of my first year of University I attended a Face to Face Retreat in Brandon. It was a blessing to meet other young people who were really living a life for the Lord. Some of the friendships I made that weekend have been lasting friendships, rooted in Christ, that have continued to lead me closer to the Lord over the past six years.

Throughout the first semester of my second year I really lived a double life.  I was going to Church on Sundays and actively serving my parish, yet still partying and involved in an impure relationship.  I was telling myself it was ok because I didn’t realize how it was really affecting my relationship with God. It wasn’t until that relationship ended that I was able to see how many of my decisions had led me away from God and I realized after that I was relying on that human relationship more than I was relying on Christ.  It was still very difficult after that relationship ended because I did not fully understand the mercy and love of God and was filled with guilt and shame from the sins I had committed.  I was confused and felt alone.  I knew I needed God, yet it was still difficult for me to get out of the lifestyle I had been living.

In February of my second year of University, I went to another retreat knowing that I wanted to change my life and live fully in Christ and have an authentic relationship with Him. At the retreat, I made an honest reconciliation and chose to change my life and to be the person that God had created me to be. That night in adoration and the following morning I encountered the Lord in a personal way in the Eucharist. His mercy flowed over me, and I knew that my sins were washed away.  The Lord, the Divine Physician was cleansing me and healing my heart from all the times I had turned away from Him, not trusted him, and not surrendered to His love.  I realized the great weight of the sins I had been carrying and experienced the mercy of God and the true joy of having my sins forgiven. I made the conscious decision to live my faith and pour my heart into the heart of Jesus.

I went back to University with a great excitement and enthusiasm to share what God had done in my life!  It was still difficult and I struggled to forgive myself of the past however God really is a healer of hearts and it has been a beautiful and constant journey growing in a relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit has worked powerfully in my life and I really am amazed at the way He brought me out of the place of confusion, sin and guilt to a place of freedom and true joy!  I have had opportunities to share my faith and God has given me strength to turn to Him in times of joy and struggle!  I have learned to rely on Christ when I’m struggling rather than rely on myself or others for that strength.  He has given me so much grace and courage to leave everything and follow Him through being a missionary!  Every day I continue to  rely on His grace to bring me through each new joy and challenge that He places before me; all to draw me closer to Him.

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32 )

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