During my childhood, I felt very alone and isolated. My parents worked hard, so they weren’t very present. I often stayed home alone. I started to see shadows and hear voices, which caused me to become an aggressive and stressed person. I was always watching horror movies; they became a source of sustenance for me.

Time passed, and at the age of 12-13, I started a relationship with a girl from school. I did this to try to fill a void that existed in me, an inner pain. I was constantly cutting myself, yet none of these things fulfilled me.

I wanted to commit suicide, so I often walked near the highway to throw myself into oncoming traffic. At home, I would pick up a knife to try to kill myself. I felt useless and despised by everyone. I became depressed and didn’t want to talk to anyone. I was always alone in the corner, isolated. Life no longer made sense to me. All I could think about was finding a way to die.

Until one day I met an assistant. We went to the same school and she invited me to attend a meeting at the Universal Church. I went with her to the meetings, but the truth was that I liked her; I was attracted to her. However, one day I heard a very strong testimony that made me stop to analyze my life. I was spiritually dead and blind. What was I doing with my life? Was killing myself really the way out? No, it wasn’t! That’s when the penny dropped. I realized I had to surrender to God and start a life with Him.

I decided to truly surrender myself to Him. I joined the Youth Power Group (YPG), and was baptized in water. The assistants helped me; they counseled me and I always put everything into practice, because I wanted a complete change. Soon after, I received the Holy Spirit and today I am a new person.

Every time I look at the physical marks on my body, which were left from my past, I remember where God saved me from. I don’t have to cut myself to fill the void, because it’s gone. I don’t want to kill myself anymore. Today I know life is worth living!

Rayssa Marinho, 18 years old