MAYOWA

Saying your testimony is hard, but writing it is even more difficult. Writing it makes your past so real, but then you are able to reflect on how the love of one man All God changed your life. Growing up in California with a single parent, allowed me a lot of freedom. Not having a great relationship with my Dad and being molested when I was younger made me extremely weary and distrustful of men. So it was easier to have a physical relationship with them, than to acknowledge my brokenness due to my father and past experiences. I was looking for a Savior and I didn't know it.

My first experience with drugs was in Spain, I was 14 at the time and at the program I went to everybody did drugs and smoked like it was nothing. I was always the person who did what others did without caring about the consequences. There I had my first experience with, drugs and alcohol. Alcohol was a stronghold in my life until I turned 22. It was an escape for what was missing in my life. As I grew up, I always thought I had it together and I had grew up with a sense of entitlement and pride. It was this drive to be what those around me wanted me to be and prove myself. On the outside I looked like I had it all together but I was literally just going through life with no direction. I was lonely, depressed, angry and selfish. I tried so hard to fit into this image that was suffocating me. Here I was this perfect girl on the outside but I wanted somebody to acknowledge my brokenness. I kept thinking by there had to be more to life, I hoped there was.

As I started college, I tried to find myself through causes and different religions like Spiritualism and Buddhism but they were fads, they would make give me a sense of peace for a bit then it would end, and I would move on to my next fix. The college atmosphere only intensified my dependence on alcohol. I couldn't go a couple days with alcohol, I didn't even like it I just needed an escape. I was so careless with it, I didn't care what happened to me. I was the girl to make sure a bottle was never left at the club. I was going aimlessly through life. Life constantly put me on edge.

My breakthrough came my senior year in college. I honestly can say my senior year was the worst year of my life. Here I was a college graduate unsure of what I was going to do after college, my friendships were a hot mess. I was just unsure in every area of my life and my depression was at an all time high. I felt the walls closing in. Then one day one of my closest friends invited me to Destiny Harvest Church for an event. I remember the day was October 20, 2012. When she invited me I was excited, almost expectant and I didn't know why. I don't even remember what they were talking about at the event but the way they talked about Jesus was a way I've never heard anybody talk about Him. They just talked about relationship and how God wants a personal relationship with us and how He sacrificed His son for Us. My mind was literally blown like who is God. When I asked that question God immediately began to work on my heart. I was wrecked, I was balling so hard and I hate crying but I was Undone! I needed to give my life to Jesus Christ, I needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Once I abandoned myself to God I was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. Not only was I filled with the Holy Spirit but I received my tongues. Ever since then my uphill roller coaster began. It has been SO worth IT!!! Like I've never felt empty, my drive is for people to experience the Love of God. When people are going through depression, lack of identity, and are living life dead on the inside, They need to know Jesus came so that we would have life abundantly!! When I got saved I was on Fire for God. I didn't care what anybody said and I still done. Nobody can tell me my encounters with God aren't real. Everything He has told me has come to pass! The way He loves on me there is nothing like it, no person or thing can fill the void. People need to get Hip to Jesus. My worst day with Jesus will always be better than my best day without Him. I can't go back!

-Mayowa A.