My name is Kevin Danery Gonzales Rodriguez and I would like to share a Little bit about how things have been in my life. I was born into a Christian home in which, from the time that I was very small, my inculcated in me values and principles and the Word of God grew in my life. Every night we would pray, share a devotion time and praise the Lord. Each weekend we would attend Sunday School where we would sing praises to God and study the Bible. These were very beautiful times but, sadly, the passed very rapidly. With the passing of time, the life of my sister and me changed. Little by little my parents began to neglect our spiritual development and focused more and more on our education. I finished elementary school and began high school where I began to know boys with different principles and values that those I was taught by my parents. I finished high school with success and entered the teachers college where I received a Masters of Primary Education. I was filled with pride and felt that finally my life's goals were realized. I had my profession, the admiration of others, economic support for my parents and a promising future. But more important I had a life of freedom, full of dreams and adventures to achieve. I had no place in my life for the God that I had known and served in my childhood.

I began to work as a teacher and soon received my first salaries and no longer depended upon my parents. I dedicated myself to traveling and visiting many places and meeting many people. Each day I was trying to dress well and show off in order to impress my friends. It began to cause worry for my mother because I was always going out and had no time for my family. It was well know that I now did not want to be at home but that I preferred to travel and to pas all my time away. This caused a great increase in my expenses and I lost control of my finances and my expense exceeded my income. This caused all my friend s to abandon me and my life of luxury came to an end.

I entered into a state of depression and the sadness and desperation weighted be down and no matter how hard I struggled nothing would help me. My life returned to chaos and I could not function well in my work. I could not bring together my dreams and my low self-esteem and after a long time, I came to the conclusion that my life had no significance. And that suicide was my best solution and the end to all my problems. Everyday this idea grew stronger and stronger in my mind, so much so, that every moment I was thinking how that I might end my life and by this find rest, something that I had not been able to achieve. I looked but could never find a way of suicide which I had the courage to follow. But, I did not know that the God that I had abandoned had something for me and because of this He did not allow me to commit suicide. (Ephesians 1:4-7)

I remember on Monday morning that I arose early to go to work and at the sight of the light of day, all my problems, the struggles of my life, and my grave situation entered my mind and I could not stand for the light of day to be on my fact. I turned around and went back to my room, closing the door I fell upon my bed and tears of pain began to cover my face. I cried and cried bitterly without the consolation of anyone. In the middle of my crying, I felt that something came to my mind and I remembered the words of my Bible, Come to me all ye who are burdened and heavy ladened and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28) These words resonated so much in my mind that nothing mattered to me except that I fell prostate on the floor next to my bed and called out to the God of my childhood. I told God that if indeed he did have the power to take me out of my present situation and to give peace in my life, that I promise that I would serve him but that I needed a miracle right now.

About five minutes passed and my tears began to dry up and at this moment something strange happened to me. I did not know what it was but I felt different. I took a ddeep breath, left my room, and began my work. But, the beautiful thing is that even though I still had my problems, I felt peace and tranquility in my heart, something supernatural had happened to me. That night I went to look for an evangelical pastor to help to pray and I asked God to pardon me because I had abandoned him and I rededicated my life to him again. From this day forward everything in me changed. God has blessed me moment by moment and has cause me to understand that money is not everything nor is it the basis for joy. Little by little time has passed and my problems have been resolved. For more than two years now I have had Christ in my heart and I can say and shout that I now have a life, that I have been reunited with my family and that I have joy and happiness. All thanks to God.

In January, 2011, I attended a youth retreat at that Bible Institute. (This retreat was hosted by a group from North Greenville University). While there I felt the desire to study theology and felt the call to be a pastor. Later I returned to my house and began a time of fasting and praying. I asked God to make my mind clear and if for real this is what He wanted for me that I would be compelled to do so. I talked with my family and my pastor and began to prepare myself psychologically to leave my work, my family, and my friends and to come to the Thomas Herrington Bible Institute. After hearing every kind of comments, some in favor of but the majority of them in contrary, I decided to come to the Institute. I now have been at the Thomas Herrington Bible Institute for more than six months and although I have left my job and now have no monthly salary, every day God has blessed me so very much. He has given me health and wisdom and every day his marvelous works are new for me, my family and everyone around me. May God bless you.