For as long as I can remember, the ocean has been my refuge; I found solace watching the waves; they were my only escape from a tumultuous childhood.
I was the eighth of nine children born into poverty in a beachside town in Costa Rica. My neighborhood was nicknamed “little hell.”
My mother walked out on my family when I was four, dramatically changing the course of my life. I still vividly remember the moment she loaded her suitcase into a taxi and rode off, leaving me confused and crying in the dusty street. My father turned to alcohol to deal with the stress of trying to raise so many kids alone, but it became too much for him, and he also stepped out of my life.
The parental responsibility then fell to my 15-year-old sister. When my sister could no longer care for me, through no fault of her own, I ended up on the street, subject to abuse and a myriad of unhealthy experiences.
The thrill I felt in my first surfing experience at three-years-old, before my life turned upside down, filled my daydreams. That feeling of joy became the comfort I chased after. My passion for surfing eventually led me to compete at national and then international levels. But even then, the accolades and awards did nothing to numb the pain of abandonment.
At 15 years old, I decided that ending my life might be the only real chance I had to escape from the pain.
What followed can only be described as a divine encounter: a Christian Surfers leader named Alex found me wandering toward the beach with tears in my eyes, and he compassionately led me to faith in Jesus.
Encountering true peace in Christ radically changed my life. I now use my story to minister to and encourage youth. While I continue to compete, I also coach and mentor up-and-coming young surfers to inspire them toward a better future using the discipline and values I have learned throughout my career.
Five years ago, my wife and I even felt led to start a coffee company that directly impacts a children’s home for abandoned kids in my beloved Costa Rica!
I will always be passionate about sharing the message of Jesus with those who need Him, just like Alex shared hope with me.
God’s love changes everything!
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