SANDRA

I AM RESTORED

I grew up in Colombia in a culturally Catholic home. While we didn’t attend Mass every Sunday, the traditions and rituals of Catholicism were woven into our lives—especially during the holidays. December was always magical, filled with family, lights, and reverence. It gave me a foundation of belief, but if I’m honest, my connection to God at the time was more about routine than relationship.

When we moved to the U.S., we entered a long and uncertain immigration process. I worked hard in school, holding onto the dream of attending an Ivy League university. I became a finalist—the only one from my high school—but when it came time to enroll, I was denied the opportunity because of my pending immigration status. It was a devastating blow. I felt overlooked, forgotten.

But God had better plans.

I enrolled in a state university that accepted me despite my immigration status. It was there that I met Roberto—a kind, persistent friend who wouldn’t stop talking about Jesus. He introduced me to a Christian community, and what stood out wasn’t just what they said, but how they lived. Their joy, sincerity, and peace were magnetic. I agreed to attend a retreat with them, and that’s where everything changed.

I remember asking God, “If you’re real, touch me.” In that moment, I felt a hand on my neck—no one was there. I ran out of the room in shock, but deep down I knew: He had answered me. That night, I gave my life to Christ.

I was filled with an uncontainable passion. I called my mom to tell her I had become a Christian. She cried. Maybe it felt like a betrayal to her—a rejection of our culture and traditions. But God is faithful. When I came home that winter break, my sisters followed me to a local church. One by one, they gave their lives to Christ. My parents eventually came to know Him too. God didn’t just save me—He began transforming my entire family.

During college breaks, I poured myself into ministry. I was on fire. But after graduation, life began to shift. I moved to Florida to pursue a master’s degree and explore a relationship with the man who is now my husband. We both loved God, but slowly, without even realizing it, He stopped being the center of our lives. We got married, started building a beautiful home, and became parents. Life was full—but spiritually, I began to drift.

Somewhere along the way, I started leaning into New Age beliefs. I convinced myself that God is love, and love is light, so anything that felt good and kind must be godly. I believed all paths led to Him. I used sage, crystals, even participated in an ayahuasca ceremony for womb healing when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I thought I was becoming “spiritual,” not religious—but I was unknowingly walking away from the truth.

Then everything changed again.

My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer. The fear of losing him and raising our children alone shook me to my core. I knew only God could carry me through this. I ran back to Him—not religion, but the living God who had met me years before. I found my faith again in that valley.

Then, just months later, I faced my own health scare. A tumor was found on my ovary, leading to a full hysterectomy. During surgery, they told me it was cancer. But three weeks later, the final pathology report revealed it was a borderline tumor—no further treatment needed. God had spared me.

Those were some of the hardest days of my life—but also the most transformative. God used the pain, fear, and uncertainty to draw me back to Him. He opened my eyes to how far I had drifted, and how graciously He was calling me home. I realized that He cares far more about my soul than my comfort. He wanted me fully awake, fully His, and ready to build a strong foundation—not just for myself, but for my children.

Now, my life is not perfect, but it is anchored. I know who I belong to. I’ve tasted the counterfeit and found it empty. I’ve encountered the real and found it all-satisfying. Jesus is no longer a distant figure in a ritual—He is my Savior, my strength, and the lover of my soul.