Giovy’s Story – 2006 Graduate

I came to Mercy Ministries from Lima, Peru after a long journey of battling severe depression, an eating disorder, and self-mutilation.

I became a Christian when I was nine years old, but as a result of deception, molestation, and sexual abuse, I had a lot of shame and no self-esteem.  When I was 12, I changed schools and experienced rejection from my peers which only added to my shame. I tried to convince myself I was happy, but really all I felt was numbing pain.

From the age of five, my identity was in gymnastics.  It was the only place I really felt a sense of belonging.  When I was 13, doctors told me I could no longer compete.  My bones weren’t growing as a result of training for up to eight hours a day.  Unable to continue, I was devastated.   I felt such a void in my life and tried to fill it with all the wrong things.

I encountered my abuser often, and at 14, I started behaviors associated with eating disorders.  I did everything I could to try and keep my body from looking feminine, in hopes that he would stop abusing me.   

When I graduated from high school early and went to college, I began hanging out with the “cool” crowd.  I felt a sense of belonging again.  I started to party with my new “friends,” but the pressure to fit the perfect mold of the popular kids made my eating disorder even worse.  I started abusing laxatives and diet pills and restricting my food intake.  Multiple times I would find myself lying on the floor, too weak to move.   My parents took me to several doctors, but my health steadily declined.  When I was forced to eat, I felt so disgusted with myself that I would purge and then cut myself severely.  I was in so much pain, it felt as though I was going to die.

When I was in the treatment centers, there was some relief from my abuser because he had no access to me there.  Then one time when I was home from treatment, he raped me again.  That’s when I became suicidal.  I felt that killing myself was the only way to escape both my abuser and the treatment centers.

I tried to end my life on more than one occasion.  Just before I turned 18, in what I thought would be my final successful attempt to end my life, I overdosed on pills, put severe cuts all over my body and drank alcohol. 

My heart had stopped, I wasn’t breathing and I had no vital signs, but paramedics were able to resuscitate me.  I woke up to find myself lying in a hospital bed.  I prayed, “God, if you’re not going to let me die, you’ll have to teach me how to live.”

On the day of my 18^th birthday, Nancy was speaking at a crusade in Peru.  My parents checked me out of the hospital to go and meet her.  That’s when she told me about Mercy.  It was like God said to me, “Happy birthday, I’m going to give you a new life.”

At Mercy Ministries, God completely restored my life: physically, mentally, and emotionally. When I first walked through the doors, I was out of my comfort zone. However, in an environment of unconditional love, praise and worship, and consistent Bible study, God started to show me how much He loves me. I never knew life could be so much fun!

After graduation, I returned home to Peru.  I have completed a ministry leadership training program, and I just started a year-long internship at the very same Mercy location that I graduated from.  I am eager to return my gratitude and gain experience in such a wonderful environment.   I am on fire for God and ready to give and serve!

I recently went on a Mission trip to Uganda with 15 of my Mercy sisters to build classrooms for the children of Watoto ministries.  It was a life-changing experience and amazing opportunity to serve others.  You can read all about my experience helping build these classrooms for children who have been orphaned by AIDS on our blog at www.mercygoestouganda.blogspot.com.