Hector - Mexico

Nickname: Converserojo

I am 35 years old. I was born on October 29, 1970, in an awesome and amazing condition, since I was born before the 24th week of pregnancy. Many people have always said that I lived due to a miracle. Now I know, that since then, God was taking care of me for a very special reason.

I could say that my life has been quite difficult… but almost everybody’s life is difficult. Since I was a weak baby, my childhood was different from the ones of the rest of the kids. I needed many surgeries along my childhood and also physical rehabilitation. I became a rebel boy, and this got worse due to the emotional and physical abuse I got from my parents.

Although I was raised in a wealthy family, God always was far away. On the other hand, sadness, fear, anger, depression, and other negative feelings were developed in my heart. God was not included in my parents' life, so I never heard about Him. They used to say they were Catholics, but only when “fancy” traditions needed to be followed.

I got married at the age of 26. My wife and I had a son on year 2000. Santiago, my son, is the love of my life. He came into our lives after four-and-a-half years of marriage and after fighting against some fertility problems that I had. Santiago was, as well as I was once when I was born, a miracle. But due to my childhood, family and emotional background, and together with my “not-so-noticed” alcoholic problem which I developed in my professional and social environment, of course, my marriage failed.

One of the worst days in my life was when my ex-wife asked me to leave the house and gave me the news that there was “someone else” in charge of her. I could have had my son with me if I had wished, legally it could had been easy, but the last thing I wanted was that Santiago suffered living without his mom.

The worst day in my life was also, as I always say, the best day in my life. Mid-March 2005, Santiago's mom told me she was leaving Mexico and going to the USA with her fiancé; so she was taking my son away from me. Very far away. North Carolina… 4,000 miles away from me. I thought about killing myself. Literally, killing myself. Why do I say that was also the best day in my life?

By then, I was dating someone who was my girlfriend and the one who is now my wife. By that time she had just a few months ago, surrendered her life to Jesus Christ. That night although I was feeling so deeply sad, she insisted on me going to her best friend's house to a “dinner.” Finally after her insisting me so much, I agreed in going, and yes, it was indeed, a “dinner.” Her best friend's husband told me about SOMEONE that could carry all my sadness and desperation. Yes, and since that day, HE, the One and Only, has given me the unique peace I have always looked for during 35 years. Jesus embraced me with His love and took away all that made me suffer for such a long time.

Oh, by the way. When I was a kid, I used to feel an enormous fear towards my dad. I used to hide inside my closet for hours, and I do remember clear then, and in some other struggling situations along my life, a voice… that voice that was always telling me: “Do not quit, keep going. I'll be there for you.” I always thought it was my own internal voice trying to make me strong. But no, it wasn't. It was HIM. Now I know it. God never left me.

I married Alejandra, the girlfriend that once took me to that couple-Christian's home where God in His infinite mercy and love, decided to give this, His son the chance of knowing my Saviour, Jesus Christ. Now my wife and I live in Durango, Mèxico, and we are serving our good Lord with all our heart.

I obtained a Bachelor's degree in theologist from the Reina Valera Seminar in Houston, Texas, and I am serving as a youth pastor in my church.

I am a professional fine art and fashion photographer since 1999. Photography is my way to communicate my feelings to the world, I really love it. Several individual and collective expositions, magazines and more are part of my photo background.
Now, I try to praise my Lord with this gift He gave to me.

My wife and I began six months ago a beautiful ministry called “Second Chance,” which is oriented to those couples that are going through marital problems like divorce, violence, and so many other problems that unfortunately exist when Jesus is not reigning in their lives. "Second Chance" is supported through the sale of my black-and-white fine art photos with Biblical messages. The money obtained is used to keep supporting and spreading the Gospel of our Lord and to show the people that Jesus is the only way, the truth, and the life.

In Jesus love…
Hèctor

Romans 8:28