Healing After Injustice & Faith Through Generations

Written by Agueli Laroche, a member of the Deerfoot Campus 

My mother told me once: 

“I spent 40 years of waiting for change… until I decided to seek God, and there I found the peace only Jesus gives. Even in our daily struggles, He is always with us.” 

Her faith shaped me long before I fully understood what God was doing. 

I was born in Guayana City, Venezuela, in a home shaped by hard work, deep love, and deep challenges. My mother has always been a steady and devoted woman, strong in ways only years of perseverance can teach. My father, on the other hand, struggled with issues that created instability in our home, and as I grew older, I began to understand how heavy those years truly were for her. At the same time, thanks to his hard work, we always had food on the table and a roof over our heads. For that, I remain grateful. 

The First Calling 

As a teenager, I struggled with anger after witnessing many difficult things at home. I was a quiet, respectful and obedient kid; I wanted to do what was right, especially toward my parents and others. And yet, deep inside, I carried anger and emotions I didn’t yet know how to express or understand.  

The first time I sensed God’s leading was at around 15 years old. An English teacher invited me to her church, and something stirred inside me. I invited my mom and sister, and for a short season, we attended together. I became more gentle, more aware, more open. Being near God (though not fully understanding Him) began to soften me. It didn’t change everything, but it helped. This was also the first time I put God aside. Not intentionally; life simply became overwhelming, and I had one clear goal: I wanted to graduate and leave Venezuela. 

I graduated from high school at 16 and immediately entered engineering school. It was demanding and intense. I poured all my time and energy into my academics, and my faith slowly moved into the background. During my second-to-last semester, a professor crossed a professional boundary. And in that moment, I chose to stand firm. His actions shocked me deeply. I took a deep breath and said, “You picked the wrong girl.” I walked out crying and shaking, terrified about what would happen next. How do I deal with this? I asked myself. 

I was only 19 years old, and I remember wondering how someone that young is supposed to navigate something like this. How was I able to stay composed in that moment, when everything inside me was burning? I didn’t fully understand it then, but I know now that something steadier than anger held me up.  

I later learned that many students had experienced similar situations with him but stayed silent out of fear of not graduating. I reached out to them for support, but no one stood with me. I felt devastated and alone. Still, something inside me deeply rejected injustice and abuse of power, so I spoke out publicly during one of his classes. I couldn’t ignore it or pretend it hadn’t happened.  

What I carried wasn’t anger; it was a deep conviction that came from something greater than myself. I continued attending classes because I needed to finish my degree, but I couldn’t keep silent. When the moment came, I spoke out publicly, clearly and firmly. Though fear filled me and my heart raced, I stood grounded in something deeper. It was the first time I gave voice to something I had been carrying quietly for a long time. 

It became a legal battle, one in which I had little control. It was if the whole university was against me, accusing me of being disrespectful to the professor. Although the case eventually settled, I still carried a failed course on my record because I chose to stand up. More than that, I carried a heaviness in my heart because I felt powerless. I later learned that this was something only God could heal...but I didn’t know that just yet.  

The emotional weight was overwhelming. I fell into depression and was convinced my future had crumbled. I retook the course with another professor, but that semester was extremely difficult. Many students who had stayed silent resented me, fearing my actions would affect their graduation… while I was already in my final semester, working hard to finish. 

My mom encouraged me to attend a youth group at church. I went reluctantly, but when I finally shared what had happened, they prayed for me. It was the first light I had felt in months.  

I kept going. 

I healed. 

I graduated. 

Later that year, I got baptized accepting Jesus as my Saviour.  

A season that tried to break me became a season that strengthened me. And without realizing it, God was already preparing me for what was ahead. Still, even with resilience and accomplishments, one constant remained: I never felt like I fit anywhere. And deep inside, I still wanted to leave Venezuela. I wondered if that was why no one had backed me up. So many questions came to my mind...Why did I always feel out of place? Even when surrounded by people, I felt disconnected, unable to truly “click.” 

After graduating and even before Venezuela’s political crisis had escalated, something inside me kept saying: “You need to leave.” One month after graduating, I told my mom: “I’m ready to leave Venezuela.” 

And I did. 

Ireland, Marriage, and Canada 

I moved to Dublin, Ireland, young, determined, and hopeful. I worked as a waitress, studied English, and learned what resilience truly meant. When I was 18, I had met someone in university who would later become my husband. We remained friends for many years. He graduated before me, we lost contact, and then years later reconnected online. He and I got engaged and married in 2014, and that same year, life brought us to Canada, another beginning from scratch. 

We worked hard to settle down. And even though I prayed, I wasn’t truly walking with God. I felt far, distracted, and disconnected. But He never left. Every time we were on the edge, no home, no job, very little food, something always came through at the last moment. That was Him, quietly sustaining us, even when I wasn’t listening.  

When I finally brought my mom to Canada, she wanted to attend church. We tried a few places, but eventually found FAC, and that opened doors I didn’t expect. Then came the nudges from the Holy Spirit, gentle at first, then unmistakable. 

I remember sitting in a service where the Great Commission was preached: “Go and make disciples.” That message hit me deeply. Around the same time, during my drives to work, I kept passing the Calgary Dream Centre. Every time, I felt the same words: “You need to help. Feed people. Give back.” 

I hesitated, thinking the volunteer process would be long. But only two weeks later, an opportunity appeared out of nowhere: my company organized a volunteer day at the Calgary Drop-In Centre. I said YES immediately. And that small yes sparked something in me... obedience and finally… belonging. I realized that belonging didn’t have to necessarily be a physical place, but rather a blessing that can come from helping others. 

My daughter, only 5 years old at the time, heard me talking about it and said she wanted to feed people, too. So, we prepared meals at home, packed them, and handed them out on the streets. Watching her walk up to people with confidence and kindness moved something deep inside me.  

God used my child to teach me compassion and courage! 

Across several weekend services at FAC and sermon series in 2024 and 2025, I felt God speaking directly to my heart. These messages softened old hurts, brought clarity where there was confusion, and reminded me of His steady presence. 

One service during prayer, I shared that I felt pushed away from something God had asked me to do. The response changed everything: “If you’ve been asked to step into something and you feel pushback or resistance, that resistance is not coming from God.” Those words brought peace, steadiness, and direction.  

And I felt God saying: “Now it’s time to give back.”   

So, when FAC called for people to get involved and help, I signed up for DiscoveryLand without hesitation. That moment changed everything. As time passed, I was asked to help lead worship in DiscoveryLand for the Grade School. This was something completely outside my comfort zone, but it was so clear that God was asking me to do this! 

Looking back, I can see that God had already been preparing me through my job for the last two years, where I speak publicly to many people every day. He’s been using my career to build confidence, communication, and courage long before I knew I would use those skills to share the Good News with kids!  

Since joining the DiscoveryLand volunteer team, my mom has joined, then my husband, and then my nephew. And now, my daughter proudly helps with the preschoolers, joyful, confident, and full of love! 

I truly believe that what may seem small to us can make a significant difference when it comes to reaching others. I make it my goal to be available to serve whenever I can, even when a full-time job makes availability challenging at times. On a couple of occasions, my family, even my daughter, has been able to be part of it as well! 

Serving can feel like a lot sometimes. Over time, I’ve come to see that serving, learning to speak up, stepping forward, and extending my hands to help is part of my obedience to the Lord. The posture of my heart remains steady and sincere: “I’m here. How can I help?”  

What Now? 

Today, when I look at my journey, from Venezuela to Ireland to Canada, from longing to belonging, from woundedness to healing, I can see the fingerprints of God everywhere while I wasn’t listening, nor even paying attention. 

This is where I’m meant to be. With Him. 

Serving. 

Speaking. 

Helping children know Jesus. 

Walking this journey with my family beside me. 

God has placed us exactly where we need to be. And I know there is more to this.  

I’m listening. 

I’m being obedient. 

If you’re new in your faith or coming back to faith, the best advice I can offer is simple: Ask God, “What do You want me to do? How can I help? Please help me understand.” He will answer! 

That question opened every door for me. 

It softened my heart. 

It guided my steps. 

And I believe it can do the same for you.