When I was a college student in South Africa, I spent time exploring world religions, and for a while I regularly attended a Hindu temple. I was also smoking and drinking heavily, which resulted in illness.

As a child, I occasionally attended a Protestant Sunday School, but I never really learned much about the nature of God or how He could help me. Later, as a young adult, I attended various churches.

I’m originally from the Central African Republic, but I currently live in Mauritania. That’s where I heard about Christian Science for the first time.

I’ve felt close to God all my life; I always felt that God was a friend I could talk to. I’ve also been a spiritual seeker all my life.

I was raised in a Protestant family, where I was taught about God and His love for us. As a child, I loved reading the gospel stories describing Christ Jesus’ healing ministry and how he turned to his Father, God, for guidance in everything that he did.

I began to feel the effects of Christian Science less than half an hour after finding it in 1993, which brings to mind a statement by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy: “The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt. It is the ‘still, small voice’ of Truth uttering itself” ( Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.

As we were growing up, my three siblings and I competed against each other for everything, especially for attention and recognition. Even after we reached adulthood, we competed to prove who could make the most money and buy the largest home.

I found Christian Science more than four years ago. “Eureka!” is what I immediately uttered after I started to read the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, Founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

Growing up, I had problems with fitting in and often sought out approval from others. When I was a teenager, I hung out with a rebellious group of friends and experimented with drinking and drugs as a way to be accepted.

Although I felt that my parents loved me and my four siblings, our household did not always seem loving. My father was quite critical and quick to anger, and my mother seemed weary and burdened.