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Carlos and Tony Wood, December 2013, when Tony presented Carlos with a laptop to use for his higher education studies
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CARLOS, CHANGED BY GOD'S INTERVENTION
My name is Carlos Leon, born in Peru and raised in Puerto Rico. I was 14 when everything with me started - a bad attitude that grew little by little.
By 15, I was smoking weed, drinking, not following rules - [disrespecting] authority. A lot of people, especially my family, didn't want anything to do with me because of my attitude and negative behavior.
By the time I turned 17, I was a full-time drug dealer - not of dimes and nickels but grams, kilos and tri-state distribution. My love for the streets, leadership and the desire for power was my addiction. I didn't care about anything, anyone or the consequences. My heart was becoming colder as time passed.
In 2005 I was driving around, high on cocaine and weed. I got stopped by the police; they found cocaine and other drug paraphernalia; I was arrested. That was the end - but truly the beginning.
I went to my new house down State. In State on Thursday nights, I met a great, dedicated man named Tony Wood from Carmen Ministries. I was intrigued with the ministry: inspirational movie nights, good Christian studies and, most of all, unconditional love from this man of Christ.
I have been out of trouble since 2010, but I kept in communication with Tony. He is still my DAD and mentor. I went back to school and got a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Youth Ministry to develop my knowledge to better serve the Kingdom of God. A year ago I got married to a precious woman of God who is my support and rock.
My testimony here is brief, but God has done a 360 on me.
"I'm not the man I want to be, but I'm the one that God wants me to be." And he continues to form me daily.
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