Birthplace: My name is Maria Sulema Vasquez Lopez. I was born in the province of Chiclayo , in the department of Lambayeque-Peru. I was born August 19, 1985 . My parents are: Nicolas Vasquez Perez and Hilda Hoyos. I have 5 brothers: Maritza (23), Jose (21), me (19), Elmer (17), and Estefania (5). 

How I came to know Christ: My whole family is catholic. We lived in a young town where I was very involved in my studies. My father worked was a gardener and my mother a housewife. My father would often come home drunk and cause a riot in my house; he would hit my mom and they would argue. He was a good father but not as good of a husband. On October 28, 2001 , one of my neighbors invited me to come visit his church and although all other times I had excused myself by saying I had no time, this time I agreed to go. The message that service showed me that I was a sinner and that I needed to receive Christ and if not I would be separated from God forever. These words spoke to my heart. When I raised my hand a lady (her name was Roxana Cuermape) shared the gospel with me. I believed that Christ could change my life and I surrendered at my feet. 

How He has changed my Life: My life changed in that I don't go where I used to go before, I don't dress like before or have the same friends that I had before. My attitude became different in my home and I became involved in the church by: teaching children, teens, young ladies. I also had the opportunity to help out as the secretary to the pastor and co-pastor on many occasions. My parents have seen the change in me since having been saved. Sometimes my mother goes to church and my father always promises to get saved but has not as of yet made that decision. At first my younger brother began to go to church although he has stopped, having been seduced by the world. He hasn't made a decision to trust Christ either. My parents subtly opposed the way my life had changed saying things like “let the Christians heal and feed you”. This was their way of showing me their anger although they still let me decide. I can see the positive influence I have had on my family. In the sense that my father does not beat my mother any more nor does he treat her badly as before. I can see progress although no one in my family has been saved yet. But I can see that possibility closer than ever before. 

My Calling into the Ministry: While at a ladies slumber at my church I was able to see the great need of serving Christ and that there are many people dying without Christ. I was going to dedicate myself to a nursing career but became convinced that it was much more urgent to save people's souls than their bodies. At the time I was studying in Chiclayo because my pastors did not know about the Macedonia Baptist Seminary where one can prepare oneself 100% and learn from the experiences of others, which capacitates you to be an efficient worker. When I told my parents that I would be studying more than 25 hours away from Chiclayo , they were not in far of it but thank God they once again le me decide. Since being at the Seminary, I have learned much about what I should do, how to win others to Christ and to do the work of the ministry. Sometimes it is hard because one must work to pay for their studies and also keep up with their academic responsibilities while at the same time dedicate oneself to the ministry which is the reason why one came. It is hard but fulfilling and although sometimes it is not easy, I am sure and I know that this is definitely what God has for me and what He wants for me. 

My Plans for the Future: I would like to work with young ladies and women so that then they would reproduce themselves in others and that way multiply the ministry and the work of the Lord. I plan to carry this out at my home church but of course if that is the will of God for me. I am praying that God would guide my life and to be able to carry out the work that God has for me. My dream is to supply the spiritual needs of people much more than their material need. This is what Christ did and I desire to follow in his steps.