The Transforming Power of a Seed

Dr. Danny Gonzales

By Danny Gonzalez

When my mother was 18 years old my grandfather called her and said, “Rosemary I want to introduce you to your husband.” My mother was afraid and told him, “I don’t want that man. I don’t know him.”

But my grandpa insisted and told her, “This will be your husband.” I was born from that marriage, where there was never any love. I remember that my parents fought a lot. My father was an alcoholic and would always come home drunk and be violent with my mom.

When I was 5 years old my mom couldn’t take it anymore and decided to separate from him. I was sad because, like every child, I loved my dad and didn’t want him to go. But he left and my mom and I went to live with my grandparents in a place in San Jose called Linda Vista. This place was very dangerous; a place where there was lots of drugs and violence. It was thought that every child born there grows up with a label in their forehead that said: “You are a loser, you are a failure.”

DANNY ENROLLED IN AN LACC SCHOOL

Once there, my mom took me to a Christian school in the area (Latin America ChildCare). When I arrived there I realized many of my classmates had a father in their lives, but I didn’t have mine. I used to cry and cry.

One day my teacher said something that changed my life forever. She said to me, “Maybe your physical father is not with you anymore, but you have a Father in heaven that will always be with you. He will never leave you and He will always accompany you. He will be your protector and fulfill your dreams. Your Heavenly Father will give you victory in everything you do.”

I remember at the LACC school my new label said, “I am a son of God, I am a dreamer.” I also remember having a sponsor that believed in me and planted the seed of God in my heart. I also remember that on my birthdays my sponsor sent me presents. I received a T-shirt one year, and on another occasion I received a soccer ball.

I had two dreams when I was in school. One was to become an excellent soccer player. I didn’t achieve that goal. But my other dream was to be a doctor. I used to say to my mom, “When I grow up I want to be a doctor.” And my mom, with tears in her eyes would say, “Study a lot, trust in God and when you grow up you will be a doctor.”

DANNY WORKED AT KING’S CASTLE

After finishing my primary school and during secondary school I started to work in a Costa Rican ministry called Castillo del Rey (King’s Castle). In my last year of secondary school the director of the school called me and said, “Danny, would you like to study medicine in Cuba?”

“Of course! I would love to study medicine in Cuba.” He told me that I would have to interview for a grant. When I went to that interview there were 50 other students there waiting to have an interview as well. And they were only going to give the grant to 15 students.

I went to my pastor and asked him to pray. The following week I was given the news that I had been chosen to study medicine in Cuba. I was so happy and I thanked God so much. I prepared my luggage and went to study in Cuba. I soon realized that not only was God preparing me to become a doctor, He was preparing me for a life of ministry. God was preparing me to serve Him.

In July of 2007 I graduated as a doctor and I like to say: “I am the best doctor in the world; first, because I can alleviate the pains of the physical body and, second, because I can also alleviate the pains of the soul and the spirit with the power of Jesus Christ and His Word.

Today I am serving God with all that I am. It all started with “the transforming power of a seed” that was planted in my heart from my Christian schoolteacher. I am sure that many dreams can come true; you only need the transforming power of a seed in your life.

DANNY TODAY

In October 2008, Dr. Danny Gonzales received his license to practice medicine in Costa Rica. He now has his own clinic with a nurse, secretary, technician and a pharmacist working for him. They have a Bible study and prayer time every Monday morning. He has been able to pray with many of his patients.

To read Danny Gonzales’ full story, and for more information on Latin America ChildCare, go to http://www.lacc4hope.org/.