My name is Nadiya, I am 18 years old, I am from Kyrgyzstan. I would like to share with you my impressions of the Youth Festival in Medjugorje.

When I was told about the Youth Festival, I imagined that there would be an ordinary holiday, dances, songs, but I did not think that it would be so wonderful and beautiful. It was my first time, and God forbid that I will come again sometime in the future. I liked everything during my stay in Medjugorje, my soul was happy and it was so peaceful, completely different, not like home. When I prayed – I cried, when I went to confession – I cried; the soul was purified in such a holy place. When I climbed Mount Podbrdo for the first time, it was very difficult, I thought that I would not be able to do it and would stop halfway, but I succeeded. When I got to the end and saw the statue of the Virgin Mary, I got goosebumps, but then I felt so calm that I forgot about my problems.In Medjugorje we met many sensitive and kind people who helped us, it was so nice to communicate with them – a completely different world. When we went to Mount Križevac, we experienced such emotions that they cannot be described in words. At home, I had almost no desire to go to church, I lived without the Lord, and after visiting such a bright place as Medjugorje, I wanted to live with the Lord God. I never knew how to pray with my heart, before it was empty words for me, as if not from the heart, but after Medjugorje I learned to do it with all my heart and I want to continue to carry a small fire in my heart and light other people’s lights that have gone out , because they stopped believing in the Virgin Mary and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to say the biggest thanks to those people who helped us visit this holy place.