Though Mondi is young, his journey in life has acquainted him with the deepest of valleys, bringing him near to the shadow of death. Remarkably, since he embraced Jesus, he had become one of the most hope-filled individuals we knew. His faith exuded purity and joy, and he eagerly sought to introduce others to the One who had filled him with that hope.

However, Mondi’s innocent trust was shattered by a person he held in high regard as a mentor in the faith. He endured severe psychological, emotional and spiritual turmoil when he discovered that he had been led into actions that clashed with his conscience. In response, he relinquished everything he cherished: his homeland, his aspirations, and most painfully, his faith. Moral injury can undermine an individual’s ability to trust themselves, others and God, leaving behind a constant anticipation of harm, exploitation and humiliation. Unfortunately, this is how the experience affected Mondi.

Our group fervently prayed for Mondi and his family. He maintained contact with a few of us, although it took some time for him to open up. Gradually, he began to reintroduce discussions about Bible passages and principles.

During a recent personal trip to a neighboring country, we decided to seek out and visit Mondi. The reunion was profoundly heartwarming. Mondi recounted a dream he had before his troubles began, in which Jesus provided encouragement and highlighted three specific Bible passages. He now believed the dream was a preparation for the challenges he would encounter, with the assurance that Jesus would be with him even in his deepest sorrows. He came to understand that adversity was not an indication of God’s abandonment or rejection.

Upon our return to Albania, Mondi began participating in our Sabbath worship via the Internet. On his first reconnection, he was astonished to discover that the group was studying two of the three Bible passages from his dream, even though he had not disclosed which passages they were.

Leveraging his artistic talents, Mondi embarked on creating a painting inspired by his dream and shared a video documenting the creative process with us. Now, he joyfully dedicates a substantial portion of his time to studying the Bible, deepening his prayer life, offering encouragement, and engaging in Bible study with others. His hope has been rekindled, and he takes immense joy in introducing others to the One who restores hope and never forsakes us.

• Twitter