Josue Elias Leyva Gonzalez was born in the desert state of Sonora, Mexico. He is a man of faith who loves to study and works hard to excel academically.
A lifelong learner, Josue constantly challenges himself to go outside his comfort zone. He is also a gifted English speaker, having diligently studied the language to achieve the proficiency he has today.
His drive for education inspired him to attend Cumorah Academy, where he had a foundational experience that transformed his life.
Here is a glimpse into his life-changing journey at Cumorah this past fall.
Hungry to Learn
With a hunger to learn and push himself, Josue grew up with a deep love for education. He also challenged himself through sales—a job he loves.
In Mexico, he often sold groceries door-to-door and ice cream prepared by his mother.
Before coming to Cumorah, Josue worked at the Mexico MTC in Mexico City. There, he supported himself without assistance from his parents. His salary from the MTC was barely enough to cover his living expenses.
This experience disciplined him, requiring him to stick to a strict budget and come up with creative ways to find additional sources of income.
One of Josue’s personal triumphs has been learning English on his own. Through consistent practice, reading books, listening to podcasts, and copying books word for word, he mastered the language.
Today, Josue has reached a C1 level of proficiency entirely through his own efforts. This skill has opened up a world of opportunities, preparing him for his next big step.
Coming to Cumorah Academy
Josue first heard about Cumorah from his best friend, who also wanted to attend a semester on campus.
The opportunity to travel abroad, learn coding, and use English daily in a Christ-centered environment felt like a perfect fit for Josue.
He also felt a burning desire in his heart to be here, which he knew was a confirmation from God.
Josue turned to his father for advice:
“I told my father, ‘Father, there’s this opportunity for me to study in the Czech Republic, but I would have to quit my job, which I love. What should I do?’ My father told me, ‘If I were in your position, I would take it.’”
This encouragement was the push Josue needed to leave his comfort zone. He applied to Cumorah, was accepted, and then faced two significant obstacles:
- He needed to find a way to pay for his flight ticket.
- He needed to buy a new computer.
Josue’s family, who didn’t typically assist with his expenses, decided to help him financially during this critical time.
Then, a miracle happened: a member of the bishopric in his ward offered him a laptop for free after realizing he had an extra one for someone in need.
“At that moment, I felt it was crucial for me in preparing everything I needed to come to Cumorah.”
This is just one example of the many miracles our students experience as they prepare to come here. Doors seem to open when they need this experience the most.
Cumorah’s Impact
“People here have a great vision of what they want out of life.”
Creating a life vision has allowed Josue to better understand who he is and what he’s capable of achieving. He has found strength in realizing the endless possibilities before him.
This new perspective has been a huge blessing in his life:
“I decided to do everything I was told to do here. I followed every step of the process, and because of that, my self-esteem improved, my dreams were revived, I started to feel good about life, and I recognized that there are so many opportunities—even where I was before coming here.”
These are the words of a man whose life has been forever changed. This transformation will shape his decisions and direction moving forward. His vision has never been clearer.
“Cumorah has opened my eyes. It has helped me realize that this world is wonderful. I have gained new knowledge in the career I want to pursue in the software development industry.”
New Moments of Personal Triumph
One of Josue’s most memorable experiences at Cumorah was singing karaoke to his favorite song, “Time to Say Goodbye.” It brought great joy to his soul.
Singing in front of others was outside his comfort zone. Initially hesitant, he accepted the invitation from Don Homer to sing his favorite song.
It took a lot of courage, but Josue stepped up to the microphone. He remembers the experience as a powerful confidence boost. All his energy flowed into the song, creating a moment of personal triumph.
For Josue, this was a turning point—a realization that he had a talent meant to be shared.
This is what Cumorah offers: an opportunity for individuals to discover and share their extraordinary talents. It’s part of our mission to uncover and cultivate the potential within each young adult who attends.
At Cumorah, self-esteem is raised, and dreams are revived through transformative experiences.
Want to rediscover your dreams? Take a look at what Cumorah Academy can offer you.
You can watch Josue sharing his testimonial in the clip below:
Written by Weylin Hollister
Photos by Natalia Lopez
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
