(gentle music) 00:00:00.53\00:00:02.53 - Welcome, everyone. 00:00:03.97\00:00:05.30 We're excited to share some Country Wisdom with you. 00:00:05.30\00:00:07.27 - King Solomon had a thing or two to say 00:00:07.27\00:00:09.74 about the path to wisdom. 00:00:09.74\00:00:11.57 In Proverbs 4, he wrote, 00:00:11.57\00:00:13.74 "Let your eyes look directly forward 00:00:13.74\00:00:16.11 and your gaze be straight before you. 00:00:16.11\00:00:19.21 Keep straight the path of your feet 00:00:19.21\00:00:21.45 and all your ways will be sure." 00:00:21.45\00:00:23.82 - Join us now for Country Wisdom. 00:00:23.82\00:00:25.62 (gentle music) 00:00:25.62\00:00:28.29 - I am so glad we talked the guys into letting us sneak 00:00:34.36\00:00:37.43 over here to the zoo part. 00:00:37.43\00:00:39.53 - Yes. 00:00:39.53\00:00:41.07 - Folks, we're at the Creation Museum in Northern Kentucky. 00:00:41.07\00:00:43.81 And I'm here with one of our crew members, Morgan. 00:00:43.81\00:00:47.54 There's a reason I brought her along with me today. 00:00:47.54\00:00:50.38 Right now, I see a sheep. 00:00:50.38\00:00:52.81 I've seen cows, goats, a donkey, 00:00:52.81\00:00:56.15 I even think way over there. 00:00:56.15\00:00:57.69 - Yeah. 00:00:57.69\00:00:59.15 - And here right in front of me, my favorite. 00:00:59.15\00:01:01.72 I fell in love with pigs when I was a little girl. 00:01:01.72\00:01:05.23 Never could talk my family into letting me have one. 00:01:05.23\00:01:08.56 - And now I proceed to make her jealous 00:01:08.56\00:01:10.37 and to tell her I have two. 00:01:10.37\00:01:12.17 - You've acquired another one. 00:01:12.17\00:01:13.74 I knew you had one. 00:01:13.74\00:01:15.14 I thought it was so appropriate 00:01:16.27\00:01:18.04 that with a last name like Zufelt. 00:01:18.04\00:01:20.51 - Yes. 00:01:20.51\00:01:21.18 - You have a zoo. 00:01:21.18\00:01:23.31 - Pretty much, yes. 00:01:23.31\00:01:24.28 - At your house. 00:01:24.28\00:01:25.41 Not in the house, but your property. 00:01:25.41\00:01:26.48 - Though feels like it sometimes. 00:01:26.48\00:01:28.72 - How many animals do you have at the moment? 00:01:28.72\00:01:31.02 - So the last count that we did, it was 127. 00:01:31.02\00:01:35.16 We downsized to about 90 to 97 now. 00:01:35.16\00:01:38.59 - You downsized to only 97. 00:01:39.56\00:01:42.60 - About, yes. 00:01:42.60\00:01:44.07 - And I'll bet, if I showed up with number 98, 00:01:44.07\00:01:46.74 your mom would not turn it down. 00:01:46.74\00:01:48.60 - Probably not. 00:01:48.60\00:01:49.70 - [Janice] In fact, the majority 00:01:49.70\00:01:51.01 of the animals you have are rescues. 00:01:51.01\00:01:53.61 I know you've got a blind horse. 00:01:53.61\00:01:55.48 - Yes. 00:01:55.48\00:01:56.71 And he wasn't blind when we got him, 00:01:56.71\00:01:58.18 but he ended up going blind because of his breed, 00:01:58.18\00:02:00.95 which has a history. 00:02:00.95\00:02:02.92 Nine out of 10 Appaloosas will go blind. 00:02:02.92\00:02:05.72 - And you've got 14 dogs? 00:02:05.72\00:02:08.99 - 14 Dogs. 00:02:08.99\00:02:10.36 - One of them, I know you found on a camping trip. 00:02:10.36\00:02:13.16 - Yes, and he is our little black chihuahua 00:02:13.16\00:02:16.03 who my mom never thought she would own. 00:02:16.03\00:02:18.67 - Well, I'm all in favor people not owning chihuahuas. 00:02:20.27\00:02:24.17 But there's a reason I brought you here. 00:02:24.17\00:02:26.98 I know it's appropriate to have Morgan Zufelt at a zoo, 00:02:26.98\00:02:31.95 but your family who takes in all these animals, 97, 00:02:31.95\00:02:36.75 how many varieties? 00:02:38.79\00:02:40.46 - A whole bunch. 00:02:40.46\00:02:41.56 We've got horses, we've got a goat, two pigs, 00:02:41.56\00:02:45.66 dogs, cats, regular birds. 00:02:45.66\00:02:48.30 We've got chickens and peacocks and pigeons. 00:02:48.30\00:02:52.10 And we used to have ducks, 00:02:52.10\00:02:53.70 but unfortunately, they're all gone now. 00:02:53.70\00:02:55.94 - Do you charge admission? 00:02:55.94\00:02:57.27 - No. 00:02:57.27\00:02:58.31 We should. - You should. 00:02:58.31\00:02:59.31 You should 00:02:59.31\00:03:00.48 You could probably pay for some of that feeding 00:03:00.48\00:03:01.84 by letting people come in just like here and let them. 00:03:01.84\00:03:06.05 But your family who has a history of rescuing animals 00:03:07.42\00:03:11.49 and you are continuing that proud tradition, 00:03:11.49\00:03:14.19 they rescue two-legged varieties as well. 00:03:15.52\00:03:18.33 - Yes, and I just happen to be one of them. 00:03:18.33\00:03:20.30 - Yes. 00:03:20.30\00:03:21.36 And you know, you've got a great story 00:03:21.36\00:03:22.86 and I think maybe we should go back 00:03:22.86\00:03:24.80 and join the rest of the crew. 00:03:24.80\00:03:26.03 Find a nice, comfortable place to sit 00:03:26.03\00:03:28.04 because I wanna hear your backstory. 00:03:28.04\00:03:30.44 - Yeah, and I'm sure Jim wants to sit down 00:03:30.44\00:03:32.31 for a little bit too. 00:03:32.31\00:03:33.14 - All right, let's go. 00:03:33.14\00:03:34.74 (gentle music) 00:03:34.74\00:03:37.41 (gentle music) 00:03:38.91\00:03:41.55 - So glad you guys joined me here. 00:03:44.92\00:03:46.62 (Janice and Morgan laughing) 00:03:46.62\00:03:47.46 I'm excited about it. 00:03:47.46\00:03:48.79 And before we go on, I know you've been talking, 00:03:48.79\00:03:50.93 but I wanted to just tell everybody how happy I am 00:03:50.93\00:03:54.00 that you had a school work project so you could join us. 00:03:54.00\00:03:56.56 Isn't that rich? 00:03:56.56\00:03:57.40 You've done a great job. 00:03:57.40\00:03:58.67 - Oh, I was thrilled when I first said, 00:03:58.67\00:03:59.90 "So what are you doing in September?" 00:03:59.90\00:04:02.60 I was so happy not only that she could take the time, 00:04:02.60\00:04:05.54 but extra happy that it's not just a complete sacrifice 00:04:05.54\00:04:09.81 on her part. 00:04:09.81\00:04:10.61 She's getting this credit. 00:04:10.61\00:04:12.18 She's getting her senior project. 00:04:12.18\00:04:13.62 And how cool a senior project is this? 00:04:13.62\00:04:15.52 She gets to work with us. 00:04:15.52\00:04:16.65 (all laughing) 00:04:16.65\00:04:18.59 - Well, it is cool that I get to work with you, guys. 00:04:18.59\00:04:20.42 Just because I've known you forever 00:04:20.42\00:04:22.52 and you yelled at me during our eighth grade graduation. 00:04:22.52\00:04:25.33 And I wanted to get to know a little bit more about Jim. 00:04:25.33\00:04:28.33 And so it's killing three birds with one stone 00:04:28.33\00:04:32.00 instead of two. (laughs) 00:04:32.00\00:04:33.67 - Whoever her school teacher is, 00:04:33.67\00:04:35.14 you should be watching this. 00:04:35.14\00:04:36.44 She's doing a wonderful job. 00:04:36.44\00:04:37.67 She's got our total approval. 00:04:37.67\00:04:39.37 - Well, it's multiple school school teachers 00:04:39.37\00:04:41.08 'cause I have seven periods. 00:04:41.08\00:04:42.61 - Now, how long have I known you? 00:04:42.61\00:04:46.78 How old were you? - Since I was three. 00:04:46.78\00:04:48.25 - Three years old. 00:04:48.25\00:04:49.52 This adorable little girl. 00:04:49.52\00:04:52.99 Tammy and Wayne bring this adorable little girl 00:04:52.99\00:04:55.52 and her brother into church. 00:04:55.52\00:04:57.39 And it's like, well, 00:04:57.39\00:04:58.46 where did this instant family come from? 00:04:58.46\00:05:02.00 Your family, I just am in awe. 00:05:02.00\00:05:04.57 They have adopted six kids. 00:05:05.60\00:05:08.30 - Six of us, yeah. 00:05:08.30\00:05:09.97 - And you and your brother, Robert were? 00:05:09.97\00:05:12.31 - We were the first ones they adopted. 00:05:12.31\00:05:13.91 - The first two. 00:05:13.91\00:05:14.88 Do you mind? 00:05:16.01\00:05:17.35 I know that I hinted over there when we were at the zoo, 00:05:17.35\00:05:19.51 I hinted that you have an incredible story. 00:05:19.51\00:05:22.58 Partly because I think that my personal story 00:05:22.58\00:05:25.82 is way more vanilla. 00:05:25.82\00:05:27.39 You know? 00:05:27.39\00:05:28.42 It's like, I don't have anything exciting. 00:05:28.42\00:05:30.43 You have a backstory very different from mine. 00:05:30.43\00:05:33.80 How did your life begin? 00:05:33.80\00:05:35.53 How'd it start off? 00:05:35.53\00:05:36.93 - So when I was about three is when I came into foster care. 00:05:36.93\00:05:40.74 And that was because my mom 00:05:40.74\00:05:42.24 constantly abandoned me and my brother. 00:05:42.24\00:05:44.81 And I always say that my mom wasn't really my abuser 00:05:44.81\00:05:49.14 when it comes to physicality abuse 00:05:49.14\00:05:52.01 because it was my brother. 00:05:52.01\00:05:54.62 He was autistic. 00:05:54.62\00:05:56.12 He still is autistic, I should say. 00:05:56.12\00:05:58.15 And couldn't control his anger. 00:05:58.15\00:05:59.85 And normally, I was the closest thing that he could hit. 00:05:59.85\00:06:02.66 So when I got abused, it was from him, not my mom. 00:06:02.66\00:06:06.23 I was just abandoned so she could go out and drink. 00:06:06.23\00:06:09.90 - I was gonna say she had to have had some issues. 00:06:09.90\00:06:12.47 - Yes. 00:06:12.47\00:06:13.60 Her boyfriends were constantly drinking. 00:06:13.60\00:06:16.50 She was constantly drinking and she smoked 00:06:16.50\00:06:20.14 and it just did not work well. 00:06:20.14\00:06:22.18 She needed to go out and get money or she'll get money 00:06:22.18\00:06:26.41 from her boyfriends and then go out and drink 00:06:26.41\00:06:28.25 and just leave Robert and me there. 00:06:28.25\00:06:30.22 We also had dogs and our house wasn't very clean. 00:06:30.22\00:06:33.42 We constantly stepped in dog poop. 00:06:33.42\00:06:35.29 We didn't have clean water. 00:06:37.49\00:06:39.83 It was just a mess. 00:06:39.83\00:06:41.30 And so somebody had eventually called CPS, I think. 00:06:41.30\00:06:45.43 I wanna say it was my preschool, 00:06:45.43\00:06:47.10 but I'm not particularly sure. 00:06:47.10\00:06:49.00 Just because I went to preschool every day. 00:06:49.00\00:06:50.81 And so we ended up packing up in the middle of the night 00:06:50.81\00:06:54.31 with what little clothes we had and came to Yreka 00:06:54.31\00:06:59.31 and came into my mom and dad's home. 00:06:59.31\00:07:03.39 - So Wayne and Tammy were your first foster family? 00:07:03.39\00:07:06.69 - They were the only foster family I had actually. 00:07:06.69\00:07:09.82 We'd been with them for about a year and a half. 00:07:09.82\00:07:12.73 And then my mom got her act together 00:07:12.73\00:07:14.86 and was able to get us back for a couple of months. 00:07:14.86\00:07:17.17 When she met somebody new and started declining again. 00:07:17.17\00:07:20.54 And so that we went back to my mom and dad. 00:07:20.54\00:07:24.01 - Now, some people would say, 00:07:24.01\00:07:25.87 "Boy, what a lucky little girl you were." 00:07:25.87\00:07:28.24 Especially if they've ever met Wayne and Tammy. 00:07:28.24\00:07:30.71 I mean, that would be a lovely family to fall into, 00:07:30.71\00:07:35.52 but I don't think it was just luck. 00:07:35.52\00:07:38.15 - Oh, when I was little, I didn't know God. 00:07:38.15\00:07:41.89 Well, I did think it was just luck 00:07:44.56\00:07:46.93 that I had this amazing family to go to. 00:07:46.93\00:07:49.70 And I had foster siblings come in and out, 00:07:49.70\00:07:51.90 but as I got to know God more and the older I got, 00:07:51.90\00:07:56.37 the more I understood that he put me there a purpose. 00:07:56.37\00:08:00.48 It wasn't just some stroke of luck 00:08:00.48\00:08:02.61 that I got to be in this family. 00:08:02.61\00:08:04.95 There was a reason that I was going to be there 00:08:06.45\00:08:09.12 and impact not only their lives, 00:08:09.12\00:08:12.32 but they were gonna impact mine in such a major way 00:08:12.32\00:08:15.16 that I'm still just completely in shock of. 00:08:15.16\00:08:18.99 'Cause when you guys met me, I was this shy, 00:08:18.99\00:08:23.90 didn't wanna talk, 00:08:23.90\00:08:25.17 would hide behind the closest adult that I trusted. 00:08:25.17\00:08:28.64 - You didn't wanna talk? 00:08:28.64\00:08:29.64 (all laughing) 00:08:29.64\00:08:31.47 - It's not the same. 00:08:31.47\00:08:32.91 - I honestly don't remember that phase. 00:08:32.91\00:08:35.11 - Well that's because I went to SDA. 00:08:35.11\00:08:38.38 - That's when I started. 00:08:38.38\00:08:39.48 - They started you in a Christian school. 00:08:39.48\00:08:41.02 - Right. 00:08:41.02\00:08:42.12 For the first two years, I was in public school 00:08:42.12\00:08:44.49 and I did meet some friends, 00:08:44.49\00:08:47.29 but I didn't have a lot of them. 00:08:47.29\00:08:49.29 And there's only one of them that I've actually 00:08:49.29\00:08:52.06 kept close in contact to and that's Cody Harrison. 00:08:52.06\00:08:54.86 And so when I went to SDA is when I started doing plays 00:08:56.23\00:08:59.90 and that got me a lot more out of my shell. 00:08:59.90\00:09:02.90 - And that is actually where I took even more notice of you. 00:09:02.90\00:09:06.17 I mean, I'd always thought you were adorable at church. 00:09:06.17\00:09:10.31 I always made sure to say hi or something 00:09:10.31\00:09:12.51 and just thought you were precious and very precocious. 00:09:12.51\00:09:16.75 Which you can see in her still. 00:09:16.75\00:09:19.55 But I, being your drama teacher got to work with you 00:09:19.55\00:09:24.03 and know you a whole lot better then. 00:09:24.03\00:09:26.56 And you just always were a leader, which I appreciated. 00:09:26.56\00:09:31.60 In fact, I used to joke that by the time 00:09:32.90\00:09:35.30 you were in about seventh grade, 00:09:35.30\00:09:37.21 she just took it on herself 00:09:37.21\00:09:38.57 in the assumption she was the assistant director. 00:09:38.57\00:09:41.61 (Jim and Morgan laughing) 00:09:41.61\00:09:43.21 - This is true. 00:09:43.21\00:09:44.31 I would help direct people on where to go 00:09:44.31\00:09:46.41 or tell them to be quiet. (laughs) 00:09:46.41\00:09:48.65 - And I always saw in you a spirit 00:09:48.65\00:09:53.02 that it was very easy to love. 00:09:53.02\00:09:55.92 Coming from your background though, 00:09:57.03\00:09:58.96 you wouldn't expect that you'd have that spirit. 00:09:58.96\00:10:01.96 Do you think it was God that was that little spark in you? 00:10:03.93\00:10:08.20 - I do. 00:10:08.20\00:10:09.27 So my parents would always tease me 00:10:09.27\00:10:11.27 that I can get overly sensitive, 00:10:11.27\00:10:13.81 but I think that overly sensitiveness is something 00:10:13.81\00:10:16.34 that God gave me so I can empathize with people more, 00:10:16.34\00:10:19.35 especially coming from my background. 00:10:19.35\00:10:21.72 And I've got friends that have gone in and out of the system 00:10:21.72\00:10:25.45 or have grown up out of the system. 00:10:25.45\00:10:28.39 And sometimes, they come and look at me and say, 00:10:29.52\00:10:31.99 "What am I gonna do?" 00:10:31.99\00:10:33.73 And I understand their questions 00:10:33.73\00:10:37.00 and I understand their way of thinking 00:10:37.00\00:10:39.50 just because I have been in that situation. 00:10:39.50\00:10:41.60 And I had God be the person that put me in a situation 00:10:41.60\00:10:46.57 where I could have a loving home. 00:10:47.74\00:10:49.28 A lot of the times, these kids don't get 00:10:49.28\00:10:51.45 that forever home like I got. 00:10:51.45\00:10:53.65 And some of them are, "Oh, it's just bad luck. 00:10:53.65\00:10:56.62 I just wasn't good enough for these people." 00:10:56.62\00:10:58.65 It wasn't that you weren't good enough. 00:10:58.65\00:11:00.42 It was just that that was not where God wanted you to be. 00:11:00.42\00:11:03.26 - I had a text-- 00:11:03.26\00:11:04.33 - So you think it's made you more empathetic? 00:11:04.33\00:11:05.66 - It's made me a lot more empathetic to those around me. 00:11:05.66\00:11:08.63 - I had a text knowing you a little bit 00:11:08.63\00:11:10.10 that I wanted to read to you. 00:11:10.10\00:11:10.90 And you tell me if it fits. 00:11:10.90\00:11:12.90 Found in Isaiah 55:6. 00:11:12.90\00:11:16.07 "Seek the Lord while he may be found. 00:11:16.07\00:11:18.31 Call upon him while he is near. 00:11:18.31\00:11:20.54 Let the wicked forsake their way, 00:11:20.54\00:11:21.94 the unrighteous man his thoughts 00:11:21.94\00:11:23.78 and let him return to our Lord, 00:11:23.78\00:11:26.18 that he may have compassion on him 00:11:26.18\00:11:28.35 and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 00:11:28.35\00:11:31.72 For my thoughts are not thoughts against you, 00:11:31.72\00:11:34.82 they're for you." 00:11:34.82\00:11:35.96 And that's certainly the way God has been to you, isn't it? 00:11:37.33\00:11:40.63 - Exactly. 00:11:40.63\00:11:42.23 And there are times when I have fallen away from God, 00:11:42.23\00:11:44.17 especially as I became a teenager 00:11:44.17\00:11:46.87 and I started going to a mainstream high school. 00:11:46.87\00:11:49.80 And I didn't have the best influences 00:11:49.80\00:11:52.94 because I was the only one from our school who went there. 00:11:52.94\00:11:57.35 And there was a Christian club. 00:11:57.35\00:11:59.35 Unfortunately, Mr. Friedenberg retired 00:11:59.35\00:12:01.78 and that club's no more, 00:12:01.78\00:12:04.19 but I'm gonna try and start it up again before I leave. 00:12:04.19\00:12:07.39 - I told you she was the leader type here. 00:12:08.86\00:12:11.53 - That was part of my grounding point. 00:12:14.83\00:12:16.93 And before I got my smartphone, I had a flip phone. 00:12:16.93\00:12:20.10 So I would bring my Bible with me to school every day. 00:12:20.10\00:12:22.94 But come sophomore year, that kinda stopped 00:12:22.94\00:12:26.41 because I had my smartphone 00:12:26.41\00:12:27.88 and that's when social media came in 00:12:27.88\00:12:29.74 and I kinda took a really bad downfall 00:12:29.74\00:12:33.11 and I'm not gonna go too much into detail. 00:12:33.11\00:12:34.35 - I'm sorry, I cannot let the bugs. 00:12:34.35\00:12:36.55 - Jan's scared to death of the bugs. 00:12:36.55\00:12:38.02 (Morgan laughing) 00:12:38.02\00:12:39.39 - Yes, I do know. 00:12:39.39\00:12:40.46 - It was an act of love to save you from it. 00:12:40.46\00:12:42.66 - Hey Janice, how are you doing? 00:12:43.59\00:12:45.46 - Hey, you wrote another book. 00:12:45.46\00:12:47.40 - I did. 00:12:47.40\00:12:48.90 Had a burden on my heart and God helped me get it done. 00:12:48.90\00:12:51.10 - So, "The Plan of Love." 00:12:51.10\00:12:53.03 What's it about? 00:12:53.94\00:12:55.17 - Well, it's really about God and eternity. 00:12:55.17\00:12:57.57 Saw everything that was going to happen here. 00:12:57.57\00:13:00.18 And his amazing love, He says, 00:13:00.18\00:13:02.64 "I'm gonna take care of the problems. 00:13:02.64\00:13:04.25 I'm gonna take care of the situation by giving my own 00:13:04.25\00:13:07.85 life." He did all that. 00:13:07.85\00:13:09.12 But we've been lied to so much, 00:13:09.12\00:13:10.99 we don't see what God has planned for us, 00:13:10.99\00:13:13.15 what God is doing for us. 00:13:13.15\00:13:15.36 Matter of fact, the angel came down to Mary and said, 00:13:15.36\00:13:18.43 "You shall call his name Jesus 00:13:18.43\00:13:20.00 for he shall save his people from their sins." 00:13:20.00\00:13:22.86 Notice it wasn't in, but from. 00:13:22.86\00:13:25.27 - Where can people get the book? 00:13:25.27\00:13:26.90 - Hey, I'm glad you asked. 00:13:26.90\00:13:27.97 Folks, if you'd like your own personal copy, 00:13:27.97\00:13:30.37 log on to talkingdonkeyinternational.org. 00:13:30.37\00:13:33.11 And oh please, if you would, send us a donation of $12. 00:13:33.11\00:13:36.08 - Or more. - Or more. 00:13:36.08\00:13:37.81 And we'll get you the book and I'll be happy 00:13:37.81\00:13:39.65 to sign it for you too. 00:13:39.65\00:13:40.95 Thank you so much. 00:13:40.95\00:13:42.08 - Scientists tell us that humans 00:13:44.99\00:13:46.82 have four basic needs for survival. 00:13:46.82\00:13:49.82 Food, water, air, and shelter. 00:13:49.82\00:13:53.53 But beyond mere survival, 00:13:53.53\00:13:55.30 we also need to know someone cares about us. 00:13:55.30\00:13:59.00 And there is someone who cares. 00:13:59.00\00:14:01.10 Someone who is always there. 00:14:01.10\00:14:03.30 This little tract, "Someone Cares About You" 00:14:04.57\00:14:07.14 is full of Bible verses that will help you know 00:14:07.14\00:14:10.31 just how much God cares for you. 00:14:10.31\00:14:13.35 It's absolutely free. 00:14:13.35\00:14:15.12 Just go to talkingdonkeyinternational.org 00:14:15.12\00:14:18.52 and request offer number 123. 00:14:18.52\00:14:21.26 Someone cares about you. 00:14:21.26\00:14:23.66 - So yes. 00:14:26.80\00:14:29.03 And then when COVID hit, 00:14:29.03\00:14:30.80 that's just kind of when I had my aha moment. 00:14:30.80\00:14:33.40 I'd been baptized when I was in seventh grade, I wanna say. 00:14:33.40\00:14:37.07 And when I got baptized, 00:14:38.61\00:14:40.41 I'm like, I'm giving myself to the Lord before high school. 00:14:40.41\00:14:44.45 And when high school came, 00:14:44.45\00:14:46.85 I kind of pushed God to the side. 00:14:48.35\00:14:50.62 And we've talked a lot about that 00:14:50.62\00:14:52.39 with the different interviews we've done 00:14:52.39\00:14:54.22 while we've been here, 00:14:54.22\00:14:55.59 how it's so easy to put God aside and be human, be sinful. 00:14:55.59\00:15:00.40 Well, when this virus shut everything down, 00:15:01.50\00:15:05.43 I had my phone taken away and all I had were my Bible, 00:15:05.43\00:15:10.04 my regular books and then my journaling. 00:15:10.04\00:15:13.38 And so my birthday, my 16th birthday, 00:15:13.38\00:15:16.48 I got a bunch of journals and pencils. 00:15:17.51\00:15:20.12 And a book on how to properly write different genres 00:15:20.12\00:15:24.82 and different stories. 00:15:24.82\00:15:26.72 And so I started writing about four teenagers 00:15:26.72\00:15:31.36 who just turn their lives over to the Lord. 00:15:32.79\00:15:35.36 And it's a Seventh Day Adventist book. 00:15:35.36\00:15:37.00 So it's kind of biased in that way. 00:15:37.00\00:15:39.50 But it's for anyone who wants to learn 00:15:39.50\00:15:43.20 how to become a Christian who's a teenager 00:15:43.20\00:15:44.97 or struggling teenagers who don't really know 00:15:44.97\00:15:48.41 how to find those answers. 00:15:48.41\00:15:50.41 And so four of those characters that I had done, 00:15:50.41\00:15:53.15 I had based them off of some of the deadly sins. 00:15:53.15\00:15:56.15 Greed, vanity and envy. 00:15:56.15\00:15:58.49 And then the main character is joy. 00:15:58.49\00:16:01.26 And at the beginning of the book, she's not very joyful. 00:16:01.26\00:16:03.53 She had just lost her father. 00:16:03.53\00:16:05.69 Her stepfather was very cruel to her. 00:16:05.69\00:16:08.30 And then she goes to high school 00:16:08.30\00:16:10.33 and meets these four other teenagers. 00:16:10.33\00:16:12.50 And they all end up in detention together. 00:16:12.50\00:16:15.14 And she is in their detentions in the library. 00:16:15.14\00:16:18.91 She's bored. 00:16:18.91\00:16:20.21 Doesn't wanna talk to these people. 00:16:20.21\00:16:22.48 They're the reason she got into detention. 00:16:22.48\00:16:24.45 Is she goes and looks around, well she finds a Bible. 00:16:24.45\00:16:28.35 And she starts reading the Bible. 00:16:28.35\00:16:31.12 And vanity, his character name is Vincent. 00:16:31.12\00:16:35.29 His family is Seventh Day Adventist Christians. 00:16:35.29\00:16:38.19 And so when she learns this, 00:16:38.19\00:16:39.83 she starts going to their Bible study group. 00:16:39.83\00:16:42.10 And she eventually gets all three of these other teenagers 00:16:42.10\00:16:46.74 to start going with her. 00:16:46.74\00:16:48.30 And they end up turning their lives over to the Lord 00:16:48.30\00:16:50.61 and getting baptized at the end of the book. 00:16:50.61\00:16:52.64 - What gave you that direction and that idea? 00:16:52.64\00:16:55.71 I mean, you've got know a fair amount of scripture 00:16:55.71\00:16:58.58 to kind of grab a hold of all that too. 00:16:58.58\00:17:00.35 - I did. 00:17:00.35\00:17:01.48 And there is quite a bit of scripture that I used 00:17:01.48\00:17:03.22 as they're talking in the Bible studies. 00:17:03.22\00:17:05.39 And a lot of them point out to the seven deadly sins. 00:17:06.76\00:17:09.52 So like, I don't remember exactly the scripture, 00:17:09.52\00:17:12.06 but it's when God's says 00:17:12.06\00:17:14.40 you can't love God and you can't love money 00:17:16.63\00:17:19.40 at the same time. 00:17:19.40\00:17:20.50 You either hate God and love money 00:17:20.50\00:17:22.10 or you hate money and love God. 00:17:22.10\00:17:23.77 And that portrays to everything and that impacted greed. 00:17:23.77\00:17:27.88 And then when it talks about not being jealous 00:17:28.98\00:17:32.48 and coveting those in the 10 Commandments, 00:17:32.48\00:17:35.38 that impacts envy. 00:17:35.38\00:17:37.29 And then talking about how with sin, 00:17:37.29\00:17:40.86 nothing's gonna last forever. 00:17:40.86\00:17:42.99 And all the beauty we see around you, like in the winter, 00:17:42.99\00:17:46.56 you see barren trees, but in springtime, 00:17:46.56\00:17:48.60 that's when it becomes beautiful again. 00:17:48.60\00:17:50.57 Everything goes through a season and that impacts vanity. 00:17:50.57\00:17:54.04 And then there's a point where Joy gets impacted 00:17:54.04\00:17:58.64 and realizes she can't keep holding onto the anger 00:17:58.64\00:18:01.24 of her dad being gone. 00:18:01.24\00:18:02.58 She can't keep holding onto the resentment of her stepfather 00:18:02.58\00:18:06.01 and her mother that she's felt for over a year. 00:18:06.01\00:18:09.25 And her parents end up actually 00:18:09.25\00:18:11.49 becoming Christians themselves. 00:18:11.49\00:18:13.49 - Is there some of what you were writing, 00:18:13.49\00:18:16.66 is that some of your backstory here in real life? 00:18:16.66\00:18:18.93 - Some of it is my backstory. 00:18:18.93\00:18:20.86 Whenever I saw my mom, 00:18:20.86\00:18:22.46 I kind of resented her when I was younger, 00:18:22.46\00:18:26.47 that she'd given me up. 00:18:26.47\00:18:28.34 I felt like she'd just given up 00:18:28.34\00:18:29.90 ever trying to have a relationship. 00:18:29.90\00:18:31.91 But as I grew more in my relationship with God, 00:18:31.91\00:18:34.64 I realized my resentment was pointless. 00:18:34.64\00:18:39.51 There was no need to resent her because she was doing 00:18:39.51\00:18:42.32 what she thought was best for me, 00:18:42.32\00:18:43.72 just like God is always doing what he knows is best for us. 00:18:43.72\00:18:47.86 - That's a very mature thought. 00:18:48.79\00:18:51.03 - It is, it really is. 00:18:51.03\00:18:52.63 - I need to remember that sometime. 00:18:52.63\00:18:54.36 - We ought to probably mention for our audience, 00:18:54.36\00:18:56.23 a lot of the noise around here, 00:18:56.23\00:18:57.33 we are at the Creation Museum. 00:18:57.33\00:18:58.80 You've got your hat on. 00:18:58.80\00:18:59.70 - Yes. (laughs) 00:18:59.70\00:19:01.20 - And for our audience, there it is. 00:19:01.20\00:19:03.67 We had Morgan who stepped in this summer 00:19:04.87\00:19:08.24 and spent a whole day with us. 00:19:08.24\00:19:10.08 She worked out so well that when this trip got planned, 00:19:10.08\00:19:13.92 that's why I thought of her again. 00:19:13.92\00:19:16.05 Because she just blended in with the crew, was helpful, 00:19:16.05\00:19:19.55 quick learner, unlike me. 00:19:19.55\00:19:22.22 (Morgan laughing) 00:19:22.22\00:19:23.63 You mentioned something about reading more, 00:19:23.63\00:19:28.36 turning to your Bible more during COVID. 00:19:28.36\00:19:31.53 Now when I was a teenager, frankly, 00:19:31.53\00:19:34.40 I think the most important thing I had to worry about 00:19:34.40\00:19:37.61 was whether Sid was going to ask me out this Saturday night 00:19:37.61\00:19:42.51 (Morgan laughing) or something like that. 00:19:42.51\00:19:44.81 I didn't have this world-changing, 00:19:44.81\00:19:48.48 literally, world-changing event. 00:19:48.48\00:19:51.62 The world was not nearly as frightening when I was 17 00:19:51.62\00:19:55.86 as it is now. 00:19:55.86\00:19:57.46 I don't honestly know if I would've had the faith then 00:19:57.46\00:20:02.13 to hang on, let alone have my faith deepen. 00:20:03.50\00:20:07.50 Why do you think you turned to the source, 00:20:07.50\00:20:11.14 the right source, the place to take your fears 00:20:11.14\00:20:14.34 when so many people have run the other direction? 00:20:14.34\00:20:17.45 And are turning to alcohol drugs part, whatever, 00:20:17.45\00:20:21.52 to take their mind off things 00:20:21.52\00:20:23.52 that are happening in the world. 00:20:23.52\00:20:24.62 So they don't have to think about issues. 00:20:24.62\00:20:27.12 And you turned more to God. 00:20:27.12\00:20:29.79 - Well, with this event happening 00:20:29.79\00:20:32.69 and in Sabbath School, 00:20:32.69\00:20:33.76 we had been learning about how the end times 00:20:33.76\00:20:36.10 are coming closer and closer. 00:20:36.10\00:20:38.17 And that was one of the last topics that we talked about 00:20:38.17\00:20:40.80 in my Fellowship of Young Christian Minors group on 00:20:40.80\00:20:45.57 Fridays. And it was something about how God predicted all of 00:20:45.57\00:20:50.55 this. He said that there was gonna be fires. 00:20:51.88\00:20:53.68 There was gonna be droughts. 00:20:53.68\00:20:54.85 There was gonna be a disease 00:20:54.85\00:20:57.19 that was gonna wipe out so many people. 00:20:57.19\00:21:00.32 And remembering that verse kinda caught my attention. 00:21:00.32\00:21:04.86 It's like, as if when COVID hit, God's like, 00:21:04.86\00:21:08.23 "Okay, I need your attention now." 00:21:08.23\00:21:10.20 Like this is him telling the world it's going to happen 00:21:11.57\00:21:14.74 and it's going to happen soon. 00:21:14.74\00:21:16.14 You don't know when, but you now know it's gonna be soon. 00:21:16.14\00:21:19.81 And those who are reading their Bible are understanding that 00:21:19.81\00:21:23.51 much more in so many more ways. 00:21:23.51\00:21:26.28 The only social media I have now is Facebook. 00:21:27.38\00:21:30.29 And I see people saying that Facebook's gonna take down 00:21:30.29\00:21:33.66 the pictures of the cross. 00:21:33.66\00:21:34.89 But if you share it enough, they might not. 00:21:34.89\00:21:38.09 And so I share those pictures 00:21:38.09\00:21:39.73 and one day I was scrolling through it 00:21:39.73\00:21:42.30 and I found that verse where God is saying, 00:21:42.30\00:21:45.67 the fires in Australia were gonna happen. 00:21:45.67\00:21:49.64 The droughts in California were gonna happen. 00:21:49.64\00:21:52.41 This entire disease I knew was going to happen. 00:21:52.41\00:21:56.78 And it's turning Satan's vocal point 00:21:56.78\00:22:01.22 for especially young minds. 00:22:01.22\00:22:03.52 It's turning their point to, 00:22:03.52\00:22:06.09 oh, somebody knew this was gonna happen. 00:22:06.09\00:22:09.96 And if you look at that and you see that, 00:22:09.96\00:22:13.66 you understand, yeah. 00:22:13.66\00:22:15.36 - It is very comforting to know 00:22:15.36\00:22:16.46 that no matter how chaotic things seem, 00:22:16.46\00:22:19.80 that God has you covered. 00:22:19.80\00:22:22.17 - Exactly. 00:22:22.17\00:22:23.17 That's why I named my book 00:22:24.34\00:22:26.21 that I was telling you about earlier, "For a Purpose." 00:22:26.21\00:22:30.21 Everything that is happening, 00:22:30.21\00:22:31.88 whether God really wants it to happen or not. 00:22:31.88\00:22:34.52 I mean, we all know he didn't want the sin to happen. 00:22:34.52\00:22:37.29 He didn't want to sacrifice his only son to save us all. 00:22:37.29\00:22:41.32 He wanted us to just be in the garden of Eden 00:22:41.32\00:22:44.33 with him forever. 00:22:44.33\00:22:45.43 But he knew that if we were forced to do that, 00:22:45.43\00:22:50.13 we see him as a God who needs to be feared 00:22:50.13\00:22:52.87 and not a God who wants to be loved. 00:22:52.87\00:22:55.40 Who wants us to choose to love him instead of letting us 00:22:55.40\00:22:59.94 be lost forever. 00:22:59.94\00:23:02.64 - Now, Morgan, you're to me, a young lady beyond your years. 00:23:02.64\00:23:07.25 (all laughing) 00:23:07.25\00:23:08.08 - Always has been. 00:23:08.08\00:23:09.48 If you had known her back in second grade, 00:23:09.48\00:23:11.69 you could just tell back then. 00:23:12.49\00:23:14.22 - Now, we've only got a couple minutes or so left here, 00:23:14.22\00:23:17.26 but there's a lot of probably 17, 18, 20-year-olds 00:23:17.26\00:23:21.40 and younger, vice versa, that need-- 00:23:21.40\00:23:24.30 - Are never going to listen to old people like us. 00:23:24.30\00:23:27.04 - What would you tell them? 00:23:27.04\00:23:27.84 - So this is your chance? 00:23:27.84\00:23:29.20 What do you say? 00:23:29.20\00:23:30.27 You're in a public school system. 00:23:30.27\00:23:32.37 You must have people that you see every day 00:23:32.37\00:23:35.64 and you maybe have five minutes to talk with them 00:23:35.64\00:23:39.51 and make them think about, give them a seed of faith. 00:23:39.51\00:23:42.85 - Yeah. 00:23:42.85\00:23:44.22 So some of the friends that I do have in my public school 00:23:44.22\00:23:46.59 are non-Christians, but they do know that I am Christian. 00:23:46.59\00:23:50.13 And sometimes, I've actually had one 00:23:50.13\00:23:52.69 where I've had a deep conversation with 00:23:52.69\00:23:55.40 about why I choose to be a Christian. 00:23:55.40\00:23:58.50 And I guess my main point that I gave him to leave with 00:23:58.50\00:24:03.10 was I'm choosing to follow somebody who I know 00:24:03.10\00:24:08.18 is going to judge me someday 00:24:08.98\00:24:11.81 not just for my works, but for my faith. 00:24:12.88\00:24:15.45 And I know that with God, anything is possible. 00:24:15.45\00:24:20.52 And there is one thing I did see on Facebook that said, 00:24:21.89\00:24:24.63 "I would rather die thinking that there was a God 00:24:24.63\00:24:28.26 and finding out that there isn't one 00:24:28.26\00:24:30.27 than die saying there is no God 00:24:30.27\00:24:32.73 and then finding out there is." 00:24:32.73\00:24:34.50 And that's how I just wanna live. 00:24:34.50\00:24:36.17 I wanna know that there is a God. 00:24:36.17\00:24:38.77 And if I die finding out that there isn't one, 00:24:38.77\00:24:41.81 then that's how I die. 00:24:41.81\00:24:43.55 But if I die not knowing God at all, 00:24:43.55\00:24:48.02 and then just find out that there is one, 00:24:48.02\00:24:51.75 I'm lost and I don't want to be lost. 00:24:53.42\00:24:55.66 I don't wanna be in that situation again, 00:24:55.66\00:24:58.89 where I feel like I've been abandoned. 00:24:58.89\00:25:01.16 And a lot of people, especially teenagers now, 00:25:01.16\00:25:04.30 feel that way. 00:25:04.30\00:25:05.37 And I've had a couple of my friends say 00:25:05.37\00:25:08.80 they have felt abandoned by God, 00:25:08.80\00:25:11.04 which is why they don't believe anymore. 00:25:11.04\00:25:13.21 - I think it's remarkable. 00:25:13.21\00:25:15.14 Usually, you turn to your elders for advice, 00:25:16.41\00:25:20.62 to look to for an example. 00:25:20.62\00:25:22.92 The fact that coming from the background you did, 00:25:22.92\00:25:26.02 an alcoholic mother, abandonment, all of those 00:25:26.02\00:25:30.33 issues. And because you turned to God, 00:25:30.33\00:25:32.53 you've been able to turn that over, 00:25:32.53\00:25:34.40 to get rid of the resentment. 00:25:34.40\00:25:36.73 There is so much that we can learn from you. 00:25:36.73\00:25:39.80 And that's one reason I wanted to talk to you today 00:25:39.80\00:25:42.24 and share your story because frankly, 00:25:42.24\00:25:45.17 you are a model of faith to me. 00:25:45.17\00:25:47.31 And I hope that she's been a model of faith 00:25:47.31\00:25:49.91 to you out there too. 00:25:49.91\00:25:52.05 What's the verse that says, 00:25:52.05\00:25:53.48 a little child, she'll lead them. 00:25:53.48\00:25:54.75 - She'll lead them. 00:25:54.75\00:25:56.05 - I know she doesn't consider herself a little child, 00:25:56.05\00:25:58.42 but she's a good one to follow. 00:25:58.42\00:26:01.46 - Amen. 00:26:01.46\00:26:02.52 Morgan, thank you so much for being with us. 00:26:02.52\00:26:03.93 - No problem. 00:26:03.93\00:26:05.26 And thank you, guys so much for inviting me to be out here. 00:26:05.26\00:26:06.39 I can't wait to spend the next weekend half 00:26:06.39\00:26:08.30 with you guys. (chuckles) 00:26:08.30\00:26:09.73 - Sounds great, thank you. 00:26:09.73\00:26:11.17 Hey Janice, how are you doing? 00:26:13.20\00:26:15.07 - Hey, you wrote another book. 00:26:15.07\00:26:16.94 - I did. 00:26:16.94\00:26:18.31 Had a burden on my heart and God helped me get it done. 00:26:18.31\00:26:20.64 - So, "The Plan of Love." 00:26:20.64\00:26:22.68 What's it about? 00:26:23.48\00:26:24.55 - Well, it's really about God and eternity. 00:26:24.55\00:26:27.12 Saw everything that was going to happen here. 00:26:27.12\00:26:29.75 And his amazing love, He says, 00:26:29.75\00:26:32.29 "I'm gonna take care of the problems. 00:26:32.29\00:26:33.89 I'm gonna take care of the situation by giving my own 00:26:33.89\00:26:37.49 life." He did all that. 00:26:37.49\00:26:38.73 But we've been lied to so much, 00:26:38.73\00:26:40.63 we don't see what God has planned for us, 00:26:40.63\00:26:42.76 what God is doing for us. 00:26:42.76\00:26:44.97 Matter of fact, the angel came down to Mary and said, 00:26:44.97\00:26:48.07 "You shall call his name Jesus 00:26:48.07\00:26:49.60 for he shall save his people from their sins." 00:26:49.60\00:26:52.51 Notice it wasn't in, but from. 00:26:52.51\00:26:54.91 - Where can people get the book? 00:26:54.91\00:26:56.51 - Hey, I'm glad you asked. 00:26:56.51\00:26:58.11 Folks, if you'd like your own personal copy, 00:26:58.11\00:27:00.08 log on to talkingdonkeyinternational.org. 00:27:00.08\00:27:02.72 And oh please, if you would, send us a donation of $12. 00:27:02.72\00:27:05.72 - Or more. - Or more. 00:27:05.72\00:27:07.12 And we'll get you the book and I'll be happy 00:27:07.12\00:27:09.29 to sign it for you too. 00:27:09.29\00:27:10.63 Thank you so much. 00:27:10.63\00:27:11.73 - Scientists tell us that humans 00:27:14.10\00:27:15.90 have four basic needs for survival. 00:27:15.90\00:27:18.93 Food, water, air, and shelter. 00:27:18.93\00:27:22.60 But beyond mere survival, 00:27:22.60\00:27:24.31 we also need to know someone cares about us. 00:27:24.31\00:27:28.01 And there is someone who cares. 00:27:28.01\00:27:30.21 Someone who is always there. 00:27:30.21\00:27:32.41 This little tract, "Someone Cares About You" 00:27:33.68\00:27:36.25 is full of Bible verses that will help you know 00:27:36.25\00:27:39.42 just how much God cares for you. 00:27:39.42\00:27:42.46 It's absolutely free. 00:27:42.46\00:27:44.23 Just go to talkingdonkeyinternational.org 00:27:44.23\00:27:47.66 and request offer number 123. 00:27:47.66\00:27:50.70 Someone cares about you. 00:27:50.70\00:27:52.77 (gentle music) 00:27:55.17\00:27:57.81 - Thank you for watching. 00:27:59.61\00:28:01.04 Join us again for another exciting Country Wisdom. 00:28:01.04\00:28:02.91 - See you next time. 00:28:02.91\00:28:04.38 (gentle music) 00:28:04.38\00:28:07.02