Welcome everyone. We're
excited to share some country
00:00:04.93\00:00:07.37
wisdom with you
King Solomon had a thing
00:00:07.37\00:00:10.24
or two to say about the
path to wisdom in proverbs 4,
00:00:10.24\00:00:13.74
he wrote let your
eyes look directly forward
00:00:13.74\00:00:16.54
and your gaze be
straight before you
00:00:16.54\00:00:18.21
keep straight the path of
your feet and all your ways
00:00:20.45\00:00:23.45
will be sure join us
now for Country wisdom.
00:00:23.45\00:00:25.32
Melissa Jim tells me
that this looks like your
00:00:41.70\00:00:44.64
home country Costa
Rica. Yes, it does.
00:00:44.64\00:00:47.54
I've not had the privilege
of going there. Is he telling
00:00:47.54\00:00:50.58
the truth? She is actually
it looks very very similar
00:00:50.58\00:00:53.45
to Costa Rica. You
know, the tree in the river is
00:00:53.45\00:00:56.62
very nice. Yeah,
it reminds me a lot to
00:00:56.62\00:00:59.85
Costa Rica. You know, what's
really missing here though that
00:00:59.85\00:01:02.12
we don't have is the
birds. I mean the I can see
00:01:02.12\00:01:03.99
the big two cans flying, you
know, and calling out and all
00:01:05.59\00:01:09.10
the parrots, you know, do
you miss that a little bit about
00:01:09.10\00:01:11.27
you? I do I miss
Costa Rica. What was
00:01:11.27\00:01:14.77
it like growing up for you? What
was your childhood? Like well,
00:01:14.77\00:01:18.41
unfortunately my childhood
it was really really tough. I
00:01:18.41\00:01:21.91
grew up in a home where my dad
00:01:21.91\00:01:22.98
was embracing my mom. She was an
00:01:23.95\00:01:27.45
alcoholic. She
was a young mom. So at
00:01:27.45\00:01:30.79
the age of a very early age,
I had to stay responsibility
00:01:30.79\00:01:34.52
of my baby
brother who was at that
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time for and how
are you I was six
00:01:37.06\00:01:39.53
so
00:01:39.53\00:01:39.59
take care of my brother
babysit him and I have an
00:01:42.53\00:01:45.47
older brother who he was eight.
And you know, he was helping the
00:01:45.47\00:01:48.44
best way they could
but unfortunately, we we
00:01:48.44\00:01:51.64
were just raised in
the streets. My mom wasn't
00:01:51.64\00:01:54.51
home. You know, she was
either working and when she
00:01:54.51\00:01:56.85
wasn't working she was
00:01:56.85\00:01:57.05
Drinking and you know many times
00:01:58.45\00:02:01.52
she was in trouble. So she
was in jail. So pretty much
00:02:01.52\00:02:04.25
we had to learn
how to survive and you
00:02:04.25\00:02:07.69
know how to to I guess
00:02:07.69\00:02:10.39
be raised just any streets,
you know, three little kids.
00:02:10.39\00:02:12.23
And often did you see your mom?
Did you show up at home from
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time to time? I
mean she was coming home.
00:02:17.27\00:02:18.30
I guess almost every
day when she could but she
00:02:20.54\00:02:23.84
was coming home like two in the
morning three in the morning.
00:02:23.84\00:02:26.37
Sometimes we were sleeping and
then she was living to work very
00:02:26.37\00:02:28.64
early and
00:02:28.64\00:02:29.54
many times like I
said, she didn't come
00:02:31.78\00:02:34.22
home and we were always
waiting for her, but she
00:02:34.22\00:02:36.45
She was impressing because
of this addiction it really
00:02:38.75\00:02:41.22
it got her really really bad.
00:02:41.22\00:02:42.16
As you got a little older.
How did you manage? How did
00:02:44.46\00:02:46.73
Well, you have an
education where you going
00:02:48.83\00:02:50.83
to school?
Well, unfortunately, I
00:02:50.83\00:02:54.47
wasn't able to like
finish my high school.
00:02:54.47\00:02:56.84
So I do remember them as I
00:02:56.84\00:03:00.48
get a little bit older
one of my ends. She kind
00:03:00.48\00:03:03.31
of Step In she
took me with her and
00:03:03.31\00:03:06.75
my oldest brother he and
they're up and they I orphanage
00:03:06.75\00:03:10.22
a place where they were
00:03:10.22\00:03:12.25
gonna raise him or
whatever and my baby
00:03:12.25\00:03:13.99
brother, who knows what he was
it was such a tough situation.
00:03:15.56\00:03:17.39
so I have a vague memory of me
00:03:19.49\00:03:22.63
going to school, but I think
I went to school until fourth
00:03:22.63\00:03:25.47
grade and really I
didn't finish and then
00:03:25.47\00:03:28.60
I escaped from my
in-house and I went back I guess
00:03:28.60\00:03:31.74
to the streets and
live with my mom the
00:03:31.74\00:03:33.64
best way I we could
00:03:33.64\00:03:34.04
And my brother my older brother,
he's came from that place
00:03:36.01\00:03:38.58
too. And he didn't go back.
I mean despite we were living
00:03:38.58\00:03:41.38
in the streets. We wanted
to be all together the best way
00:03:41.38\00:03:44.45
we could in this case for
you in Costa Rica, San Jose,
00:03:44.45\00:03:47.12
right? Yes big city.
Yeah, what was living on
00:03:47.12\00:03:50.86
the street? So what does that
mean? Did you have any place
00:03:50.86\00:03:53.63
where you just out all the
time? Well, we were living in a
00:03:53.63\00:03:55.76
small room.
00:03:55.76\00:03:55.96
the floor he was dirt, and it
00:03:57.47\00:03:59.60
Like metal, I don't
know how they didn't.
00:04:02.47\00:04:05.27
Yeah, like a 10
that was the only
00:04:05.27\00:04:06.98
thing my munchie was
able to afford for us. We were
00:04:08.41\00:04:12.05
sleeping in like cardboard.
00:04:12.05\00:04:13.05
you know because we didn't
have a mattress, so it was just
00:04:15.68\00:04:18.05
really really poor
really tough and we
00:04:18.05\00:04:22.96
had to I guess
00:04:22.96\00:04:23.83
still
00:04:23.83\00:04:24.33
To be able to feel ourselves.
So we were like still in brailed
00:04:26.59\00:04:29.43
or we were going
to different farms and
00:04:29.43\00:04:32.80
places where they have
like mango and oranges and
00:04:32.80\00:04:35.10
I guess whatever fruit they have
00:04:35.10\00:04:38.24
and just I guess jump
the gate and just get all
00:04:38.24\00:04:41.74
the fruit and be able to
fit ourselves because we just
00:04:41.74\00:04:45.15
didn't have any food and
we will start being in my
00:04:45.15\00:04:47.12
mind just wasn't presenting and
00:04:47.12\00:04:47.98
she just couldn't be pressing.
It was just too much for her
00:04:50.62\00:04:53.19
when you quit school
after fourth grade. What kind
00:04:53.19\00:04:56.62
of jobs could you
find? Well, I started
00:04:56.62\00:04:59.53
working at the age of
12 years old because I
00:04:59.53\00:05:00.73
I had the responsibility to
take care of my brothers because
00:05:03.53\00:05:05.13
obviously my mom
she wasn't emotionally a
00:05:07.20\00:05:10.81
stable to do it. So at the
age of 12, I started working
00:05:10.81\00:05:13.14
cleaning So I was cleaning
houses. I was working like in
00:05:15.41\00:05:18.45
a small restaurants,
but mainly just cleaning
00:05:18.45\00:05:21.65
houses and just trying
to make a living to help
00:05:21.65\00:05:23.32
Did you end up getting in the
drug scene and drinking scene?
00:05:25.85\00:05:28.36
Well, when I turn 15
years old, I remember
00:05:28.36\00:05:31.16
then I was
introduced to alcohol and that
00:05:31.16\00:05:35.13
was my mom. She gave me
00:05:35.13\00:05:37.37
a beer and she
opened it. He said
00:05:37.37\00:05:40.74
your mother was an alcoholic.
She was an alcoholic. Yeah,
00:05:40.74\00:05:43.91
she's strong with that for many
years for over 30 years. So she
00:05:43.91\00:05:46.94
gave me my first beer and
I started drinking at the age
00:05:46.94\00:05:48.38
and then that
leads to start smoking
00:05:50.25\00:05:53.78
and that lead to start, you know
00:05:53.78\00:05:55.55
smoking with a
00:05:55.55\00:05:57.05
that's just got
worse and worse. Yeah.
00:05:59.12\00:06:00.39
Yeah, I just really
start getting really worse and
00:06:02.56\00:06:04.96
then I became an
alcoholic myself.
00:06:04.96\00:06:05.73
At what age did you well you're
00:06:08.43\00:06:11.53
here in the United States. Now,
what age did you finally decide
00:06:11.53\00:06:14.77
or to come here?
Well, I wasn't a previous
00:06:14.77\00:06:17.24
relationships. So
at the age of 25, I
00:06:17.24\00:06:18.61
the opportunity to move to
the US came because of this
00:06:21.71\00:06:24.55
relationship and I will let you
know what I'm going to bury my
00:06:24.55\00:06:27.35
past and the street life and I'm
00:06:27.35\00:06:30.89
gonna move to another country
and I guess start fresh to
00:06:30.89\00:06:33.05
see if I was able to get rid of
00:06:33.05\00:06:34.32
did that work not
good start whole new
00:06:36.26\00:06:39.36
life. Anyway, right? I
know we all probably want
00:06:39.36\00:06:42.86
to sit down. There's a great
chair. What are we all go down
00:06:42.86\00:06:45.50
here? Tell the rest of
the story? Yes, absolutely.
00:06:45.50\00:06:45.53
Welcome. I'm Steve Hicks
director of podcast Ministries
00:06:48.37\00:06:51.67
for talking donkey
International a media
00:06:51.67\00:06:54.34
company. I'm inviting
you to watch and share our
00:06:54.34\00:06:57.48
new daily podcast
called something's happening
00:06:57.48\00:07:00.55
here Monday through
Friday at 3 pm Pacific
00:07:00.55\00:07:03.12
Standard Time.
00:07:03.12\00:07:03.32
On this podcast, we will
examine the big headlines of
00:07:05.42\00:07:08.49
the day and try to understand
them the way that God does
00:07:08.49\00:07:11.33
we'll talk current
events spiritual principles
00:07:11.33\00:07:14.63
biblical prophecy
and practical takeaways.
00:07:14.63\00:07:17.03
We want to equip our audience
with the knowledge that we need
00:07:19.67\00:07:22.27
to navigate the
mess of today and get to
00:07:22.27\00:07:24.67
the hope of tomorrow.
00:07:24.67\00:07:25.21
And we'll do it
in 15 minute chunks.
00:07:27.21\00:07:28.71
So come check it out
friends on Facebook YouTube and
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talking donkey
international.org. Join
00:07:33.68\00:07:37.19
us on some things
00:07:37.19\00:07:39.49
happening here because there
is truly Something Happening
00:07:39.49\00:07:41.62
Subscribe today and
I will see you then.
00:07:43.63\00:07:45.06
Jim you just recently
finished a new book the
00:07:47.13\00:07:50.10
plan of love. I
just read it and I
00:07:50.10\00:07:53.64
actually loved it. I read
it all in one sitting over
00:07:53.64\00:07:57.34
the course of the
same day. Anyway, where can
00:07:57.34\00:07:59.04
They can actually go to Talking
Donkey international.org. And
00:08:01.04\00:08:03.68
actually if you give a
gift to the ministry of $12
00:08:03.68\00:08:06.75
or more, we'll send you the book
completely free talking donkey
00:08:06.75\00:08:10.05
international.org.
See if you give a gift
00:08:10.05\00:08:12.75
to the ministry of 12 dollars
or more. We'll send you the book
00:08:12.75\00:08:15.22
completely free and I'll
autograph it for you all so
00:08:15.22\00:08:16.32
Wow, feels good to come
over here and set down glad we
00:08:28.74\00:08:31.67
thought of this right you
were leaning against the bridge
00:08:31.67\00:08:34.71
though. What do you complaining
about? I can still complain now
00:08:34.71\00:08:38.45
when we were over on
the bridge you had just
00:08:38.45\00:08:40.15
said you were 25. Yes and came
00:08:40.15\00:08:43.75
to the states and did life
00:08:43.75\00:08:47.49
get a whole lot better
at that point. Well actually
00:08:47.49\00:08:48.72
It did and it didn't because the
00:08:51.29\00:08:55.10
alcoholic issues I have they got
00:08:55.10\00:08:57.70
really really worse smoking are
00:08:57.70\00:09:00.70
really worse. And
now I had the money
00:09:00.70\00:09:03.20
to afford it to
feed the Habit exactly so
00:09:03.20\00:09:06.71
it got ten times worse. You say
00:09:06.71\00:09:09.98
yeah, I mean you're already an
alcoholic and it got worse. How
00:09:09.98\00:09:12.51
do you get worse than being
an alcoholic? Well, because I
00:09:12.51\00:09:15.72
don't know in my
case. I was in Costa Rica.
00:09:15.72\00:09:18.89
I was limited to dream because I
didn't have the money to afford
00:09:18.89\00:09:21.72
it. But now in the US I'm
working on making money and I'm
drinking every single
00:09:21.72\00:09:23.63
Yeah, can I be
nosy enough how much?
00:09:26.16\00:09:26.63
How much yeah,
well, I used to drink a
00:09:28.40\00:09:31.33
lot of beer. So I was
drinking. I don't know
00:09:31.33\00:09:33.77
sometimes I was drinking 12.
00:09:33.77\00:09:35.04
13 beers in the day. I
was drinking like vodka
00:09:37.41\00:09:40.71
tequila.
00:09:40.71\00:09:41.21
Shots of all on
00:09:42.18\00:09:45.78
the same day. Yeah, it
just depends on the occasions.
00:09:45.78\00:09:48.65
Sometimes you go to the club and
you just start drinking beer and
00:09:48.65\00:09:51.49
shots and I mean just really
really sad, you know situation
00:09:51.49\00:09:54.06
and smoking a lot.
00:09:54.06\00:09:54.46
Then you met someone and am
00:09:56.06\00:09:59.86
I correct you met
him in a bar? I do. Yeah.
00:09:59.86\00:10:01.03
Yeah, that's when I feel
came into the picture. I went
00:10:03.37\00:10:06.70
to a party and he was there.
00:10:06.70\00:10:07.54
And then pretty much
that's how I met him. He's
00:10:09.60\00:10:12.74
an alcoholic. He
smokes like really heavy
00:10:12.74\00:10:15.51
and I do too and it's
almost like okay. I may I
00:10:15.51\00:10:17.95
made my match.
00:10:17.95\00:10:17.98
at that time
00:10:18.91\00:10:19.38
terrible. Yeah, but this seemed
00:10:21.12\00:10:23.85
like the guy for you.
00:10:23.85\00:10:24.15
Well at the mommy.
00:10:25.29\00:10:25.72
it kind of
00:10:26.82\00:10:27.56
is brought up with
our father. So I'm not
00:10:33.13\00:10:36.60
trusting guys at all. And
I'm very very cautious when
00:10:36.60\00:10:39.67
it comes to a guy at that
momming. You know, there is
00:10:39.67\00:10:43.10
a really handsome
six foot seven guy. Yeah,
00:10:43.10\00:10:45.77
definitely and that was super
attracted to him. Yeah. Yeah,
00:10:45.77\00:10:48.34
nothing I didn't he is a cutie.
00:10:48.34\00:10:51.21
Thank you. Where did it
go from there? Well when
00:10:51.21\00:10:54.18
I met feel he was our own Bale.
00:10:54.18\00:10:55.55
And he told me
that he had a case
00:10:57.25\00:10:59.55
pending.
00:10:59.55\00:11:00.06
really didn't know what was
00:11:01.36\00:11:02.72
didn't tell you what
it was about he kind of
00:11:04.53\00:11:07.30
tell me about but I just
didn't know how bad it was
00:11:07.30\00:11:10.20
the situation. I have to
tell you as a mother of a
00:11:10.20\00:11:13.47
daughter who you
know is she's single
00:11:13.47\00:11:16.77
she's one of
00:11:16.77\00:11:19.34
these days. I hope
she'll meet someone.
00:11:19.34\00:11:19.71
The thought of her
meeting someone in a
00:11:21.64\00:11:23.95
bar who's on Bale?
00:11:23.95\00:11:24.98
This is horrifying.
00:11:30.32\00:11:30.99
Yeah, it was it was
really crazy. But for the
00:11:32.62\00:11:35.46
environment and I was brought
up to me that was normal, you
00:11:35.46\00:11:38.93
know, I was normal to
meet somebody with tons of
00:11:38.93\00:11:41.50
addictions and dimension lie
because I was damaged myself.
00:11:41.50\00:11:42.96
So I guess you had no concept of
00:11:44.27\00:11:47.57
anything else. Not at
all. I never I never knew
00:11:47.57\00:11:49.60
So for me this
this was normal, I
00:11:51.37\00:11:54.41
guess so he's out on
bail and you told him.
00:11:54.41\00:11:57.21
Okay, I'll wait for
you. He's our own bail.
00:11:57.21\00:12:00.65
And then we start getting
attached. We start hanging out.
00:12:00.65\00:12:03.08
We are friends and
then when I realized, you
00:12:03.08\00:12:06.72
know, he has to go to
court and they sentence
00:12:06.72\00:12:09.66
him and they take him
out away from me. How long
00:12:09.66\00:12:12.49
did this time
period of dating go on
00:12:12.49\00:12:14.93
before the court, I will say
00:12:14.93\00:12:16.03
Probably like eight months.
00:12:18.03\00:12:19.70
And then a court date
and then a court date tell
00:12:21.80\00:12:24.87
us about being in court. I
assume you were in court. Yeah,
00:12:24.87\00:12:27.54
I wonder they took Court. I
wanted to figure out what was
00:12:27.54\00:12:30.18
going on and I wanted to
support him and you know,
00:12:30.18\00:12:31.98
they show all the proof
they show the you know, the
00:12:33.68\00:12:36.95
prosecutor the
Josh everything and stop
00:12:36.95\00:12:39.95
you just was a
proof of what of you
00:12:39.95\00:12:42.69
know the bullets he
shot on the air the drugs
00:12:42.69\00:12:46.16
and they found in
the car the guns without
00:12:46.16\00:12:49.03
the permit for one
with permit and the other
00:12:49.03\00:12:51.37
one too without permit. So
they show all these proof and
00:12:51.37\00:12:54.07
he was sentenced
and they ran away in
00:12:54.07\00:12:56.60
Hank up ham and they
took him away from me.
00:12:59.14\00:13:00.61
Pretty traumatic
moment, but you stuck with him.
00:13:03.38\00:13:04.45
Did you tell him
you'd wait for him?
00:13:07.15\00:13:07.62
I didn't actually I
just wanted to like run
00:13:09.28\00:13:11.62
I already have a lot of
issues and in my life and I
00:13:14.52\00:13:16.16
I just didn't want to have
more issues than he wasn't I
00:13:18.93\00:13:21.56
already have you
know, I already had a messed
00:13:21.56\00:13:24.77
up life and I'm putting
myself and something 10 times
00:13:24.77\00:13:27.34
worse. So I'm just
trying to escape and I'm
00:13:27.34\00:13:30.97
trying to be on the Nile then
00:13:30.97\00:13:33.38
I wanted to support
him. But at the end I I did I
00:13:33.38\00:13:36.61
support him. I just my
conscious didn't allow me to to
00:13:36.61\00:13:39.58
leave him in that place.
00:13:39.58\00:13:39.98
but you
00:13:41.38\00:13:41.98
never seen anybody hauled
away in shackles, especially
00:13:45.02\00:13:46.99
now your boyfriend.
00:13:46.99\00:13:47.22
Indigo and Costa
Rica and all the things
00:13:53.53\00:13:55.40
I saw.
00:13:55.40\00:13:55.43
I guess I was I never saw
00:13:57.40\00:14:00.10
such a crazy a theme in my life
00:14:00.10\00:14:01.97
But I saw criminals all
the time, but never I was
00:14:04.71\00:14:06.78
never in a court.
00:14:06.78\00:14:07.38
So for me that was really
traumatic and it was someone
00:14:09.44\00:14:12.61
that you'd grow an
attached to exactly exactly. So
00:14:12.61\00:14:15.62
Monday, then you love and
someone you want to be with. So
00:14:15.62\00:14:18.42
what happened
after he went to prison?
00:14:18.42\00:14:20.22
But we had to when he went
to prison we stopped talking
00:14:22.62\00:14:25.26
for a while. He was
not able to talk and I was
00:14:25.26\00:14:28.50
like I said trying to run away
from this situation and then
00:14:28.50\00:14:31.43
all of the Southern
he reached out to me and
00:14:31.43\00:14:32.37
he's another man in.
00:14:34.80\00:14:35.37
I didn't even know what was
happening to him. He's another
00:14:38.17\00:14:39.14
man. Pretty much. Yeah, it
was this in a phone call or a
00:14:41.64\00:14:44.45
letter or what he
called me and he said that
00:14:44.45\00:14:47.02
he was praying for me.
00:14:47.02\00:14:47.72
And he was he a man
00:14:49.32\00:14:52.62
of prayer before he
went to prison never he
00:14:52.62\00:14:56.16
didn't even read the
Bible. He didn't even talk
00:14:56.16\00:14:58.43
about God. He told
me many times and if he
00:14:58.43\00:15:01.56
died one day, he
probably you know would go
00:15:01.56\00:15:03.43
I guess you know
to hell because he he
00:15:05.57\00:15:09.04
knew that he wasn't safe and
he know that he was not really
00:15:09.04\00:15:11.64
living right so reach back
to that moment you get this
00:15:11.64\00:15:13.74
phone call. It's Phil and
00:15:13.74\00:15:15.38
he tells you this what on
Earth is going through your
00:15:17.51\00:15:19.38
Well in my case.
00:15:20.62\00:15:20.98
I'm just I'm not I'm just shock
00:15:22.45\00:15:25.59
because I'm drinking I'm
drinking more than I ever
00:15:25.59\00:15:28.82
dreamed before because
I'm depressed about him being
00:15:28.82\00:15:31.43
increasing and all these
craziness happening in my life
00:15:31.43\00:15:34.66
and all of these out and he's
telling me he's praying for me
00:15:34.66\00:15:37.40
and he's he's our
memorizing verses. So the
00:15:37.40\00:15:40.34
Bible is our telling me
all these guys promises and
00:15:40.34\00:15:43.77
I just could not believe it.
00:15:43.77\00:15:44.44
I was like, what is
home look at the phone.
00:15:46.37\00:15:47.21
Yeah, I was like what is
happening over here? And I see
00:15:49.48\00:15:52.45
how God is transforming
his life. And yeah, what
00:15:52.45\00:15:55.82
made you curious seeing those
changes in him going? Why is
00:15:55.82\00:15:58.65
he different? What is
it? He's learning that has
00:15:58.65\00:16:01.52
made him this I
would assume a new improved
00:16:01.52\00:16:04.59
version of your
boyfriend. Well, definitely I
00:16:04.59\00:16:07.30
started seeing
Improvement in you know,
00:16:07.30\00:16:10.03
when he get out there. He was a
00:16:10.03\00:16:13.37
different person and he wanted
to get married. He doesn't
00:16:13.37\00:16:16.34
want it to leave
this life anymore.
00:16:16.34\00:16:17.21
And I just couldn't
believe it. I don't even I mean
00:16:20.81\00:16:23.21
I guess so excited
because he was a new person. He
00:16:23.21\00:16:26.58
was not the person that
went to that prison and when
00:16:26.58\00:16:29.52
he get out there he was
a new individual so part
00:16:29.52\00:16:32.85
of you liked what
you were hearing, but the
00:16:32.85\00:16:35.46
other part kind of scared
definitely definitely I rejected
00:16:35.46\00:16:38.53
because he was
telling me many things and
00:16:38.53\00:16:41.20
I never heard before
and he was witnessing to
00:16:41.20\00:16:44.17
me and I was just care because I
00:16:44.17\00:16:47.57
didn't have a
father in my life and to
00:16:47.57\00:16:50.57
me the idea then
God one. Wanted to be
00:16:50.57\00:16:52.37
my dad.
00:16:52.37\00:16:52.44
He's just shocked me
think he wanted to save me
00:16:54.48\00:16:57.38
then. He's saying his
own Jesus Christ to save me.
00:16:57.38\00:16:59.61
I just couldn't believe it.
00:17:02.28\00:17:02.72
You know, I have
so much seeing in
00:17:04.95\00:17:09.09
my life. Then I just
couldn't believe then.
00:17:09.09\00:17:09.56
Somebody died for me and
then somebody wants to give
00:17:11.43\00:17:13.56
me a new life.
00:17:13.56\00:17:13.73
and I
00:17:14.96\00:17:15.20
I couldn't believe it and it
took me a while to even process
00:17:18.67\00:17:21.34
this thought then
God wanted to give me
00:17:21.34\00:17:24.44
a better life and then he
wanted to give me a new life and
00:17:24.44\00:17:28.01
he wanted to
remove all this horrible
00:17:28.01\00:17:30.51
habits and
things that I had in my
00:17:30.51\00:17:32.21
And did you find was it
difficult to give those things
00:17:34.72\00:17:37.25
up or did you find
the power like right away?
00:17:37.25\00:17:40.36
It was it was a first it
was difficult because I was
00:17:40.36\00:17:42.69
undeniable day.
00:17:42.69\00:17:44.33
Then God will do
these things for me and I
00:17:46.66\00:17:49.43
didn't want to surrender
my heart to him. I you could
00:17:49.43\00:17:52.87
see the changes and
fill, but you weren't sure
00:17:52.87\00:17:54.94
that it would work for you.
00:17:54.94\00:17:55.14
Something like that or not sure
that that's what you wanted.
00:17:58.71\00:18:01.61
Even I guess in that
Mommy. I was so attached to
00:18:01.61\00:18:04.75
sing that I didn't want to
00:18:04.75\00:18:07.12
let it go because
that's how it's a way
00:18:07.12\00:18:10.15
to put it. Sometimes
we love seeing more than
00:18:10.15\00:18:13.19
God. We don't see the
light. We just want to
00:18:13.19\00:18:16.36
keep holding on these not
realize something God wants
00:18:16.36\00:18:19.73
to give you something better,
but you just don't want to let
00:18:19.73\00:18:21.20
it Didn't like your life, but
you didn't it was a safe place
00:18:23.40\00:18:26.17
to be still. Yeah,
exactly. Exactly So eventually,
00:18:26.17\00:18:29.77
I mean I see all
the changes on field. I
00:18:29.77\00:18:32.31
see him witness and to
me we start going to church
00:18:32.31\00:18:34.98
people on the church. How long
00:18:34.98\00:18:36.98
was he in jail though. She gets
out of jail. Now. How long was
00:18:38.81\00:18:39.45
he there? Feel yeah, I will say
probably like eight months eight
00:18:41.72\00:18:44.59
months then he gets
out. So now you're face to
00:18:44.59\00:18:48.32
face when it's changed person.
Tell me just a little about
00:18:48.32\00:18:50.76
about that. What was
that like to well, he spending
00:18:50.76\00:18:54.63
the majority of
his time reading the
00:18:54.63\00:18:55.36
And I was coming home from work
and he was reading the Bible.
00:18:57.50\00:19:00.57
I was living in the morning
to work and he was praying and
00:19:00.57\00:19:03.71
delivering room and doing
the washing my time in reading
00:19:03.71\00:19:06.44
the Bible and I just
thinking what is it about the
00:19:06.44\00:19:09.51
Bible and God and
what is it about these men
00:19:09.51\00:19:12.61
doing all these things?
I just didn't understand
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.35
what was
happening. Did you get a
00:19:15.35\00:19:18.92
little bit jealous about
the time he was standing in the
00:19:18.92\00:19:21.26
Bible and with God. No, I
did not I did not actually I
00:19:21.26\00:19:24.36
was happy for him
because I realized and he
00:19:24.36\00:19:27.46
found something that I
didn't have in that moment.
00:19:27.46\00:19:28.70
And he was happy and
he was at peace and I
00:19:30.47\00:19:33.13
was very happy for him.
00:19:33.13\00:19:33.60
You got married and you
have an adorable little girl.
00:19:36.34\00:19:38.21
Life has to be very
different now than you might
00:19:41.74\00:19:42.98
have ever
envisioned your life. Yes.
00:19:44.25\00:19:44.71
Yeah, I just
00:19:45.91\00:19:45.98
I just never
thought thing. God will
00:19:48.55\00:19:52.35
even give me the
privilege to have a family
00:19:52.35\00:19:53.92
and to have a normal life.
00:19:53.92\00:19:55.06
Because now I'm
realizing that the life
00:19:56.66\00:19:59.29
that I had it
wasn't a normal life.
00:19:59.29\00:20:00.33
and God wanted to give me
00:20:01.83\00:20:02.60
a normal life with my
daughter with my husband.
00:20:04.73\00:20:06.03
he just wanted to
deliver me from all the
00:20:09.74\00:20:12.67
things that I just
hold up from my past.
00:20:12.67\00:20:14.14
Welcome. I'm Steve Hicks
director of podcast Ministries
00:20:17.48\00:20:20.75
for talking donkey International
a media company. I'm
00:20:20.75\00:20:24.05
inviting you to
watch and share our new
00:20:24.05\00:20:26.49
daily podcast called
something's happening
00:20:26.49\00:20:29.32
here Monday through
Friday at 3pm Pacific
00:20:29.32\00:20:32.06
Standard Time.
00:20:32.06\00:20:32.13
On this podcast, we will
examine the big headlines of the
00:20:34.36\00:20:35.96
day and try to understand
them the way that God does we'll
00:20:37.50\00:20:41.04
talk current events
spiritual principles
00:20:41.04\00:20:43.47
biblical prophecy
and practical takeaways.
00:20:43.47\00:20:45.71
We want to equip our audience
with the knowledge that we need
00:20:48.68\00:20:51.78
to navigate the mess of
today and get to the hope
00:20:51.78\00:20:53.78
of tomorrow.
00:20:53.78\00:20:54.05
And we'll do it in 15
minute chunks. So come
00:20:56.18\00:21:00.19
check it out friends
on Facebook YouTube and
00:21:00.19\00:21:02.42
talking donkey
international.org. Join
00:21:02.42\00:21:06.06
us on some things happening here
00:21:06.06\00:21:08.56
because there is truly
Something Happening Here.
00:21:08.56\00:21:10.43
Subscribe today and
I will see you then.
00:21:12.37\00:21:13.97
My kids once came
across a bundle of
00:21:16.60\00:21:19.41
old Love Letters from
their dad to me. They thought
00:21:19.41\00:21:22.24
they were hysterical.
00:21:22.24\00:21:22.98
But those letters
still mean something to me.
00:21:24.71\00:21:25.71
Their concrete
reminders of just how
00:21:27.55\00:21:29.82
much I was and still am loved.
00:21:29.82\00:21:32.32
The Bible is full
of love letters to us
00:21:34.09\00:21:36.66
from God.
00:21:36.66\00:21:37.23
This little tract
has dozens of them.
00:21:39.66\00:21:41.03
If you need some
concrete reminders of
00:21:42.56\00:21:45.17
just how much God
loves you get your free
00:21:45.17\00:21:48.37
copy of a love
letter from Jesus.
00:21:48.37\00:21:49.70
Go to Talking Donkey
international.org and
00:21:51.71\00:21:54.68
request offer number 122 a
00:21:54.68\00:21:57.91
love letter from Jesus.
00:21:57.91\00:21:58.45
I think
00:22:02.65\00:22:06.22
one of the things you
said early on is so important
00:22:06.22\00:22:09.16
to many of the
viewers out there.
00:22:09.16\00:22:10.33
They've never had
a real father figure.
00:22:12.63\00:22:15.50
They've never had a
real father you did. How
00:22:15.50\00:22:19.10
do you relate
now to God as being
00:22:19.10\00:22:20.90
your loving father?
00:22:20.90\00:22:21.20
God has been the
best thing ever happened
00:22:23.54\00:22:25.54
and I never
00:22:26.84\00:22:27.04
thought they're not
gonna have a father then love
00:22:29.48\00:22:32.58
me the way he does
the supply all of my
00:22:32.58\00:22:35.32
needs that he knows
the way I feel that he
00:22:35.32\00:22:38.92
knows everything about me.
00:22:38.92\00:22:40.06
And I still loves
you exactly I find myself
00:22:42.36\00:22:45.53
because I know all of my
faults even though I I hide
00:22:45.53\00:22:48.73
most of them and look
pretty good in public.
00:22:48.73\00:22:51.27
You know what your
00:22:51.27\00:22:55.07
mind is really like, you know,
the thoughts that are there and
00:22:55.07\00:22:57.47
how far you are
sometimes from where
00:22:57.47\00:23:00.28
you know, God wants you
and the fact that he has
00:23:00.28\00:23:03.21
never given up
on me never. Yeah.
00:23:03.21\00:23:04.15
Exactly. It's incredible.
Yeah, it's just amazing because
00:23:06.35\00:23:07.98
like I say the
way that he loved me.
00:23:10.05\00:23:11.62
Is just
overwhelming I mailed when
00:23:14.19\00:23:17.89
I think about
him he just melt my
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.13
heart and I realizing yeah,
00:23:20.13\00:23:23.63
it's true. I didn't have
a father figure growing up.
00:23:23.63\00:23:24.53
But I have the best
father I can ever ever have in
00:23:26.47\00:23:29.57
life and he
preserved me all these
00:23:29.57\00:23:32.67
years despite where I was
00:23:32.67\00:23:34.78
despite how I grew up.
00:23:34.78\00:23:35.31
Many people from my neighborhood
didn't made it many people
00:23:37.61\00:23:40.38
they ended up being
prostitutes drug dealers
00:23:40.38\00:23:43.28
in drugs. So
many terrible things,
00:23:43.28\00:23:47.09
you know, and I
always thinking God
00:23:47.09\00:23:48.22
why me? Why did you choose me?
00:23:49.99\00:23:51.99
And I always think
about all these things
00:23:55.26\00:23:58.23
and think about his love
and his mercy and the father
00:23:58.23\00:24:01.40
he gave me a
normal life It's ability
00:24:01.40\00:24:04.94
something that I
always always look for
00:24:04.94\00:24:07.08
all my life because a lot
00:24:07.08\00:24:10.45
of people don't have a
normal life describe. Now what
00:24:10.45\00:24:13.28
you're calling
normal if you would
00:24:13.28\00:24:13.55
A normal life to me is a life in
00:24:15.18\00:24:18.09
Christ. It's a life where?
00:24:18.09\00:24:19.45
I don't know how to
explain. It's just a life.
00:24:22.89\00:24:25.66
When you feel peace
when you feel like you are
00:24:25.66\00:24:28.33
doing the right thing when
you feel like you are doing
00:24:28.33\00:24:30.60
God's will.
00:24:30.60\00:24:31.20
That's that's to me and
normal life a lighting. God
00:24:33.23\00:24:36.44
one all of us to have
do you still you know,
00:24:36.44\00:24:40.08
you're married. Do you still
have fights? You still have any
00:24:40.08\00:24:42.01
problems and issues?
00:24:42.01\00:24:42.21
You mean to see
becoming a Christian solve all
00:24:44.48\00:24:47.48
issues? Yeah, exactly. Oh
so far as you always gonna have
00:24:47.48\00:24:50.35
issues life is not
going to be perfect.
00:24:50.35\00:24:51.45
But what I can tell
you is this when you
00:24:53.39\00:24:56.32
have got as a
center of your marriage
00:24:56.32\00:24:59.56
as a center of your
life, all these things can
00:24:59.56\00:25:01.63
be worked out.
00:25:01.63\00:25:01.70
So that's the beauty
00:25:03.30\00:25:06.67
of having God in
your life. Then, you know,
00:25:06.67\00:25:07.97
he will forgive you. He will
cleanse you he will pick you
00:25:09.94\00:25:12.24
up and he will get
you going and that's
00:25:12.24\00:25:15.14
what he does for us.
00:25:15.14\00:25:15.61
It's I mean, you can't
say better. You know, where do
00:25:19.31\00:25:22.92
you envision the two of
you and your beautiful child?
00:25:22.92\00:25:25.69
What's the direction of life
now in the future? Well, what
00:25:25.69\00:25:29.79
is it you're doing at
the moment because when you
00:25:29.79\00:25:32.73
have something a
gift that is wonderful as
00:25:32.73\00:25:35.63
when you discover
what what God he died for
00:25:35.63\00:25:38.43
you. He wants you to have
this better life. You really
00:25:38.43\00:25:41.40
can't help not wanting
to share it exactly. Well
00:25:41.40\00:25:44.74
ever since you know,
00:25:44.74\00:25:46.88
God Christ shoes us. We just
00:25:46.88\00:25:48.98
want to serve him we
want to be a Ministry
00:25:50.55\00:25:53.38
and we want many
people to know then
00:25:53.38\00:25:57.05
God will get their
mouth from these dark
00:25:57.05\00:25:59.49
hole where they are. Then God
00:25:59.49\00:26:02.32
will make something
out of nothing because
00:26:02.32\00:26:05.59
he did it with me and
then there is salvation and
00:26:05.59\00:26:07.60
And that's what we want people
to know and that's what we want
00:26:09.90\00:26:12.07
to work for him all
the rest of our lives.
00:26:12.07\00:26:12.70
It's almost from almost
killing yourself drugs and
00:26:14.70\00:26:17.27
alcohol and
everything else to your
00:26:17.27\00:26:20.48
husband almost
shooting someone and in prison
00:26:20.48\00:26:23.14
to nail your administrate.
00:26:23.14\00:26:24.31
So many grace of God. Yes,
incredible. Yes. My husband
00:26:26.61\00:26:29.45
Is in the school, he's
in a pastoral program and
00:26:31.75\00:26:34.92
we just want to get
equipped and be prepared to
00:26:34.92\00:26:37.03
work for the Lord.
00:26:37.03\00:26:37.39
What would you tell others
that there may be watching the
00:26:39.89\00:26:42.46
program today? What would you
tell them why they should try
00:26:42.46\00:26:44.70
what I will say
today, you know, even if you
00:26:47.20\00:26:50.11
had daddy issues
mommy issues, you can
00:26:50.11\00:26:54.01
be an orphanage whatever you're
going through right now. Just
00:26:54.01\00:26:56.81
trusting God
pray to him seek him
00:26:56.81\00:27:00.12
in a humble heart.
There is something about a
00:27:00.12\00:27:02.55
humble Harding. God
will never never reject it
00:27:02.55\00:27:05.12
just pray to him and ask him
00:27:05.12\00:27:06.99
for direction at us
him Lord. I want to get to
00:27:08.26\00:27:11.39
know you show me
who you are and he will
00:27:11.39\00:27:14.46
show it to you.
He will guide you
00:27:14.46\00:27:17.20
Just Surrender Your Life
to him. Don't stop holding
00:27:17.20\00:27:20.47
on all these
addictions as I holding all
00:27:20.47\00:27:23.71
this resentments from the past.
And the only thing they are
00:27:23.71\00:27:26.14
doing is eating you
alive. You are a slave
00:27:26.14\00:27:29.44
of this habits.
You are a slave of
00:27:29.44\00:27:32.85
all these groceries and
you holding for your deaf and
00:27:32.85\00:27:35.52
your mom for new siblings
just surrender all to Christ and
00:27:35.52\00:27:38.35
he will bring you your heart and
00:27:38.35\00:27:40.89
your mind. Yeah folks. I want to
00:27:40.89\00:27:42.99
tell you that's
the key surrender.
00:27:44.13\00:27:45.46
Try we serve an
amazing God. He's a
00:27:47.13\00:27:50.87
tremendous God. She knows
what she's talking about. And
00:27:50.87\00:27:53.50
this actually really a two-part
series her husband is on
00:27:53.50\00:27:56.34
another episode
Phil of watch for him.
00:27:56.34\00:27:56.97
It's an incredible
testimony also put the two
00:27:58.84\00:28:01.51
of them together and you
find about a couple that God dug
00:28:01.51\00:28:04.41
out of the sewer. Can I
say that? Oh, yes, it is and
00:28:04.41\00:28:07.72
except the bulb on a pinnacle.
Give it a try. It's wonderful.
00:28:07.72\00:28:09.32
Thank you for
watching join us again for
00:28:11.45\00:28:14.39
another exciting country
wisdom. See you next time.
00:28:14.39\00:28:15.62