¤ ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ I want to spend
my life removing pain ¤
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¤ Lord let my words
heal a heart that hurts ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ ¤
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Well hello friends and welcome
back to another 3ABN Today
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program. I'm here
with my wife Rise (Ree see)
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And we have a couple of guests
today that have a tremendous
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story of faith and courage.
We're going to be talking about
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track and field, we're going to
be talking about running, we're
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going to be talking about the
experience of a young lady named
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Lydia and her grandma is here
also, Madeline's here to share
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a little bit about the
experiences that they had in
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standing for God and standing
for the Sabbath in the context
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of track and field. So let's
just introduce our guests, shall
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we.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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Lydia, it's so good to have you
here on our 3ABN Today program.
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Well, I'm glad to be here.
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And we are just are so blessed
by reading your story and that
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stand you took for God. I'm sure
it took a lot of courage and a
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lot of faith to do that. So
we're looking forward to hearing
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that story.
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Well, it wasn't easy.
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And you are here with a special
family member. (Yes) Madeline
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We are so glad
that you're here also.
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Hello. It's a
pleasure to be here.
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And who is Madeline to you?
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She's my grandma. My
biggest fan. (Probably)
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You have a sweet
nickname for your grandma.
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Yes, I call her Nanny. (Nanny)
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All right. Well Madeline and
Lydia, we're glad you're here.
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We're going to get right into
your story, but before we do
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that we're going to take a quick
break for some special music.
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So don't go away.
We'll be right back.
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"My Jesus, I Love
Thee Medley Jayme Stabel.
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¤ ¤
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Wow, that was amazing.
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Thank you Jayme
Stabel, that was a blessing.
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Yeah, Absolutely. You know as
we get into this, I'm just kind
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of curious if you want to
share with us, Lydia. What
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do you feel are
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the qualities that really
define who you are? What are you
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passionate about? What do you
think things in your life that
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are you passionate about?
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(Lydia Kittner) Well my family
has made me who I am today.
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We all live, we're a very close
family, we all live on a farm
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in Hillsboro, Ohio. My grandma
lives there and my aunt and I
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have three cousins and then
my mom and dad and my sister. So
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that has been a big part of
growing up. Me and my sister and
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all my cousins were homeschooled
So my mom, you know, taught us
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a lot and that's
really made me who I am today.
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Yep, we're kind of transplants
from Nebraska and Kansas.
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(Madeline Whittle) And we moved
to our farm in 2012 and it's
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been a real journey.
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So when you're talking about a
farm are you talking about like
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chickens and cows and
vegetable gardens and what?
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Well, horses mainly. I have a
horse. Obviously, we have dogs,
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we love dogs, too many
cats. And then my cousins
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they have like goats and pigs
and they have a lot of different
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...chickens. But I just
have the horse and a dog.
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Okay. Cool.
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That sounds so idyllic. So you
were homeschooled to what point?
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Through high school.
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Okay. But yet you were a
track runner. Tell us how that
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happened.
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Yeah, so I've always been into
running and basically any kind
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of exercise.
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I used to watch her. My house
is situated where the pasture is
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right out the door almost
and I see her. There's big white
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barrels out there and she would
jump those from the time she
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was...She'd put on barrel and
she'd master that and then she'd
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put another barrel and she'd
jump that. She was very good at
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broad jumping too or long jump.
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That was my favorite thing
to do when I was little, jump
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barrels. I don't know why but...
So I've always been into like
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working out and stuff. And
my mom got in contact with the
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cross country coach at the local
high school, because apparently
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if you're home-schooled, you can
do track. I didn't know that. So
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at first, I didn't really want
to do the cross country but Mama
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was like, you should try it. You
know you like running. And I was
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like okay and so I tried it and
I loved it. So you know I did
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that two years and track two
years. (Okay) So that's how that
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all started.
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So is track and cross country,
are those two different things?
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Yes. Cross country is like
you run on grass and its three
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miles, 3.1 miles. And track
there's lots of different events
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(Gotcha) So you can run long
distance, short distance. You
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can you know do field
events, throwing and jumping.
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Long jump and so on. (Yeah)
Okay. So what kind of events
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were you involved in with track?
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So in 2021 which was my first
year of track, I ran the 100,
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400, 800, and
then I did long jump.
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Now how does 800 relate
to 3.1 miles? Is that...
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It feels very different for sure
It's, I mean that's the longest
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I raced so it feels more
distance like than 100 meters.
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but it still feels
different than three miles.
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Okay. And when you said 2021
so you were a junior then or a
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sophomore, junior, okay.
This was your last two years
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basically of high school.
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Yes. And then in 2022, my senior
year, I ran the 200, the 400,
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the 100 and long jump.
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Okay. So what you would do is
you would go from home school,
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so you would go from your house
right (Mmm hmm) and you'd just
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go to the local high school
where you were involved in the
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track and field and you'd
connect with the students there
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that were
running track and field?
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Actually, our school doesn't
have a ton of money so we would
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practice at the elementary
parking lot. We don't even have
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a track. So we'd meet at
the elementary and we'd run and
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those are some of the best
memories I have are just running
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and training and having fun
with the team all together there
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So what kind of high school?
What are we looking at as far as
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size. So you're homeschooled
and the high school is what 200
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people, 500
people, a thousand people.
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I think there's 150 students.
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A hundred and fifty. So
it's a small high school.
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Very small. Pretty small, yeah.
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You integrated well. You
got to know your fellow track...
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Yeah, I feel like I don't
know everybody at the school
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obviously, but the people who
run like track and cross country
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I feel like I got to know them
fairly well over several years.
00:10:04.80\00:10:08.44
What were your favorite events?
00:10:08.47\00:10:11.21
Definitely like in
track definitely the 400.
00:10:11.24\00:10:15.54
I feel like, I don't know,
the track is like 400 meters so
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that's like the
ideal race if you ask me.
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And you were undefeated
your senior year in the 400.
00:10:21.55\00:10:25.19
Yeah for a while. But yeah
so the 400 was my favorite.
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So did you know you were fast
when your mom knew you were fast
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Um I mean okay maybe a little
bit yeah. I had always run with
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my sister and I always liked
racing my sister. I felt like I
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mean I walked into cross country
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feeling like yeah I
was pretty fast. Yeah.
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Okay. Did you always beat
your sister when you raced your
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sister?
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Well depends. Yeah actually
she beats me it seems like at
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everything. But yes.
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She's four years older.
00:11:00.89\00:11:02.72
She's older okay. So did
she ever get any track and field
00:11:02.76\00:11:06.36
of it was just you?
00:11:06.39\00:11:07.73
She didn't, no. She probably
would have liked it though if
00:11:07.76\00:11:10.20
she had.
00:11:10.23\00:11:11.87
Okay. All right.
00:11:11.90\00:11:13.23
So tell us a little bit about
the events that you started
00:11:13.27\00:11:15.07
engaging in. And as you
progressed in it did it light a
00:11:15.10\00:11:19.24
fire in you that you
were like man, I love this.
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Well since I had always
run distance like 100 meter was
00:11:22.38\00:11:25.91
really fun because I'd never
ran anything like that. So it
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was kind of fun to like see how
fast I could go you know. The
00:11:29.45\00:11:34.66
400 added a little bit of that
grit to it that like it's more
00:11:34.69\00:11:39.69
of a fight toward the finish
which I really liked that.
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That's probably why it's my
favorite race. And then long
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jump was really fun because
it's very like, it's a technique
00:11:45.73\00:11:50.71
totally and so it took me a
while to get the technique down.
00:11:50.74\00:11:55.21
Okay. So when you're talking
about running 100 and you're
00:11:55.24\00:11:59.38
all out but when you run a 400
you have to hold back a little
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bit and you have to pace
yourself a little bit or is that
00:12:02.48\00:12:04.35
how it works?
00:12:04.39\00:12:05.72
A little bit. I mean you don't
want to run the first 100 like
00:12:05.75\00:12:08.22
you're running 100 meters but
you got to run as fast as you
00:12:08.26\00:12:13.40
can the whole time knowing how
far you have to go. I don't know
00:12:13.43\00:12:16.97
if that makes sense.
00:12:17.00\00:12:18.33
Well, it does in a sense. Now I
never really ran track and field
00:12:18.37\00:12:20.64
but in seventh grade I was
involved in track and field
00:12:20.67\00:12:23.00
and the guy that was kind of
telling me how to do this, I'd
00:12:23.04\00:12:26.61
never done it before, told
me don't run super-fast when you
00:12:26.64\00:12:30.01
first, leave. Now pace yourself.
So we're all on the line and
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everyone takes off super-fast
and I panicked. I thought
00:12:34.15\00:12:37.02
they're all going to leave me
behind and so I ran super-fast
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and by the time I got about half
way around the track I was done.
00:12:39.55\00:12:42.49
And there were some guys who
held back and they just started
00:12:42.52\00:12:45.49
passing us and they just...
00:12:45.53\00:12:46.86
And that's how she ran. She
would run. There could be four
00:12:46.90\00:12:52.70
or five people ahead of her
and then she'd round that last
00:12:52.73\00:12:55.54
corner and she had amazing
ability to have the reserve of
00:12:55.57\00:13:02.54
power to finish and beat,
you know, usually was first.
00:13:02.58\00:13:07.52
Oh that must have
been fun to watch.
00:13:07.55\00:13:09.22
Oh, it was amazing.
00:13:09.25\00:13:10.59
They come from behind.
00:13:10.62\00:13:11.95
It was amazing. All of our
family went to all of her meets
00:13:11.99\00:13:15.59
and we were her...we would
strategically place ourselves
00:13:15.62\00:13:19.56
around the track and yell at her
as she rounded the first corner
00:13:19.59\00:13:24.87
she went the second or whatever
the race was. And if it was long
00:13:24.90\00:13:31.54
jump we were there for her.
00:13:31.57\00:13:32.91
Yeah and there they are.
00:13:32.94\00:13:34.51
Yeah, that's my family. They're
so supportive. I could go on
00:13:34.54\00:13:39.31
forever about them.
00:13:39.35\00:13:41.68
So these are the
folks that live on the farm?
00:13:41.72\00:13:43.22
Yes all of us
live out on the farm.
00:13:43.25\00:13:46.45
Beautiful.
00:13:46.49\00:13:47.82
And I think I saw
you in there Madeline.
00:13:47.86\00:13:49.19
Yes, I was the one like this.
Yeah. Where I came from I'm the
00:13:49.22\00:13:55.00
only girl in five so my brothers
were very competitive in
00:13:55.03\00:13:59.73
football and baseball and
running so I got a lot of that
00:13:59.77\00:14:05.24
when I was young so I
do like to be a spectator.
00:14:05.27\00:14:09.01
And every meet Nanny would write
me a note with a little poem or
00:14:09.04\00:14:15.35
leave me a like a fruit
leather thing to eat. You know
00:14:15.38\00:14:19.29
encouragement some Bible verses
on it. At every meet my sister
00:14:19.32\00:14:23.89
would come and she'd help
me warm-up because it's so cold
00:14:23.93\00:14:28.80
during track that I'd have like
a sweatshirt on and pants and
00:14:28.83\00:14:33.07
so when I'd start to get hot
she'd take them and hold them
00:14:33.10\00:14:36.64
for me. My mom was always making
me the best food before so I was
00:14:36.67\00:14:40.88
you know ready and had enough
carbs and stuff. And just my
00:14:40.91\00:14:46.38
whole family. I could go on and
on about they always showed up
00:14:46.41\00:14:49.68
You know, my dad would always
video. We'd get home after a
00:14:49.72\00:14:53.76
meet and we'd watch the video
so that was always nice to have.
00:14:53.79\00:14:57.23
So you have now a story that
ties into your faith. You've
00:14:57.26\00:15:04.60
been home-schooled, you're out
on the farm, you're going to a
00:15:04.63\00:15:07.64
local high school and you've
joined a track team there. It's
00:15:07.67\00:15:10.07
a small high school. You're out
in the elementary school parking
00:15:10.11\00:15:13.74
lot practicing. You find that
you love running, now you love
00:15:13.78\00:15:18.45
certain events more than others.
You were raised jumping over
00:15:18.48\00:15:21.62
barrels so this is all in your
DNA almost. It's like this is my
00:15:21.65\00:15:25.29
thing to do and I just love this
and I can imagine there's a lot
00:15:25.32\00:15:27.39
of young people who can relate
to that story. You've found
00:15:27.42\00:15:30.89
something you truly love. But
now you come to this place in
00:15:30.93\00:15:34.53
your story where what you truly
love to do hits a roadblock in
00:15:34.56\00:15:40.00
a sense because you're also
a young lady of faith. And your
00:15:40.04\00:15:44.11
faith in your God in what you
believe the Bible teaches you
00:15:44.14\00:15:48.98
have to put that before the
things that you love the things
00:15:49.01\00:15:51.75
that you love in this world and
so sometimes those things come
00:15:51.78\00:15:55.75
to a head right? There's a
little bit of a disconnect from
00:15:55.78\00:15:59.69
our faith and the world (a
collide) a collide truly yeah.
00:15:59.72\00:16:03.56
And so tell us a little bit
about that. Tell us about your
00:16:03.59\00:16:06.86
story in relation to your faith.
What is your faith and where
00:16:06.90\00:16:10.23
does that fit into the story and
how did you relate that faith
00:16:10.27\00:16:14.40
to your love for track?
00:16:14.44\00:16:15.77
Well I have always felt
like racing on Sabbath isn't
00:16:15.80\00:16:23.28
something that I wanted to do.
Just part of my belief I guess.
00:16:23.31\00:16:26.21
And so with track, it was nice
because like most of the meets
00:16:26.25\00:16:33.52
up until the tournaments which
is like districts, regionals and
00:16:33.56\00:16:37.46
state, they were all during
the week. But cross-country only
00:16:37.49\00:16:43.06
like four of the races weren't
on Saturday. (Okay) So with
00:16:43.10\00:16:48.97
track I would be able to
run like a lot of them up until
00:16:49.00\00:16:55.41
state actually. The only
one I had trouble with was state
00:16:55.44\00:16:57.88
finals.
00:16:57.91\00:16:59.65
Okay. So you're running
track and you're running cross
00:16:59.68\00:17:03.08
countries still or just...
00:17:03.12\00:17:04.45
Well I'm graduated now so I'm
not running them in college now.
00:17:04.49\00:17:07.72
Yeah but I mean back
in your high school time.
00:17:07.76\00:17:10.23
Oh yes.
00:17:10.26\00:17:11.59
You're doing track and
you're doing cross country?
00:17:11.63\00:17:13.46
Yeah, they're different times of
year though so...Cross country's
00:17:13.50\00:17:16.43
fall and track is spring.
00:17:16.46\00:17:18.27
Oh okay. Okay, all right.
So when you say Sabbath you're
00:17:18.30\00:17:21.50
talking about the seventh day
Sabbath, you're talking about
00:17:21.54\00:17:23.84
Saturday. Okay so there's a
little bit of a conflict that's
00:17:23.87\00:17:27.11
coming in there between
some of the events that you're
00:17:27.14\00:17:30.75
involved in?
00:17:30.78\00:17:32.15
Yes. We have a league meet which
is a pretty big deal for like, I
00:17:32.18\00:17:38.42
don't know, for a team. Our team
is pretty good. The boys' team
00:17:38.45\00:17:41.99
is like really good and so they
usually win it and so it's like
00:17:42.02\00:17:46.26
a pretty big deal for us
and I ran into some trouble
00:17:46.29\00:17:49.36
with because that's on Friday,
the league meet. And they move
00:17:49.40\00:17:52.73
so slow. And so sundown's coming
and my race is coming and we're
00:17:52.77\00:17:59.44
always praying. In 2021 was the
first time I had trouble with
00:17:59.47\00:18:04.95
sundown and track. My 800 was my
last event and the sun was going
00:18:04.98\00:18:13.29
down and it was moving so slow.
We were worried that it wasn't
00:18:13.32\00:18:17.29
going to work. And so we were
praying and Nanny and Mama and
00:18:17.33\00:18:21.40
my whole family was praying and
praying. And I actually at the
00:18:21.43\00:18:27.07
time didn't even realize what
was totally going on. I was just
00:18:27.10\00:18:30.37
warming up for my event you know
But it worked that I raced and
00:18:30.41\00:18:34.54
right after I crossed the finish
my dad said that the time was
00:18:34.58\00:18:41.22
officially sundown right after I
finished. (Wow that's close) So
00:18:41.25\00:18:44.59
I was like, I was really touched
by that the way that God made it
00:18:44.62\00:18:48.16
all work out and Nanny
how did you feel about that?
00:18:48.19\00:18:51.13
Well, I just was, like you said,
praying and praying that the
00:18:51.16\00:18:58.17
Lord would work it out and His
will would be done. And I think
00:18:58.20\00:19:02.50
the outcome of that was a lot
of kids when they watched you
00:19:02.54\00:19:08.18
not be able to compete in
cross country when you were
00:19:08.21\00:19:12.25
at the top there as well and
when they watched you not run on
00:19:12.28\00:19:17.72
Sabbath and you were a witness
to them. You related to me that
00:19:17.75\00:19:24.16
you had kids come up to you and
ask you about the Sabbath and
00:19:24.19\00:19:27.93
you took them books and you
started praying with your team
00:19:27.96\00:19:32.33
mates and I thought that was an
amazing thing how the Lord was
00:19:32.37\00:19:40.48
able to bring something
like that witness out of cross
00:19:40.51\00:19:47.68
country and track. It was just,
it was just amazing to me. But
00:19:47.72\00:19:51.75
yeah, we prayed and prayed. That
800 it was like, I mean, I had
00:19:51.79\00:19:55.72
black hair before I
had... But it was amazing.
00:19:55.76\00:20:02.23
And it all worked out like
really well because I didn't
00:20:02.26\00:20:05.53
even know there was an award for
the person who, the female, they
00:20:05.57\00:20:11.77
have one for females and males.
Obviously, I was up for the
00:20:11.81\00:20:14.71
female one. And the person
who gets the most points at this
00:20:14.74\00:20:19.11
meet gets the award. It's called
the female shack athlete of the
00:20:19.15\00:20:24.42
year and so if you get first
place you get more points than
00:20:24.45\00:20:27.86
if you got fourth. So that
is how they count the points.
00:20:27.89\00:20:29.99
I actually ended up getting it.
And so I didn't even know that
00:20:30.03\00:20:34.60
was the thing. And I think
we have a picture of me and my
00:20:34.63\00:20:39.23
Grandpa with my award from
that. So I felt very blessed.
00:20:39.27\00:20:44.37
I remember being like the whole
next day after that just in awe
00:20:44.41\00:20:49.28
of what had all happened.
00:20:49.31\00:20:50.95
Yeah, so if I get this right you
have long distance in the fall.
00:20:50.98\00:20:57.99
Track in the fall.
00:20:58.02\00:20:59.75
Cross country in the fall.
And through that time you're
00:20:59.79\00:21:04.19
establishing relationships and
you don't have any meets on the
00:21:04.23\00:21:06.76
Sabbath except it's you know
on Fridays, right? So it's like
00:21:06.80\00:21:09.93
building your faith during this
time, it sounds like to me and
00:21:09.96\00:21:12.77
it's giving you
opportunity to witness.
00:21:12.80\00:21:16.17
So the track, the fall, if I'm
correct on this, the track is in
00:21:16.20\00:21:21.34
the spring and the cross country
is in the fall and most of the
00:21:21.38\00:21:24.48
cross country is on Sabbath.
Right? (Yes) So before the track
00:21:24.51\00:21:28.45
came in the fall a lot of your
friends were seeing that you
00:21:28.48\00:21:31.79
weren't actually participating
in the Sabbath events. (Uh-huh)
00:21:31.82\00:21:35.42
And they started
asking questions about that.
00:21:35.46\00:21:37.59
And the coach. The coach knew.
Her mom had explained to the
00:21:37.63\00:21:41.03
coach in cross country that
she would not be competing on
00:21:41.06\00:21:44.93
Sabbath. He said that's fine as
long as she comes to practice.
00:21:44.97\00:21:49.04
Well then, he discovered how
good she was and then there was
00:21:49.07\00:21:54.34
some pressure
there to run, you know.
00:21:54.38\00:21:56.75
This was cross country?
00:21:56.78\00:21:58.11
Cross country and track,
but first, cross country because
00:21:58.15\00:22:00.95
it's in the fall and that was
the first thing that she did.
00:22:00.98\00:22:03.69
So what did they say,
couldn't she just what?
00:22:03.72\00:22:06.52
Couldn't she just run, couldn't
she just run. It's a major meet.
00:22:06.55\00:22:11.79
A major event in the
cross country field for her.
00:22:11.83\00:22:17.63
And I did feel like there was
pressure to run. I did feel like
00:22:17.67\00:22:20.54
my coach, he respected that I
wasn't going to run and I think
00:22:20.57\00:22:27.74
he knew that I had made up my
mind. So he would be like, you
00:22:27.78\00:22:32.71
know, I understand that that's
what makes you you but if you
00:22:32.75\00:22:36.92
could run, man. I
love to see you do it.
00:22:36.95\00:22:38.65
This reminds me of Chariots
of Fire. Like Chariots of Fire.
00:22:38.69\00:22:42.32
It was Sunday then and this
is Sabbath. So did the cross
00:22:42.36\00:22:47.56
country start...I mean was that
the first test was cross country
00:22:47.60\00:22:51.70
came first and then it was the
spring came after that in your
00:22:51.73\00:22:55.00
junior year. How did that go?
00:22:55.04\00:22:57.61
Yeah, I would say cross country
was a little more black and
00:22:57.64\00:23:02.48
white I guess because you either
show up to the meet and run or
00:23:02.51\00:23:05.95
don't show up. So the Saturday
meets I wasn't even there for.
00:23:05.98\00:23:09.78
Wasn't even there.
00:23:09.82\00:23:11.15
So I'd text them, how'd the race
go? But I wasn't actually there.
00:23:11.19\00:23:14.46
With track I was faced with it's
sundown, sundown's coming and...
00:23:14.49\00:23:21.76
You're trying to get this race
in before the sun...So you're
00:23:21.80\00:23:25.13
there, (I'm actually there)
it's Friday, you're wanting to
00:23:25.17\00:23:29.20
participate in the event
so you're feeling a lot more
00:23:29.24\00:23:32.24
pressure because like you said
in that one event, you were able
00:23:32.27\00:23:34.44
to run and finish before
the sundown actually came.
00:23:34.48\00:23:38.21
(Mm-hmm) Because she'd been
there for several hours before
00:23:38.25\00:23:41.02
that and then
sundown was coming.
00:23:41.05\00:23:45.09
Waiting for the slowness of all
of the other events that were...
00:23:45.12\00:23:48.76
Exactly. Gotcha
00:23:48.79\00:23:50.46
But that year even went on. It
was like a great season. Made it
00:23:50.49\00:23:55.46
all the way to state prelims
which are on Friday, but it's
00:23:55.50\00:23:59.97
like earlier in the day so the
sundown wasn't a problem. Finals
00:24:00.00\00:24:04.11
are on Saturday but I did
not qualify for finals so that
00:24:04.14\00:24:10.01
wasn't really an issue. I think
they have a picture of state
00:24:10.05\00:24:15.65
2021. (Let's take a look at
that picture) Me and my cousins
00:24:15.68\00:24:17.89
and my sister.
00:24:17.92\00:24:19.25
So that's you on top there?
00:24:19.29\00:24:21.09
Yes, that's me on top.
00:24:21.12\00:24:22.86
Why are they
lifting you up? Did you win?
00:24:22.89\00:24:26.19
I didn't win but I think they
were proud of me because they
00:24:26.23\00:24:27.56
(inaudible) These are your
cousins and your sister? (Yeah)
00:24:27.60\00:24:30.93
Which one's your sister?
00:24:30.97\00:24:32.30
She is on the right with glasses
I guess they all have sun
00:24:32.33\00:24:35.34
glasses on.
00:24:35.37\00:24:37.21
I guess they all have sun
glasses. She's got shorts on?
00:24:37.24\00:24:38.57
Yeah. She's the best. She's
the best sister in the world.
00:24:38.61\00:24:41.54
All right, that's so cool you
have a great relationship with
00:24:41.58\00:24:44.28
her. All right so now just take
us in step by step. So you're
00:24:44.31\00:24:48.52
going from...you've got your
cross country that is Sabbath
00:24:48.55\00:24:53.76
and you're trying to make sure
that cross country is something
00:24:53.79\00:24:57.56
that you know you take a stand
for the Sabbath on. Your coach
00:24:57.59\00:25:00.16
knows that and that's black
and white like you said because
00:25:00.20\00:25:05.27
you're either there or you're
not there. But then you move
00:25:05.30\00:25:06.63
into the spring and you've got
your track meets and your track
00:25:06.67\00:25:10.57
meets a lot of them take place
on Friday and so you can go but
00:25:10.61\00:25:14.11
if they're slow as they
progress then you're getting
00:25:14.14\00:25:18.31
closer to sundown and you're not
wanting to race on sundown but
00:25:18.35\00:25:21.02
you make it, you're okay with
that. And we're talking now...
00:25:21.05\00:25:25.92
you mentioned there's different
types of events. There's the
00:25:25.95\00:25:27.92
local one, I wasn't clear on
what that was and then there's
00:25:27.96\00:25:30.56
the state and as you transition
from the local to the state is
00:25:30.59\00:25:35.43
there more Sabbath conflict
that takes place in that
00:25:35.46\00:25:38.47
transition?
00:25:38.50\00:25:39.87
Um, league was on Friday like
I mentioned. The rest of them
00:25:39.90\00:25:43.81
were all like weekdays so
they weren't an issue and then
00:25:43.84\00:25:48.18
district was, I don't know, was
it like a Wednesday (Wednesday)
00:25:48.21\00:25:52.58
and Friday.
00:25:52.61\00:25:58.15
Is a league like
local high schools?
00:25:58.19\00:25:59.52
It's like...it's our league
I don't know there's like 13
00:25:59.55\00:26:04.03
schools or 14
somewhere in there.
00:26:04.06\00:26:06.66
And so we raced those
schools like a decent amount.
00:26:06.70\00:26:12.83
They have D3
D...Don't they have...
00:26:12.87\00:26:15.37
Well that's once you get to
districts, there's D1 there's D2
00:26:15.40\00:26:20.78
and there's D3. I don't know.
I know there's four regions in
00:26:20.81\00:26:26.55
Ohio. So regionals you're racing
a fourth of the state. And then
00:26:26.58\00:26:30.69
at state, you're
racing all of the state.
00:26:30.72\00:26:33.49
And districts you're doing
something in between those two?
00:26:33.52\00:26:34.86
Is there like 16? districts?
00:26:34.89\00:26:38.79
I don't remember that.
00:26:38.83\00:26:40.16
So you go from regional to
district and then you go to
00:26:40.20\00:26:43.47
State?
00:26:43.50\00:26:44.83
District,
regional and then state.
00:26:44.87\00:26:46.20
Oh district, regional, and then
state. Okay. So how does the
00:26:46.23\00:26:49.90
Sabbath, how does that conflict
grow and develop. What is your
00:26:49.94\00:26:53.24
situation. Is your coach just
always like yeah we understand
00:26:53.27\00:26:56.54
it's okay. Wish you could but
we know you can't. How does that
00:26:56.58\00:27:01.12
how does that work?
00:27:01.15\00:27:02.48
Well, the stakes do get higher.
Because to get to regionals you
00:27:02.52\00:27:05.82
have to place in the top four
at district then at regionals
00:27:05.85\00:27:10.93
top get to state you have to
be in the top four at regionals.
00:27:10.96\00:27:15.86
and so you know 2022 track
season the leagues meet again
00:27:15.90\00:27:22.70
and we had the same conflict
with the Sabbath and it ended up
00:27:22.74\00:27:29.51
that my last race was the 200
this year and the sun was going
00:27:29.54\00:27:34.45
down and I was like, I don't
know what to do. I don't know
00:27:34.48\00:27:38.45
where to draw the line you know.
00:27:38.49\00:27:39.95
There was delay after delay.
This race should have been
00:27:39.99\00:27:45.16
completed way before the Sabbath
but it came right down to the
00:27:45.19\00:27:47.23
wire.
00:27:47.26\00:27:48.73
And I was praying because I
knew that God had done it last
00:27:48.76\00:27:52.73
year, you know he could hold
the sun back, he could make it
00:27:52.77\00:27:55.77
all work out and Nanny
had even contacted 3ABN,
00:27:55.80\00:28:01.38
I had called I think the day of
the meet and talked to Rosa and
00:28:01.41\00:28:08.45
she's a student at Andrews
University and she had explained
00:28:08.48\00:28:12.72
to me that she was a soccer
player and she understood what
00:28:12.75\00:28:17.33
Lydia was facing with the
Sabbath. Then on Monday, I
00:28:17.36\00:28:25.13
called Pastor Dan. I thought
I was calling Rosa because I
00:28:25.17\00:28:33.24
wanted to tell her because she
was very interested and tell her
00:28:33.27\00:28:37.38
how it worked out. Well then
I got Pastor Dan Morikone and he
00:28:37.41\00:28:41.08
explained to me how that
Andrews took some of the calls
00:28:41.12\00:28:46.32
on the weekend and so I
explained to him what I had
00:28:46.35\00:28:52.23
talked to Rosa about her running
on the Sabbath and that what she
00:28:52.26\00:29:00.47
did in maintaining her integrity
with God at that race was
00:29:00.50\00:29:05.64
amazing. I mean I was in my
appointed spot across the track
00:29:05.67\00:29:09.74
(we were all praying) I was
praying. I was shaking because
00:29:09.78\00:29:16.52
I was praying that she would
make, not that she would be able
00:29:16.55\00:29:20.16
to run but that she would make
the decision that would glorify
00:29:20.19\00:29:24.89
God and build her faith as a
young woman. So I was praying,
00:29:24.93\00:29:30.63
praying, everyone was praying.
And she was running if she had
00:29:30.67\00:29:35.00
won this race, her times were
such she would have won it. She
00:29:35.04\00:29:42.18
would have run the conference
female athlete of the year. So
00:29:42.21\00:29:47.28
this was a big thought, I'm
sure in her mind. So she was out
00:29:47.32\00:29:52.92
talking to her competitors.
She's always been very outgoing
00:29:52.95\00:29:54.36
She got to know her competitors
well and they became friends
00:29:54.39\00:29:58.03
So she was talking to the top
competitors out there. I don't
00:29:58.06\00:30:02.16
know what she was saying because
I was across the field. But I
00:30:02.20\00:30:05.33
saw her and I was praying that
the Lord's will be done and then
00:30:05.37\00:30:08.20
I saw her she went to her
competitors and she turned
00:30:08.24\00:30:16.85
around and she walked off the
field. And I just thought God
00:30:16.88\00:30:21.92
you are amazing you know that
you would give her that amount,
00:30:21.95\00:30:29.22
I mean with all the hoopla
is what I would say, all the
00:30:29.26\00:30:34.26
excitement of possibly...and
to win and put God first. To me
00:30:34.30\00:30:46.31
that was like Deborah, that
was like Miriam, that was like
00:30:46.34\00:30:50.91
Esther who said for such a time
as this. I mean for her in her
00:30:50.95\00:30:56.18
young life in this world
today that was big. And I was so
00:30:56.22\00:31:00.32
thankful. And I asked her later
if it was hard because I knew it
00:31:00.36\00:31:07.60
was but I wanted her to tell me
about it. She said It was hard
00:31:07.63\00:31:12.43
Nanny but it wasn't as
hard as I thought it would be.
00:31:12.47\00:31:17.17
It was hard but I did feel a
peace about it. I decided that
00:31:17.21\00:31:23.31
if it was 8:22, I don't know how
I arrived at that number but and
00:31:23.35\00:31:29.02
I wasn't on the track then I
wasn't going to run. And I was
00:31:29.05\00:31:32.85
praying that I would get on the
track quick but it didn't happen
00:31:32.89\00:31:35.62
Her coaches were wanting her to
get on that track and race and
00:31:35.66\00:31:41.60
it was a lot of pressure for
a young girl in a position like
00:31:41.63\00:31:45.10
that.
00:31:45.13\00:31:46.47
I felt like they did support me
though in that. Everyone like my
00:31:46.50\00:31:49.67
coached texted me the next day
and said she was so proud of me
00:31:49.70\00:31:52.67
for standing for what I believe
in. And I was like that it felt
00:31:52.71\00:31:57.28
good like I not only didn't get
to race but it felt good as the
00:31:57.31\00:32:01.82
tournament started happening
I think everyone thought that I
00:32:01.85\00:32:06.25
was going to run at state which
I don't really know why because
00:32:06.29\00:32:09.06
I had for two year
not ran on Saturday.
00:32:09.09\00:32:12.23
And the district was a week
later after that race that she
00:32:12.26\00:32:16.06
forfeited the 200 on. The
district was a week later and
00:32:16.10\00:32:21.00
she did get district female
athlete of the year, because it
00:32:21.04\00:32:27.58
was I think on Wednesday or
Tuesday or something like that.
00:32:27.61\00:32:28.94
But a lot of pressure.
00:32:28.98\00:32:31.01
Yeah, as the meets got bigger
obviously, I wanted to run even
00:32:31.05\00:32:37.22
more because the stakes
are higher. And made it past
00:32:37.25\00:32:43.09
districts, regional. Well I was
actually the regional champ in
00:32:43.12\00:32:44.89
the 400 which is pretty cool.
You know, go to state and a lot
00:32:44.93\00:32:50.67
of people start asking me, So
when you go to state finals, and
00:32:50.70\00:32:54.60
I'm like I'm not even qualified
yet but okay, you're going to
00:32:54.64\00:32:58.71
run on Saturday, aren't you?
00:32:58.74\00:33:00.24
Who was asking you that?
00:33:00.28\00:33:02.64
My coaches, my teammates a
little bit. My coach told me
00:33:02.68\00:33:07.85
that if you qualify I think
that's God telling you that you
00:33:07.88\00:33:11.95
should run, you know, that he's
okay with you running. And it's
00:33:11.99\00:33:15.46
like I mean for me I
just decided I don't run on
00:33:15.49\00:33:19.66
Saturday. I know I have
lots of friends that do race on
00:33:19.69\00:33:23.37
Saturday. For me, I've decided
that's not best for me and so
00:33:23.40\00:33:27.14
I was like I'm going to do what
I from the start have felt like
00:33:27.17\00:33:33.21
was best. And at state, it
was actually an amazing day. It
00:33:33.24\00:33:44.09
really was. There's videos of
my 100 and my 400. That's what I
00:33:44.12\00:33:48.72
qualified for.
00:33:48.76\00:33:50.09
Okay, let's take a look
at those videos then. (Okay)
00:33:50.13\00:33:51.63
Step us through this. This
is the 100 which goes so fast.
00:33:51.66\00:33:56.93
I'm just running
00:33:56.97\00:33:58.30
as fast as I could and those
girls are so fast. I felt like I
00:33:58.33\00:34:01.57
was way behind everybody. But
I just ran as fast as I could.
00:34:01.60\00:34:05.44
Ended up breaking my school
record which I'd be been going
00:34:05.47\00:34:09.04
for all year and I finally got
it. So I was like over the moon.
00:34:09.08\00:34:12.51
Your personal
record too wasn't it?
00:34:12.55\00:34:14.68
Uh-huh. My personal record.
00:34:14.72\00:34:16.28
All right, so step
us through this video.
00:34:16.32\00:34:17.65
This is the 400 (your favorite)
Yeah. I knew a lot of the girls
00:34:17.69\00:34:25.56
in the lanes beside me were very
fast. That girl on the inside
00:34:25.59\00:34:29.43
there I knew she runs I don't
know 57 or something. So I'm
00:34:29.46\00:34:35.27
like I'm just going to try to
stick with her as much as I can
00:34:35.30\00:34:38.77
and just fight it out. You know
you get to the 200 mark and you
00:34:38.81\00:34:42.18
think how am I going to race
200 more meters? But then...
00:34:42.21\00:34:48.38
And this is the one that's about
once around the track? (Yeah)
00:34:48.42\00:34:50.62
Is that right? Okay.
00:34:50.65\00:34:51.99
One lap. And you stay in
your lane the whole time.
00:34:52.02\00:34:53.56
And Grandma says that you start
kind of at a pace but then you
00:34:53.59\00:34:57.23
start pulling up and passing
everyone towards the end. That
00:34:57.26\00:34:59.73
makes for an exciting
race. And there you are.
00:34:59.76\00:35:01.66
It's really hard to hold form on
the last stretch. I just move my
00:35:01.70\00:35:08.30
legs and arms as fast as I can
and just trying to hold form.
00:35:08.34\00:35:09.90
You have to remember these are
the top female athletes in high
00:35:09.94\00:35:14.18
school in the state of Ohio.
And she did a personal record on
00:35:14.21\00:35:18.21
that one too. (Really).
00:35:18.25\00:35:19.95
So I ended up qualifying in both
of them for finals which was
00:35:19.98\00:35:25.85
Saturday.
00:35:25.89\00:35:27.22
Okay. This is state
finals? (Uh-huh) Okay.
00:35:27.26\00:35:28.92
And I...it was hard. State
was such a good day but at the
00:35:28.96\00:35:36.87
same time it was a little hard
because my teammates that had
00:35:36.90\00:35:41.40
supported me at league,
at district, at regional they
00:35:41.44\00:35:46.14
didn't really show up. You know
a couple of them, like a couple
00:35:46.17\00:35:49.68
of them did text me and stuff
but it was hard because I felt
00:35:49.71\00:35:53.72
a little abandoned somewhat.
00:35:53.75\00:35:56.35
Her coach was there but
didn't talk to her. (Yeah)
00:35:56.38\00:35:58.95
So everything changed that
support, the whole atmosphere
00:35:58.99\00:36:04.23
that you had with your coach and
that you had with your teammates
00:36:04.26\00:36:07.23
It all changed when you
qualified for state but when
00:36:07.26\00:36:09.93
they knew that you weren't going
to run. (Yeah) Because state was
00:36:09.96\00:36:12.27
on Sabbath. (Yeah) It wasn't
like a sundown issue or a maybe
00:36:12.30\00:36:16.71
issue. Did you go there?
You hadn't gone to the track and
00:36:16.74\00:36:19.67
field. Do you go there?
00:36:19.71\00:36:21.04
I did not go on
Saturday, no. (Okay)
00:36:21.08\00:36:23.88
I prayed that it would like
thunderstorm and they'd cancel
00:36:23.91\00:36:27.48
it. Because if there's
lightening they will cancel it.
00:36:27.52\00:36:31.22
So I was like praying
but that didn't happen.
00:36:31.25\00:36:33.96
No, it was a test of faith.
00:36:33.99\00:36:35.59
But her semifinals were very
nice because she got to run in
00:36:35.62\00:36:38.29
Columbus at the Jesse Owens
Memorial Stadium which was very
00:36:38.33\00:36:42.63
exciting.
00:36:42.66\00:36:44.00
And I got PRs in
both of my races.
00:36:44.03\00:36:46.03
The Lord really blessed her.
00:36:46.07\00:36:49.07
And so I did feel like I was
very blessed that day. You know
00:36:49.10\00:36:55.21
obviously, my family was just
as supportive as they've always
00:36:55.24\00:36:56.81
been. They didn't change. But
it was hard because a lot of the
00:36:56.85\00:37:01.38
support I had received did
not come through anymore. Yeah.
00:37:01.42\00:37:07.32
It didn't show up. There was
people that understood my faith
00:37:07.36\00:37:13.80
that did reach out and be very
supportive. A lot of friends
00:37:13.83\00:37:18.50
from a Bible study had a lady
call me and talk to me about her
00:37:18.53\00:37:22.87
story when she was younger, the
things she struggled with and
00:37:22.90\00:37:26.57
with her job as an FBI agent
and working with the Sabbath and
00:37:26.61\00:37:31.48
how it all worked out and
somethings didn't work out.
00:37:31.51\00:37:33.42
You know I had lots of friends
00:37:33.45\00:37:34.82
from you know my mom's
childhood even that she stays
00:37:34.85\00:37:38.65
in contact with that wrote me
letters. I have a box of letters
00:37:38.69\00:37:43.63
that people wrote me to
encourage me. So I did have a
00:37:43.66\00:37:47.50
lot of support.
00:37:47.53\00:37:50.17
In the church it was amazing.
You know because they were all
00:37:50.20\00:37:55.57
They would come, some would come
to the local meets and they were
00:37:55.60\00:38:01.21
praying for her and wanting her
to honor God. You know and too
00:38:01.24\00:38:06.82
and it was hard you know and I
think they understood that. But
00:38:06.85\00:38:13.05
it's amazing you know when you
do what you think is right and
00:38:13.09\00:38:16.89
leave the consequences to God
how he always comes through for
00:38:16.93\00:38:20.43
you and he did for her.
00:38:20.46\00:38:21.80
Yeah and I think one of the
things I really love about your
00:38:21.83\00:38:23.80
story is I think that one
of the things we really need is
00:38:23.83\00:38:27.40
experiential, experimental faith
in religion and a walk with God.
00:38:27.44\00:38:30.77
Right. A lot of times we
approach God very cerebral and
00:38:30.81\00:38:35.74
yet he wants to be in all of
our decision-making and step us
00:38:35.78\00:38:48.12
you know he's real. Your
relationship with him deepens
00:38:48.16\00:38:49.49
into intimacy and that's so much
more valuable even than becoming
00:38:49.52\00:38:50.86
what was the award that you were
going to be, the female athlete
00:38:50.89\00:38:52.23
of the year. You know what
I'm saying? And we were talking
00:38:52.26\00:38:54.46
about this the other day about
what do we give up when we give
00:38:54.50\00:38:57.83
up all for Christ. You know we
think Ah some people, they could
00:38:57.87\00:39:01.27
have made millions being maybe
a movie star or could...What is
00:39:01.30\00:39:05.74
that. That's nothing. We give
up nothing in comparison and you
00:39:05.77\00:39:09.88
can see from your face that was
disappointing. But at the same
00:39:09.91\00:39:13.48
time really rewarding.
00:39:13.52\00:39:14.98
And when we step out in faith
what a faith builder that is for
00:39:15.02\00:39:19.09
you and for not only her but we
just saw the rippling effect of
00:39:19.12\00:39:24.83
not only the kids at church but
her teammates. And you know I
00:39:24.86\00:39:31.13
think she just planted seeds.
You know this side of eternity
00:39:31.17\00:39:33.37
she'll never really know how...
00:39:33.40\00:39:34.74
Well it's hard though because I
didn't feel like I planted seeds
00:39:34.77\00:39:37.87
if I'm honest
00:39:37.91\00:39:39.24
I felt like no one cared. So
it's hard to do something hard
00:39:39.27\00:39:43.85
and no one care. It's like
I wish it would have been like
00:39:43.88\00:39:48.12
oh everyone was so touched by me
and maybe they were but I didn't
00:39:48.15\00:39:52.92
feel that. So it's hard to know
that I'm doing this hard and no
00:39:52.95\00:39:57.89
on even notices. It didn't even
feel like it mattered. And it
00:39:57.93\00:40:02.83
felt like I did it for them
to notice and I guess that's...
00:40:02.86\00:40:09.30
you know you have to do it for
God, not other people. But it
00:40:09.34\00:40:13.24
was hard because I wanted
them to notice. I wanted them to
00:40:13.27\00:40:17.21
support me and see that what
I was doing was hard but I felt
00:40:17.25\00:40:20.92
like they were like
upset that I was doing it.
00:40:20.95\00:40:23.35
And I think like Rise said when
you have an experiential faith
00:40:23.39\00:40:26.72
you know you have to understand
that it is a process and you
00:40:26.76\00:40:37.70
know Rome wasn't built in a day
and that's probably not a good
00:40:37.73\00:40:43.87
word but it wasn't built in a
day and her being a young person
00:40:43.91\00:40:47.68
and standing up for what
she believed wasn't easy. People
00:40:47.71\00:40:54.48
weren't nice, people were nice
you know. But she would have
00:40:54.52\00:40:57.75
never known that experience if
she hadn't stepped out and said
00:40:57.79\00:41:02.46
this is the day, this is my
Sabbath. I've always done this.
00:41:02.49\00:41:07.70
And I think that that was
the ripple effect, that was the
00:41:07.73\00:41:13.30
seeds being planted for the
kingdom. Because some of those
00:41:13.34\00:41:17.51
young people will look back and
they'll say wow, you know. She
00:41:17.54\00:41:22.34
stood for something she believed
in. Not a lot of young people
00:41:22.38\00:41:26.55
might have done that.
00:41:26.58\00:41:28.72
That's true. I can look back
on my experience years before I
00:41:28.75\00:41:31.59
became a Christian and the
Christians that came into my
00:41:31.62\00:41:34.19
life and sowed the seeds at
the time I couldn't care less.
00:41:34.22\00:41:36.99
I just couldn't care less. But
now I can think of all of those
00:41:37.03\00:41:42.03
situations when I was in
Marshall arts when this guy
00:41:42.06\00:41:44.83
witnessed to me, when I was at a
party and this lady witnessed to
00:41:44.87\00:41:47.17
me. I can think of all of those
and they were seeds that were
00:41:47.20\00:41:49.94
sown. And there's going to be
a lot of people, not just people
00:41:49.97\00:41:51.77
that you've interacted
with through track and field and
00:41:51.81\00:41:56.54
through you know cross country
but people that are going to be
00:41:56.58\00:42:00.08
watching this testimony that
you're giving, you're sharing
00:42:00.12\00:42:03.32
right now. You know, if you
had never taken that stand you
00:42:03.35\00:42:05.75
wouldn't be sitting here right
now. Your grandma wouldn't be
00:42:05.79\00:42:08.36
sitting here right now, right?
Madeline wouldn't be here, you
00:42:08.39\00:42:11.19
wouldn't be here and you
wouldn't have this opportunity
00:42:11.23\00:42:13.40
and so God had this in mind. God
had a greater influence and a
00:42:13.43\00:42:17.07
greater impact in mind than even
at district and the regionals
00:42:17.10\00:42:22.37
and the state and the influence
you had right there. He has
00:42:22.40\00:42:25.21
something greater in mind in two
ways: One way is the character
00:42:25.24\00:42:30.78
development. Rome wasn't
built in a day. We develop our
00:42:30.81\00:42:33.15
character day by day. We make
decisions that take us to the
00:42:33.18\00:42:36.95
next stage of development and
the next stage of maturity. But
00:42:36.99\00:42:40.22
also the testimony. The words
keep coming to my mind, Dare to
00:42:40.26\00:42:44.39
be a Daniel, dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose firm
00:42:44.43\00:42:47.00
Dare to make it known.
00:42:47.03\00:42:50.47
and what an impact Daniel
has had on the world. But did he
00:42:50.50\00:42:56.81
know it? Was he aware of it?
He felt the king's wrath, his
00:42:56.84\00:43:01.41
friends felt the king's wrath.
They didn't really know the
00:43:01.44\00:43:03.95
impact they were...you know
a lot of their friends their
00:43:03.98\00:43:06.61
fellow Hebrews didn't take the
stand and then kind of looked
00:43:06.65\00:43:09.12
at them, you know. And they were
always after them and no one
00:43:09.15\00:43:11.75
really acknowledged it and even
Nebuchadnezzar. That guy went
00:43:11.79\00:43:14.79
backward you know and like you
know witness to him and here he
00:43:14.82\00:43:18.59
is you know turning everything
upside down. So we don't always
00:43:18.63\00:43:23.43
see the impact.
00:43:23.47\00:43:24.80
I picture in heaven I guess you
know as a mom when my son was
00:43:24.83\00:43:29.30
high school age and doing sports
you know I'd go crazy. It didn't
00:43:29.34\00:43:33.44
matter what he was doing just
like you're cheering and you're
00:43:33.48\00:43:35.44
so excited to see them do what
they're doing. But I picture you
00:43:35.48\00:43:39.41
know...Okay so there was some
girl ran that race and won it
00:43:39.45\00:43:43.39
and the crowd went wild. Right
They were like screaming. But
00:43:43.42\00:43:46.86
you turned around and you looked
at your watch and you went like
00:43:46.89\00:43:49.49
this, I picture the angels
in heaven, the crowds in heaven
00:43:49.52\00:43:53.23
going wild. They were cheering
you on and they were so excited
00:43:53.26\00:43:58.87
about what decision you made.
We were just talking last night
00:43:58.90\00:44:02.07
on our pillows about Jonathan
and how the angels went wild
00:44:02.10\00:44:06.61
when Jonathan, we were talking
about the Jonathan in the Bible,
00:44:06.64\00:44:09.64
who was Saul's son, the
best friend of David, who just
00:44:09.68\00:44:13.52
stepped, who just kept humbling
himself and did he receive any
00:44:13.55\00:44:17.15
approbation or good job
Jonathan here on earth. No.
00:44:17.19\00:44:20.46
His dad was upset with him.
00:44:20.49\00:44:21.82
But the angels were probably
like having a party, you know,
00:44:21.86\00:44:24.89
yeah like what an amazing human
in the decision that he made.
00:44:24.93\00:44:28.70
And that's so important because
when you look at the history of
00:44:28.73\00:44:33.10
the Bible it's always, always
the bigger picture how it all
00:44:33.13\00:44:38.37
fits like a puzzle and how
important it was for Lydia to
00:44:38.41\00:44:42.74
do what she did. But that ripple
effect and the things that we
00:44:42.78\00:44:46.51
don't even know about now
and may never know about and how
00:44:46.55\00:44:51.89
they impact
eternity for each one of us.
00:44:51.92\00:44:54.12
I think it's important to stand
even if it doesn't seem like
00:44:54.16\00:44:58.86
it's going the way you want it
to, stand for what you believe
00:44:58.89\00:45:03.57
in when things don't go your
way because if you don't stand
00:45:03.60\00:45:09.50
for what you believe in
when things go wrong or not as
00:45:09.54\00:45:12.31
perfect as you want them to
then you'll probably never stand
00:45:12.34\00:45:15.74
because not a lot of
things work out perfectly.
00:45:15.78\00:45:18.71
That's right. So it's vital
for us to experience that. I was
00:45:18.75\00:45:22.42
thinking about again this story
of Jonathan. There's a statement
00:45:22.45\00:45:27.62
in the book Education 156, 157,
it talks...Because you look at
00:45:27.66\00:45:32.16
the life of Jonathan and really
it seems like it was almost a
00:45:32.19\00:45:37.90
John-the-Baptist type of life
you know where he just kind of
00:45:37.93\00:45:40.84
denied himself, stayed loyal to
his father. You know his father
00:45:40.87\00:45:44.34
wanted to take him out
and basically, he died by his
00:45:44.37\00:45:46.11
father's side. He could have
been king after his father but
00:45:46.14\00:45:48.61
he was just like no this is
not what God wants me to do. And
00:45:48.64\00:45:52.85
this statement in Education says
that of all the names that are
00:45:52.88\00:45:56.28
cherished in heaven there
are two-Jonathan and John the
00:45:56.32\00:46:00.19
Baptist. And so I love what
you were saying Rise about this
00:46:00.22\00:46:03.89
whole picture because we see the
accolades on earth and we see
00:46:03.93\00:46:09.03
the accolades in heaven and
normally they're exactly the
00:46:09.06\00:46:12.03
opposite. If we're getting
accolades on earth there's no
00:46:12.07\00:46:14.14
accolades in heaven,
right, because things that we're
00:46:14.17\00:46:17.64
praised for on earth are really
a contradiction, a turning away,
00:46:17.67\00:46:21.24
of the things in heaven. But
when we don't get the accolades
00:46:21.28\00:46:24.01
on earth many times accolades in
heaven are, they're just going
00:46:24.05\00:46:27.88
nuts.
00:46:27.92\00:46:29.25
And as much as I loved watching
her compete if she had continued
00:46:29.28\00:46:33.82
if she had run that race
and hadn't tapped her watch and
00:46:33.86\00:46:37.36
turned around and walked away
I would have loved her just as
00:46:37.39\00:46:41.30
much and you know that's the
thing about God. We disappoint
00:46:41.33\00:46:47.04
him continually but his love
is always perfect toward us and
00:46:47.07\00:46:52.31
you know he
really is an awesome God.
00:46:52.34\00:46:58.95
So what advice would you give
to someone who is in a similar
00:46:58.98\00:47:02.42
situation that you were in?
00:47:02.45\00:47:07.42
Probably do what you know is
right because I mean, I could
00:47:07.46\00:47:12.19
have run and I don't think that
would have been a bad choice
00:47:12.23\00:47:15.96
necessarily but I think I would
have regretted it because the
00:47:16.00\00:47:21.87
past three years I had not
run. Then the last race that I
00:47:21.90\00:47:24.31
do in my high school career I
would have raced on the Sabbath
00:47:24.34\00:47:29.21
and I think that would have not
set as well with me because, I
00:47:29.24\00:47:34.25
don't know. I guess just the
advice I would give would be I
00:47:34.28\00:47:38.45
encourage you to stand for what
you know is right, even when
00:47:38.49\00:47:44.96
it's not easy.
00:47:44.99\00:47:46.33
So if you had to do it all
over again, you know, you went
00:47:46.36\00:47:48.93
through the whole thing
again knowing what you know now
00:47:48.96\00:47:51.23
looking back at everything
that you experienced, et cetera,
00:47:51.27\00:47:54.10
you know would you
do anything different?
00:47:54.14\00:47:56.07
I probably wouldn't. I wouldn't
have run still. I mean knowing
00:47:56.10\00:48:04.91
what I know now would have made
it a little easier back then. I
00:48:04.95\00:48:10.05
don't know because when you're
in the moment it just so much
00:48:10.09\00:48:11.42
more real. You know the night
before state, the night after I
00:48:11.45\00:48:16.99
had raced and the next day was
Sabbath and I wasn't going to
00:48:17.03\00:48:20.36
race it was hard because I was
in the moment. On the other side
00:48:20.40\00:48:24.97
of it I feel like I see clearer
the situation. I don't know.
00:48:25.00\00:48:32.17
And I think that kind of it
sounds like what you're saying
00:48:32.21\00:48:33.81
is that there is nothing that
you could do to make God love
00:48:33.84\00:48:40.65
you less but there's nothing you
could do to make God love you
00:48:40.68\00:48:44.79
more. He loves you.
00:48:44.82\00:48:47.66
You know, just listening to
your story and then hearing your
00:48:47.69\00:48:51.19
grandmother say that I just
think that the first question I
00:48:51.23\00:48:55.06
asked you about what's one
of the most defining things that
00:48:55.10\00:48:57.57
make you who you are, right,
tell us a little bit about
00:48:57.60\00:49:00.17
and I think that just the fact
that you have been brought up in
00:49:00.20\00:49:04.11
that atmosphere with a
grandmother, with a family,
00:49:04.14\00:49:05.94
with parents on this farm. I
mean it just sounds so beautiful
00:49:05.97\00:49:08.71
But what makes it really
beautiful is this understanding
00:49:08.74\00:49:12.05
of who God is
00:49:12.08\00:49:13.42
and of his incredible love
for you. When we live a life
00:49:13.45\00:49:15.98
that's based on that foundation
you know you're going to go
00:49:16.02\00:49:19.75
forward conquering and to
conquer. And I was thinking of a
00:49:19.79\00:49:23.16
verse where it says that it's
not to the person who runs but
00:49:23.19\00:49:26.66
of God who shows mercy. It's
in Romans. Maybe you can say it
00:49:26.70\00:49:29.26
better than I just did, my own
paraphrase, but in other words,
00:49:29.30\00:49:32.53
yeah we can run. I want to run
for God's honor and glory but at
00:49:32.57\00:49:36.30
the end of the day, it's
all about his mercy and that
00:49:36.34\00:49:40.54
foundation you
just (unintelligible)
00:49:40.58\00:49:41.91
And that's what's a
real thing as a young person.
00:49:41.94\00:49:44.55
I think I am very blessed to
have a family that taught me,
00:49:44.58\00:49:48.95
you know, what I know now.
From the time I was little I've
00:49:48.98\00:49:53.36
always been a Seventh-day
Adventist so I am grateful
00:49:53.39\00:49:58.49
to have been
taught all those things.
00:49:58.53\00:50:01.06
But you made it your own. (Yeah)
00:50:01.10\00:50:05.70
You know when you look back
at your journey, what was...
00:50:05.73\00:50:07.90
what do you think was the most
difficult thing of everything?
00:50:07.94\00:50:11.87
You know I think about track and
field, when I think about cross
00:50:11.91\00:50:17.15
country I think the most
difficult thing is training
00:50:17.18\00:50:20.78
every day. But it seems
like that was a given to you.
00:50:20.82\00:50:25.19
You just loved doing that.
00:50:25.45\00:50:26.79
Even yesterday I'm still...I
mean I'll always train. So just
00:50:26.82\00:50:30.46
because track's over or
happening I'm always going to
00:50:30.49\00:50:35.06
train. So.
00:50:35.10\00:50:36.43
She just ran in a...she's always
running and so just ran in a
00:50:36.46\00:50:41.34
race in Minster, Ohio, and
for the third year straight got
00:50:41.37\00:50:45.34
first place in her age group.
So she's just a runner. It's
00:50:45.37\00:50:48.24
just part of her DNA.
00:50:48.28\00:50:49.81
I think it's in my blood.
00:50:49.84\00:50:53.65
You're still running right now.
(Yes) Okay. So it wasn't the
00:50:53.68\00:50:56.45
training. You know that's
probably the hardest thing for
00:50:56.48\00:50:58.25
a lot of people is you know you
got to get up every morning and
00:50:58.29\00:51:00.86
you got to train, you got
to put in that...So was it
00:51:00.89\00:51:05.86
relationships, was it...?
00:51:05.89\00:51:09.66
It probably was not just
the fact of not running because
00:51:09.70\00:51:14.60
I think inside I had peace about
that decision. It was the fact
00:51:14.64\00:51:19.04
that I wasn't supported by some
for that decision and nobody
00:51:19.07\00:51:24.75
wants to feel like people don't
get it. So that was probably the
00:51:24.78\00:51:28.95
hardest part because, I mean,
inside of me I understood why
00:51:28.98\00:51:33.25
I was doing it. But it's hard
for me to know that they don't
00:51:33.29\00:51:36.89
get it and they think it's silly
00:51:36.93\00:51:39.89
I think that really is a
preparation for the end of time.
00:51:39.93\00:51:43.37
You know when the Bible says
we're going to be hated of all
00:51:43.40\00:51:45.10
nations for Christ's name sake,
for God's name sake. And I think
00:51:45.13\00:51:48.74
that is part of what God
is doing in developing your
00:51:48.77\00:51:51.67
character Lydia. He is helping
you to recognize you know some
00:51:51.71\00:51:56.11
of the challenges that come you
know because we made decisions
00:51:56.14\00:51:59.08
for God. And stepping
you through that now in these
00:51:59.11\00:52:03.18
smaller trials that are
preparing us for the big race
00:52:03.22\00:52:06.29
that we're in which is the
salvation race. And I think that
00:52:06.32\00:52:09.49
you know, praise God you passed
that first trial and that test
00:52:09.52\00:52:13.26
and your character's developed
and growing and you have a great
00:52:13.29\00:52:17.53
witness here. So we're going
to be right back. We're going to
00:52:17.57\00:52:20.94
be right back, so don't go away,
with more of Lydia's story.
00:52:20.97\00:52:25.21