The following program
discusses sensitive issues.
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.06
Parents are
cautioned that some material
00:00:03.10\00:00:04.83
may be too candid
for younger children.
00:00:04.87\00:00:07.04
Welcome to the New Journey,
00:00:10.24\00:00:11.57
a program where you
meet real life people
00:00:11.61\00:00:13.98
with real life testimonies,
00:00:14.01\00:00:15.44
doing real life
ministry for Jesus Christ.
00:00:15.48\00:00:17.88
I'm your host Aaron Chancy.
00:00:17.91\00:00:19.41
Come join us on a New Journey.
00:00:19.45\00:00:20.98
Welcome back to the New Journey.
00:00:55.68\00:00:57.42
Today, we have a set
of twins on the program
00:00:57.45\00:00:59.65
and you definitely
would not want to miss this.
00:00:59.69\00:01:01.72
Like to thank you all for
being on the program today.
00:01:01.76\00:01:03.53
Thank you.
00:01:03.56\00:01:04.89
Thank you for having us.
00:01:04.93\00:01:06.26
For the record
what's your names.
00:01:06.29\00:01:07.93
How old are you?
And where you'll from?
00:01:07.96\00:01:09.63
Well, my name is Trecia Lyon.
00:01:09.66\00:01:11.80
I'm Keisha, and we're 33.
00:01:11.83\00:01:13.97
Thirty three years old, okay.
00:01:14.00\00:01:15.97
Talk about where you're from?
00:01:16.00\00:01:18.04
Well, we both
grew up in Jamaica.
00:01:18.07\00:01:19.41
We were born and
raise in Jamaica.
00:01:19.44\00:01:21.14
Came to America
at the age of 13.
00:01:21.18\00:01:22.61
Okay.
00:01:22.64\00:01:23.98
Grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
00:01:24.01\00:01:25.35
Okay, okay.
00:01:25.38\00:01:26.72
What was it like
making that transition
00:01:26.75\00:01:28.25
from Jamaica to
Brooklyn, New York,
00:01:28.28\00:01:30.79
from out of the states
into the United States,
00:01:30.82\00:01:33.59
what was it like?
00:01:33.62\00:01:34.96
Difficult. Okay, okay.
00:01:34.99\00:01:36.32
We had Jheri curls, so
it was really difficult.
00:01:36.36\00:01:39.19
I would say it was
definitely a culture shock...
00:01:39.23\00:01:41.43
Okay, okay.
00:01:41.46\00:01:42.80
Culture shock,
because we grew up
00:01:42.83\00:01:44.17
in the country of
Jamaica so we were sheltered
00:01:44.20\00:01:45.73
and then moved
directly to the city.
00:01:45.77\00:01:47.14
Okay.
00:01:47.17\00:01:48.50
Exactly what part of
Jamaica did you guys grow up?
00:01:48.54\00:01:50.84
We grow up in Clarendon.
00:01:50.87\00:01:52.21
Clarendon, okay. Yes.
00:01:52.24\00:01:53.58
Okay, I'm not
familiar with that,
00:01:53.61\00:01:54.94
I have been to Jamaican,
00:01:54.98\00:01:56.31
I'm familiar with
Montego Bay stuff like that,
00:01:56.34\00:01:57.68
Kingston, Jamaica.
00:01:57.71\00:01:59.05
But you all are from the city.
00:01:59.08\00:02:00.42
No, it's the country.
00:02:00.45\00:02:01.78
So to go from the
country to Brooklyn, New York,
00:02:01.82\00:02:04.19
I can imagine that's a
very extreme culture shock.
00:02:04.22\00:02:05.82
Yes.
00:02:05.85\00:02:07.19
So talk about your
early childhood life.
00:02:07.22\00:02:09.12
What was it like things
that you got involved in
00:02:09.16\00:02:11.36
at a younger age,
00:02:11.39\00:02:12.73
the household
that you came from?
00:02:12.76\00:02:14.23
Talk about that a little bit?
00:02:14.26\00:02:15.60
Go ahead.
00:02:15.63\00:02:16.97
Well, we grew up in Jamaica
like our father was a pastor.
00:02:17.00\00:02:20.00
And we went to
church regularly on Sundays.
00:02:20.04\00:02:22.84
We're not Seventh-day Adventist
00:02:22.87\00:02:24.44
and when we came to
America, that changed a lot.
00:02:24.47\00:02:27.38
We started becoming
00:02:27.41\00:02:28.74
more involved
with the street life
00:02:28.78\00:02:32.11
and that kind of changed us
00:02:32.15\00:02:33.75
and changed our
perception of the world.
00:02:33.78\00:02:35.25
Okay. Now, you mentioned that
you went to church on Sundays.
00:02:35.28\00:02:39.09
What was the
religious background
00:02:39.12\00:02:40.46
of the household growing up?
00:02:40.49\00:02:41.82
Pentecostal. Pentecostal, okay.
00:02:41.86\00:02:43.43
So, your father was
a Pentecostal Preacher.
00:02:43.46\00:02:45.36
Yes.
00:02:45.39\00:02:46.73
You went to
church on Sundays were,
00:02:46.76\00:02:48.63
you know, you hear
some people say that,
00:02:48.66\00:02:50.10
"Yeah, we're Pentecostal
whatever or whatever religion.
00:02:50.13\00:02:52.63
But we only went to
church every now and again.
00:02:52.67\00:02:54.07
Where you all there like weekly?
00:02:54.10\00:02:55.44
We were there
every day religiously.
00:02:55.47\00:02:56.81
Every single Sunday.
00:02:56.84\00:02:58.17
They were very strict.
00:02:58.21\00:02:59.54
Sunday school. Okay.
00:02:59.57\00:03:00.91
I mean even
Sunday evening worship.
00:03:00.94\00:03:02.28
Okay. Yeah, it
was strict household.
00:03:02.31\00:03:03.91
What was it like
growing up in the household?
00:03:03.95\00:03:06.48
Did you have the mother
and the father in the home,
00:03:06.51\00:03:08.62
siblings, how was that life?
00:03:08.65\00:03:10.65
Well, both our
parents were there,
00:03:10.69\00:03:13.05
they are still married.
00:03:13.09\00:03:14.42
Okay, praise the Lord.
00:03:14.46\00:03:15.79
Now we've got three
brothers, like three brothers.
00:03:15.82\00:03:18.29
That was like five of us.
00:03:18.33\00:03:19.66
That grew up together. Yes.
00:03:19.69\00:03:21.03
Okay, okay.
00:03:21.06\00:03:22.40
Now, where are you all at on,
00:03:22.43\00:03:23.77
you're the oldest,
the youngest, middle?
00:03:23.80\00:03:25.13
We're the
middle. We're the middle.
00:03:25.17\00:03:26.50
Okay, okay, that's great.
00:03:26.53\00:03:27.87
So you came from Jamaica.
00:03:27.90\00:03:29.30
You moved to,
migrated to Brooklyn.
00:03:29.34\00:03:32.24
And I assume you all
were in about middle school
00:03:32.27\00:03:34.31
about seventh,
eighth grade at that time?
00:03:34.34\00:03:35.68
We came in the eighth
grade. Yeah, how they call it.
00:03:35.71\00:03:37.81
Okay, so how was it transferring
00:03:37.85\00:03:39.65
from schools in Jamaica
00:03:39.68\00:03:41.82
to a school in
Brooklyn, New York?
00:03:41.85\00:03:44.55
It was very
difficult the transition
00:03:44.59\00:03:46.72
because we had strong accents.
00:03:46.76\00:03:48.36
Okay.
00:03:48.39\00:03:49.72
And we looked differently,
we dressed differently.
00:03:49.76\00:03:52.59
And I mean, children in
that age don't definitely,
00:03:52.63\00:03:55.86
you know, like difference.
00:03:55.90\00:03:57.73
They want to be like them.
00:03:57.77\00:03:59.83
And so, we were
beaten up, we were I mean,
00:03:59.87\00:04:04.24
they were at us all the time.
00:04:04.27\00:04:05.81
One time we didn't go to school,
00:04:05.84\00:04:07.21
I didn't go to school
for two weeks at a time
00:04:07.24\00:04:08.94
because it was just that crazy.
00:04:08.98\00:04:10.98
So, it was hard to
really adapt to the situation.
00:04:11.01\00:04:14.88
Then on top of it, you
know, being in Jamaica,
00:04:14.92\00:04:17.35
it's a uniformed country.
00:04:17.39\00:04:18.79
So, you wear uniforms to school,
00:04:18.82\00:04:20.16
you all look alike.
00:04:20.19\00:04:21.52
And going to a
school in America now,
00:04:21.56\00:04:23.02
everyone looks different,
00:04:23.06\00:04:24.39
and we were not
like the flyest chicks
00:04:24.43\00:04:26.13
in the block hood.
00:04:26.16\00:04:27.50
We weren't looking at all.
00:04:27.53\00:04:28.93
I mean, once...
00:04:28.96\00:04:30.30
We thought we were.
00:04:30.33\00:04:31.67
You thought you were.
00:04:31.70\00:04:33.03
It was like the
tablecloth, we had a skirt,
00:04:33.07\00:04:34.40
we weren't allowed to wear pants
00:04:34.44\00:04:35.84
when we were growing up.
00:04:35.87\00:04:37.21
So, you know, I
mean the clothes,
00:04:37.24\00:04:38.61
the clothing choice
by our parents was just,
00:04:38.64\00:04:41.81
it just wasn't kids friendly,
make sure they're friendly.
00:04:41.84\00:04:44.75
So how did y'all deal with,
00:04:44.78\00:04:46.11
with that because pretty
much everybody knows how,
00:04:46.15\00:04:49.52
you know, kids tend
to pick on each other,
00:04:49.55\00:04:51.19
if your clothes are
a little bit different,
00:04:51.22\00:04:53.86
or you don't have a
certain type of shoe.
00:04:53.89\00:04:55.79
People tend to pick on
00:04:55.82\00:04:57.16
and it leads to a lot
of bullying these days.
00:04:57.19\00:04:59.36
But how did
y'all turn to deal with
00:04:59.39\00:05:01.43
being picked on
and things like that?
00:05:01.46\00:05:05.37
I cried every day.
00:05:05.40\00:05:06.74
I mean I cried every single day.
00:05:06.77\00:05:09.17
When I came
from, I'm from Jamaica,
00:05:09.20\00:05:10.71
every day I cried.
00:05:10.74\00:05:12.07
I just want to go back
00:05:12.11\00:05:13.44
because it was just so difficult
00:05:13.48\00:05:14.81
because you're not used
to people being so mean.
00:05:14.84\00:05:16.18
Okay.
00:05:16.21\00:05:17.55
You know, for nothing at
all, for no reason at all.
00:05:17.58\00:05:18.91
Just talking was
like people made fun of me
00:05:18.95\00:05:21.68
just by the way that I spoke.
00:05:21.72\00:05:23.32
So, just those things
which is very disheartening,
00:05:23.35\00:05:25.72
they were discouraging I think.
00:05:25.75\00:05:28.29
You know, you started building,
00:05:28.32\00:05:29.66
things started
building up inside of you
00:05:29.69\00:05:31.03
as a result of that.
00:05:31.06\00:05:32.63
I don't think there's the way
00:05:32.66\00:05:34.13
you can deal
with it at that age.
00:05:34.16\00:05:35.56
Thirteen years old,
and you're getting bullied,
00:05:35.60\00:05:37.60
and there's just no way.
00:05:37.63\00:05:39.27
It's just pretty much as
it's like kind of wait now.
00:05:39.30\00:05:42.30
Now, when we
went to high school,
00:05:42.34\00:05:43.67
we dealt with it differently.
00:05:43.71\00:05:45.07
We had to have a
different persona.
00:05:45.11\00:05:46.94
We were no longer
those little girls that get,
00:05:46.98\00:05:48.68
you know, we were
beating people up.
00:05:48.71\00:05:50.58
You know, we had to be tough.
00:05:50.61\00:05:52.45
And that's kind of
how I'm not saying,
00:05:52.48\00:05:53.82
that's the way to do it,
00:05:53.85\00:05:55.18
but that's gonna how we
have to do it in Brooklyn.
00:05:55.22\00:05:56.55
Yeah, that's how
you adapted, okay.
00:05:56.58\00:05:57.92
Well, growing up as twins,
00:05:57.95\00:05:59.29
'cause I myself
have a set of twins,
00:05:59.32\00:06:00.66
twin daughters and I know that
they have a very close bond.
00:06:00.69\00:06:04.26
Talk about their bond
that y'all had at a young age
00:06:04.29\00:06:07.96
and how it was even though
00:06:08.00\00:06:09.96
you were around
different people,
00:06:10.00\00:06:11.33
even different family members,
00:06:11.37\00:06:12.70
because you have other siblings.
00:06:12.73\00:06:14.27
As well going to
school with other people,
00:06:14.30\00:06:16.20
but you always had each other.
00:06:16.24\00:06:17.57
Let's talk about that
bond that y'all had growing up?
00:06:17.61\00:06:20.81
Keisha and I were pretty close.
00:06:20.84\00:06:22.58
Okay.
00:06:22.61\00:06:23.95
Especially as teenagers.
00:06:23.98\00:06:25.81
We were very, very close
00:06:25.85\00:06:27.18
because we
weren't with our brothers,
00:06:27.22\00:06:28.55
our brothers
were still in Jamaica,
00:06:28.58\00:06:30.22
so it was just us.
00:06:30.25\00:06:31.85
So, we formed a
very close-knit bond
00:06:31.89\00:06:34.06
that we weren't
getting along with our parents
00:06:34.09\00:06:35.42
so we were even closer.
00:06:35.46\00:06:36.79
It's always us
against the world.
00:06:36.83\00:06:38.16
Okay, okay.
00:06:38.19\00:06:39.53
It was such a
bond, we could actually
00:06:39.56\00:06:40.90
feel each other's pain.
00:06:40.93\00:06:42.26
Something is going on,
we were able to feel it.
00:06:42.30\00:06:43.63
If I had--if she had a
headache I had a headache.
00:06:43.67\00:06:45.67
You know, if something was
going on her body, I felt it.
00:06:45.70\00:06:47.90
Like even one time she
had a heartbreak going on.
00:06:47.94\00:06:50.97
And I was in class wondering
00:06:51.01\00:06:52.34
why am I feeling
the way I'm feeling.
00:06:52.37\00:06:54.78
I'm heartbroken
but why, you know?
00:06:54.81\00:06:56.91
And then I remember wait,
00:06:56.95\00:06:58.28
Keisha is
dealing with something.
00:06:58.31\00:06:59.65
Okay. Wow. That's interesting.
00:06:59.68\00:07:01.42
So you mentioned a second ago
00:07:01.45\00:07:02.98
that your parents
weren't getting along.
00:07:03.02\00:07:05.05
You and your parents,
00:07:05.09\00:07:06.42
y'all didn't have
the best relationship.
00:07:06.45\00:07:07.86
What was going on
with that situation?
00:07:07.89\00:07:09.76
I think coming from
Jamaica, we were these.
00:07:09.79\00:07:12.06
You know, we were
these innocent girls.
00:07:12.09\00:07:15.73
And then we came
and it's like bam
00:07:15.76\00:07:17.67
like once we hit
like what ninth grade,
00:07:17.70\00:07:20.64
some are like, some
were tenth grade, whoa.
00:07:20.67\00:07:23.51
I mean, when you hit
that that teenage year,
00:07:23.54\00:07:25.71
you don't really get
along that well with them,
00:07:25.74\00:07:28.41
because you have a
difference in views, you know.
00:07:28.44\00:07:31.25
And so that,
what was going on we,
00:07:31.28\00:07:34.32
you know, start to do things,
00:07:34.35\00:07:35.68
get involved in different things
00:07:35.72\00:07:37.72
that were not right
00:07:37.75\00:07:39.59
and so that was a
challenge with them.
00:07:39.62\00:07:41.69
Okay, now you mentioned,
you got involved in things.
00:07:41.72\00:07:45.86
And you got involved in
drugs using drugs a little bit.
00:07:45.89\00:07:50.07
At what age that y'all
been getting involved in drugs
00:07:50.10\00:07:52.90
as well as what
drugs did you use.
00:07:52.93\00:07:54.74
And lastly why?
00:07:54.77\00:07:56.50
What was the motivating factor
00:07:56.54\00:07:58.87
that led you
towards these drugs?
00:07:58.91\00:08:00.98
We started around like 15, 16.
00:08:01.01\00:08:03.65
We started using marijuana.
00:08:03.68\00:08:06.82
We started
alcohol early there on
00:08:06.85\00:08:08.88
because we kind
of were around at it,
00:08:08.92\00:08:11.12
even though our
parents are Christians.
00:08:11.15\00:08:12.59
They don't have
alcohol in the house,
00:08:12.62\00:08:13.96
but we were kind of around
other people who did it so.
00:08:13.99\00:08:17.13
As far as like
smoking marijuana,
00:08:17.16\00:08:18.49
it was just more like
you're around the wrong people,
00:08:18.53\00:08:21.03
the wrong side of people,
the wrong group of people,
00:08:21.06\00:08:22.53
that's what they do.
00:08:22.56\00:08:23.90
Even though you know,
00:08:23.93\00:08:25.27
so that it becomes
a part of who you are
00:08:25.30\00:08:26.63
and then it
becomes easier to try it.
00:08:26.67\00:08:28.00
I think also around
that time because, you know,
00:08:28.04\00:08:30.71
we had a traumatic childhood
00:08:30.74\00:08:32.87
around the age of four
and five years old, you know,
00:08:32.91\00:08:35.34
so I think around the
time we start to numb things,
00:08:35.38\00:08:38.25
things would start to come now,
00:08:38.28\00:08:39.75
that we didn't
know how to deal with.
00:08:39.78\00:08:41.98
Memories of our
past and so like that,
00:08:42.02\00:08:43.82
so we started to
numb, but I know that was,
00:08:43.85\00:08:47.09
that wasn't what I
was doing, I was numbing.
00:08:47.12\00:08:49.59
Okay, now in terms of
because that's the answer
00:08:49.62\00:08:52.16
that a lot of folks give
is that we're trying to numb.
00:08:52.19\00:08:55.36
And I've been there as well,
00:08:55.40\00:08:56.73
where you know you're
dealing with different issues.
00:08:56.77\00:08:58.63
And you don't necessarily
know how to deal with it
00:08:58.67\00:09:00.94
because, I mean, your young age.
00:09:00.97\00:09:03.24
You don't have
the best relationship
00:09:03.27\00:09:04.61
with your parents at times.
00:09:04.64\00:09:05.97
And you begin to self medicate,
and y'all did that as well.
00:09:06.01\00:09:09.91
And what were some of the things
00:09:09.94\00:09:11.58
that you were going
through at a younger age
00:09:11.61\00:09:13.45
that you felt
that led you to that
00:09:13.48\00:09:15.25
or that you were
trying to cover up with.
00:09:15.28\00:09:18.42
We were-- Do you want to say?
00:09:18.45\00:09:20.02
I think we were
both sexually assaulted
00:09:20.06\00:09:22.69
when we were younger.
00:09:22.72\00:09:24.06
So that was
something that forced us
00:09:24.09\00:09:26.29
to kind of try to
cover up that pain.
00:09:26.33\00:09:28.43
And then also I don't think
we have the best home life.
00:09:28.46\00:09:32.97
It was just more
of like dysfunctional.
00:09:33.00\00:09:34.67
Okay. So...
00:09:34.70\00:09:36.04
Lot of conflict in the home.
00:09:36.07\00:09:37.41
You know, it was just like,
00:09:37.44\00:09:38.77
we were just always
trying to cover that up.
00:09:38.81\00:09:40.14
We were always trying to kind of
00:09:40.18\00:09:41.51
find a way to deal with that,
00:09:41.54\00:09:42.88
so it was easy to
just get involved.
00:09:42.91\00:09:44.25
And just take drugs
on as a way of, you know,
00:09:44.28\00:09:46.88
medicating,
you're self medicating.
00:09:46.92\00:09:48.58
Definitely.
00:09:48.62\00:09:49.95
So when y'all began
using marijuana, alcohol,
00:09:49.98\00:09:53.66
did your parents
know at the time,
00:09:53.69\00:09:55.36
or was it kind of
secretive, or how did that went?
00:09:55.39\00:09:57.59
It was not like we were hiding
00:09:57.63\00:09:58.96
because we had
no fear of anything.
00:09:58.99\00:10:00.33
Yeah, we had no fear.
00:10:00.36\00:10:01.70
We didn't fear of anybody.
00:10:01.73\00:10:03.06
We probably didn't fear God.
00:10:03.10\00:10:04.43
We didn't fear God
either. We didn't care.
00:10:04.47\00:10:05.80
You know what I mean, we
had a no care attitude so,
00:10:05.83\00:10:07.57
we weren't trying to hide it,
00:10:07.60\00:10:08.94
it was just like
if you knew you knew,
00:10:08.97\00:10:10.31
if you didn't know
you, you didn't know.
00:10:10.34\00:10:11.67
You don't know. Okay.
00:10:11.71\00:10:13.04
I think they started
realizing that we were using.
00:10:13.07\00:10:14.61
Okay, now Keisha,
00:10:14.64\00:10:16.21
you eventually got
involved in dancing.
00:10:16.24\00:10:19.55
Talk about your
experiences with that,
00:10:19.58\00:10:21.18
what motivated you to
get involved in dancing.
00:10:21.22\00:10:24.05
If you could shed
some light upon that thing?
00:10:24.09\00:10:25.65
Okay. I was about around 18.
00:10:25.69\00:10:29.42
You know, I
didn't have a green card
00:10:29.46\00:10:31.06
and you know,
that's something you need
00:10:31.09\00:10:33.90
if you're from the Caribbean.
00:10:33.93\00:10:36.53
But I think for me personally,
00:10:36.56\00:10:40.37
I really was just
trying to make a living,
00:10:40.40\00:10:42.94
and so I thought I was cute,
00:10:42.97\00:10:45.91
and so I got involved in
that whole lifestyle where,
00:10:45.94\00:10:51.05
I'm taking off my
clothes to make a living.
00:10:51.08\00:10:55.58
You know, Aaron, I'm
not proud of my past.
00:10:55.62\00:10:58.09
I'm not proud of some
of the things I've done.
00:10:58.12\00:11:00.16
But what I am proud of is
the woman that I am today.
00:11:00.19\00:11:02.89
Yes, yes.
00:11:02.92\00:11:04.26
And I think
those things I've done,
00:11:04.29\00:11:06.26
God has used them to
make me a woman of virtue,
00:11:06.29\00:11:10.10
of power, you know, and
so I'm grateful for that.
00:11:10.13\00:11:12.80
You know, it's amazing
where God can take us from
00:11:12.83\00:11:16.57
and He changes us,
molds us, shapes us,
00:11:16.60\00:11:20.61
and has us learn
from our situation,
00:11:20.64\00:11:22.58
and then turns around
00:11:22.61\00:11:23.95
and we can go
back and get others.
00:11:23.98\00:11:25.31
Basically saved to serve,
which is a beautiful thing.
00:11:25.35\00:11:27.75
Now, before you got
involved in a dancing,
00:11:27.78\00:11:30.29
you were
involved in selling drugs.
00:11:30.32\00:11:32.12
Talk about that experience
00:11:32.15\00:11:33.49
why you got
involved in selling drugs?
00:11:33.52\00:11:35.09
What were some of the
drugs that you were selling?
00:11:35.12\00:11:37.53
Shed some light
on that experience?
00:11:37.56\00:11:38.99
I sold, I sold weed.
00:11:39.03\00:11:41.50
Okay.
00:11:41.53\00:11:44.63
You know, I think at that point,
00:11:44.67\00:11:46.43
I want to make a little money.
00:11:46.47\00:11:48.60
It was just the thing to do.
00:11:48.64\00:11:50.31
And so, I would
bring it to school
00:11:50.34\00:11:53.48
stash it in certain
places, and certain body parts.
00:11:53.51\00:11:56.88
And I would take it to
school and distribute it.
00:11:56.91\00:11:59.91
And I would also smoke my own.
00:11:59.95\00:12:02.15
Okay. Smoking
your own product, okay.
00:12:02.18\00:12:04.19
Yes, I would. Okay.
00:12:04.22\00:12:05.75
So, but that's
kind of what it was
00:12:05.79\00:12:07.72
just want to make a little money
00:12:07.76\00:12:09.69
and also I guess just you
know, living the life I guess.
00:12:09.72\00:12:13.70
Not really
caring about anything.
00:12:13.73\00:12:15.26
Yeah, it's almost like
when you get in that life,
00:12:15.30\00:12:17.60
one thing adds to the
next and the next and the next
00:12:17.63\00:12:20.04
and it's almost like
you're on this downward spiral.
00:12:20.07\00:12:23.41
And it's almost like,
00:12:23.44\00:12:24.77
you have to cover up
this was something else.
00:12:24.81\00:12:27.74
It's almost like a lie.
00:12:27.78\00:12:29.11
Where you tell a lie,
00:12:29.14\00:12:30.48
and then you have to cover
up that lie with another lie,
00:12:30.51\00:12:32.85
and now you're on a
downward spiral of lies.
00:12:32.88\00:12:36.72
Question to you Trecia,
00:12:36.75\00:12:38.52
as your sister was
selling drugs, she was dancing.
00:12:38.55\00:12:42.72
What were some of the
things that you were involved
00:12:42.76\00:12:44.29
in at that time?
00:12:44.33\00:12:45.99
Well, I was
always the, you know,
00:12:46.03\00:12:49.26
the one that was,
well behaved more.
00:12:49.30\00:12:50.63
Yeah, I was better
behaved than she was.
00:12:50.67\00:12:52.00
Okay.
00:12:52.03\00:12:53.37
So while she was selling drugs,
00:12:53.40\00:12:54.74
I probably was going to classes,
00:12:54.77\00:12:56.10
for the most part I'm
trying to go to classes
00:12:56.14\00:12:57.47
every now and then.
00:12:57.51\00:12:58.84
As far as dancing, I
understood what she was doing,
00:12:58.87\00:13:00.38
I understood why she did it.
00:13:00.41\00:13:01.88
Did I condone
it? No, not at all.
00:13:01.91\00:13:04.18
But I understood why?
00:13:04.21\00:13:05.55
Because we were both
00:13:05.58\00:13:06.92
going through
situations at that time.
00:13:06.95\00:13:08.28
You know, I was pregnant
with my daughter at that time
00:13:08.32\00:13:10.89
and we were both illegal aliens.
00:13:10.92\00:13:14.52
We didn't have any money.
00:13:14.56\00:13:15.89
We didn't have
anything so I understand,
00:13:15.92\00:13:17.26
she's trying to
make a living but,
00:13:17.29\00:13:18.93
but I'm so thankful that
God turned our lives around
00:13:18.96\00:13:21.83
and turned her life around
and now she can speak of that
00:13:21.86\00:13:24.20
as in the past
and not as what it is.
00:13:24.23\00:13:26.10
Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely.
00:13:26.13\00:13:27.47
You know, as it is right
now so, I'm grateful for that.
00:13:27.50\00:13:29.00
Definitely.
00:13:29.04\00:13:30.77
For both of you,
what eventually led you
00:13:30.81\00:13:34.58
to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:13:34.61\00:13:35.94
because you mentioned that
00:13:35.98\00:13:37.31
your father was a
Pentecostal preacher?
00:13:37.35\00:13:40.58
Grew up in a
Pentecostal household?
00:13:40.62\00:13:42.55
How did you learn about
00:13:42.58\00:13:43.92
the Seventh-day
Adventist Church,
00:13:43.95\00:13:45.29
the Sabbath, what
brought you all to this?
00:13:45.32\00:13:48.36
You know, I'm going to say
this really quickly is that
00:13:48.39\00:13:50.96
we moved from
Flatbush to Crown Heights
00:13:50.99\00:13:54.50
right across the street,
00:13:54.53\00:13:56.40
right across from
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:13:56.43\00:13:58.50
And every day they used
to come and sing the song,
00:13:58.53\00:14:00.67
I know that I can
make it, I know I can--
00:14:00.70\00:14:02.24
And I'm like why
don't these people
00:14:02.27\00:14:03.64
should be quiet you know,
00:14:03.67\00:14:05.27
like they would come outside
of the corner and sing it.
00:14:05.31\00:14:08.81
So, I didn't know
that guy had something like
00:14:08.84\00:14:12.78
I will do
something because chances are
00:14:12.81\00:14:14.75
if I wasn't right
across the street,
00:14:14.78\00:14:16.85
I wouldn't have
gone to the church.
00:14:16.89\00:14:18.22
Yeah, definitely.
00:14:18.25\00:14:19.59
So, what happened was
that I became pregnant.
00:14:19.62\00:14:22.12
Okay.
00:14:22.16\00:14:23.49
And I had dropped
out of high school,
00:14:23.53\00:14:25.03
plus I went to several
different high schools.
00:14:25.06\00:14:27.63
And so about five
00:14:27.66\00:14:29.73
and I dropped
out of the last one
00:14:29.76\00:14:32.93
and I was
supposed to go take my GD.
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.94
Things didn't work out the way
00:14:35.97\00:14:37.31
how I had
planned for to work out,
00:14:37.34\00:14:38.94
so across the street from
me that they had a GD program.
00:14:38.97\00:14:42.41
And so, I end up going
over there to inquire about it.
00:14:42.44\00:14:46.11
And I started
the GD program there.
00:14:46.15\00:14:48.25
And that's how I got involved.
00:14:48.28\00:14:50.02
But the thing
about is that made me
00:14:50.05\00:14:51.39
start to really go with that,
00:14:51.42\00:14:52.85
the pain that I was
feeling was, it was--
00:14:52.89\00:14:56.73
I'm speechless
thinking about it.
00:14:56.76\00:14:58.39
It was a very
deep part of my life,
00:14:58.43\00:15:00.10
I was so depressed.
00:15:00.13\00:15:01.53
I couldn't get out of
bed, I couldn't really,
00:15:01.56\00:15:03.20
you know, I was that depressed.
00:15:03.23\00:15:04.93
And I'm gonna ask God to,
00:15:04.97\00:15:07.90
Lord, you know,
'cause I was pregnant.
00:15:07.94\00:15:09.34
Lord, sent Your
angles to rub my stomach.
00:15:09.37\00:15:11.17
Lord, you know,
let Your will be done.
00:15:11.21\00:15:13.64
At that point I
still wasn't a Christian.
00:15:13.68\00:15:15.01
But I, you know, we
always, we always prayed.
00:15:15.04\00:15:17.78
No matter how bad we were.
00:15:17.81\00:15:19.28
With situation that
arose, we always prayed.
00:15:19.31\00:15:21.02
Okay.
00:15:21.05\00:15:22.38
So, one day, I go to church,
00:15:22.42\00:15:24.65
I remember the first
day I went to church,
00:15:24.69\00:15:26.02
I was in all black.
I had on dark shades.
00:15:26.05\00:15:29.12
And guess what?
00:15:29.16\00:15:30.59
I go to church and the
song that they're singing is,
00:15:30.63\00:15:32.83
"I know that I can make it.
00:15:32.86\00:15:34.20
I know that I can stand."
00:15:34.23\00:15:35.56
The same song that
your heard constantly, okay.
00:15:35.60\00:15:36.93
And guess what? It hit
me because I needed that.
00:15:36.97\00:15:39.53
I needed that so badly
and I remember the pastor,
00:15:39.57\00:15:42.17
it was Pastor
Stevenson from Charlotte Church
00:15:42.20\00:15:44.77
in Brooklyn, New York.
00:15:44.81\00:15:46.14
And I came home like a Trecia,
Trecia, you got hear this man,
00:15:46.17\00:15:47.84
you got to hear this man.
00:15:47.88\00:15:49.21
You know, he-- I
think he is so funny.
00:15:49.24\00:15:51.48
And then she came like I
don't know when you came but.
00:15:51.51\00:15:54.55
She came home
00:15:54.58\00:15:55.92
and she invited me to
church the next Sabbath,
00:15:55.95\00:15:57.75
even though she wasn't a member.
00:15:57.79\00:15:59.19
And I was like okay.
00:15:59.22\00:16:01.19
You know, she said
the pastor is funny.
00:16:01.22\00:16:02.56
He's a good speaker I'll go.
00:16:02.59\00:16:04.69
So I went, I
went the next Sabbath.
00:16:04.73\00:16:07.90
And then the following Sabbath
after that, I got baptized.
00:16:07.93\00:16:10.17
Okay. Yes.
00:16:10.20\00:16:11.53
But let me say this how.
00:16:11.57\00:16:12.90
Okay, we had a Bible worker,
her name was Denise George.
00:16:12.93\00:16:14.50
Okay.
00:16:14.54\00:16:16.00
Every time I would
try to leave the church,
00:16:16.04\00:16:18.64
that woman would block me.
00:16:18.67\00:16:20.34
I would get out, get up
00:16:20.38\00:16:21.74
and literally
early before they finish.
00:16:21.78\00:16:24.25
So that I can go in
and not talk to anybody
00:16:24.28\00:16:26.01
or do anyone because
we had already been burned
00:16:26.05\00:16:28.02
by church folks from
the Pentecostal Church
00:16:28.05\00:16:29.88
though we were kind
of a little bitter ready.
00:16:29.92\00:16:31.95
So, I mean, Denise
would literally block my way.
00:16:31.99\00:16:35.29
And so, she was the Bible worker
00:16:35.32\00:16:37.23
and so she worked
with us and that's how
00:16:37.26\00:16:39.29
we kind of start to learn
and listen when we became,
00:16:39.33\00:16:41.16
when we got baptized,
00:16:41.20\00:16:42.53
we still didn't
know about the Sabbath.
00:16:42.56\00:16:43.90
Yeah, okay. But she
would teach us about.
00:16:43.93\00:16:45.33
Okay your TV is on,
you need to turn it off.
00:16:45.37\00:16:47.34
And you know, she
would really kind of mold it
00:16:47.37\00:16:49.27
and so she was
definitely also and,
00:16:49.30\00:16:51.67
you know, an inspiration.
00:16:51.71\00:16:53.34
In many ways, God
was preparing us also.
00:16:53.38\00:16:55.51
You know, because I
mean, there were many things
00:16:55.54\00:16:57.18
that he spoke to me about
that I needed to stop doing.
00:16:57.21\00:16:59.65
You know, and I needed
to behave a certain way,
00:16:59.68\00:17:01.55
this is before I even
started going to church
00:17:01.58\00:17:03.92
so the transition
in sense was easy.
00:17:03.95\00:17:06.09
I knew I was making a
decision to serve God.
00:17:06.12\00:17:08.26
To live for Him completely
and I made that decision
00:17:08.29\00:17:11.79
the next Sabbath
after the first time
00:17:11.83\00:17:14.00
that I went and I'm
thankful that I did.
00:17:14.03\00:17:17.57
You remember when we
read the National Sunday Law?
00:17:17.60\00:17:19.17
Okay.
00:17:19.20\00:17:20.54
Way before we
ever became Adventist.
00:17:20.57\00:17:21.90
Wow. We read it years and years.
00:17:21.94\00:17:23.57
So years before
you actually became
00:17:23.61\00:17:24.94
Seventh-day
Adventist Church member.
00:17:24.97\00:17:26.31
God was preparing us.
00:17:26.34\00:17:27.68
Okay. He was preparing us.
00:17:27.71\00:17:29.04
Okay, okay it's amazing
00:17:29.08\00:17:30.41
how we can look
back on our lives,
00:17:30.45\00:17:31.78
and just see the hand
of God in little events.
00:17:31.81\00:17:33.88
And sometimes, you
don't see it at a time.
00:17:33.92\00:17:35.35
No. It's not till years later.
00:17:35.38\00:17:37.42
When you look back and say,
"Wow, I see God's hand there.
00:17:37.45\00:17:39.75
I see it here."
00:17:39.79\00:17:41.12
And it's all
like a connecting dot
00:17:41.16\00:17:42.49
like the puzzle comes together.
00:17:42.52\00:17:44.19
And you see how
God's hand was in things.
00:17:44.23\00:17:46.19
Yes, he's a dot connector.
00:17:46.23\00:17:47.70
Oh, yeah definitely.
00:17:47.73\00:17:49.06
So y'all are
learning about the Sabbath,
00:17:49.10\00:17:51.27
baptized into the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:17:51.30\00:17:53.74
How did your family take
this being that you're coming
00:17:53.77\00:17:56.00
from a strong
Pentecostal background?
00:17:56.04\00:17:57.74
Wow.
00:17:57.77\00:17:59.11
Not good. We were shunned.
00:17:59.14\00:18:00.48
Okay.
Basically, we were shunned.
00:18:00.51\00:18:01.94
When we got baptized,
00:18:01.98\00:18:03.31
no family member
came to support us.
00:18:03.35\00:18:05.78
It was the church family. Okay.
00:18:05.81\00:18:07.58
Who came and supported us some.
00:18:07.62\00:18:09.62
You know, our mother
00:18:09.65\00:18:10.99
was mad for a long
time for the longest time...
00:18:11.02\00:18:13.32
She cried.
00:18:13.36\00:18:14.69
She thought that
we were in the cult.
00:18:14.72\00:18:16.06
She cried.
00:18:16.09\00:18:17.43
And even the other day
I found a diary for her
00:18:17.46\00:18:18.79
that I read.
00:18:18.83\00:18:20.16
I shouldn't have
read it but I did.
00:18:20.20\00:18:21.53
And it talked about,
00:18:21.56\00:18:22.90
when we became
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:18:22.93\00:18:24.27
how my father
called and told her
00:18:24.30\00:18:25.63
and how she was
hurt and she was bruise.
00:18:25.67\00:18:27.54
I mean, my
parent are good people.
00:18:27.57\00:18:29.10
You know, but their,
00:18:29.14\00:18:30.61
their view of
things are so different
00:18:30.64\00:18:32.04
from, from how we see it.
00:18:32.07\00:18:33.41
Okay, okay.
00:18:33.44\00:18:34.78
You know, but yes,
they were very upset.
00:18:34.81\00:18:36.14
They were angry, they were hurt.
00:18:36.18\00:18:37.51
They thought that
we had been deceived.
00:18:37.55\00:18:38.88
Okay, so what do you think
that hurt came from deception
00:18:38.91\00:18:44.09
or they just didn't
understand how you could.
00:18:44.12\00:18:47.22
Okay, start going
to church on Saturday
00:18:47.26\00:18:48.79
the whole Sabbath thing.
00:18:48.82\00:18:50.73
What was it that
you think was there,
00:18:50.76\00:18:53.56
the root of their
issue why they were so upset?
00:18:53.60\00:18:56.26
I think in that culture.
00:18:56.30\00:18:57.67
I think that I'm not
bashing anyone because,
00:18:57.70\00:19:00.84
God has people in
every denomination
00:19:00.87\00:19:02.94
and my parents are
great Christian people.
00:19:02.97\00:19:05.04
But I think our belief system,
00:19:05.07\00:19:06.98
I think was that if you
do not speak in tongues.
00:19:07.01\00:19:09.81
Okay.
00:19:09.84\00:19:11.18
You know, so I think with mom,
00:19:11.21\00:19:12.58
it was more like she was
really concerned about our soul.
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.15
Because, you
know, at times people
00:19:15.18\00:19:16.75
if you don't know the Adventism,
00:19:16.79\00:19:18.92
sometimes you
can misinterpret it.
00:19:18.95\00:19:20.86
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
00:19:20.89\00:19:22.22
So I think that's what it was.
I think she didn't understand.
00:19:22.26\00:19:24.43
She didn't know what
Seventh-day Adventism was.
00:19:24.46\00:19:28.13
Okay. All about.
00:19:28.16\00:19:29.50
And she just, I
think she rejected that
00:19:29.53\00:19:31.60
because she didn't understand.
00:19:31.63\00:19:32.97
Yeah, didn't
understand. Yeah. Definitely.
00:19:33.00\00:19:34.90
Looking back on yours life,
00:19:34.94\00:19:36.81
and seeing the different things,
00:19:36.84\00:19:38.17
that you have gone
through the using the drugs,
00:19:38.21\00:19:40.08
the molestation at
a young age, dancing,
00:19:40.11\00:19:43.11
selling drugs,
different things like.
00:19:43.14\00:19:44.75
What are some of
the things looking back
00:19:44.78\00:19:47.18
that you regret and why?
00:19:47.22\00:19:51.29
If I can be very honest.
00:19:51.32\00:19:52.72
Okay.
00:19:52.75\00:19:54.09
My biggest regret
would be premarital sex.
00:19:54.12\00:19:55.52
Okay.
00:19:55.56\00:19:56.89
That would be my
biggest I ever did.
00:19:56.93\00:19:58.26
Okay, okay.
Elaborate up on hat?.
00:19:58.29\00:19:59.63
My biggest regret because
00:19:59.66\00:20:01.00
I think that at the age
as a result of a molestation,
00:20:01.03\00:20:03.23
I didn't know how to
value myself completely.
00:20:03.26\00:20:05.07
Okay.
00:20:05.10\00:20:06.43
So I got into situations
00:20:06.47\00:20:07.80
that I didn't know
how to get myself out of.
00:20:07.84\00:20:09.54
You know, and
then you kind of like
00:20:09.57\00:20:11.71
think somebody loves you,
but they don't really love you.
00:20:11.74\00:20:13.68
Yeah, definitely. You
know, so I think that.
00:20:13.71\00:20:15.38
Yeah, I had a
daughter at an early age
00:20:15.41\00:20:17.35
and I just wasn't
ready to be a mother.
00:20:17.38\00:20:19.71
Okay. You know,
I wasn't ready so.
00:20:19.75\00:20:21.08
Yes, I would
definitely that if I would,
00:20:21.12\00:20:22.85
I would if I could
live, relive my life
00:20:22.88\00:20:24.32
that would be a choice.
00:20:24.35\00:20:25.95
I would do differently.
00:20:25.99\00:20:27.32
Definitely,
Keisha, how about you
00:20:27.36\00:20:28.76
before you
looking back on your life,
00:20:28.79\00:20:30.33
what is something or some things
00:20:30.36\00:20:32.13
that you might change
in your life if anything?
00:20:32.16\00:20:35.80
I think, not
taking my life seriously
00:20:35.83\00:20:38.60
when I was in my early 20's.
00:20:38.63\00:20:39.97
Okay.
00:20:40.00\00:20:41.34
Just definitely not
been through our careers
00:20:41.37\00:20:43.27
and stuff like that.
00:20:43.30\00:20:44.64
You know, but again
I'm very grateful for,
00:20:44.67\00:20:49.41
even for my past experience
00:20:49.44\00:20:51.35
that it's really
made me who I am.
00:20:51.38\00:20:53.21
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
00:20:53.25\00:20:54.58
The reason I asked
the question is, you know
00:20:54.62\00:20:57.09
there are lot of
people having premarital sex
00:20:57.12\00:21:00.06
as well as a lot of people
that don't take life seriously
00:21:00.09\00:21:02.76
at a younger
age or in their 20's
00:21:02.79\00:21:04.16
even 30's and older.
00:21:04.19\00:21:05.83
And, you know, people
make mistakes constantly.
00:21:05.86\00:21:09.56
And sometimes they don't know
00:21:09.60\00:21:11.00
why they do it or
they're just doing it.
00:21:11.03\00:21:13.23
But you heard somebody say,
00:21:13.27\00:21:15.40
"I wish, I would
have listened back then."
00:21:15.44\00:21:17.64
And that's
where I'm coming from,
00:21:17.67\00:21:19.07
where my life
looking back on it.
00:21:19.11\00:21:21.54
I wish I would
have listened. Yeah.
00:21:21.58\00:21:23.14
Because, you know,
00:21:23.18\00:21:24.68
instead of having premarital sex
00:21:24.71\00:21:26.11
I should have listened.
00:21:26.15\00:21:27.48
Instead you know,
want to sell drugs,
00:21:27.52\00:21:29.92
wanting to hang out.
00:21:29.95\00:21:31.29
I should have listened,
00:21:31.32\00:21:32.65
because you avoid so many things
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.79
just by listening.
00:21:34.82\00:21:36.16
And that's one thing
that definitely needs
00:21:36.19\00:21:37.53
to get across to younger folks.
00:21:37.56\00:21:39.29
Is listen my mom used to say
that I am bullheaded, stubborn,
00:21:39.33\00:21:43.40
I'm the type of person
00:21:43.43\00:21:44.77
that if somebody
says the stove is hot,
00:21:44.80\00:21:46.13
I literally have to touch it.
00:21:46.17\00:21:47.50
There's just something
in me, I have to touch it.
00:21:47.54\00:21:49.90
And so, often that's
what happens with a lot of us
00:21:49.94\00:21:52.67
or different
events happen in our life.
00:21:52.71\00:21:54.64
Like you say
with the molestation
00:21:54.68\00:21:56.34
and we do things.
00:21:56.38\00:21:58.11
When the reality is,
00:21:58.15\00:22:00.02
we should listen
to somebody of wisdom
00:22:00.05\00:22:03.05
and that's trying to
steer away from these things.
00:22:03.08\00:22:06.92
But sometimes we say,
"No, they aren't right,
00:22:06.96\00:22:08.42
they all know what they're
talking about, they're older,
00:22:08.46\00:22:10.06
they live many years ago
different things like that."
00:22:10.09\00:22:13.26
But listening is very key.
00:22:13.29\00:22:14.70
Listening software, you know.
00:22:14.73\00:22:16.56
I feel like again like I wish
one thing that I regret is not
00:22:16.60\00:22:19.93
is going to far
different high schools.
00:22:19.97\00:22:21.30
Yeah.
00:22:21.34\00:22:22.67
I really wish I had
focus and get my life together
00:22:22.70\00:22:24.97
and regardless of
what my green card status
00:22:25.01\00:22:27.61
was my immigration or status.
00:22:27.64\00:22:29.11
I wish I had just focused,
00:22:29.14\00:22:30.48
because the woman
that I am now is that,
00:22:30.51\00:22:33.01
that's what I
look back in regret
00:22:33.05\00:22:34.52
because I would have been
so further went in my career.
00:22:34.55\00:22:37.05
I mean, I do have
a great career now,
00:22:37.09\00:22:38.42
but you know.
00:22:38.45\00:22:39.79
Okay.
00:22:39.82\00:22:41.16
Keisha, talk about
where you considered abortion
00:22:41.19\00:22:44.23
of your child years ago?
00:22:44.26\00:22:45.89
A very deep dark place.
00:22:45.93\00:22:47.76
I will never forget this. Okay.
00:22:47.80\00:22:50.00
I wasn't on good
terms with my mother.
00:22:50.03\00:22:52.23
I had just heard some
really devastating news
00:22:52.27\00:22:53.90
about the father.
00:22:53.94\00:22:55.27
And I was like man
00:22:55.30\00:22:56.71
and so I what I did was
I called my best friend.
00:22:56.74\00:22:59.67
And I was like listen, tomorrow
we're going to this clinic.
00:22:59.71\00:23:04.38
And you know,
00:23:04.41\00:23:05.75
you're going to tell your family
00:23:05.78\00:23:07.85
that I had a miscarriage
and I'm going to tell my family
00:23:07.88\00:23:10.05
I had a miscarriage okay,
and that's what we're gonna do.
00:23:10.09\00:23:12.05
And something I heard a voice.
00:23:12.09\00:23:13.56
Remember, I'm not close
to God at that point really.
00:23:13.59\00:23:16.32
You know, I'm not close
to my mom or anything that.
00:23:16.36\00:23:18.99
I heard the voice that
said, "Call your mother."
00:23:19.03\00:23:21.86
Because I mean, I
was so distraught.
00:23:21.90\00:23:23.53
And I called my mom, I said
mom I cannot have this child.
00:23:23.57\00:23:26.87
For this man I cannot, I
cannot, I can't mom, I can't.
00:23:26.90\00:23:30.67
And she said to me, "Keisha,
00:23:30.71\00:23:33.94
it doesn't matter who
or what the father is.
00:23:33.98\00:23:37.25
Your child is a
blessing." Yeah, definitely.
00:23:37.28\00:23:39.51
"Carry your child
and I will help you."
00:23:39.55\00:23:43.02
And let me tell you something.
That was like a relief.
00:23:43.05\00:23:47.32
Me carrying my daughter
00:23:47.36\00:23:49.16
was the best gift
that God has ever given me.
00:23:49.19\00:23:52.19
Next to salvation, that
is the second best gift.
00:23:52.23\00:23:55.16
Amen. Because it is what it is.
00:23:55.20\00:23:57.53
I mean,
whenever I would consider
00:23:57.57\00:23:59.97
because I was very
suicidal for a time in my life,
00:24:00.00\00:24:02.20
I was very suicidal.
00:24:02.24\00:24:03.74
It was my daughter, God
gave my daughter to keep me.
00:24:03.77\00:24:06.21
And so, I can say that that's...
00:24:06.24\00:24:08.61
Yes, if your gonna think
if they know about an abortion
00:24:08.64\00:24:11.15
consider it.
00:24:11.18\00:24:12.65
God does not make mistakes.
00:24:12.68\00:24:14.08
Yeah. We make mistakes.
00:24:14.12\00:24:15.65
But God is the God who
creates things within us.
00:24:15.68\00:24:18.22
He is the creator
and so he will help you
00:24:18.25\00:24:19.99
and I am a firm
believer of that.
00:24:20.02\00:24:21.46
Definitely, definitely.
00:24:21.49\00:24:22.92
Talk briefly about you
both are single mothers,
00:24:22.96\00:24:25.23
talk about the joys,
00:24:25.26\00:24:27.40
the ups and downs of
being single mothers?
00:24:27.43\00:24:31.33
Well, I guess, I was thinking
about the right choice, right?
00:24:31.37\00:24:34.40
Okay. I chose that path.
00:24:34.44\00:24:35.77
Okay.
00:24:35.80\00:24:37.14
You know what?
00:24:37.17\00:24:38.51
It is a challenge because
you're doing it by yourself.
00:24:38.54\00:24:40.78
And the values that
you're teaching your child
00:24:40.81\00:24:42.71
that you're teaching
your child by yourself.
00:24:42.74\00:24:44.41
And then the child becomes
more like you by environment
00:24:44.45\00:24:46.78
rather than by genes,
you know, what I mean.
00:24:46.82\00:24:48.72
So, it is a struggle.
00:24:48.75\00:24:51.85
It's a struggle because
you're putting your life
00:24:51.89\00:24:53.86
on hold many times.
00:24:53.89\00:24:55.22
To make sure that
your child, you know,
00:24:55.26\00:24:56.93
gets the best of everything
and that's what I find.
00:24:56.96\00:25:00.53
And that's what I find
that has happened to me.
00:25:00.56\00:25:02.30
However, what I
look at is the fact
00:25:02.33\00:25:04.47
that I did bring my child
00:25:04.50\00:25:05.83
and I have a
beautiful, beautiful daughter.
00:25:05.87\00:25:09.30
Amen. And who
brings joy to my life.
00:25:09.34\00:25:11.44
I feel like there is really
00:25:11.47\00:25:13.54
that's one of the strongest love
00:25:13.58\00:25:15.54
a human being
can ever experience
00:25:15.58\00:25:17.15
that for your child.
00:25:17.18\00:25:18.65
So it is hard,
it is challenging.
00:25:18.68\00:25:21.92
And I honestly
wouldn't do it again.
00:25:21.95\00:25:23.59
I wouldn't do it
over, I'm sure wouldn't,
00:25:23.62\00:25:25.15
I love my daughter
but I wouldn't do it over.
00:25:25.19\00:25:27.49
But, you know,
00:25:27.52\00:25:29.02
there's that
rewarding part of it
00:25:29.06\00:25:30.39
is just seeing your
child looking at you
00:25:30.43\00:25:31.76
and loving you
the way that she does.
00:25:31.79\00:25:33.13
Amen, amen.
00:25:33.16\00:25:34.50
Now, looking back over
your life real briefly,
00:25:34.53\00:25:37.70
talk about the
joy that you have now
00:25:37.73\00:25:40.00
in serving God
versus the false happiness
00:25:40.04\00:25:43.00
that you had out
in the world "world"
00:25:43.04\00:25:45.41
where you were doing drugs,
00:25:45.44\00:25:46.78
dancing
different things like that.
00:25:46.81\00:25:48.14
Talk about, talk about
that joy that you have now
00:25:48.18\00:25:49.94
that everlasting joy.
00:25:49.98\00:25:52.11
What God brings to your life,
00:25:52.15\00:25:53.95
I mean, what God
brings to your life is,
00:25:53.98\00:25:57.95
it makes you speechless.
00:25:57.99\00:26:00.12
I struggled with love, I
guess because of the abuse.
00:26:00.16\00:26:03.53
I struggle with
not having that love.
00:26:03.56\00:26:07.30
We want to be loved.
00:26:07.33\00:26:08.66
And let me tell you something,
00:26:08.70\00:26:10.03
I remember getting baptized,
the day I was getting baptized.
00:26:10.07\00:26:11.40
I cried all day like a baby.
00:26:11.43\00:26:14.00
It was because
that God loved me.
00:26:14.04\00:26:16.37
Okay.
00:26:16.40\00:26:17.74
He loved me, this part of myself
00:26:17.77\00:26:19.97
in spite of who I was,
00:26:20.01\00:26:21.78
He just loved me just like this.
00:26:21.81\00:26:24.25
Wow. That's unconditional love.
00:26:24.28\00:26:25.61
Unconditional love.
00:26:25.65\00:26:26.98
Definitely, I want you to--
00:26:27.02\00:26:28.35
I want you to talk
briefly into the camera.
00:26:28.38\00:26:30.42
And I want you to
talk to that young woman,
00:26:30.45\00:26:32.19
that is dealing
with some of the things
00:26:32.22\00:26:34.46
that y'all dealt with.
00:26:34.49\00:26:35.96
Give that young
woman some encouragement
00:26:35.99\00:26:39.09
that's dealing with some of
that same stuff in her life?
00:26:39.13\00:26:42.26
You know, sometimes
you go through things
00:26:42.30\00:26:44.50
and you feel hopeless.
00:26:44.53\00:26:46.30
And you question if
you were meant to be alive,
00:26:46.33\00:26:49.20
but you are meant to be alive.
00:26:49.24\00:26:50.97
Nothing that you
go through is too hard
00:26:51.01\00:26:52.91
for God to break through,
00:26:52.94\00:26:54.81
and everything that you
go through is for reason.
00:26:54.84\00:26:56.54
Sometimes it's your own
choice and your own doing.
00:26:56.58\00:27:00.02
But, God can bring you
out of it, so there is hope.
00:27:00.05\00:27:02.98
And it doesn't matter
00:27:03.02\00:27:04.35
what your life
has been in the past.
00:27:04.39\00:27:05.95
It doesn't even
matter what it is right now.
00:27:05.99\00:27:07.82
What matters is who God is?
00:27:07.86\00:27:09.86
And what God will do for you
00:27:09.89\00:27:11.23
because He has a
plan for your life
00:27:11.26\00:27:12.59
just like he had a
plan for Keisha and I,
00:27:12.63\00:27:14.73
he has a plan for your life.
00:27:14.76\00:27:16.67
And I want to tell you also
00:27:16.70\00:27:18.70
that God is no
respecter of persons.
00:27:18.73\00:27:20.60
He is not.
00:27:20.64\00:27:22.50
Like I have a great career now.
00:27:22.54\00:27:24.64
I mean, I'm not
where I need to be
00:27:24.67\00:27:27.41
but I am where, you know,
00:27:27.44\00:27:29.91
God wants me to
be at the moment.
00:27:29.94\00:27:31.75
And so, if He can do it
for me, if He can save you.
00:27:31.78\00:27:34.68
I mean, He can save
me, He can save you too,
00:27:34.72\00:27:37.62
so I know that
you may be in a place
00:27:37.65\00:27:39.19
where you are broken.
00:27:39.22\00:27:40.56
I know that you
may be in a place
00:27:40.59\00:27:41.92
where you are hurting,
00:27:41.96\00:27:43.46
but let just, let God do
it for you, just trust Him.
00:27:43.49\00:27:45.76
Amen. Amen.
00:27:45.79\00:27:47.13
I'd like to thank y'all
for being on the program.
00:27:47.16\00:27:49.50
Viewers, we'd
like to encourage you
00:27:49.53\00:27:51.10
to tune in next time
for an exciting program
00:27:51.13\00:27:53.74
of the New Journey.
00:27:53.77\00:27:55.10