Stay tuned to meet a musical prodigy 00:00:01.36\00:00:02.90 who has determined in her heart to follow Jesus. 00:00:02.93\00:00:06.07 My name is Yvonne Lewis-Shelton, 00:00:06.10\00:00:08.10 and you're watching Urban Report. 00:00:08.14\00:00:10.21 Hello and welcome to Urban Report. 00:00:35.26\00:00:37.53 My guest today is the lovely Martha Jhoana De Luna Mateo, 00:00:37.57\00:00:42.24 award-winning musical artist. 00:00:42.27\00:00:44.51 Welcome to Urban Report. Hello. 00:00:44.54\00:00:46.68 Thank you very much. 00:00:46.71\00:00:48.04 Oh, you know, it's so wonderful to see a musician in action, 00:00:48.08\00:00:52.78 like when the theme song was playing, 00:00:52.81\00:00:55.05 you're kind of playing it in, you know, air-playing it. 00:00:55.08\00:00:57.85 It's so cute, it's so great. 00:00:57.89\00:01:00.36 How long have you been involved in music? 00:01:00.39\00:01:03.56 Well, it has been more than 20 years actually. 00:01:03.59\00:01:06.49 Wow. 00:01:06.53\00:01:07.86 You don't look older than that. No. Well, I started very early. 00:01:07.90\00:01:11.17 You know, I started when I was eight years and a half, 00:01:11.20\00:01:13.70 and I am in my thirties. 00:01:13.74\00:01:15.07 Okay. 00:01:15.10\00:01:16.44 So as a child, you knew that you were called to play? 00:01:16.47\00:01:22.08 How did it all start? 00:01:22.11\00:01:23.95 Well, I come from a Seventh-day Adventist family, 00:01:23.98\00:01:27.28 musical family, and my parents, they used to sing at choir. 00:01:27.32\00:01:32.02 So they met at choir, they started dating, 00:01:32.05\00:01:34.12 and they started singing together at church. 00:01:34.16\00:01:36.62 So I come from a family that... We are three, my elder... 00:01:36.66\00:01:42.26 Two brothers and me. 00:01:42.30\00:01:44.37 You're the baby? I am the baby. Yes. 00:01:44.40\00:01:49.34 Are your brothers musical as well? 00:01:49.37\00:01:51.37 Yes, they are musicians as well. 00:01:51.41\00:01:52.87 Okay. All the family. 00:01:52.91\00:01:54.74 Wow. 00:01:54.78\00:01:56.11 So did you start out playing with the family, 00:01:56.14\00:01:59.98 like your parents singing and you playing 00:02:00.02\00:02:02.48 or how did that start? 00:02:02.52\00:02:03.85 Well, when I was a year and a half, 00:02:03.89\00:02:05.92 my dad started teaching me songs, 00:02:05.95\00:02:07.89 and he was playing with the guitar. 00:02:07.92\00:02:10.43 And he was testing my ear, and he was changing keys, 00:02:10.46\00:02:13.80 and I was just jumping with him at exact key. 00:02:13.83\00:02:16.97 And he was blown away, 00:02:17.00\00:02:18.43 and he said, "This little girl is special." 00:02:18.47\00:02:22.80 So he started, you know, teaching me more songs. 00:02:22.84\00:02:25.77 And when I was three years and a half, 00:02:25.81\00:02:28.28 I started singing at the church in public, 00:02:28.31\00:02:32.01 and that is how I started. 00:02:32.05\00:02:33.72 And my mom, she always sings at home. 00:02:33.75\00:02:36.48 She always was singing at home, 00:02:36.52\00:02:38.32 so I get to listen my mom's singing. 00:02:38.35\00:02:42.22 So your mom was singing at home, 00:02:42.26\00:02:44.63 so you started singing at three and a half, 00:02:44.66\00:02:48.06 and you started playing at how old? 00:02:48.10\00:02:50.33 When I was eight years old. Eight years old. 00:02:50.37\00:02:53.60 It's amazing to be able to go 00:02:53.64\00:02:56.40 from one key to the next without... 00:02:56.44\00:02:59.24 I mean, that is special. 00:02:59.27\00:03:01.54 That's a gift. It's a gift. 00:03:01.58\00:03:03.24 It's a gift from God, that's amazing. 00:03:03.28\00:03:05.58 So your first public appearance 00:03:05.61\00:03:07.95 as a pianist was when and where? 00:03:07.98\00:03:11.55 Actually, at church, when I was 10 years old. 00:03:11.59\00:03:13.69 Okay. 00:03:13.72\00:03:15.52 And it's interesting 00:03:15.56\00:03:16.93 because the music director from the choir, 00:03:16.96\00:03:19.53 since I was born, he said, 00:03:19.56\00:03:21.10 "She's going to be the pianist of the choir." 00:03:21.13\00:03:24.73 You're kidding. 00:03:24.77\00:03:26.10 From when you were born, wow, talk about prophecy, right? 00:03:26.13\00:03:29.50 Yes. 00:03:29.54\00:03:30.87 And he said, "She's going to be soprano, 00:03:30.91\00:03:32.61 she's going to be the pianist, 00:03:32.64\00:03:34.41 and she's going to be the musician." 00:03:34.44\00:03:37.21 And when I was 10 years old, he actually assigned me. 00:03:37.25\00:03:40.32 He was my first piano teacher. 00:03:40.35\00:03:42.15 And he assigned me one of the pieces 00:03:42.18\00:03:44.29 to accompany the choir. 00:03:44.32\00:03:45.65 And so I started to be the pianist 00:03:45.69\00:03:48.79 of the church and choir when I was 10 years old. 00:03:48.82\00:03:51.53 Do you remember 00:03:51.56\00:03:52.89 what your first song was that you played? 00:03:52.93\00:03:54.76 What was it? 00:03:54.80\00:03:56.36 Well, it's in the Spanish, but I don't remember the title. 00:03:56.40\00:04:01.70 You can say it in Spanish. 00:04:01.74\00:04:03.07 Okay, "Jesus dos de alegria" for choir. 00:04:03.10\00:04:06.41 Okay. For choir and piano. 00:04:06.44\00:04:08.68 Oh, how beautiful. 00:04:08.71\00:04:10.65 So what was it like 00:04:10.68\00:04:14.78 being so gifted in music at such a young age? 00:04:14.82\00:04:18.32 Did you have to overcome certain obstacles 00:04:18.35\00:04:21.92 as you were growing up? 00:04:21.96\00:04:23.29 Tell us about that. 00:04:23.32\00:04:24.66 Well, it was challenging because when I went to school, 00:04:24.69\00:04:28.26 my mind was always busy with music, 00:04:28.30\00:04:30.73 and I was very dedicated, devoted to piano. 00:04:30.77\00:04:34.04 I didn't have piano for seven years. 00:04:34.07\00:04:36.50 When I started, so one of the difficulties 00:04:36.54\00:04:40.48 that I had, I didn't have a piano, 00:04:40.51\00:04:42.54 but I could hear all the music in my head. 00:04:42.58\00:04:45.05 So I used to practice the table at the kitchen, 00:04:45.08\00:04:49.15 and my elder brother, he used to draw me piano, 00:04:49.18\00:04:54.06 so I could like, imagine the notes and playing around. 00:04:54.09\00:04:58.26 And I used dominos to... 00:04:58.29\00:05:03.50 You know, he plays, and I started playing. 00:05:03.53\00:05:05.83 And so that was one thing. 00:05:05.87\00:05:07.74 And when I was at school, 00:05:07.77\00:05:09.90 I used to take the breaks 00:05:09.94\00:05:12.37 to go to the piano at the church 00:05:12.41\00:05:14.41 at the sanctuary. 00:05:14.44\00:05:16.58 And so that was a little bit challenging 00:05:16.61\00:05:18.65 because some of my friends, they used to say, 00:05:18.68\00:05:20.58 "You can just play piano all the time, 00:05:20.62\00:05:22.68 you are not going to go anywhere, 00:05:22.72\00:05:24.12 but just, piano, piano, piano, piano." 00:05:24.15\00:05:27.66 But I never really listened to them. 00:05:27.69\00:05:29.76 I just kept going, and I just did it. 00:05:29.79\00:05:33.70 You know, now see, that is such an inspiring story 00:05:33.73\00:05:38.80 because even though you didn't have a piano, 00:05:38.83\00:05:42.84 you were still... 00:05:42.87\00:05:44.21 Just like you were air-playing 00:05:44.24\00:05:45.64 the theme song just a minute ago, 00:05:45.67\00:05:47.78 you were still practicing it without even the instrument. 00:05:47.81\00:05:53.42 So how did you get a piano and when? 00:05:53.45\00:05:56.15 That is amazing. 00:05:56.18\00:05:57.82 Well, I went to private school when I was 12 years old. 00:05:57.85\00:06:01.59 And I stayed there for seven years in that school. 00:06:01.62\00:06:07.16 But before the seven years... 00:06:07.20\00:06:09.03 Well, after the seven years in that school, 00:06:09.06\00:06:11.53 I was going, you know, to a lot of competitions 00:06:11.57\00:06:15.50 and winning all the competitions 00:06:15.54\00:06:17.04 without having the piano. 00:06:17.07\00:06:18.87 You were winning competitions? Yes. 00:06:18.91\00:06:21.44 Without having a piano? Yes. 00:06:21.48\00:06:23.75 I just could practice maybe twice a week 00:06:23.78\00:06:26.18 at the piano at the church 00:06:26.21\00:06:28.98 and trying to find a piano all the time. 00:06:29.02\00:06:31.52 Right. 00:06:31.55\00:06:32.89 So when I was 15 years old, 00:06:32.92\00:06:35.29 I remember, I had a competition, 00:06:35.32\00:06:37.73 and I couldn't practice for a week before the competition. 00:06:37.76\00:06:42.06 So my mom, all the time, 00:06:42.10\00:06:43.93 taught me how to pray before playing. 00:06:43.97\00:06:46.94 And I went with prayer, and I won the first place. 00:06:46.97\00:06:52.64 You won first place in the competition, 00:06:52.67\00:06:54.51 and you weren't even able to practice. 00:06:54.54\00:06:56.61 Yeah. 00:06:56.64\00:06:57.98 So your mom laid on your heart the importance of prayer. 00:06:58.01\00:07:01.82 Yes. Wow. 00:07:01.85\00:07:04.39 And I was depending on prayer at that moment. 00:07:04.42\00:07:07.79 And after that, there was a award ceremony at the school 00:07:07.82\00:07:14.20 where I went to study, and they told me, 00:07:14.23\00:07:17.73 "Oh, come, that we have something, 00:07:17.77\00:07:21.50 and some award for you. 00:07:21.54\00:07:23.47 It's a small award." 00:07:23.51\00:07:25.27 I thought it was something small. 00:07:25.31\00:07:28.14 But when I went, and the event was almost over, 00:07:28.18\00:07:33.38 I was like, "Why they told me to come? 00:07:33.42\00:07:36.62 And they haven't mentioned my name." 00:07:36.65\00:07:39.09 And at the very end, there was a lady. 00:07:39.12\00:07:41.39 She started talking about a person 00:07:41.42\00:07:43.16 that with so much sacrifice, 00:07:43.19\00:07:44.79 has been studying, and have the high GPA and all of that, 00:07:44.83\00:07:49.60 and without an instrument. 00:07:49.63\00:07:52.13 And she started describing me. And I started crying. 00:07:52.17\00:07:56.77 And then she said, 00:07:56.81\00:07:58.14 "And this award is for Martha De Luna, 00:07:58.17\00:08:00.24 and we are donating her a piano." 00:08:00.28\00:08:03.48 So that was the first time... 00:08:03.51\00:08:06.05 When I was 15, they gave me a piano. 00:08:06.08\00:08:09.75 That's going to make me cry. That's so beautiful. 00:08:09.78\00:08:13.52 You had no idea, did you? 00:08:13.56\00:08:15.06 That they were going to give you a piano? 00:08:15.09\00:08:16.42 No, not at all. 00:08:16.46\00:08:17.79 At 15, you got your first piano, 00:08:17.83\00:08:20.53 and you had been playing since you were eight? 00:08:20.56\00:08:24.53 Yes. 00:08:24.57\00:08:27.27 That's amazing. Look at God. 00:08:27.30\00:08:29.70 God is amazing. Look at God. 00:08:29.74\00:08:32.04 And I knew, one day I was going to have it. 00:08:32.07\00:08:35.21 I just, you know, kept doing it. 00:08:35.24\00:08:38.28 And what is amazing about it, the lacking of the piano, 00:08:38.31\00:08:42.48 actually developed a lot of skills in me. 00:08:42.52\00:08:44.69 I could memorize the music so quick, 00:08:44.72\00:08:48.22 I could hear all the notes in my head 00:08:48.26\00:08:50.63 without needing the piano. 00:08:50.66\00:08:52.69 And actually, it made me be ready all the time 00:08:52.73\00:08:56.97 to play anytime anywhere. 00:08:57.00\00:09:01.24 But look at the gift. 00:09:01.27\00:09:02.64 I mean, you heard it in your head, like that, 00:09:02.67\00:09:05.27 that to me, is such an incredible gift 00:09:05.31\00:09:09.14 and the fact that you were so determined to do it. 00:09:09.18\00:09:15.28 You didn't let anything stop you from doing 00:09:15.32\00:09:18.42 what you know you were meant to do. 00:09:18.45\00:09:24.39 We have some music, we're going to play in a minute of yours, 00:09:24.43\00:09:27.16 'cause I know our audience wants to hear you play. 00:09:27.20\00:09:31.27 You didn't grow up here though, did you? 00:09:31.30\00:09:33.44 So when they gave you the piano, was it here? 00:09:33.47\00:09:36.00 Tell us where you grew up. 00:09:36.04\00:09:37.54 I grew up in Dominican Republic, 00:09:37.57\00:09:39.27 San Pedro de Macoras is a city from Dominican Republic, 00:09:39.31\00:09:43.11 and it's a Caribbean island. 00:09:43.14\00:09:45.31 And so I was awarded of the piano, 00:09:45.35\00:09:50.29 to have the piano 00:09:50.32\00:09:51.65 in Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic. 00:09:51.69\00:09:55.22 And eventually, I moved here later when I was 24. 00:09:55.26\00:09:59.29 I want to... 00:09:59.33\00:10:00.66 Oh, when you were what? I'm sorry. 00:10:00.70\00:10:02.03 I didn't really catch you up? When you were how old? 00:10:02.06\00:10:03.40 When I was 24. Twenty four, okay. 00:10:03.43\00:10:04.77 So you moved to the States when you were 24? 00:10:04.80\00:10:06.13 Yes. Oh, okay. 00:10:06.17\00:10:07.50 Oh, so you haven't been here that long. 00:10:07.54\00:10:09.17 No. 00:10:09.20\00:10:11.57 Well, I want our viewers 00:10:11.61\00:10:12.94 and our listeners to hear you play. 00:10:12.97\00:10:16.08 So let's take a look for our viewers 00:10:16.11\00:10:19.21 and for our folks on radio take a listen to Martha. 00:10:19.25\00:10:23.25 Oh, that was beautiful. Ooh, I got chills. 00:14:28.26\00:14:33.64 We shall behold in. We shall behold in. 00:14:33.67\00:14:36.17 That is so beautiful. 00:14:36.20\00:14:37.77 So how did you realize that your talent 00:14:37.81\00:14:43.61 should be dedicated to God and only to God? 00:14:43.65\00:14:47.28 When did you realize that? 00:14:47.32\00:14:48.98 When I was actually seven years old. 00:14:49.02\00:14:51.75 Really? Tell us about that. 00:14:51.79\00:14:53.72 Well, I started, you know, playing the recorder 00:14:53.76\00:14:57.33 with my brothers at home and at church. 00:14:57.36\00:15:01.70 And we started ministry with my family 00:15:01.73\00:15:03.97 going to different churches and playing. 00:15:04.00\00:15:07.44 And I heard so many times, my father telling me 00:15:07.47\00:15:12.04 that I was going to be a great pianist. 00:15:12.07\00:15:15.51 He just had that vision. 00:15:15.54\00:15:17.61 And he said, "You're going to play with big orchestras, 00:15:17.65\00:15:21.12 and God is going to put you in those high places. 00:15:21.15\00:15:24.55 And it's for the God's glory." 00:15:24.59\00:15:28.32 So I really took that serious, 00:15:28.36\00:15:31.13 and I knew I was going to do that 00:15:31.16\00:15:35.06 when I got involved at church with the choir, 00:15:35.10\00:15:37.97 I felt the passion to do that for the Lord. 00:15:38.00\00:15:41.24 It was so inside of me. 00:15:41.27\00:15:43.67 And later on, I got so many calls from God 00:15:43.71\00:15:48.51 in different ways. 00:15:48.54\00:15:49.88 People telling me that what I had was so special. 00:15:49.91\00:15:55.58 And when I was 12 years old, 00:15:55.62\00:15:57.82 I had an incredible experience that I went to a competition, 00:15:57.85\00:16:03.09 and it was on Sabbath. 00:16:03.12\00:16:05.83 And we said, "No, I can't participate 00:16:05.86\00:16:10.90 because that day is for the Lord, 00:16:10.93\00:16:12.27 and I go to church, 00:16:12.30\00:16:13.64 and I just play that day for the Lord, 00:16:13.67\00:16:16.84 not for any competition or anything like that, 00:16:16.87\00:16:19.57 classical competition." 00:16:19.61\00:16:21.31 So you were invited to be a part of it, 00:16:21.34\00:16:25.11 but it was on Sabbath. 00:16:25.15\00:16:26.95 So you said, "No, I can't come."? 00:16:26.98\00:16:28.32 Yes. Okay. 00:16:28.35\00:16:29.75 To whom did you say no, 00:16:29.78\00:16:31.12 like was it to an administrator of the competition? 00:16:31.15\00:16:34.26 To whom did you say no? 00:16:34.29\00:16:35.62 Actually, the academy that chose me, 00:16:35.66\00:16:38.13 my school that was sending me to the competition. 00:16:38.16\00:16:40.80 Okay. 00:16:40.83\00:16:42.16 And so they really wanted me to play so bad, 00:16:42.20\00:16:46.07 and my faith was tested there. 00:16:46.10\00:16:49.67 So I was convinced that God wanted me 00:16:49.70\00:16:52.84 to be a testimony of my faith at that young age. 00:16:52.87\00:16:57.55 And that was when that experience 00:16:57.58\00:17:00.85 really sealed my heart to be faithful forever. 00:17:00.88\00:17:05.49 And I went to the competition, 00:17:05.52\00:17:07.96 but before the competition was performed, 00:17:07.99\00:17:12.56 my teacher, my piano teacher, he got the idea, 00:17:12.59\00:17:16.23 "Okay, let me talk to the judges 00:17:16.26\00:17:18.90 to see what they say. 00:17:18.93\00:17:20.27 If they can wait after the sunset," 00:17:20.30\00:17:22.84 something crazy. 00:17:22.87\00:17:25.67 And actually, he did. 00:17:25.71\00:17:27.04 He talked to one of them, 00:17:27.08\00:17:28.41 and one of the judges said, "You know, it's fine. 00:17:28.44\00:17:31.41 We have a musician in our orchestra 00:17:31.45\00:17:33.52 that we give him the Sabbath and all of that, 00:17:33.55\00:17:35.82 we are going to wait for her." 00:17:35.85\00:17:38.25 And they did wait for me, 00:17:38.29\00:17:40.12 and another friend that she was an Adventist. 00:17:40.16\00:17:43.63 And after we played, we got the first places. 00:17:43.66\00:17:48.06 Wow. Yes. 00:17:48.10\00:17:49.46 So, by standing up for God, you still... 00:17:49.50\00:17:54.40 You've won, you won, but you stood up for God too. 00:17:54.44\00:17:58.31 Yes. 00:17:58.34\00:17:59.67 That was beautiful. Beautiful. 00:17:59.71\00:18:04.55 So when you've gone to other competitions 00:18:04.58\00:18:07.88 or well, when you've been considering 00:18:07.92\00:18:11.05 entering into other competitions, 00:18:11.09\00:18:12.75 has the Sabbath been an issue? 00:18:12.79\00:18:14.62 Always. 00:18:14.66\00:18:15.99 Really? Always. 00:18:16.02\00:18:17.36 How do you deal with it? What do you do? 00:18:17.39\00:18:19.46 Well, it has been challenging, 00:18:19.49\00:18:23.00 you know, when I came specifically 00:18:23.03\00:18:27.84 to study in Texas. 00:18:27.87\00:18:30.54 I was trying to win a scholarship 00:18:30.57\00:18:33.41 to be at the orchestra, and I love that. 00:18:33.44\00:18:36.31 And they were willing to give me money for that. 00:18:36.34\00:18:40.98 And before I started even playing and saying that, 00:18:41.02\00:18:44.39 you know, that I wanted this scholarship, 00:18:44.42\00:18:47.06 I said to the director, 00:18:47.09\00:18:48.92 "You know, I just want you to know 00:18:48.96\00:18:50.53 that I am a Seventh-day Adventist, 00:18:50.56\00:18:52.26 and I keep the Sabbath, 00:18:52.29\00:18:53.63 and I want to be available to play on Friday night 00:18:53.66\00:18:57.57 and Saturdays and all of that. 00:18:57.60\00:18:59.70 I didn't want you to do the audition 00:18:59.73\00:19:03.14 before you knowing that. 00:19:03.17\00:19:04.77 And then I get the scholarship, and I don't tell you, 00:19:04.81\00:19:07.18 and then I come and tell you after." 00:19:07.21\00:19:09.24 So I said to him at front, 00:19:09.28\00:19:12.11 you know, this is what is going to happen 00:19:12.15\00:19:16.28 before you give me anything or you decide. 00:19:16.32\00:19:18.75 If you decide not to, I will be happy no matter what. 00:19:18.79\00:19:22.96 And he said, "You know what, I completely understand. 00:19:22.99\00:19:26.06 I am a Christian, and we will work it out." 00:19:26.09\00:19:28.96 Really! 00:19:29.00\00:19:30.50 So God saved me from that. 00:19:30.53\00:19:32.50 Yes, now did you get the scholarship? 00:19:32.53\00:19:34.37 Yes, absolutely. Look at that. 00:19:34.40\00:19:37.61 And I think it's so important for us to know 00:19:37.64\00:19:42.04 that when we stand up for God, He stands up for us. 00:19:42.08\00:19:46.05 Amen. 00:19:46.08\00:19:47.42 You know, it's all about taking a stand though, 00:19:47.45\00:19:50.99 and saying, "There's a line in the sand, 00:19:51.02\00:19:53.39 I cannot cross this line because this is God's time." 00:19:53.42\00:19:59.09 And you did that, and God rewarded you, 00:19:59.13\00:20:02.06 and you still got the scholarship. 00:20:02.10\00:20:03.70 That's so awesome. Amen. 00:20:03.73\00:20:05.37 So now are you... 00:20:05.40\00:20:07.47 You're in school now? No. 00:20:07.50\00:20:09.57 I finished school in 2014, 00:20:09.60\00:20:12.17 and Stephen F. Austin University in Texas, 00:20:12.21\00:20:15.74 Nacogdoches. 00:20:15.78\00:20:17.15 And so I finished school, 00:20:17.18\00:20:19.01 I did a Master's degree in harp performance 00:20:19.05\00:20:22.02 and piano performance. 00:20:22.05\00:20:23.59 So you also play the harp? 00:20:23.62\00:20:26.69 Yes. That's incredible. 00:20:26.72\00:20:28.82 Now how did you learn that? When did you learn harp? 00:20:28.86\00:20:31.99 And you have a Master's degree in harp and piano? 00:20:32.03\00:20:34.73 Yes. Oh, my word. 00:20:34.76\00:20:36.50 So when did you learn that? Tell us about the harp journey. 00:20:36.53\00:20:42.10 Beautiful journey. 00:20:42.14\00:20:43.91 When I was 19 years old, I finished my piano studies 00:20:43.94\00:20:47.58 in Dominican Republic. 00:20:47.61\00:20:49.98 So I received that strong call from God to play the harp. 00:20:50.01\00:20:55.68 I just wanted to play the harp. 00:20:55.72\00:20:57.79 And when I was reading the Bible, Revelation, 00:20:57.82\00:21:00.76 and I read that the angels play harp in heaven. 00:21:00.79\00:21:06.19 So I wanted to have that experience, 00:21:06.23\00:21:08.83 and I really felt that God called me too. 00:21:08.86\00:21:12.43 So I started taking lessons in Dominican Republic, 00:21:12.47\00:21:17.17 harp lessons when I was 19. 00:21:17.21\00:21:21.01 And as soon as I started, 00:21:21.04\00:21:24.55 God opened doors for me incredibly. 00:21:24.58\00:21:27.48 Really, like what? Give us an example? 00:21:27.52\00:21:30.02 Well, the country didn't have a harpist for many years. 00:21:30.05\00:21:35.36 So the news just run around that there was a student 00:21:35.39\00:21:40.33 that was very advanced at first playing the harp. 00:21:40.36\00:21:45.77 And I got a call from the embassy, 00:21:45.80\00:21:49.14 from the United States Embassy, USA, in Dominican Republic, 00:21:49.17\00:21:56.11 and it was from the ambassador. 00:21:56.14\00:21:59.35 My teacher, my orchestra director 00:21:59.38\00:22:02.88 from the conservatory of music where I was studying harp, 00:22:02.92\00:22:06.42 he called me, and he said, 00:22:06.45\00:22:07.86 "You know, the ambassador wants you 00:22:07.89\00:22:10.36 to go to his house for a private dinner, 00:22:10.39\00:22:13.90 and he wants you to play. 00:22:13.93\00:22:15.26 They have heard about you, 00:22:15.30\00:22:17.57 and they want you to play at that event." 00:22:17.60\00:22:22.34 But he said, "There is a problem." 00:22:22.37\00:22:24.11 And I said, "What is the problem?" 00:22:24.14\00:22:26.34 "Well, it's on Friday night, 00:22:26.37\00:22:28.41 and I already knew you're not going to do it." 00:22:28.44\00:22:30.75 So I said to them, you know, "She's not going to make it. 00:22:30.78\00:22:35.45 She's not able to make it for, you know, religious reasons." 00:22:35.48\00:22:40.19 But then I said, "It's fine, you know, the Lord knows." 00:22:40.22\00:22:43.36 He said, "You know, 00:22:43.39\00:22:44.73 you're going to lose a lot of opportunities like that." 00:22:44.76\00:22:47.53 And I said, I'm going to cry, you know, 00:22:47.56\00:22:49.90 but I said, "It's okay." 00:22:49.93\00:22:51.90 Four days later, I received a call from him again, 00:22:51.93\00:22:55.80 and he just said "What is your business with God?" 00:22:55.84\00:23:00.44 And do you have a hotline with God over there? 00:23:00.48\00:23:02.38 Yes. 00:23:02.41\00:23:03.75 And he said, "They just want you to play. 00:23:03.78\00:23:05.68 They changed the day for you." 00:23:05.71\00:23:07.88 Wow! Look at that. 00:23:07.92\00:23:09.72 So you're going to play now on Tuesday instead of Friday. 00:23:09.75\00:23:14.92 So when I saw that, I said, "Wow! 00:23:14.96\00:23:18.06 There is a reason why God wanted me to play the harp." 00:23:18.09\00:23:21.46 So I went to the event. I played. 00:23:21.50\00:23:24.30 And they wanted you as a harpist, not a pianist? 00:23:24.33\00:23:27.67 Not a pianist. They wanted a harpist. 00:23:27.70\00:23:29.37 Yeah, they wanted a harp. Wow. 00:23:29.40\00:23:32.51 So you went and what happened? I went. 00:23:32.54\00:23:35.84 I showed a repertoire of classical music 00:23:35.88\00:23:38.45 and also hymns arrangement. 00:23:38.48\00:23:40.85 And I prayed to God, I said, 00:23:40.88\00:23:42.68 "God, if you gave me the opportunity 00:23:42.72\00:23:44.89 to be in this place, it's to bring your message. 00:23:44.92\00:23:48.22 How am I going to do it?" 00:23:48.26\00:23:49.92 So I prayed and I said, "Okay, I just can't play. 00:23:49.96\00:23:52.63 I'm going to pray, I'm going to play hymns, 00:23:52.66\00:23:54.96 and You touch people." 00:23:55.00\00:23:58.60 I love it. I love it. 00:23:58.63\00:24:00.14 "And You touch people." Right. 00:24:00.17\00:24:01.87 So I started playing the classical music, 00:24:01.90\00:24:04.14 fancy and beautiful. 00:24:04.17\00:24:06.27 They didn't really react to, 00:24:06.31\00:24:08.54 when I start playing the hymns, they started clapping. 00:24:08.58\00:24:13.65 And that was my response from God 00:24:13.68\00:24:15.38 that they really received a message. 00:24:15.42\00:24:18.15 But I was not... 00:24:18.19\00:24:21.59 I mean, I was... I didn't stop right there. 00:24:21.62\00:24:25.96 So after the event was over, 00:24:25.99\00:24:27.93 the ambassador invited me with his wife to eat with him. 00:24:27.96\00:24:32.73 And they started talking to me and asking me questions 00:24:32.77\00:24:36.71 and saying, "Where is your music from? 00:24:36.74\00:24:41.18 How beautiful it is. 00:24:41.21\00:24:43.41 It is an honor for us to have you here." 00:24:43.45\00:24:45.81 And I said, "No, the honor is mine." 00:24:45.85\00:24:47.55 I felt like Daniel, you know, like Joseph, 00:24:47.58\00:24:51.62 and like Moses and all of that. 00:24:51.65\00:24:53.42 And they said, "No, no, no. The honor is for us. 00:24:53.46\00:24:56.96 It's an honor to have you here." 00:24:56.99\00:24:59.13 They started asking me questions, 00:24:59.16\00:25:00.50 "Who is your family? 00:25:00.53\00:25:01.86 What did you do? And all of that. 00:25:01.90\00:25:03.87 What do you do?" 00:25:03.90\00:25:05.23 So eventually, I was so grateful 00:25:05.27\00:25:07.27 that I went home and I said, "I can't stay just like that. 00:25:07.30\00:25:11.77 I'm going to send them a book." 00:25:11.81\00:25:13.58 So I took a book from Ellen White, 00:25:13.61\00:25:15.41 and I sent it to them not expecting any response. 00:25:15.44\00:25:19.91 And one day, there was one of the messengers 00:25:19.95\00:25:24.82 from the embassy that knocked my door, 00:25:24.85\00:25:28.29 very well-dressed up guy. 00:25:28.32\00:25:31.33 And the neighbors were like, 00:25:31.36\00:25:34.36 "Who is this person looking for Martha?" 00:25:34.40\00:25:38.53 And they told me about it. 00:25:38.57\00:25:39.90 It was a messenger from the embassy, 00:25:39.93\00:25:41.87 from the ambassador and with a letter, 00:25:41.90\00:25:44.01 and the letter was saying 00:25:44.04\00:25:45.37 that they were so touched by my music and the book, 00:25:45.41\00:25:48.38 and then they were going to read it. 00:25:48.41\00:25:50.51 They were going to pray for me 00:25:50.55\00:25:52.18 because they believed that my music 00:25:52.21\00:25:55.08 was a gift from God, my talent. 00:25:55.12\00:25:56.58 Oh, how sweet. That was beautiful. 00:25:56.62\00:26:00.12 You know, you never know, 00:26:00.16\00:26:02.26 like the Lord used you to open that door, 00:26:02.29\00:26:05.36 used that music to open the door. 00:26:05.39\00:26:07.63 You prayed for them, you gave them a book, 00:26:07.66\00:26:11.77 you know, you never know how God 00:26:11.80\00:26:13.77 is going to use that to draw them to him. 00:26:13.80\00:26:17.94 That is so incredible. What would you tell... 00:26:17.97\00:26:21.84 And we just have a very little time, 00:26:21.88\00:26:23.95 and in just a couple of sentences, 00:26:23.98\00:26:25.55 what would you tell a young girl 00:26:25.58\00:26:27.78 who is like you at eight who wants to play for Jesus? 00:26:27.82\00:26:31.79 What would you tell her? 00:26:31.82\00:26:33.15 Look into that camera and tell her. 00:26:33.19\00:26:35.86 I will say pray and give your all to Jesus. 00:26:35.89\00:26:41.23 And ask for Jesus to be your master, your teacher 00:26:41.26\00:26:46.03 because He really can teach us how to play. 00:26:46.07\00:26:49.94 Even we have a teacher, but God has this special touch, 00:26:49.97\00:26:54.31 the spirit that if we ask for it, 00:26:54.34\00:26:57.41 He's going to give it to us. 00:26:57.45\00:26:59.08 And if we really consecrate our hearts to Jesus, 00:26:59.11\00:27:02.95 He's going to make an amazing journey 00:27:02.98\00:27:05.65 in your life. 00:27:05.69\00:27:07.02 Oh, thank you so much, Martha. 00:27:07.06\00:27:09.96 Thank you for being with us. My pleasure. 00:27:09.99\00:27:12.09 And for blessing us with your music 00:27:12.13\00:27:14.70 and your beautiful testimony. 00:27:14.73\00:27:16.46 And we know that the Lord's got His hand on you 00:27:16.50\00:27:20.40 and your countenance just exudes a love of Jesus. 00:27:20.44\00:27:24.31 And so we thank you so very much. 00:27:24.34\00:27:27.04 Continue playing for Jesus. 00:27:27.08\00:27:30.91 Just continue. Amen. 00:27:30.95\00:27:32.48 You can't lose when you play for Jesus. 00:27:32.51\00:27:35.25 Thank you so much for joining us, 00:27:35.28\00:27:37.05 you know, we're just so blessed to have these guests 00:27:37.09\00:27:41.62 who share their testimonies with us 00:27:41.66\00:27:45.29 because that is their journey, but it's our journey too. 00:27:45.33\00:27:50.17 And thank you for being here. 00:27:50.20\00:27:53.17 You know that we couldn't do this without you 00:27:53.20\00:27:55.97 'cause, you know what, 00:27:56.00\00:27:57.34 it wouldn't be the same without you. 00:27:57.37\00:28:00.51