WEBVTT
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Welcome back to another episode of Conversations at the Table.
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Joining me today is my friend Danette.
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Thank you for having me.
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I appreciate it.
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And I'm excited to hear your John 9 moment.
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Okay.
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I know that I told you before coming, uh, you know, to meditate on that.
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So I would love to hear what your John 9 moment is.
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Yes, yes.
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That question is such a moving question, like a John 9 moment, because there have been so many of those John 9 moments in my life.
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Moments where you know that God's hand has led you, that has touched you, that has just totally transformed your life.
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And I think that one of the John 9 moments really happened for me, and it is an extension of the work that I am currently doing.
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Okay.
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Um we own, we are working on our nonprofit, which is considered, which is called Healthy Heart Nation.
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Okay.
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And Healthy Heart Nation is really about looking at the social determinants of health in the areas of social um business, education, justice, and health.
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And as you know, my husband is a cardiologist, and um, you know, he really wants to make sure that people are living a life that is healthier but based on informed decisions.
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Yes.
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Empowering them to have the information to make better decisions.
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And so when I was thinking about the John 9 moment and the work that we do, you know, it initially started for me just being supportive of what he's doing and understanding the need for that information in black and brown communities, but communities as a whole.
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But just recently, I really kind of came to um to the point and the realization that what we are doing has really impacted my life as well.
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Wow.
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And so um, you know, we do a lot around hypertension awareness, so high blood pressure, and how that affects people, and how a lot of people don't even understand that they have it.
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And when they find out their health has dis has has declined to a point where their lives are different from that point forward.
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And so when I look back at my John 9 moment, it really happened probably roughly around 1979, 1980.
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Um, my family had moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia, where my father um had just gotten a job as a medical technologist in a hospital in that area.
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And so shortly after being um, you know, moved into a new area, new place, new um town, we he this his health started to decline.
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And so we um we were basically told that his kidneys were failing.
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Wow.
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And he was in his early um mid-30s.
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Okay, so he was a little bit more than that.
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And so he was very, very young.
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And so at that point in time, he lost both of his kidneys and became a dialysis patient in his early 30s.
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Wow.
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And he was a young man with a young family, you know, three kids, a wife, but he, you know, continued to work and he continued to do what was necessary, um, you know, to support his family.
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Yes, you know, that's God.
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He continued to demonstrate God.
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He always put his family first.
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He showed us what a father was, and how God as the, you know, and as our father and the sacrifices.
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And so, you know, he worked um, you know, nights from 11 to 7 at night.
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Um he would go on dialysis um three days a week.
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So Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, he was on dialysis from eight, for from eight to twelve.
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Then he would come home, he would go to sleep, um, and then the family would clean office buildings, you know, to help us pay for our um our pub, like our private school education.
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Right.
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We would clean office buildings from five to you know seven or eight.
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Wow.
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He would come home, he would, you know, change clothes, and then he would go back in to work, you know, from 11 to 7, doing that work.
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Wow.
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And so, you know, I know that God sustained him.
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Yes.
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Oh, yeah.
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Oh, absolutely.
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You have 100%.
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Yes, that he was sustained by God.
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Yes, but that God continued to lead the family in the times when my father was probably not well enough to do it himself, but he never missed work.
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He, you know, he demonstrated what, you know, what true godly provisions are for a family.
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Wow.
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And so, you know, now I'm looking 30, 40, 50 years later, um, here I am, and and our mission as an organization is to ensure that as many people as possible won't have to have the same kind of fate that he has, because we want to give them the information that they need about what their, you know, what their blood pressure numbers are, um, and and ways that they can control it, to be empowered, to eat better, to get good sleep, to get, you know, hydration, to uh understand how to manage their stress.
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All of the things that we know, like we're not telling anybody anything that they may not necessarily know, right?
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But letting them know that it's important for them to value them.
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Yes, to value themselves so that God can use them.
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Yes, absolutely.
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Because when you're not healthy, you know, you're not able to go out and do God's work.
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Your vessel is not exactly at wow, that's amazing.
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Yes.
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And so at what like how did so I know you said you were supporting your husband, and then like it's transitioned into this mission.
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Yes.
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At what point or or like how did how did you like transition into into the medical field or like what like how was that?
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Yeah, so it's so funny because I am not medical at all.
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Um, but you know, just being around my husband and the things that he has done, right, you know, you understand what those things are.
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And so my background is more business, okay, sales and marketing.
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Okay.
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Um, and so I think that that is the reason why as an organization we said, okay, we want to bring health, we want to bring business, we want to bring education, and we want to bring social justice into what we're doing.
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Because if we're really trying to sustain the community, you can't do it in one way.
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No.
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You've got to look at it as a collective.
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And you've got to love the way everything operates together.
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And you and you mentioned, like, you know, coming to the table to talk.
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What we say is that those four things, those are our pillars.
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And they're the legs of our table.
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Wow.
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And on top of that table are the community initiatives.
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How we support the community is based on what expertise we have at the bottom.
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Yes.
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Right?
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So, what we're using to sustain that, that foundation.
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So for him, it's health.
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You know, that's his foundation.
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For me, it's business.
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You know, we um have ambassadors that represent all four.
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So people from an education standpoint.
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So as we go out to try to educate the community about the things that they need to know in order to live a healthier life, you've got to be able to translate that.
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Yes.
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You've got to be able to like essentially not to give someone a fish, but teach them how to fish.
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Yes.
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So, how do we make these business concepts, these health concepts, something that each and every person that we interact with can understand?
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Yes.
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And it's gonna look different for different people.
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Absolutely.
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So we bring people who are coming from an educational standpoint to tell us, okay, this is what we want to say.
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How do we say it?
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Yes.
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Because they know how to communicate, how to ensure that you're teaching those principles.
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Right.
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So we bring them in to help us translate what we're trying to do.
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That's nice.
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We bring lawyers and um, you know, people that are like police officers and things of that nature.
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Yeah.
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Like, what would what do we need to know when we're going into the community?
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What are the things that we need to have sustained that?
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Yes.
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And so, you know, the the legal people are like, okay, we've got to make sure that we mitigate risks for the organization.
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Because they all see things that they all see something that everybody has a different vantage point, and that's why you have these pillars so that you're able to see it all.
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Yes, yes.
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Like from everybody's perspective.
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Exactly.
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But what we're gonna miss, because you're gonna miss it.
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Like you're there's always gonna be something you're gonna miss.
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Right.
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So that is like, you know, what they do, and they say, okay, these are the risks.
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And so what we're doing, what we've what we how we deliver this is in churches and barber shops.
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Okay, right, because it again, all of those people coming together, like how do we meet how do we meet the community where they are versus asking them to come to us?
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Wow.
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So we go to trusted community spaces and we we build the relationship out with the church.
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And if the church is gonna endorse us, just like you, you endorsing me essentially gives me your credibility to your audience.
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Right.
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Your audience believes in you.
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So if you believe in me, they're gonna believe in me a little bit.
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They're gonna I have I come in with the with built-in credibility.
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That's awesome.
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So we do that with the churches, and so the church endorses us, and so that means that their members are gonna take a certain level of trust in us because of the fact that the church endorsed us, and the same in the barbershop.
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So the barbershops that we work with, they believe in us.
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So when their patrons come in and they say, Hey, come over here and get your blood pressure taken, they're going to you know use that relationship and it gets transferred.
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Wow.
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Right?
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And so I was even thinking about our relationship, right?
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So we bought a home and you had the relationship with Jorge.
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Yes.
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And Jorge said, This is who I trust to do the work in for this property.
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In fact, I don't know if you even knew that.
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He paid for the first two months.
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I didn't know that.
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Wow, that's he was like, Listen, you're going to like to ensure that we continue to use you.
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He paid the first two months of um the of the service.
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And so we saw your work and we were like, okay, we trust him because he trusted him.
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Yes.
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And so that's how relationships are built.
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Wow.
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It is like foundational.
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It becomes, you know, something trust is hard to build.
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Yes, absolutely.
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But when it's already built in, it makes it a lot easier.
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Absolutely.
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And so those are the concepts.
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That's amazing.
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That's what a what a mission.
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Yes.
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And and and that's yeah.
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Also, I was reflecting on that, like how we met, right?
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And I'm like, wow, like, isn't it crazy that we met through business?
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Yes.
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But now here we are having a podcast about Jesus.
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Like, what, like, how crazy is it, right?
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Yes, yes.
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And I know when you used to come and come to the house, you know, my mother-in-law would pray with you.
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Yes, absolutely.
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And she, you know, you would she would always kind of could tell what was going on with you, and she would ask you and she would reach out to you because that's what God's love does.
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Yes, absolutely.
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And when you have his love, then you want to give that to other people.
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Yes.
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And so how you do that isn't always about saying, God, God, God.
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It's about how you live.
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Wow.
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What do they see?
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Wow.
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And we've we recognize a spirit in you that was that was calm, that was gentle, that was caring, that was consistent, you know?
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And so that helped build further into what you're doing.
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So, you know, for us, you know, constantly, it is really about how are you representing God in the world.
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And that is not always, you know, for me, I'm always a little bit um apprehensive when people are like, I'm a Christian, I'm a Christian.
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You shouldn't have to tell me that you're a Christian.
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The fruits will speak for themselves.
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The fruits speak.
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Yes.
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You know, and you get that gentle spirit, that kindness, you know, that kind of stuff is what you feel first.
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Wow.
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If you gotta tell me you're a Christian, I'm always a little concerned.
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Wow.
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Because you shouldn't have to.
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Yeah.
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But like for us, the Christianity piece was just a byproduct of the the results and the outcome and the consistency.
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I love that.
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And so you never had to tell me that you were a Christian because I knew, because your fruits.
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Wow, your fruits showed that.
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That's awesome.
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And so that is what it's the truth.
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It's it's very much the truth.
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I appreciate that, and I feel the same way because throughout business, like I've met, I've had the same thing, and I know it's almost like it's it's like I'll say it like this.
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I'm a contractor now, right?
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Okay, and so I say, like, how awful is it that all you have to do is do what you say you're gonna do to be a great contractor.
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The bar is so low, right?
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And so it's the same thing, like when when we talk about faith, it's like you don't need to say it, just live it out.
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Yes, and I believe the same thing, and I've seen that like for the most part, whenever it starts out as hi, my name is Albert, and I'm a Christian.
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I'm like, Oh, red flags, what's going on?
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What's really happening, right?
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Yes, so I love that you point that out because in the marketplace, it's almost I love to see how, and I and I say it like this it's almost like I feel like the Lord, I I know the Lord is so strategic.
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Like He He places us in different places, and sometimes it's like it's like He's playing chess and we go in there as Trojan horses, like shining his light in the marketplace and in other places, right?
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Yes, but I see that with you as you're saying your mission and what you do.
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I love that.
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Yeah, it's so amazing.
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Yeah, thank you.
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God is good.
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God is so good, yes, and so like have having said that, like in in do you have any stories?
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Do you have something that has impacted you?
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Like, is there's is there something specific that you could think of, like, wow, like in this mission that God put you in, has something touched you so deeply?
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I mean, I think we're touched every interaction that we have with the with various people.
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Um, and so we deliver, well, part of what we do, because there's a lot that we do, but I'm just gonna speak specifically to our our hypertension program, what we're doing, which we call as a pressure project.
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Um, and so when I mentioned that we we're in churches and barbershops, we're there every month.
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Wow.
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So um we get a chance to build relationships with people because they see you more than once.
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Wow.
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So um, you know, so we've had situations where people have come in and you know, with blood pressure measurements, normal is like 120 over 80.
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Like less less than 120 over 80 is a normal hypertension number.
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We have had people coming into church there most recently, the most recent one was um a gentleman who was 85 years old.
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He was um, you know, we we asked people, can we take your blood pressure like when they come into church or when they leave church?
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And let me tell you, it's almost like asking people for money because people just their their first reaction is gonna be no.
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Yeah no, I already took my blood pressure.
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No, I don't need it.
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I'm good, I'm going to the doctor, blah, blah, blah.
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Well, this one gentleman, just something about him stood out for me.
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And, you know, a lot of times when they tell you no, you say okay.
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But when he told us no, I didn't take no for an answer.
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I was just, I was like, you know, but can we can we get your blood pressure when you come out?
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I know you said you're gonna go see your doctor and he's trying to regulate it, but we really want and we do this work with students.
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Yeah.
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So medical students, um, nursing students.
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And I said, Well, would it be okay if you like had your your pressure taken and let the students take your measurements so they can learn how to integrate with the community and help support the community?
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So he agreed that he would come back after the service was over and let us take his number.
00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:49.200
His number was 240 over 160, like stroke levels.
00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:49.600
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.679
Like he could have just stroked out at that point in time.
00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.080
Wow.
00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.960
And so luckily he did come toward the end.
00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:59.360
Um, there wasn't a lot of you know, people there.
00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.039
We had to call 911 to come and get him.
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:12.319
But um, the church that we're working with, and I want to give a shout out to um the person who leads this particular church, the Mount Rubidau SDA church.
00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.279
Her name is Dr.
00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.400
Jocelyn Pride.
00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:19.279
She is a she's a nurse um practitioner, and she went with him.
00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:24.880
And she made sure that he was not there by himself.
00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:29.440
He had his had a girlfriend, but you know, wasn't there by himself to walk him through.
00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:42.960
And then she made sure that someone on the team went to his follow-up appointment with him because he was older, maybe he wasn't understanding, maybe there was a challenge with, you know, between him and his physician.
00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:47.200
He was on blood pressure medication, was it no longer working?
00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:49.599
I mean, this man was in a dire position.
00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.240
Yes, absolutely.
00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:56.880
And so they went, they got him regulated, his his medications were changed, and this was almost two months ago.
00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.200
Okay.
00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.559
So he came back.
00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:05.839
Um and the last time that he was measured, which was almost a month ago, his numbers were 117 over 80.
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.799
Wow, whatever.
00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:10.559
So it changed completely, drastically.
00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:13.039
We've got we have stories like that.
00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:16.880
We have people who, you know, their numbers were a little bit high.
00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:30.559
They didn't feel like, you know, they weren't feeling the right, but because we were able to share with them some information, and instead of just like ignoring their numbers, they went into the they went to the emergency room.
00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:30.720
Okay.
00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:33.839
And they ended up getting a pacemaker.
00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:40.000
Now, had they been at home and ignored it, the outcomes could have potentially been different.
00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:48.160
We've been able to talk to people, just really sit down and say, okay, like what are you like look at your diet, look at your exercise.
00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:54.799
These things can help you as you're taking medication or to continue to help you so you won't have to.
00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:13.119
And we've seen people make changes in their life, but it is because of the communication, it's because of the education, it's because of taking the time with them to be able to explain what sometimes in the doctor's office they don't have time to explain.
00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:13.519
Right.
00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:20.559
And so, you know, we're not faulting, you know, the system or anything else, but there are cultural differences on how you communicate.
00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:25.279
And then there's also just really explaining to them what these numbers mean.
00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:25.680
Right.
00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.799
Because when you go to the doctor's office, you might have 15, 20 minutes.
00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:31.440
They're gonna say, okay, this is your blood pressure, and they're gonna move on.
00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.079
But it could mean nothing when you're looking at, yeah.
00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:39.839
So we really don't they don't feel comfortable, they feel intimidated a lot of times.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.240
Wow.
00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:51.119
But because they see us consistently and we're talking to them about these things, now we find out that some of our the people that we support, now they ask the doctor, well, what does that mean?
00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:57.039
Yeah, like they know what it means now, but it's like, what does okay, so what are we gonna do to get my numbers to normal?
00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.440
Wow.
00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:13.440
And the doctor's like, wait a minute, like, you know, but because we've been able to communicate, build the relationship, talk to people, but not at them, but with them and answer their questions in a in a less um intimidating environment.
00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.480
That's amazing.
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:14.880
Yeah.
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:26.079
So how did how did you like how did you come to the point that you're that you were gonna focus on on the church and focus on barbershops?
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.319
Well, like was that strategic?
00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:30.319
Did that start to develop?
00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.880
Yes, it is it is extremely strategic.
00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:38.640
And it it does go back to the trust that those establishments have in the community.
00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.119
Okay.
00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:41.599
Um, they you know, it's already there.
00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.079
Yeah.
00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:49.039
And so we want to go to the places where the trust is already built, and we can be an extension of that trust.
00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.359
Okay.
00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:53.279
Um, as well as to be where we can be consistently.
00:20:53.839 --> 00:21:07.920
And so we utilize, you know, volunteers, medical students, um, you know, nurses, physicians, they come, but then you can also build that resource in, especially in the church because they're nurses and doctors and all those kind of people.
00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:12.799
So when they see you doing the work, a lot of times they want to volunteer to help with the work.
00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.680
So then they unite.
00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.039
And so they unite.
00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:20.640
And so once they get the church stood up, then we can take our volunteers and go to another church.
00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.119
Wow.
00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:33.119
And so in the barber shops, in most instances, all you need is one or two people to just be there to provide that support, you know, for a couple hours on a Saturday or a Friday.
00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.440
Wow.
00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:41.839
And so a lot of times if you're set like every third Friday, a lot of bar people go to the same time to these places.
00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.240
Yeah.
00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:50.480
And what we're also finding is that because they know we're going to be there, they may bring their aunt or their uncle or their own.
00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:52.880
Yes.
00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.200
Wow.
00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:58.400
So because they're saying, listen, this comp this group is here, this this nonprofit is here doing it.
00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:58.559
Yeah.
00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:04.319
I'm gonna have my I'm gonna bring my uncle to get his hair cut today because I know his blood pressure is not so great.
00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:06.640
And then I'm gonna get mine done.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.480
And then can you take my uncle's?
00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:11.359
So it's just it's just an extension.
00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:14.960
So about I want to say maybe like five years ago.
00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:20.640
Okay, my mom had, and correct me with the with the terms, but it's like when your body like gets half paralyzed.
00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.519
Is that called embolism?
00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.319
Stroke, yes.
00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:22.960
Stroke, yes.
00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.799
Okay, so she had that, right?
00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:33.440
And so obviously I know that that had a lot to do with education and the lifestyle and every everything like that.
00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:41.119
But also, um, as we were going through that process, I also discovered that it was spiritual in a sense.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:45.200
And the reason was there was a lot of unforgiveness in her heart.
00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:45.839
Stress, right?
00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.319
Stress.
00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:46.799
Okay.
00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:50.559
And so, like, do you guys experience that?
00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.720
Like, because I I almost see it as like it's a teeter-totter, right?
00:22:54.799 --> 00:23:03.200
As like it, it's like we have the vessel, like our body, yes, but it's like spiritual as well, and then also like the execution of it.
00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:06.559
So it's like, do like, do you see that also?
00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.039
Yeah, no, those things go hand in hand.
00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.359
Yeah.
00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:15.519
And what we hold on to is, you know, it manifests itself in your body.
00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:15.920
Yes.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:18.880
And so we, it's easy to just call it stress.
00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.440
Yes.
00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:23.839
But, you know, it there are a lot of things that that lead to stress.
00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:30.559
And the mental stress, the agony, the unforgiveness, like all of that is just still in your body.
00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:30.880
Wow.
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:37.680
Like, you know, in your shoulders, or, you know, in terms of how you're like it'll affect your sleep, you're not sleeping well.
00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:40.400
All of that kind of impacts your health.
00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:52.720
And so we try to talk about like all of those areas because they are so important in learning how to forgive other people, but also how to forgive yourself.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:24:01.119
And I think that like a lot of instances, people are holding on to so much because they're unable to forgive themselves.
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.599
Wow.
00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:04.880
And we know that that they are forgiven.
00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:12.799
That Jesus, you know, is got like God gives them the you take my yoke upon you and learn of me.
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.920
Yes, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:19.599
So you're you're to give those stresses over to him.
00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:25.200
And when you do, your body does manifest better responses.
00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:28.400
But it is it's easier said than done.
00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:35.359
But you know, but that is that is a key to, you know, the way your body reacts.
00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:46.720
Like if your heart is, you know, having to pump harder, or you know, that your heart rate is high because you're stressed about the things that you, you know, that God has asked us to give him.
00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.200
Right.
00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:56.000
You know, and I know I'm guilty of that myself, you know, when you have things going on in your life, but you want to just say, you know, either I trust God or I don't.
00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.319
Yes.
00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.200
It's very simple.
00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:02.079
Like you trust him, give it to him, or you don't, and you hold on to it.
00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.480
Yeah.
00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:05.119
But you can't, you can't solve it.
00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:11.759
And so, you know, so that is part of, you know, something that I think as humans we all struggle with.
00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.400
Yes, absolutely.
00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:14.720
You know, giving a giving away that control.
00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.359
Wow.
00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.000
You know?
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:20.079
You know, you meant you mentioned giving the yoke, right?
00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:25.519
Like, I so I grew up in Mexico for a little bit and and I saw what the yoke was.
00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:28.799
And the yoke is heavy, like literally, like it's heavy.
00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:32.640
So when I when I saw that, like my yoke is light, right?
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.319
It almost didn't make sense to me.
00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:40.079
I'm like, how is it that putting something on your neck and your shoulders gonna be light?
00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.559
Right.
00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:46.720
But then I realized like Jesus is actually carrying all of the weight, if not most of it.
00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:51.279
Yes, if we give it to him, if we give it to him, right, and then we're just walking along, right?
00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.960
Yes, and yeah, I really saw that with my mom.
00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.880
And praise God.
00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:59.519
Yes, she had another opportunity at life.
00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.400
Okay, bless it.
00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:15.359
And and and and she's thriving, yes, but also in that, like in the spiritual, she was able to let go of those things, and that's when the health her health improved, her health improved drastically, and in that moment it just opened my eyes to something I had I wasn't aware of.
00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:17.359
Yes, I wasn't aware.
00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:22.880
Obviously, like in my mind, I understood it, like the execution of the way you live affects you.
00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:29.839
Yes, but I I hadn't yet understood that what's in your heart and you haven't dealt with could also affect you.
00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:32.079
I didn't, I hadn't seen that up to that moment.
00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:38.079
Yes, and I'm always like trying to like, you know, let go of things and apologize and talk to people.
00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:42.640
And if there's something in my heart, the Lord says, like, guard your heart above all else.
00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:44.799
I'm like, I'm trying to guard my heart, Lord.
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.920
Like, bring something up.
00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.880
Like, I gotta talk to somebody.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.160
Get it off, get off.
00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:53.119
I'm sure if I offended you, you know, like it's it's so easy to say I'm sorry now because of that.
00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:56.000
Yes, because now I understand the repercussions to it.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:59.200
Right, because you're you forgiving them frees you.
00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.480
Yes, absolutely.
00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:03.519
It frees you as much as it will free anyone else.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.079
Yes.
00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:15.519
And I I think it's um, I can't remember the same, but they're like, you know, not forgiving someone is like, you know, hurting yourself and expecting them to feel the pain.
00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.000
Wow.
00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.759
Or it's it's something like that.
00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:20.160
I almost saw it like if you're drinking poison.
00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.920
Yes, and you're drinking it.
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:26.160
You're drinking the poison to hurt someone else, or all of those things, you know?
00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:31.680
But it is um, you you only get to that point with God.
00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.079
Yes.
00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:40.319
And even when you are a Christian and you, you know, you subscribe to other things of those live if it's living, you still struggle with things.
00:27:40.480 --> 00:28:00.000
Yes, you know, absolutely and so he does he's not expecting us to be perfect, no, but he is expecting us to remember that his his will is perfect, yes, you know, and so it is it is really about remembering those things and just trying to go back to to him.
00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:14.880
Yes, you know, and so you you think of him as your heavenly father, and you know that you as a father would do anything for your children, absolutely, but yet he wants to do even more, abundantly more than we can't even imagine.
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:27.359
We can't, you know, and so a lot of times, you know, as parents, we we struggle with our children in terms of what they're going through, and we're worrying about them and we're praying for them.
00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:36.720
Yes, and because we love them so much, yeah, and you know, in those instances, I have to remind myself that as much as I love them, he loves them more.
00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:39.200
Yes, wow, he loves them more.
00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:54.079
Wow, and so I have to turn it over to him and I have to let him do what he's gonna do and take people through what he needs to take them through to get them to where we ultimately want to be, and that's saved.
00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.440
Yes, absolutely.
00:28:55.759 --> 00:29:03.680
And our path to being saved is gonna look very different for different people, yes, but he's always there for us, yeah.
00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.279
He's always there with us.
00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.359
Wow, you know, so beautiful.
00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.559
Yeah, I love that.
00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:24.799
That's that's so awesome, and I love the mission that you guys are thank you like doing because I I really like personally lately, like in this past, like, you know, like well, for the past few years, but more specifically in the past couple months, okay.
00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:33.839
I have been very convicted by the Holy Spirit to really like analyze because I've been so focused, like I said, on the spiritual.
00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:41.440
Okay, but now it's like you also need to focus on the execution of the way you're eating and what you're consuming and what you're putting into your body.
00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:41.920
Yes.
00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:50.160
So as I talk to you, it's like it's a refreshing reminder that I need to also watch just how I need to guard my heart.
00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.519
I need to guard my mouth.
00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:53.279
Right, right, and guard your plate.
00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.759
But don't, but give yourself grace.
00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.160
Yes.
00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:01.119
So, you know, because a lot of times with all of us, we're like, I'm gonna da-da-da-da-da.
00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:04.319
And then and then you don't execute and then you're like, forget it.
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:04.799
Yes.
00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:14.480
So, you know, one thing to just make it easier is okay, whatever your plate is, just try to add more good things to your plate.
00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.119
I love that.
00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.559
Versus like, oh, I'm not gonna eat this, this, this, and this anymore.
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:34.319
But if you add more of the good things, like maybe a little bit more of the vegetables or a little bit more of the, you know, the fruits or the salads, or you know, instead of drinking, you know, something soda or juice, okay, I'm gonna try to increase my water intake.
00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:39.920
So think about not what you're not gonna do for your health, but what you are gonna do for I love that.
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.039
That's a great perspective.
00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:48.799
And that that's even like when, like, at least for me, like when I came to Christ, it's like, oh, what are the things I can do?
00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.839
That was my mentality.
00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:50.240
Right.
00:30:50.400 --> 00:31:00.000
And after walking with the Lord for a while, I realized it's it's not that you can't do these things, but I realized that these things were not benefiting me.
00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:00.400
Yes.
00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:03.680
And so now it's like, oh, that's an easy, I understand why.
00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:08.720
Yes, you know, because God is a God of order and He tells us to live a certain way for a reason.
00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.400
Yes, and now I see that.
00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.720
So as you say that, that's a great perspective.
00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:17.039
It's not what you can't do because that's like almost tension, right?
00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:25.200
It's like out of love, yes, and that changes everything because then you now you don't want to do it anymore, yes, versus you can't do it.
00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.400
That's amazing, yeah.
00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:33.920
And so, you know, it's and it's about consistency and it's about, you know, if you fall, you know, get back up.
00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:37.519
Yeah, you know, um, and tomorrow is a new day.
00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:44.559
Yeah, you know, his mercies endure forever, it renews and it's you know, so all of those things.
00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:50.000
I think, you know, again, forgiving yourself, you know, forgiveness is huge.
00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:54.480
Yes, you know, giving other people grace and giving yourself grace.
00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:57.519
Wow, that you're really on this path to being better.
00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:01.680
And, you know, sometimes you may stumble, but you just get back up.
00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.200
Yeah, you know, I love that.
00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:17.680
And so those are the things that you know we all have to be in terms of forgiveness and grace and showing love and kindness and and just really looking at, you know, what would you want someone to say to you in these moments?
00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:20.319
How would you want them to interact with you in those moments?
00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:28.240
Yeah, and those are truly the fruits how we were talking about the that's really living and experiencing the fruits.
00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:28.720
Yes.
00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:41.279
And uh very recently I had an episode like not too long ago, where um somebody was sharing, I feel like we're not living that abundant life that the Lord promised.
00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:57.359
Okay, and I'm like, wow, yes, I feel that as the body, you know, we are not experiencing that joy, that peace, that the fruits, yes, because we're just like tumbling along and not really experiencing.
00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:05.119
So I love this mission that you guys are in to really bring that awareness to the community and just be the hands and feet of Jesus, really.
00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:14.160
Absolutely, and looking at hope and empowerment, yeah, you know, because there's so much going on these days that is just fear-based.
00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:14.799
Yes.
00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:25.599
I mean, and it and it's almost like you're inundated with so much, you know, material or information that is fear-based, or this is gonna, oh no, what's gonna happen with this?
00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:30.319
And it's like, again, you go back to you have to give that control to God.
00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:33.680
Like I'm trusting him or I'm not gonna trust him.
00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:38.559
And so, with the trust that I give him, you know, what can I do?
00:33:38.799 --> 00:34:00.319
And what positive impact can I have in in the world, you know, in in my community, in my neighborhood, you know, in my family, you know, start there because the reverberation of that is just huge in terms of who you impact and who they impact, and who they impact, and and the impact.
00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.599
It's just the dominoes.
00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.200
It has exactly.
00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:18.559
And so, you know, that's why our organization is called Healthy Heart Nation, because we're really trying to bring, you know, health, vitality, you know, people's passion to the nation, one person at a time, one heart at a time.
00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:24.960
That's beautiful, you know, and so that is our goal and in terms of how we impact people every day.
00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:26.400
Wow, that's amazing.
00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.119
I love that.
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:30.320
That's literally just like I I see it that way.
00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:35.280
It is like the hands and feet, like you're walking it out and doing it in action.
00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:37.119
So yes, and not doing it alone.
00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:42.559
Yes, so doing it together, and everything is a lot easier when you do it together.
00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:42.880
Wow.
00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:52.719
And so when we go back to even looking at like a table, and we use this analogy a lot in our business, but we've got those four pillars, right?
00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:54.000
And you've got a table.
00:34:54.079 --> 00:35:02.239
And if you and I were trying to move a table, you know, and I need to move the table by myself, it's gonna be hard, it's gonna be, you know, awkward.
00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:09.119
You're gonna hurt yourself, it's gonna hurt yourself, you're trying to move the table, and by the time you got that one table moved, you're exhausted, you can't do it again.
00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:09.440
Yes.
00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:16.159
But if you bring another person or look, how about bringing four people to bring to move this table?
00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:25.519
Wow, then you can move the table, you can have fun, you can laugh, you can joke, you can enjoy each other's company while you're doing that mission.
00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.960
Wow, you're moving that table.
00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.920
That table's moved.
00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.440
Okay, what's the next table?
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:40.159
And so our approach is to really try to bring people to the table that are in a place to allow us to make progress consistently.
00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:45.760
And when you do something together, it always is a lot more fun than if you're doing it alone.
00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:48.400
Yeah, and so the collaboration is huge.
00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.199
Absolutely.
00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:49.920
I love that.
00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:57.760
And and as you're saying that, I'm remembering when we brought this table into the space, this table is so heavy.
00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:01.440
Like, and and at that time, my friend helped me, and it was just me and him.
00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:05.840
We almost broke our back and we had to like literally like take it apart.
00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:10.159
Okay, but it just makes me realize, yes, when you work together, that's what we're meant to do.
00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:11.039
Yes, yes.
00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:15.440
When we try to, you know, you mentioned we mentioned the yoke.
00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:18.079
Yes, that's literally teamwork, yes.
00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:30.960
Like Jesus is carrying that with you, yes, and then whatever mission field the Lord has put you in, yes, you need to surround yourself with others because it's easier to carry a heavy table when you're doing it together.
00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:32.480
Absolutely, that's amazing.
00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:33.039
Absolutely.
00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:35.199
You want two people with this combat?
00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:40.159
That's I have the same thought, like I never want to move this.
00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.599
This is never leaving.
00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:49.679
This is never leaving, and so and so this table, just funny story with that is uh we used to host a life group for five years.
00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:57.199
Okay, and in this table, we had so many conversations, just like me and you are having but they were in private, okay.
00:36:57.440 --> 00:37:05.199
And so I realized there is so much power in having a conversation at a table.
00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:13.599
So, as you say, that is like you know, to you, one way the way you see it towards your mission, like what we're doing here in this podcast is the same thing.
00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:19.599
There is so much power in sitting around a table and just doing it together.
00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:23.360
Absolutely, absolutely, and the different perspectives, right?
00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:28.159
Because it's gonna, it's gonna it's gonna resonate with different people in different ways.
00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:28.800
Absolutely.
00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:32.239
But what we've also understood is that people need to see themselves.
00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.039
Yes.
00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:47.039
And that is that is so important, you know, and a lot of instances, not all, but in a lot of instances, especially in the black community, um, those examples aren't always there.
00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:47.519
Yeah.
00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:58.960
You know, um, some of us are are lucky enough to have a network of people that are that represent all four of those areas that are doing well, that are exceptional, that are successful.
00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.440
Yes.
00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:03.679
But what are we doing to demonstrate that to the rest of the world?
00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:07.519
How what are how are they gonna see that collaboration?
00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:10.880
Yeah, how are they gonna see people that are taking an interest in them?
00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:22.800
Yeah how are they gonna be able to integrate and and talk to people who are gonna encourage them, that are gonna give them hope, that are gonna be positive, to have that chance to have that exchange.
00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.199
Yeah.
00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:40.559
And you, you know, again, we bring those types of people into those churches, into the barbershop, you know, and and the exchange is just so amazing because people pick up on that positive, that positive nature, that you can do it.
00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:42.239
How is it getting better?
00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:45.119
How are you, how are you, what did you do differently?
00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:47.039
Yeah you know, how can you do differently?
00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:51.119
And we ask people all the time, what are you doing for your health?
00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:54.320
There's a question, what are you doing to stay healthy?
00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:59.119
Yeah, and people, you know, they don't really think about that, but then they say, Well, you know what?
00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:00.159
I'm I walk.
00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:02.639
Yeah that's a great way to stay healthy.
00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:05.760
Then you can talk to them about what they're doing and encourage them.
00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:07.119
You find them where they're at.
00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:07.920
Exactly.
00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:09.440
So walking is great.
00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:13.440
It allows you to move, it allows you to get sunlight, it allows you to get fresh air.
00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:15.440
It's a great stress reliever.
00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:17.039
Yeah, you know, oh, I go to the gym.
00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:17.920
Oh, that's great.
00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:25.199
When you go to the gym, you get a chance to use muscle and and and and weight, and you get to interact with people a little bit.
00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:33.599
And so, you know, so we we meet them, like you said, where they are, we ask them what they're doing for themselves, and then we try to build on that.
00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:44.480
Wow, that's you know, like thinking back to when I asked you the question, like what your John 9 moment was, and you mentioned the experience that you had when you were growing up.
00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:50.719
Yes, isn't it crazy that something so hard the Lord would use to feel something so good?
00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.599
Exactly.
00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:57.119
And we don't see it that way because when we're going through hardship, yes, it's not fun.
00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:59.760
No, no, but I don't have fun when I'm struggling.
00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:12.719
No, no, but it's it's that process that the Lord puts you through that then eventually will give you fuel and will equip you to do the mission that He's called you to.
00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:13.920
Absolutely.
00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:14.800
I love that.
00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:21.119
And we have been so blessed, and we have roughly like 200 ambassadors that are part of the organization.
00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:23.760
And just yesterday, I met a young lady.
00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:26.320
I mean, she's around my age, so we'll call her young.
00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:38.400
And she um she just shared with us that she was a foster kid and she had been in 40 different foster homes throughout her life.
00:40:38.639 --> 00:40:42.159
And now she is giving back to foster children.
00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:50.239
She goes in and she does talent shows with them to give them something to look forward to and allow them to express their talent.
00:40:50.480 --> 00:41:09.039
But you know, it's like it was because of her experience that she is so committed to that community, like really being able to go and talk to those people in terms of you can get out of this, you can do well, you can, you know, come on the other side and and end up being a mother.
00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:09.519
Yes.
00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:10.960
And you raise children.
00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:12.880
There's hope.
00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:21.840
Yes, but you know, a lot of times those experiences are what levels the playing field for the various people that you go and talk to.
00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:25.199
I'm not gonna relate to someone who's been in foster home, possibly.
00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:26.880
Absolutely, but she can.
00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:34.480
Yes, and so you know, it's really about bringing those the right people into the right situations, and God creates those.
00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:38.079
Absolutely, you but you've gotta be willing, you gotta be willing.
00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:41.519
You know, I I was probably like 16.
00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:45.599
A lot of the times I see things in like in my mind, I see them as pictures.
00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:53.599
Okay, so I had this picture of a bucket and it was full of crabs, okay, and the crabs were trying to get out.
00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:58.320
Okay, and as one of them was about to like he was clawing his way up, right?
00:41:58.639 --> 00:42:01.119
The ones beneath them were pulling them down.
00:42:01.280 --> 00:42:05.280
Yes, and then finally there was one that left.
00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:06.320
Okay, that made it.
00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:10.559
And I just stayed with that image for such a long time and I didn't understand it.
00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:19.360
And now, in retrospect, and now after walking with the Lord and understanding, like I really feel the Holy Spirit was speaking to me through that.
00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:27.599
Yes, and what he was saying is what if you're like that crab that actually gets out, yes, but then goes back and pulls the other ones out.
00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:31.519
Yes, and so I see that as you were saying, it just reminded me of that image.
00:42:31.679 --> 00:42:45.199
Yes, you're literally doing that, you're pulling others out and you're sharing with them this knowledge and this this transformation for their life, yes, and in in a way, that's like that's what I'm trying to do here through this podcast, right?
00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:57.039
But it's so beautiful to see that you guys are just the hands and feet of Jesus, and may the Lord bless you and your mission, and may there be transformation to what you're doing.
00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.960
That's our prayer, yeah.
00:42:59.119 --> 00:42:59.760
That is our prayer.
00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.320
Awesome.
00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:00.719
Yes,
00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.400
Welcome back to another episode of Conversations at the Table.
00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:15.359
Joining me today is my friend Danette.
00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:18.640
Thank you for having me.
00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:20.000
I appreciate it.
00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.960
And I'm excited to hear your John 9 moment.
00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:23.359
Okay.
00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:27.679
I know that I told you before coming, uh, you know, to meditate on that.
00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.120
So I would love to hear what your John 9 moment is.
00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:32.159
Yes, yes.
00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:42.320
That question is such a moving question, like a John 9 moment, because there have been so many of those John 9 moments in my life.
00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:51.759
Moments where you know that God's hand has led you, that has touched you, that has just totally transformed your life.
00:00:52.399 --> 00:01:00.960
And I think that one of the John 9 moments really happened for me, and it is an extension of the work that I am currently doing.
00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:01.520
Okay.
00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:08.000
Um we own, we are working on our nonprofit, which is considered, which is called Healthy Heart Nation.
00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:08.239
Okay.
00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:17.280
And Healthy Heart Nation is really about looking at the social determinants of health in the areas of social um business, education, justice, and health.
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:30.480
And as you know, my husband is a cardiologist, and um, you know, he really wants to make sure that people are living a life that is healthier but based on informed decisions.
00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:30.719
Yes.
00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:35.280
Empowering them to have the information to make better decisions.
00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:50.879
And so when I was thinking about the John 9 moment and the work that we do, you know, it initially started for me just being supportive of what he's doing and understanding the need for that information in black and brown communities, but communities as a whole.
00:01:51.599 --> 00:02:02.959
But just recently, I really kind of came to um to the point and the realization that what we are doing has really impacted my life as well.
00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:03.359
Wow.
00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:14.319
And so um, you know, we do a lot around hypertension awareness, so high blood pressure, and how that affects people, and how a lot of people don't even understand that they have it.
00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:23.039
And when they find out their health has dis has has declined to a point where their lives are different from that point forward.
00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:33.520
And so when I look back at my John 9 moment, it really happened probably roughly around 1979, 1980.
00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:44.960
Um, my family had moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia, where my father um had just gotten a job as a medical technologist in a hospital in that area.
00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:54.719
And so shortly after being um, you know, moved into a new area, new place, new um town, we he this his health started to decline.
00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:01.439
And so we um we were basically told that his kidneys were failing.
00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:02.000
Wow.
00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:05.520
And he was in his early um mid-30s.
00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:06.560
Okay, so he was a little bit more than that.
00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:08.639
And so he was very, very young.
00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:17.680
And so at that point in time, he lost both of his kidneys and became a dialysis patient in his early 30s.
00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:18.159
Wow.
00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:32.240
And he was a young man with a young family, you know, three kids, a wife, but he, you know, continued to work and he continued to do what was necessary, um, you know, to support his family.
00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:34.479
Yes, you know, that's God.
00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:38.080
He continued to demonstrate God.
00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:39.919
He always put his family first.
00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:47.840
He showed us what a father was, and how God as the, you know, and as our father and the sacrifices.
00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:54.639
And so, you know, he worked um, you know, nights from 11 to 7 at night.
00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:58.400
Um he would go on dialysis um three days a week.
00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:03.919
So Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, he was on dialysis from eight, for from eight to twelve.
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:16.959
Then he would come home, he would go to sleep, um, and then the family would clean office buildings, you know, to help us pay for our um our pub, like our private school education.
00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:17.279
Right.
00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:21.519
We would clean office buildings from five to you know seven or eight.
00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:21.759
Wow.
00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:30.879
He would come home, he would, you know, change clothes, and then he would go back in to work, you know, from 11 to 7, doing that work.
00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:31.360
Wow.
00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:34.959
And so, you know, I know that God sustained him.
00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:35.519
Yes.
00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:35.920
Oh, yeah.
00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:36.399
Oh, absolutely.
00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:37.759
You have 100%.
00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:40.480
Yes, that he was sustained by God.
00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:50.399
Yes, but that God continued to lead the family in the times when my father was probably not well enough to do it himself, but he never missed work.
00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:57.759
He, you know, he demonstrated what, you know, what true godly provisions are for a family.
00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:58.240
Wow.
00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:33.519
And so, you know, now I'm looking 30, 40, 50 years later, um, here I am, and and our mission as an organization is to ensure that as many people as possible won't have to have the same kind of fate that he has, because we want to give them the information that they need about what their, you know, what their blood pressure numbers are, um, and and ways that they can control it, to be empowered, to eat better, to get good sleep, to get, you know, hydration, to uh understand how to manage their stress.
00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:39.279
All of the things that we know, like we're not telling anybody anything that they may not necessarily know, right?
00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.959
But letting them know that it's important for them to value them.
00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:46.240
Yes, to value themselves so that God can use them.
00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:46.879
Yes, absolutely.
00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:52.639
Because when you're not healthy, you know, you're not able to go out and do God's work.
00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:57.839
Your vessel is not exactly at wow, that's amazing.
00:05:58.079 --> 00:05:58.319
Yes.
00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:07.360
And so at what like how did so I know you said you were supporting your husband, and then like it's transitioned into this mission.
00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:07.920
Yes.
00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:18.639
At what point or or like how did how did you like transition into into the medical field or like what like how was that?
00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:22.639
Yeah, so it's so funny because I am not medical at all.
00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:30.560
Um, but you know, just being around my husband and the things that he has done, right, you know, you understand what those things are.
00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:34.879
And so my background is more business, okay, sales and marketing.
00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:35.279
Okay.
00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:48.800
Um, and so I think that that is the reason why as an organization we said, okay, we want to bring health, we want to bring business, we want to bring education, and we want to bring social justice into what we're doing.
00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:54.639
Because if we're really trying to sustain the community, you can't do it in one way.
00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:55.040
No.
00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:57.199
You've got to look at it as a collective.
00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.720
And you've got to love the way everything operates together.
00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:03.920
And you and you mentioned, like, you know, coming to the table to talk.
00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:08.399
What we say is that those four things, those are our pillars.
00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.240
And they're the legs of our table.
00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:10.560
Wow.
00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.439
And on top of that table are the community initiatives.
00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:19.040
How we support the community is based on what expertise we have at the bottom.
00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:19.439
Yes.
00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:19.839
Right?
00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.879
So, what we're using to sustain that, that foundation.
00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.319
So for him, it's health.
00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:26.160
You know, that's his foundation.
00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.439
For me, it's business.
00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:31.839
You know, we um have ambassadors that represent all four.
00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.240
So people from an education standpoint.
00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:44.000
So as we go out to try to educate the community about the things that they need to know in order to live a healthier life, you've got to be able to translate that.
00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:44.319
Yes.
00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:50.319
You've got to be able to like essentially not to give someone a fish, but teach them how to fish.
00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:50.639
Yes.
00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:59.120
So, how do we make these business concepts, these health concepts, something that each and every person that we interact with can understand?
00:07:59.199 --> 00:07:59.519
Yes.
00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.839
And it's gonna look different for different people.
00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:02.240
Absolutely.
00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:07.920
So we bring people who are coming from an educational standpoint to tell us, okay, this is what we want to say.
00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:09.360
How do we say it?
00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:09.839
Yes.
00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:14.560
Because they know how to communicate, how to ensure that you're teaching those principles.
00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:15.040
Right.
00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:19.199
So we bring them in to help us translate what we're trying to do.
00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:19.759
That's nice.
00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:25.759
We bring lawyers and um, you know, people that are like police officers and things of that nature.
00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:26.079
Yeah.
00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:30.240
Like, what would what do we need to know when we're going into the community?
00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:33.679
What are the things that we need to have sustained that?
00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.159
Yes.
00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:41.360
And so, you know, the the legal people are like, okay, we've got to make sure that we mitigate risks for the organization.
00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:49.360
Because they all see things that they all see something that everybody has a different vantage point, and that's why you have these pillars so that you're able to see it all.
00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:50.240
Yes, yes.
00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:51.759
Like from everybody's perspective.
00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:52.559
Exactly.
00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:55.200
But what we're gonna miss, because you're gonna miss it.
00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:57.919
Like you're there's always gonna be something you're gonna miss.
00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:58.320
Right.
00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:03.840
So that is like, you know, what they do, and they say, okay, these are the risks.
00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:10.159
And so what we're doing, what we've what we how we deliver this is in churches and barber shops.
00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:19.759
Okay, right, because it again, all of those people coming together, like how do we meet how do we meet the community where they are versus asking them to come to us?
00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:20.240
Wow.
00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:26.960
So we go to trusted community spaces and we we build the relationship out with the church.
00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:34.639
And if the church is gonna endorse us, just like you, you endorsing me essentially gives me your credibility to your audience.
00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:35.039
Right.
00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.720
Your audience believes in you.
00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:41.039
So if you believe in me, they're gonna believe in me a little bit.
00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:44.240
They're gonna I have I come in with the with built-in credibility.
00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:44.879
That's awesome.
00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:58.399
So we do that with the churches, and so the church endorses us, and so that means that their members are gonna take a certain level of trust in us because of the fact that the church endorsed us, and the same in the barbershop.
00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:01.919
So the barbershops that we work with, they believe in us.
00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:12.240
So when their patrons come in and they say, Hey, come over here and get your blood pressure taken, they're going to you know use that relationship and it gets transferred.
00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:12.799
Wow.
00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:13.200
Right?
00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:16.879
And so I was even thinking about our relationship, right?
00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:20.480
So we bought a home and you had the relationship with Jorge.
00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:20.720
Yes.
00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:26.799
And Jorge said, This is who I trust to do the work in for this property.
00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:28.960
In fact, I don't know if you even knew that.
00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.480
He paid for the first two months.
00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:31.360
I didn't know that.
00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:36.320
Wow, that's he was like, Listen, you're going to like to ensure that we continue to use you.
00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:41.360
He paid the first two months of um the of the service.
00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:48.080
And so we saw your work and we were like, okay, we trust him because he trusted him.
00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:48.559
Yes.
00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:50.879
And so that's how relationships are built.
00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:51.120
Wow.
00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:52.720
It is like foundational.
00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:56.000
It becomes, you know, something trust is hard to build.
00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:56.799
Yes, absolutely.
00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:59.919
But when it's already built in, it makes it a lot easier.
00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:00.480
Absolutely.
00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.159
And so those are the concepts.
00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:03.120
That's amazing.
00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.720
That's what a what a mission.
00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.200
Yes.
00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:07.120
And and and that's yeah.
00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.840
Also, I was reflecting on that, like how we met, right?
00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.240
And I'm like, wow, like, isn't it crazy that we met through business?
00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:14.720
Yes.
00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:17.200
But now here we are having a podcast about Jesus.
00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.759
Like, what, like, how crazy is it, right?
00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:20.559
Yes, yes.
00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:25.440
And I know when you used to come and come to the house, you know, my mother-in-law would pray with you.
00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.080
Yes, absolutely.
00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:36.639
And she, you know, you would she would always kind of could tell what was going on with you, and she would ask you and she would reach out to you because that's what God's love does.
00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:37.840
Yes, absolutely.
00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:42.159
And when you have his love, then you want to give that to other people.
00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:42.720
Yes.
00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:47.759
And so how you do that isn't always about saying, God, God, God.
00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:49.360
It's about how you live.
00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:49.759
Wow.
00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:51.039
What do they see?
00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:51.279
Wow.
00:11:51.519 --> 00:12:00.879
And we've we recognize a spirit in you that was that was calm, that was gentle, that was caring, that was consistent, you know?
00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:05.519
And so that helped build further into what you're doing.
00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:12.799
So, you know, for us, you know, constantly, it is really about how are you representing God in the world.
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:22.159
And that is not always, you know, for me, I'm always a little bit um apprehensive when people are like, I'm a Christian, I'm a Christian.
00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:24.399
You shouldn't have to tell me that you're a Christian.
00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:25.919
The fruits will speak for themselves.
00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:26.879
The fruits speak.
00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:27.200
Yes.
00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:34.320
You know, and you get that gentle spirit, that kindness, you know, that kind of stuff is what you feel first.
00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:34.639
Wow.
00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:37.840
If you gotta tell me you're a Christian, I'm always a little concerned.
00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.240
Wow.
00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.519
Because you shouldn't have to.
00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:39.919
Yeah.
00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:49.200
But like for us, the Christianity piece was just a byproduct of the the results and the outcome and the consistency.
00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.679
I love that.
00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:54.559
And so you never had to tell me that you were a Christian because I knew, because your fruits.
00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:56.720
Wow, your fruits showed that.
00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.360
That's awesome.
00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:00.720
And so that is what it's the truth.
00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:02.320
It's it's very much the truth.
00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:14.799
I appreciate that, and I feel the same way because throughout business, like I've met, I've had the same thing, and I know it's almost like it's it's like I'll say it like this.
00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.080
I'm a contractor now, right?
00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:25.120
Okay, and so I say, like, how awful is it that all you have to do is do what you say you're gonna do to be a great contractor.
00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.200
The bar is so low, right?
00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:33.120
And so it's the same thing, like when when we talk about faith, it's like you don't need to say it, just live it out.
00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:41.039
Yes, and I believe the same thing, and I've seen that like for the most part, whenever it starts out as hi, my name is Albert, and I'm a Christian.
00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.840
I'm like, Oh, red flags, what's going on?
00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.679
What's really happening, right?
00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:59.120
Yes, so I love that you point that out because in the marketplace, it's almost I love to see how, and I and I say it like this it's almost like I feel like the Lord, I I know the Lord is so strategic.
00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:11.600
Like He He places us in different places, and sometimes it's like it's like He's playing chess and we go in there as Trojan horses, like shining his light in the marketplace and in other places, right?
00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:15.519
Yes, but I see that with you as you're saying your mission and what you do.
00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.240
I love that.
00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.759
Yeah, it's so amazing.
00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.720
Yeah, thank you.
00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.519
God is good.
00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:27.440
God is so good, yes, and so like have having said that, like in in do you have any stories?
00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.759
Do you have something that has impacted you?
00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:38.960
Like, is there's is there something specific that you could think of, like, wow, like in this mission that God put you in, has something touched you so deeply?
00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:45.519
I mean, I think we're touched every interaction that we have with the with various people.
00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:56.879
Um, and so we deliver, well, part of what we do, because there's a lot that we do, but I'm just gonna speak specifically to our our hypertension program, what we're doing, which we call as a pressure project.
00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:02.799
Um, and so when I mentioned that we we're in churches and barbershops, we're there every month.
00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:03.360
Wow.
00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:10.799
So um we get a chance to build relationships with people because they see you more than once.
00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:11.519
Wow.
00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:22.000
So um, you know, so we've had situations where people have come in and you know, with blood pressure measurements, normal is like 120 over 80.
00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:27.120
Like less less than 120 over 80 is a normal hypertension number.
00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:37.279
We have had people coming into church there most recently, the most recent one was um a gentleman who was 85 years old.
00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:45.519
He was um, you know, we we asked people, can we take your blood pressure like when they come into church or when they leave church?
00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:53.039
And let me tell you, it's almost like asking people for money because people just their their first reaction is gonna be no.
00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.440
Yeah no, I already took my blood pressure.
00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.320
No, I don't need it.
00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.879
I'm good, I'm going to the doctor, blah, blah, blah.
00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.480
Well, this one gentleman, just something about him stood out for me.
00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:06.399
And, you know, a lot of times when they tell you no, you say okay.
00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:09.919
But when he told us no, I didn't take no for an answer.
00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:15.600
I was just, I was like, you know, but can we can we get your blood pressure when you come out?
00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:22.320
I know you said you're gonna go see your doctor and he's trying to regulate it, but we really want and we do this work with students.
00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.559
Yeah.
00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:25.679
So medical students, um, nursing students.
00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:36.399
And I said, Well, would it be okay if you like had your your pressure taken and let the students take your measurements so they can learn how to integrate with the community and help support the community?
00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:42.080
So he agreed that he would come back after the service was over and let us take his number.
00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:49.200
His number was 240 over 160, like stroke levels.
00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:49.600
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.679
Like he could have just stroked out at that point in time.
00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.080
Wow.
00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.960
And so luckily he did come toward the end.
00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:59.360
Um, there wasn't a lot of you know, people there.
00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.039
We had to call 911 to come and get him.
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:12.319
But um, the church that we're working with, and I want to give a shout out to um the person who leads this particular church, the Mount Rubidau SDA church.
00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.279
Her name is Dr.
00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.400
Jocelyn Pride.
00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:19.279
She is a she's a nurse um practitioner, and she went with him.
00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:24.880
And she made sure that he was not there by himself.
00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:29.440
He had his had a girlfriend, but you know, wasn't there by himself to walk him through.
00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:42.960
And then she made sure that someone on the team went to his follow-up appointment with him because he was older, maybe he wasn't understanding, maybe there was a challenge with, you know, between him and his physician.
00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:47.200
He was on blood pressure medication, was it no longer working?
00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:49.599
I mean, this man was in a dire position.
00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.240
Yes, absolutely.
00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:56.880
And so they went, they got him regulated, his his medications were changed, and this was almost two months ago.
00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.200
Okay.
00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.559
So he came back.
00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:05.839
Um and the last time that he was measured, which was almost a month ago, his numbers were 117 over 80.
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.799
Wow, whatever.
00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:10.559
So it changed completely, drastically.
00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:13.039
We've got we have stories like that.
00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:16.880
We have people who, you know, their numbers were a little bit high.
00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:30.559
They didn't feel like, you know, they weren't feeling the right, but because we were able to share with them some information, and instead of just like ignoring their numbers, they went into the they went to the emergency room.
00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:30.720
Okay.
00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:33.839
And they ended up getting a pacemaker.
00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:40.000
Now, had they been at home and ignored it, the outcomes could have potentially been different.
00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:48.160
We've been able to talk to people, just really sit down and say, okay, like what are you like look at your diet, look at your exercise.
00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:54.799
These things can help you as you're taking medication or to continue to help you so you won't have to.
00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:13.119
And we've seen people make changes in their life, but it is because of the communication, it's because of the education, it's because of taking the time with them to be able to explain what sometimes in the doctor's office they don't have time to explain.
00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:13.519
Right.
00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:20.559
And so, you know, we're not faulting, you know, the system or anything else, but there are cultural differences on how you communicate.
00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:25.279
And then there's also just really explaining to them what these numbers mean.
00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:25.680
Right.
00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.799
Because when you go to the doctor's office, you might have 15, 20 minutes.
00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:31.440
They're gonna say, okay, this is your blood pressure, and they're gonna move on.
00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.079
But it could mean nothing when you're looking at, yeah.
00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:39.839
So we really don't they don't feel comfortable, they feel intimidated a lot of times.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.240
Wow.
00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:51.119
But because they see us consistently and we're talking to them about these things, now we find out that some of our the people that we support, now they ask the doctor, well, what does that mean?
00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:57.039
Yeah, like they know what it means now, but it's like, what does okay, so what are we gonna do to get my numbers to normal?
00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.440
Wow.
00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:13.440
And the doctor's like, wait a minute, like, you know, but because we've been able to communicate, build the relationship, talk to people, but not at them, but with them and answer their questions in a in a less um intimidating environment.
00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.480
That's amazing.
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:14.880
Yeah.
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:26.079
So how did how did you like how did you come to the point that you're that you were gonna focus on on the church and focus on barbershops?
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.319
Well, like was that strategic?
00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:30.319
Did that start to develop?
00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.880
Yes, it is it is extremely strategic.
00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:38.640
And it it does go back to the trust that those establishments have in the community.
00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.119
Okay.
00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:41.599
Um, they you know, it's already there.
00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.079
Yeah.
00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:49.039
And so we want to go to the places where the trust is already built, and we can be an extension of that trust.
00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.359
Okay.
00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:53.279
Um, as well as to be where we can be consistently.
00:20:53.839 --> 00:21:07.920
And so we utilize, you know, volunteers, medical students, um, you know, nurses, physicians, they come, but then you can also build that resource in, especially in the church because they're nurses and doctors and all those kind of people.
00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:12.799
So when they see you doing the work, a lot of times they want to volunteer to help with the work.
00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.680
So then they unite.
00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.039
And so they unite.
00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:20.640
And so once they get the church stood up, then we can take our volunteers and go to another church.
00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.119
Wow.
00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:33.119
And so in the barber shops, in most instances, all you need is one or two people to just be there to provide that support, you know, for a couple hours on a Saturday or a Friday.
00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.440
Wow.
00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:41.839
And so a lot of times if you're set like every third Friday, a lot of bar people go to the same time to these places.
00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.240
Yeah.
00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:50.480
And what we're also finding is that because they know we're going to be there, they may bring their aunt or their uncle or their own.
00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:52.880
Yes.
00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.200
Wow.
00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:58.400
So because they're saying, listen, this comp this group is here, this this nonprofit is here doing it.
00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:58.559
Yeah.
00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:04.319
I'm gonna have my I'm gonna bring my uncle to get his hair cut today because I know his blood pressure is not so great.
00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:06.640
And then I'm gonna get mine done.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.480
And then can you take my uncle's?
00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:11.359
So it's just it's just an extension.
00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:14.960
So about I want to say maybe like five years ago.
00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:20.640
Okay, my mom had, and correct me with the with the terms, but it's like when your body like gets half paralyzed.
00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.519
Is that called embolism?
00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.319
Stroke, yes.
00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:22.960
Stroke, yes.
00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.799
Okay, so she had that, right?
00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:33.440
And so obviously I know that that had a lot to do with education and the lifestyle and every everything like that.
00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:41.119
But also, um, as we were going through that process, I also discovered that it was spiritual in a sense.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:45.200
And the reason was there was a lot of unforgiveness in her heart.
00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:45.839
Stress, right?
00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.319
Stress.
00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:46.799
Okay.
00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:50.559
And so, like, do you guys experience that?
00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.720
Like, because I I almost see it as like it's a teeter-totter, right?
00:22:54.799 --> 00:23:03.200
As like it, it's like we have the vessel, like our body, yes, but it's like spiritual as well, and then also like the execution of it.
00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:06.559
So it's like, do like, do you see that also?
00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.039
Yeah, no, those things go hand in hand.
00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.359
Yeah.
00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:15.519
And what we hold on to is, you know, it manifests itself in your body.
00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:15.920
Yes.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:18.880
And so we, it's easy to just call it stress.
00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.440
Yes.
00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:23.839
But, you know, it there are a lot of things that that lead to stress.
00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:30.559
And the mental stress, the agony, the unforgiveness, like all of that is just still in your body.
00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:30.880
Wow.
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:37.680
Like, you know, in your shoulders, or, you know, in terms of how you're like it'll affect your sleep, you're not sleeping well.
00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:40.400
All of that kind of impacts your health.
00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:52.720
And so we try to talk about like all of those areas because they are so important in learning how to forgive other people, but also how to forgive yourself.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:24:01.119
And I think that like a lot of instances, people are holding on to so much because they're unable to forgive themselves.
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.599
Wow.
00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:04.880
And we know that that they are forgiven.
00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:12.799
That Jesus, you know, is got like God gives them the you take my yoke upon you and learn of me.
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.920
Yes, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:19.599
So you're you're to give those stresses over to him.
00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:25.200
And when you do, your body does manifest better responses.
00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:28.400
But it is it's easier said than done.
00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:35.359
But you know, but that is that is a key to, you know, the way your body reacts.
00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:46.720
Like if your heart is, you know, having to pump harder, or you know, that your heart rate is high because you're stressed about the things that you, you know, that God has asked us to give him.
00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.200
Right.
00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:56.000
You know, and I know I'm guilty of that myself, you know, when you have things going on in your life, but you want to just say, you know, either I trust God or I don't.
00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.319
Yes.
00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.200
It's very simple.
00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:02.079
Like you trust him, give it to him, or you don't, and you hold on to it.
00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.480
Yeah.
00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:05.119
But you can't, you can't solve it.
00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:11.759
And so, you know, so that is part of, you know, something that I think as humans we all struggle with.
00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.400
Yes, absolutely.
00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:14.720
You know, giving a giving away that control.
00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.359
Wow.
00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.000
You know?
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:20.079
You know, you meant you mentioned giving the yoke, right?
00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:25.519
Like, I so I grew up in Mexico for a little bit and and I saw what the yoke was.
00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:28.799
And the yoke is heavy, like literally, like it's heavy.
00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:32.640
So when I when I saw that, like my yoke is light, right?
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.319
It almost didn't make sense to me.
00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:40.079
I'm like, how is it that putting something on your neck and your shoulders gonna be light?
00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.559
Right.
00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:46.720
But then I realized like Jesus is actually carrying all of the weight, if not most of it.
00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:51.279
Yes, if we give it to him, if we give it to him, right, and then we're just walking along, right?
00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.960
Yes, and yeah, I really saw that with my mom.
00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.880
And praise God.
00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:59.519
Yes, she had another opportunity at life.
00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.400
Okay, bless it.
00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:15.359
And and and and she's thriving, yes, but also in that, like in the spiritual, she was able to let go of those things, and that's when the health her health improved, her health improved drastically, and in that moment it just opened my eyes to something I had I wasn't aware of.
00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:17.359
Yes, I wasn't aware.
00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:22.880
Obviously, like in my mind, I understood it, like the execution of the way you live affects you.
00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:29.839
Yes, but I I hadn't yet understood that what's in your heart and you haven't dealt with could also affect you.
00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:32.079
I didn't, I hadn't seen that up to that moment.
00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:38.079
Yes, and I'm always like trying to like, you know, let go of things and apologize and talk to people.
00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:42.640
And if there's something in my heart, the Lord says, like, guard your heart above all else.
00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:44.799
I'm like, I'm trying to guard my heart, Lord.
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.920
Like, bring something up.
00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.880
Like, I gotta talk to somebody.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.160
Get it off, get off.
00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:53.119
I'm sure if I offended you, you know, like it's it's so easy to say I'm sorry now because of that.
00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:56.000
Yes, because now I understand the repercussions to it.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:59.200
Right, because you're you forgiving them frees you.
00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.480
Yes, absolutely.
00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:03.519
It frees you as much as it will free anyone else.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.079
Yes.
00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:15.519
And I I think it's um, I can't remember the same, but they're like, you know, not forgiving someone is like, you know, hurting yourself and expecting them to feel the pain.
00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.000
Wow.
00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.759
Or it's it's something like that.
00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:20.160
I almost saw it like if you're drinking poison.
00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.920
Yes, and you're drinking it.
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:26.160
You're drinking the poison to hurt someone else, or all of those things, you know?
00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:31.680
But it is um, you you only get to that point with God.
00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.079
Yes.
00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:40.319
And even when you are a Christian and you, you know, you subscribe to other things of those live if it's living, you still struggle with things.
00:27:40.480 --> 00:28:00.000
Yes, you know, absolutely and so he does he's not expecting us to be perfect, no, but he is expecting us to remember that his his will is perfect, yes, you know, and so it is it is really about remembering those things and just trying to go back to to him.
00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:14.880
Yes, you know, and so you you think of him as your heavenly father, and you know that you as a father would do anything for your children, absolutely, but yet he wants to do even more, abundantly more than we can't even imagine.
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:27.359
We can't, you know, and so a lot of times, you know, as parents, we we struggle with our children in terms of what they're going through, and we're worrying about them and we're praying for them.
00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:36.720
Yes, and because we love them so much, yeah, and you know, in those instances, I have to remind myself that as much as I love them, he loves them more.
00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:39.200
Yes, wow, he loves them more.
00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:54.079
Wow, and so I have to turn it over to him and I have to let him do what he's gonna do and take people through what he needs to take them through to get them to where we ultimately want to be, and that's saved.
00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.440
Yes, absolutely.
00:28:55.759 --> 00:29:03.680
And our path to being saved is gonna look very different for different people, yes, but he's always there for us, yeah.
00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.279
He's always there with us.
00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.359
Wow, you know, so beautiful.
00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.559
Yeah, I love that.
00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:24.799
That's that's so awesome, and I love the mission that you guys are thank you like doing because I I really like personally lately, like in this past, like, you know, like well, for the past few years, but more specifically in the past couple months, okay.
00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:33.839
I have been very convicted by the Holy Spirit to really like analyze because I've been so focused, like I said, on the spiritual.
00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:41.440
Okay, but now it's like you also need to focus on the execution of the way you're eating and what you're consuming and what you're putting into your body.
00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:41.920
Yes.
00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:50.160
So as I talk to you, it's like it's a refreshing reminder that I need to also watch just how I need to guard my heart.
00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.519
I need to guard my mouth.
00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:53.279
Right, right, and guard your plate.
00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.759
But don't, but give yourself grace.
00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.160
Yes.
00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:01.119
So, you know, because a lot of times with all of us, we're like, I'm gonna da-da-da-da-da.
00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:04.319
And then and then you don't execute and then you're like, forget it.
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:04.799
Yes.
00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:14.480
So, you know, one thing to just make it easier is okay, whatever your plate is, just try to add more good things to your plate.
00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.119
I love that.
00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.559
Versus like, oh, I'm not gonna eat this, this, this, and this anymore.
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:34.319
But if you add more of the good things, like maybe a little bit more of the vegetables or a little bit more of the, you know, the fruits or the salads, or you know, instead of drinking, you know, something soda or juice, okay, I'm gonna try to increase my water intake.
00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:39.920
So think about not what you're not gonna do for your health, but what you are gonna do for I love that.
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.039
That's a great perspective.
00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:48.799
And that that's even like when, like, at least for me, like when I came to Christ, it's like, oh, what are the things I can do?
00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.839
That was my mentality.
00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:50.240
Right.
00:30:50.400 --> 00:31:00.000
And after walking with the Lord for a while, I realized it's it's not that you can't do these things, but I realized that these things were not benefiting me.
00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:00.400
Yes.
00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:03.680
And so now it's like, oh, that's an easy, I understand why.
00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:08.720
Yes, you know, because God is a God of order and He tells us to live a certain way for a reason.
00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.400
Yes, and now I see that.
00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.720
So as you say that, that's a great perspective.
00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:17.039
It's not what you can't do because that's like almost tension, right?
00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:25.200
It's like out of love, yes, and that changes everything because then you now you don't want to do it anymore, yes, versus you can't do it.
00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.400
That's amazing, yeah.
00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:33.920
And so, you know, it's and it's about consistency and it's about, you know, if you fall, you know, get back up.
00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:37.519
Yeah, you know, um, and tomorrow is a new day.
00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:44.559
Yeah, you know, his mercies endure forever, it renews and it's you know, so all of those things.
00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:50.000
I think, you know, again, forgiving yourself, you know, forgiveness is huge.
00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:54.480
Yes, you know, giving other people grace and giving yourself grace.
00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:57.519
Wow, that you're really on this path to being better.
00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:01.680
And, you know, sometimes you may stumble, but you just get back up.
00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.200
Yeah, you know, I love that.
00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:17.680
And so those are the things that you know we all have to be in terms of forgiveness and grace and showing love and kindness and and just really looking at, you know, what would you want someone to say to you in these moments?
00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:20.319
How would you want them to interact with you in those moments?
00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:28.240
Yeah, and those are truly the fruits how we were talking about the that's really living and experiencing the fruits.
00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:28.720
Yes.
00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:41.279
And uh very recently I had an episode like not too long ago, where um somebody was sharing, I feel like we're not living that abundant life that the Lord promised.
00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:57.359
Okay, and I'm like, wow, yes, I feel that as the body, you know, we are not experiencing that joy, that peace, that the fruits, yes, because we're just like tumbling along and not really experiencing.
00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:05.119
So I love this mission that you guys are in to really bring that awareness to the community and just be the hands and feet of Jesus, really.
00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:14.160
Absolutely, and looking at hope and empowerment, yeah, you know, because there's so much going on these days that is just fear-based.
00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:14.799
Yes.
00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:25.599
I mean, and it and it's almost like you're inundated with so much, you know, material or information that is fear-based, or this is gonna, oh no, what's gonna happen with this?
00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:30.319
And it's like, again, you go back to you have to give that control to God.
00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:33.680
Like I'm trusting him or I'm not gonna trust him.
00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:38.559
And so, with the trust that I give him, you know, what can I do?
00:33:38.799 --> 00:34:00.319
And what positive impact can I have in in the world, you know, in in my community, in my neighborhood, you know, in my family, you know, start there because the reverberation of that is just huge in terms of who you impact and who they impact, and who they impact, and and the impact.
00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.599
It's just the dominoes.
00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.200
It has exactly.
00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:18.559
And so, you know, that's why our organization is called Healthy Heart Nation, because we're really trying to bring, you know, health, vitality, you know, people's passion to the nation, one person at a time, one heart at a time.
00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:24.960
That's beautiful, you know, and so that is our goal and in terms of how we impact people every day.
00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:26.400
Wow, that's amazing.
00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.119
I love that.
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:30.320
That's literally just like I I see it that way.
00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:35.280
It is like the hands and feet, like you're walking it out and doing it in action.
00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:37.119
So yes, and not doing it alone.
00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:42.559
Yes, so doing it together, and everything is a lot easier when you do it together.
00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:42.880
Wow.
00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:52.719
And so when we go back to even looking at like a table, and we use this analogy a lot in our business, but we've got those four pillars, right?
00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:54.000
And you've got a table.
00:34:54.079 --> 00:35:02.239
And if you and I were trying to move a table, you know, and I need to move the table by myself, it's gonna be hard, it's gonna be, you know, awkward.
00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:09.119
You're gonna hurt yourself, it's gonna hurt yourself, you're trying to move the table, and by the time you got that one table moved, you're exhausted, you can't do it again.
00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:09.440
Yes.
00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:16.159
But if you bring another person or look, how about bringing four people to bring to move this table?
00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:25.519
Wow, then you can move the table, you can have fun, you can laugh, you can joke, you can enjoy each other's company while you're doing that mission.
00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.960
Wow, you're moving that table.
00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.920
That table's moved.
00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.440
Okay, what's the next table?
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:40.159
And so our approach is to really try to bring people to the table that are in a place to allow us to make progress consistently.
00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:45.760
And when you do something together, it always is a lot more fun than if you're doing it alone.
00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:48.400
Yeah, and so the collaboration is huge.
00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.199
Absolutely.
00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:49.920
I love that.
00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:57.760
And and as you're saying that, I'm remembering when we brought this table into the space, this table is so heavy.
00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:01.440
Like, and and at that time, my friend helped me, and it was just me and him.
00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:05.840
We almost broke our back and we had to like literally like take it apart.
00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:10.159
Okay, but it just makes me realize, yes, when you work together, that's what we're meant to do.
00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:11.039
Yes, yes.
00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:15.440
When we try to, you know, you mentioned we mentioned the yoke.
00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:18.079
Yes, that's literally teamwork, yes.
00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:30.960
Like Jesus is carrying that with you, yes, and then whatever mission field the Lord has put you in, yes, you need to surround yourself with others because it's easier to carry a heavy table when you're doing it together.
00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:32.480
Absolutely, that's amazing.
00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:33.039
Absolutely.
00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:35.199
You want two people with this combat?
00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:40.159
That's I have the same thought, like I never want to move this.
00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.599
This is never leaving.
00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:49.679
This is never leaving, and so and so this table, just funny story with that is uh we used to host a life group for five years.
00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:57.199
Okay, and in this table, we had so many conversations, just like me and you are having but they were in private, okay.
00:36:57.440 --> 00:37:05.199
And so I realized there is so much power in having a conversation at a table.
00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:13.599
So, as you say, that is like you know, to you, one way the way you see it towards your mission, like what we're doing here in this podcast is the same thing.
00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:19.599
There is so much power in sitting around a table and just doing it together.
00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:23.360
Absolutely, absolutely, and the different perspectives, right?
00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:28.159
Because it's gonna, it's gonna it's gonna resonate with different people in different ways.
00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:28.800
Absolutely.
00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:32.239
But what we've also understood is that people need to see themselves.
00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.039
Yes.
00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:47.039
And that is that is so important, you know, and a lot of instances, not all, but in a lot of instances, especially in the black community, um, those examples aren't always there.
00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:47.519
Yeah.
00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:58.960
You know, um, some of us are are lucky enough to have a network of people that are that represent all four of those areas that are doing well, that are exceptional, that are successful.
00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.440
Yes.
00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:03.679
But what are we doing to demonstrate that to the rest of the world?
00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:07.519
How what are how are they gonna see that collaboration?
00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:10.880
Yeah, how are they gonna see people that are taking an interest in them?
00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:22.800
Yeah how are they gonna be able to integrate and and talk to people who are gonna encourage them, that are gonna give them hope, that are gonna be positive, to have that chance to have that exchange.
00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.199
Yeah.
00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:40.559
And you, you know, again, we bring those types of people into those churches, into the barbershop, you know, and and the exchange is just so amazing because people pick up on that positive, that positive nature, that you can do it.
00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:42.239
How is it getting better?
00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:45.119
How are you, how are you, what did you do differently?
00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:47.039
Yeah you know, how can you do differently?
00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:51.119
And we ask people all the time, what are you doing for your health?
00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:54.320
There's a question, what are you doing to stay healthy?
00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:59.119
Yeah, and people, you know, they don't really think about that, but then they say, Well, you know what?
00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:00.159
I'm I walk.
00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:02.639
Yeah that's a great way to stay healthy.
00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:05.760
Then you can talk to them about what they're doing and encourage them.
00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:07.119
You find them where they're at.
00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:07.920
Exactly.
00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:09.440
So walking is great.
00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:13.440
It allows you to move, it allows you to get sunlight, it allows you to get fresh air.
00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:15.440
It's a great stress reliever.
00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:17.039
Yeah, you know, oh, I go to the gym.
00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:17.920
Oh, that's great.
00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:25.199
When you go to the gym, you get a chance to use muscle and and and and weight, and you get to interact with people a little bit.
00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:33.599
And so, you know, so we we meet them, like you said, where they are, we ask them what they're doing for themselves, and then we try to build on that.
00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:44.480
Wow, that's you know, like thinking back to when I asked you the question, like what your John 9 moment was, and you mentioned the experience that you had when you were growing up.
00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:50.719
Yes, isn't it crazy that something so hard the Lord would use to feel something so good?
00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.599
Exactly.
00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:57.119
And we don't see it that way because when we're going through hardship, yes, it's not fun.
00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:59.760
No, no, but I don't have fun when I'm struggling.
00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:12.719
No, no, but it's it's that process that the Lord puts you through that then eventually will give you fuel and will equip you to do the mission that He's called you to.
00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:13.920
Absolutely.
00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:14.800
I love that.
00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:21.119
And we have been so blessed, and we have roughly like 200 ambassadors that are part of the organization.
00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:23.760
And just yesterday, I met a young lady.
00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:26.320
I mean, she's around my age, so we'll call her young.
00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:38.400
And she um she just shared with us that she was a foster kid and she had been in 40 different foster homes throughout her life.
00:40:38.639 --> 00:40:42.159
And now she is giving back to foster children.
00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:50.239
She goes in and she does talent shows with them to give them something to look forward to and allow them to express their talent.
00:40:50.480 --> 00:41:09.039
But you know, it's like it was because of her experience that she is so committed to that community, like really being able to go and talk to those people in terms of you can get out of this, you can do well, you can, you know, come on the other side and and end up being a mother.
00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:09.519
Yes.
00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:10.960
And you raise children.
00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:12.880
There's hope.
00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:21.840
Yes, but you know, a lot of times those experiences are what levels the playing field for the various people that you go and talk to.
00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:25.199
I'm not gonna relate to someone who's been in foster home, possibly.
00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:26.880
Absolutely, but she can.
00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:34.480
Yes, and so you know, it's really about bringing those the right people into the right situations, and God creates those.
00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:38.079
Absolutely, you but you've gotta be willing, you gotta be willing.
00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:41.519
You know, I I was probably like 16.
00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:45.599
A lot of the times I see things in like in my mind, I see them as pictures.
00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:53.599
Okay, so I had this picture of a bucket and it was full of crabs, okay, and the crabs were trying to get out.
00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:58.320
Okay, and as one of them was about to like he was clawing his way up, right?
00:41:58.639 --> 00:42:01.119
The ones beneath them were pulling them down.
00:42:01.280 --> 00:42:05.280
Yes, and then finally there was one that left.
00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:06.320
Okay, that made it.
00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:10.559
And I just stayed with that image for such a long time and I didn't understand it.
00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:19.360
And now, in retrospect, and now after walking with the Lord and understanding, like I really feel the Holy Spirit was speaking to me through that.
00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:27.599
Yes, and what he was saying is what if you're like that crab that actually gets out, yes, but then goes back and pulls the other ones out.
00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:31.519
Yes, and so I see that as you were saying, it just reminded me of that image.
00:42:31.679 --> 00:42:45.199
Yes, you're literally doing that, you're pulling others out and you're sharing with them this knowledge and this this transformation for their life, yes, and in in a way, that's like that's what I'm trying to do here through this podcast, right?
00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:57.039
But it's so beautiful to see that you guys are just the hands and feet of Jesus, and may the Lord bless you and your mission, and may there be transformation to what you're doing.
00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.960
That's our prayer, yeah.
00:42:59.119 --> 00:42:59.760
That is our prayer.
00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.320
Awesome.
00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:00.719
Yes,
