♪ TRIBAL TRAILS TRIBAL TRAILS
THE SON OF GOD HE IS NEAR
HE CHOSE TO WALK WITH US
Rita: WELCOME TO TRIBAL TRAILS. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS AFTERNOON
WE ARE FILMING IN VANCOUVER AND OUR GUEST TODAY IS STEPHANIE BULLSHIELDS.
STEPHANIE THANK YOU FOR VISITING WITH US THIS AFTERNOON AND AH,
WHERE YOU FROM? Stephanie: I'M FROM SOUTHERN ALBERTA, THE BLOOD RESERVE.
Rita: SO, WHAT TRIBE WOULD THAT BE?
Stephanie: THAT'S THE BLACKFOOT TRIBE. Rita: OH OKAY
Stephanie: THE BLACKFOOT CONFEDERACY. THERE'S FOUR TRIBES UM THAT ARE BLACKFOOT.
THREE IN CANADA AND ONE IN THE U.S. Rita: OH-
Stephanie: YEAH, SO OUR PEOPLE EXTEND OVER THE U.S. BORDER.
Rita: DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL ON THE RESERVE THEN? OR-
Stephanie: UM- YEAH I DID, I WENT TO ACTUALLY OFF RESERVE, AH, TO A SCHOOL IN CARDSTON.
UM AND SO THAT WAS WE WERE BUSSED INTO THAT SCHOOL,
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THEN
THE LAST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL I WENT TO SCHOOL ON RESERVE. Rita: OH OK
Stephanie: WELL ACTUALLY I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER. IT'S KINDA FUZZY.
BUT I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS THAT I WENT TO AH,
THE SCHOOL ON MY RESERVE.
SO IT WAS BESIDE THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL THERE WAS A BUILDING MADE.
WE STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE STANDING.
THE ORIGINAL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL AND THE BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT BESIDE IT,
IS WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL. SO YEAH, WE- I'VE
SEEN THAT BUILDING EVERYDAY.
Rita: SO AFTER, AFTER SCHOOL, WHERE DID YOU GO?
Stephanie: UM, AFTER I WAS DONE SCHOOL I GOT MARRIED-
AND HAD CHILDREN.
Rita: AND YOU LIVED ON THE RESERVE?
Stephanie: I LIVED ON THE RESERVE AND THEN AFTERWARD HAD TO MOVE OFF
BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH HOUSING OR THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO,
YOU KNOW UM- HAVE A BETTER LIFE YOU KNOW JOB WISE OR, SO MY HUSBAND WORKED, UM,
IN THE CITY. IT WAS EASIER TO FIND A JOB IN THE CITY SO WE MOVED.
WE LIVED IN THE CITY MOST OF THE TIME.
Rita: OH WHAT CITY WOULD THAT BE?
Stephanie: LETHBRIDGE FIRST Rita: OH OK
Stephanie: AND THEN WE MOVED TO CALGARY AND THEN WE TRIED UP HERE IN VANCOUVER
FOR TWO WEEKS BUT WE, IT WAS TOO HARD HERE. SO IT WAS, IT WAS A SHOCK
TO BE IN THIS LARGE OF A CITY SO WE MOVED BACK TO CALGARY.
Rita: SO HOW MANY CHILDREN DID YOU HAVE?
Stephanie: I HAVE THREE, THREE CHILDREN. FAWNDA, ZACHARY AND BUDDY.
Rita: SO YOUR LIVING IN VANCOUVER SO HOW DID THAT HOW DID THAT WORK.
Stephanie: I CAME TO VANCOUVER WHEN MY SON ZACHARY WAS EIGHT MONTHS OLD AND
I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I- HAD A
ON MY OWN, WITH JUST ME AND MY DAUGHTER. MY SON,
FAWNDA WAS SIX AT THE TIME AND ZACH WAS STILL A BABY AND-
WE CAME UP AND MY MOM WAS ALREADY HERE.
SO IT WAS NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO COME AND
BE WITH. I WASN'T HERE BY MYSELF SO. SO SHE WAS KIND OF OUR MY STEADY ROCK.
SHE WAS THE ONE THAT I WAS ABLE TO LEAN ON AND SORT OF GUIDE ME THROUGH UM
THE CITY LIFE. YEAH, IT WAS A REAL SHOCK HERE.
Rita: SO, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING
BUT YOUR MARRIAGE BROKE UP STEPHANIE?
Stephanie: IT IT DIDN'T. I GUESS IT- IT WAS OFF AND ON BECAUSE
HE ENDED UP GOING TO JAIL A LOT. AHH WE HAD DIFFICULTY IN OUR RELATIONSHIP.
WE HAD- IT GOT VIOLENT SOMETIMES. ESPECIALLY WHEN ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED
AND THAT WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WE STRUGGLED WITH WAS ALCOHOL AND -
AND LATER AH DRUG ABUSE
BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG FOR ME; BUT IT DID FOR HIM.
AND SO, ONE OF THE UM, THINGS THAT WE DECIDED WAS THAT HE WOULD
WE WOULD BE STILL TOGETHER BUT LIVE APART
BECAUSE I COULDN'T HANDLE THAT KIND OF,
HIS LIFESTYLE AND THAT WAS AFTER I WAS SAVED.
Rita: OH OK Stephanie: YEAH
AND WHEN I WAS SAVED GOD TOOK THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION FROM ME.
COMPLETELY AWAY SO I HAD NO DESIRE-
Rita: SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. HOW DID YOU GET SAVED?
Stephanie: THAT WAS JUST AMAZING.
I DIDN'T EVEN EXPECT TO COME TO KNOW THE LORD.
IT WAS UM SOMETHING ACTUALLY AH TILLICUM NATIVE CENTRE WAS A PLACE UM,
FOR NATIVE PEOPLE TO COME AND HANG OUT AND FIND OUT IF YOU KNOW WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES
AND JUST TO GET TO KNOW OTHER NATIVE PEOPLE.
SO I WENT THERE AND AND THEY WERE HAVING A FOOD BANK THAT DAY
AND A PASTOR WAS THERE, PASTOR JOE RUSSELL.
HE CAME UP TO ME AND OF COURSE WAS REALLY FRIENDLY.
GOT MY NAME, MY ADDRESS MY PHONE NUMBER PUT ME ON THIS LIST AND SAID,
AH, WE WILL CALL YOU WHEN WE HAVE OUR FOOD BANKS. AND I SAID OK.
SO EVERY SUNDAY WOULD CALL ME AND INVITE ME TO CHURCH.
PRETTY SOON- HE STARTED TO INVITE ME TO CHURCH SO, UM AT THAT CENTRE.
THE NATIVE CENTRE.
AND ONE DAY UM HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE LORD
AND I ASKED JESUS INTO MY HEART THAT SAME EVENING. THAT SAME DAY BUT IN THE EVENING.
AND FROM THEN THE LORD HAS COMPLETELY DELIVERED ME FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.
AND THEN - YEAH, AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHO HE WAS.
Conrad: WHO WAS HE? THAT WAS THE QUESTION ON STEPHANIE'S MIND.
SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT JESUS BUT THEY NEVER REALLY DISCOVER WHO HE REALLY IS
AND HOW HE RELATES TO THIS WORLD.
PEOPLE OFTEN REFER TO THE CREATOR BUT THEY DON'T KNOW JESUS.
PEOPLE THINK THAT THE CREATOR FINISHED HIS JOB
AND NOW IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO CARRY ON WITHOUT HIS HELP. BUT JESUS DID NOT JUST CREATE,
HE IS STILL HELPING PEOPLE FIND PEACE, JUST AS STEPHANIE DISCOVERED.
MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO JESUS IS,
BUT DOUBT THAT HE CAN HELP OR THAT HE EVEN CARES FOR YOU.
THE BIBLE SAYS, "CASTING ALL YOUR CARES UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU."
THIS IS THE SAME GOD WHO MADE US AND KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US.
HE REALLY DOES CARE ABOUT US. IN JOHN 6:37 IT SAYS,
"ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVES ME WILL COME TO ME, AND THE ONE WHO COMES TO ME
I WILL BY NO MEANS CAST OUT." THAT MEANS THAT GOD WILL NOT TURN US AWAY.
WE MAY THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE TOO MUCH AGAINST GOD AND HE WON'T ACCEPT US.
BUT THIS IS OUR THOUGHTS AND NOT GOD'S. THIS IS WHY GOD SAYS,
"THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME COUNT SLACKNESS,
BUT IS LONGSUFFERING TOWARD US, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT
THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.
DID YOU CATCH THE PROMISE IN THAT VERSE.
HE IS PATIENT WITH US AND WAITING FOR US TO COME TO HIM.
HE IS NOT GOING TO FORCE US OR TRICK US INTO FOLLOWING HIM
AND AT THE SAME TIME HE DOES NOT WANT US TO BE DESTROYED.
GOD KNOWS THAT IF WE DO NOT ACCEPT HIS PLAN OF SALVATION, WE'LL ALL GO TO HELL.
GOD LOVES US AND DOESN'T WANT ANYBODY TO GO THERE.
PEOPLE SAY THAT GOD WON'T SEND ANYONE TO HELL BECAUSE HE LOVES US.
THE TRUTH IS HAT WE CHOOSE TO GO TO HELL BECAUSE WE DON'T FOLLOW GOD.
STEPHANIE TOLD US HOW GOD TOOK THE ADDICTIONS
IN ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AWAY FROM HER.
SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE BAD THINGS IN HER LIFE.
PERHAPS YOU HAVE BEEN ADDICTED OR YOU JUST CAN'T BREAK AWAY.
YOU TRY AND SUCCEED FOR A WHILE, BUT THEN YOU GET DRAWN BACK INTO IT AGAIN
AND YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN NEVER GET OUT. WELL, JESUS HAS A WAY OUT.
HE CAN HELP US.
WE NEED TO COME TO JESUS AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE US OF OUR PAST MISTAKES
AND ACCEPT HIS WAY FOR OUR LIVES.
THEN HE WILL GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO WALK AWAY FROM THE ADDICTIONS
AND GIVE US A NEW LIFE, WITH JOY AND PEACE.
HE'LL SHOW US A NEW MEANING OF LIFE THAT DOES HAVE HOPE AND A FUTURE.
YES, GOD CAN HELP YOU.
JESUS CAME TO STEPHANIE WHEN SHE WAS INTO HARD DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
AND JESUS COULD COME TO YOU NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU SEE THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN. SOMEONE IS WAITING TO HELP YOU.
GIVE US A CALL. NOW IS YOUR CHOICE. WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Stephanie: I STARTED BIBLE STUDY. I WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING.
I EVEN WANTED TO KNOW THE UNDERLYING MEANINGS OF YOU KNOW, HIS WORD
AND YOU GET THAT SOMETIMES. GOD WILL REVEAL THAT TO YOU SO HE DID.
HE DID A LOT OF THAT.
Rita: YOU CAME TO KNOW THE LORD AND WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE CITY?
Stephanie: IN THE CITY, I, WHEN I KEPT GOING TO CHURCH AND THEN I, IT WAS SOMETHING,
THAT WAS MY MAIN FOCUS BASICALLY WAS GOD AND I FOLLOWED HIM FOR ABOUT,
IT WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS AND THEN I STARTED SCHOOL HERE AND I WENT TO LANGARA COLLEGE
AND I DID A DEGREE THERE, UHM, IN ABORIGINAL STUDIES.
IT WAS AN ASSOCIATES OF ARTS DEGREE IN ABORIGINAL STUDIES.
AND FROM THERE, THERE I LEARNED ABOUT OUR HISTORY, NATIVE HISTORY.
I NEVER KNEW ABOUT OUR HISTORY BEFORE. IT WAS NEVER TAUGHT IN SCHOOL
AND IT WAS NEVER TAUGHT IN IN EVEN ON OUR RESERVE SCHOOL.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT OUR HISTORY
AND THAT WAS THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF AN INJUSTICE
BECAUSE I THINK IF I WOULD OF KNOWN SOME OF THAT STUFF
I WOULD OF HAD A BETTER SENSE OF MYSELF.
SO WHEN I TOOK THAT PROGRAM IT HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND
AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF FORGIVENESS HAPPENED FOR ME, FOR MY FAMILY.
AND WITH THAT FORGIVENESS I FELT A BIG, A HUGE RELIEF OF,
A HUGE WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS. SO THAT WAS FROM THE LORD.
THE LORD HELPED ME HEAL.
Rita: SO YOU GOT YOUR DEGREE IN ABORIGINAL STUDIES
Stephanie: YEAH
Rita: AND THEN WHAT DID YOU DO?
Stephanie: MAIN GOAL WAS TO FINISH AH A SOCIAL WORK,
I WANTED TO GET A SOCIAL WORK DEGREE Rita: OH OKAY
Stephanie: SO THAT WAS A STEPPING STONE IN COLLEGE WAS THE ABORIGINAL STUDIES.
SO I CONTINUED ON TO U.B.C.
AND AH DID A TWO YEAR PROGRAM THERE
AND GOT MY BACHELORS DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK.
Rita: GOOD, GOOD FOR YOU
Stephanie: YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS A HARD ROAD BUT I DID IT.
Rita: AND RAISING YOUR CHILDREN AT THE SAME TIME?
Stephanie: EXACTLY, YEAH EXACTLY- SO THE LORD HELPED ME THERE TOO.
HE HELPED ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
♪ LOOKING JUST HOW FAR WE'VE COME
KNOWING THAT FOR EVERY STEP
YOU WERE WITH US
KNEELING ON THIS BATTLE GROUND
SEEING JUST HOW MUCH YOU'VE DONE
KNOWING EVERY VICTORY
IT'S YOUR POWER IN US
SCARS AND STRUGGLES ON THE WAY
BUT WITH JOY OUR HEARTS CAN SAY
YES, OUR HEARTS CAN SAY
NEVER ONCE DID WE EVER WALK ALONE
NEVER ONCE DID YOU LEAVE US ON OUR OWN
YOU ARE FAITHFUL, GOD, YOU ARE FAITHFUL
Stephanie: I WOULD PRAY AND I WOULD ASK HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE TEACHER WAS TRYING TO TEACH ME. IT WAS A DAILY PROCESS.
I COULDN'T SAY IN A YEAR LORD I WANT MY DEGREE. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.
IT WAS A DAILY PROCESS AND PRAYING AND UH PRAYING UP FOR THE DAY.
SPENDING TIME IN HIS WORD WAS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT HELPED ME PUT ON THE MIND OF CHRIST.
PUT ON A NEW MIND YOU KNOW NOT TO BE CLOSED MINDED EITHER.
AH ALSO TO HELP ME GROW. IT HELPED ME GROW IN THOSE AREAS THAT I NEEDED TO GROW.
I WANTED TO BE WELL PREPARED FOR MY,
MY, THE JOB THAT I WOULD HAVE AFTER I WAS DONE SCHOOL.
Rita: SO YOU FINISHED YOUR SCHOOLING
AND YOU GOT YOUR DEGREE AND AH THEN WHAT DID YOU DO?
Stephanie: SO THEN I WENT ON TO WORK IN CHILD WELFARE AND
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB TO DO.
Rita: IT IS. IT'S HIGH STRESS
Stephanie: YES UM, NATIVE CHILDREN ARE VERY OVER REPRESENTED.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THEM IN FOSTER CARE. UM- ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
I CHOSE THAT WAS BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS IN FOSTER CARE FROM UH LITTLE BABY.
HE WAS MISTREATED IN SOME OF UH A COUPLE OF THE HOMES THAT HE REMEMBERS.
AND FROM THEN UM I ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT WHY HE HAD SUCH A PROBLEM,
HE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS, AND I JUST WANTED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND TO ME.
I WANTED TO HELP OTHER KIDS IN LOOKING AT HIS LIFE,
I WANTED TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE
THAT MAY HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING THAT HE DID, MY HUSBAND DID.
SO THAT'S WHY I CHOSE THAT. IT WAS LIKE A I GUESS, I WANTED MORE UNDERSTANDING.
♪ Narrator: SHOW ME YOUR WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR PATHS.
LEAD ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME, FOR YOU ARE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION;
ON YOU I WAIT ALL THE DAY.
Stephanie: WELL IN MY SECOND YEAR IN SOCIAL WORK I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT.
IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT, IT WAS IN THE WINTER TIME
AND I WAS WITH MY MOM AND MY CHILDREN AND IT WAS A VERY BAD ACCIDENT
AND, BUT THE LORD PROTECTED US IN THAT ACCIDENT.
WE WERE ACTUALLY DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WINTER IT WAS A VERY SNOWY DAY-
WE WERE JUST COMING OUT OF REVELSTOKE, B.C. BRITISH COLUMBIA
AND SO WE WERE CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN AND A CAR
AND WE WERE COMING AROUND A CORNER AND A VEHICLE WAS COMING TOWARDS US
AND WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND IT HIT US HEAD-ON
AND IT WAS ONLY MY LANE WAS ONLY ONE LANE
AND THEIR LANE WAS A TWO LANE BUT THEY SLID INTO OUR LANE, AND I HAD NO WHERE TO GO.
THERE WAS A BANK, A SNOW BANK THAT PROBABLY THE PLOWS HAD PLOWED
AND IT GREW HIGHER THE BANK. BUT THERE WAS NO RAILING AND SO IF I WENT ANY FURTHER.
THE WAY WERE HIT, WE WERE HIT HEAD ON
BUT I THINK I TRIED TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT
TO AVOID A HEAD-, A COMPLETE HEAD-ON AND WHEN
WHEN IT WAS OVER UM- THIS WOMAN CAME FROM THE BACK OF US.
SHE WAS IN THE VEHICLE BEHIND US AND SAID- I'M A REGISTERED NURSE,
I CAN, I'M HERE I CAN HELP YOU. AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU GET A REGISTERED NURSE AT THAT TIME.
♪ Narrator: UNLESS THE LORD HAD BEEN MY HELP,
MY SOUL WOULD SOON HAVE SETTLED IN SILENCE.
IF I SAY, "MY FOOT SLIPS," YOUR MERCY, O LORD, WILL HOLD ME UP.
IN THE MULTITUDE OF MY ANXIETIES WITHIN ME,
YOUR COMFORTS DELIGHT MY SOUL.
Stephanie: AND SO OF COURSE I KNOW THE LORD ORCHESTRATED THAT
SO SHE ASSESSED US AND MADE SURE THAT WE WERE OKAY.
THE ONLY PERSON THAT GOT IT THE WORST WAS MY MOM.
SHE BROKE FIVE RIBS AND ONE OF HER RIBS PUNCTURED HER LUNGS
SO SHE HAD A HARD TIME BREATHING. UM FOR ME MY LEFT LEG,
AHH IT WE HAD IT WAS EXTREME IMPACT THAT IT WAS WHIPLASH THAT MY,
I HAD A RUNNING SHOE ON AND MY RUNNING SHOE WAS TIED
AND IT WAS, IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF.
COULD YOU IMAGINE TYING YOUR RUNNING SHOE ON AND IT WAS LIKE KICKING YOUR SHOE OFF.
AND MY LEG UM HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
SO I HAVE TWO HOLES IN MY NEAR MY SHIN TO REMIND ME OF, YOU KNOW THE GRACE OF GOD
BECAUSE I BELIEVE, I FEEL THAT WE COULD OF WENT OVER THAT OFF THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
AND OUR VEHICLE WAS, THE FRONT PART WAS DANGLING AND THE, THE LEFT TIRE
THE RIGHT TIRE WAS JUST KEEPING US THERE. SO- I WONDER
Rita: FROM GOING OVER?
Stephanie: YEAH FROM GOING OFF THE CLIFF. AND SO WHEN THE AMBULANCE CAME UM,
THEY COULDN'T TAKE MY MOM OFF ON HER SIDE BECAUSE HER DOOR WAS PROBABLY,
YOU COULD PROBABLY LOOK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND-
SO THEY HAD TO COME ON MY SIDE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND USE THE JAWS OF LIFE
TO CUT OUR DOORS OFF TO GET US OUT. SO THAT WAS.
SO FROM THAT WE I HAD TRAUMA
AND SO I COULDN'T DRIVE AND THAT WAS PART OF THE MY JOB DESCRIPTION,
I HAD TO DRIVE FOR MY SOCIAL WORK AND SO WHEN I WENT BACK TO WORK I COULD NOT DRIVE.
AND SO I HAD REALLY BAD ANXIETY SO I HAD TO LEAVE. I HAD TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
AND THEN I JUST NEVER WENT BACK AFTER THAT.
AND THEN- BECAUSE THEN THE LORD STARTED TO WORK ON ME AGAIN.
HE STARTED TO GIVE ME A NEW DIRECTION. BEFORE MY, MY LAST SEMESTER IN SOCIAL WORK
THIS WOMAN CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT UM,
FAS AND, SHE WAS A NATIVE LADY AND SHE HAD EXPERIENCE IN IT.
SHE WAS VERY WELL UH EDUCATED. A GOOD TEACHER AND SHE TAUGHT US REALLY WELL.
SHE TOLD ME AT THE END OF HER TALK, SHE WANTED, SHE SAID YOU SHOULD GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
AND I LOOKED AT HER AND I- I THOUGHT,
WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM? YOU KNOW I THOUGHT, NO WAY,
IN MY HEART I THOUGHT NO WAY
THIS WAS HARD ENOUGH TRYING TO GET HERE TO FINISH SOCIAL MY SOCIAL WORK DEGREE.
AND SO I DIDN'T, I JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, JUST SLUFFED IT OFF.
THEN I MET HER AGAIN, I FOUND OUT THE SHE WAS A BELIEVER.
AND SO THAT WAS AMAZING. SO, I, THE LORD STARTED TO PROMPT ME AGAIN.
AND STARTED TO LET ME KNOW THAT HE WANTED ME TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE, IF HE WAS SAYING THAT
OR IF THAT IDEA JUST STAYED IN MY HEAD FROM THAT WOMAN WHO TOLD ME
AND THEN I JUST KEPT THINKING ABOUT IT.
SO I ASKED THE LORD. IF YOU WANT ME TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL,
LET OTHER CHRISTIAN PEOPLE COME AND TELL ME THAT I SHOULD GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
THEN I'LL KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT I'M SUPPOSE TO DO.
Rita: TO AFFIRM YOU Stephanie: YEAH, Rita: TO AFFIRM THAT DECISION
Stephanie: YEAH, I NEEDED THAT. AND- I-
CAUSE I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO JUST GO ON MY OWN
AND JUST MAKE A MESS OF MY WHATEVER PLAN THE LORD HAD FOR ME.
SO I DID, I, I, I PRAYED ABOUT IT AND ONE DAY THE LOR-
AH, A GROUP CAME FROM TEXAS TO OUR CHURCH TO DO SOME MINISTRY WORK
AND- TWO OF THE LADIES FROM THAT GROUP CAME TO ME AT SEPARATE TIMES
AND TOLD ME YOU SHOULD GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
AND SO I KNEW, THAT'S WHEN I KNEW OK I'M, THAT'S WHAT I,
OK LORD I GOT YOUR CONFIRMATION. I'M GONNA DO IT.
♪ Narrator: COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD, TRUST ALSO IN HIM,
AND HE SHALL BRING IT TO PASS.
Stephanie: LSAT COURSE IS AN EXAM YOU HAVE TO DO BEFORE YOU GET INTO LAW SCHOOL.
SO THE UM, THIS- IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT EXAM AND SO WHAT I DID WAS,
I APPLIED TO MY BAND AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD FUND ME FOR THAT.
BECAUSE IT'S A- IT'S A TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLAR COURSE.
AND SO THE- I PRAYED ABOUT IT AND IT CAME THROUGH THE LORD DID HE
AH GAVE ME THE GO AHEAD. AH- THEY ACTUALLY, THE BAND SAID YES WE WILL PAY FOR IT.
SO THAT WAS- CONFIRMATION AGAIN.
I JUST KEPT GETTING CONFIRMATION AFTER CONFIRMATION.
SO I DID THE COURSE BUT THEN I STARTED TO GET SICK.
AND I WONDERED WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I WENT- I WENT TO MY DOCTOR AND THEY FOUND THAT UM I WAS GETTING ILL
AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHAT IT IS BUT I WILL SAY THAT I NEEDED CHEMOTHERAPY
AND SO WHEN I WAS DOING THE LSAT COURSE
I KNEW THAT I HAD TO GO AND DO THIS THERAPY. THE CHEMOTHERAPY
Rita: THE LSAT COURSE IS, IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TO DO?
Stephanie: YEAH, I NEED THAT UM TO DO THAT EXAM BEFORE I GOT INTO LAW SCHOOL
Rita: OH OK Stephanie: AND SO,
I DID THE COURSE, I WENT BACK TO MY DOCTOR STARTED ON THE CHEMO-
AND THEN- THE NEXT YEAR 2009, I, NOW I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT-
ANYWAY, IT'S KINDA FUZZY NOW BUT I KNOW THAT I WAS ON THERAPY, CHEMOTHERAPY
AND I HAD TO TAKE AN INJECTION AND IT WAS-
THIS INJECTION THAT MADE ME VERY ILL.
SO IT WAS ONCE A WEEK I HAD TO TAKE THAT. AND SO AFTER TAKING THAT UH INJECTION, UM,
I GET VERY ILL AND I, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
IT'S LIKE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING
SO I'M JUST LAID OUT ON MY COUCH.
AND SO FROM THAT TIME WHEN UM AFTER I- I- THROUGH THAT TIME OF MY CHEMO
I STARTED TO ASK THE LORD, WHEN SHOULD I GO TO LAW SCHOOL?
AND SO I GOT MY FRIEND TO PRAY WITH ME.
I LOVE THE WAY SHE PRAYS- SHE'S A REAL PRAYER WARRIOR
AND I JUST FEEL GOD'S PRESENCE VERY STRONGLY WHEN WE'RE PRAYING TOGETHER.
SO SHE CAME, ACTUALLY I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HER AND I SAID CAN WE,
LET'S PRAY UM WHEN YOU KNOW,
FOR A TIME WHEN THE UM WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO DO THE LSAT EXAM.
AND I KNOW I'M SICK- AND I JUST NEED GOD'S GUIDANCE CAUSE
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I SHOULD DO IT THEN. BUT I WANTED TO BE OBEDIENT.
♪ Narrator: BUT THIS IS WHAT I COMMANDED THEM, SAYING,
OBEY MY VOICE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD, AND YOU SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
AND WALK IN ALL THE WAYS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU,
THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU.
Stephanie: AND SO THERE WAS A LAW-
AN LSAT EXAM UM SCHEDULE, SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY, I THINK THAT'S WHEN IT WAS,
I CAN'T REMEMBER,
I'M REALLY FUZZY ON THAT BUT- SO THAT DAY WHEN THE TIME CAME,
I WENT AND I REGISTERED FOR THAT EXAM REGARDLESS OF MY ILLNESS-
Rita: WHERE YOU EXCITED?
Stephanie: I WAS- I WAS EXCITED BUT I WAS VERY ILL TOO-
IT WAS, SO I WASN'T SURE WHAT I WAS DOING. SO I JUST ASKED THE LORD AND HE,
I JUST RELIED ON HIM. SO THAT, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE EXAM WOULD BE ON A SATURDAY,
MY INJECTION IS ACTUALLY ON A FRIDAY. THE CHEMO INJECTION
SO I THOUGHT, LORD, HOW AM I GONNA DO THIS?
SO, I JUST WENT IN FAITH-
SO UM WHEN THAT DAY CAME MY FRIEND DROVE ME TO SCHOOL, SHE KNEW I'D BE VERY ILL.
SHE DROVE ME TO U.B.C.
AND WHEN I SAT DOWN FOR MY EXAM YOU KNOW I REMEMBERED,
YOU REMEMBER ME TELLING YOU THAT I GET VERY ILL FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS,
HEADACHES, NAUS- NAUSEA, EVERYTHING I CAN'T EAT AND SO WHEN I SAT DOWN FOR MY EXAM
I DIDN'T FEEL SICK AT ALL. THE LORD TOOK THAT SICKNESS AWAY.
MY MIND WAS CLEAR AND I COULD,
I WAS ABLE TO WRITE THAT EXAM WITH A CLEAR MIND WITH NO ILLNESS IN MY BODY-
♪ Narrator: I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS- FROM WHENCE COMES MY HELP?
MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.
Stephanie: AND IT'S A FIVE AND A HALF HOUR EXAM AND SO
I WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE FIVE AND A HALF HOURS WITH NO ILLNESS.
AND THEN WHEN MY FRIEND CAME TO PICK ME UP
AS SOON AS I GOT IN THE CAR I GOT, I FELT THE SYMPTOMS AGAIN,
THE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS SO THE LORD REALLY GUIDED ME ON THAT.
Rita: AMAZING ISN'T IT? Stephanie: YES Rita: YES- AND YOU PASSED?
Stephanie: I DID. Rita: WHAT DID YOU LEARN? Stephanie: I LEARNED-
YOU KNOW IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT IN LAW SCHOOL
BECAUSE- YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT NATIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.
YOU'RE HEARING THESE CASES OF NATIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
YOU- A LOT OF, ESPECIALLY IN CRIMINAL LAW YOU YOU HEAR AND
READ ABOUT THESE CASES AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT,
I COULDN'T HELP BUT TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Rita: YEAH
Stephanie: BECAUSE IT WAS AH, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE- SOME OF THE CASES
THEY THE NATIVE PEOPLE WEREN'T HEARD.
ESPECIALLY THE LAND- DISPUTES.
YOU KNOW THAT- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT FOR ME WAS
THE JUDGE, OR AH, THE LAW REQUIRES
THAT YOU PROVE THAT YOU WERE HERE BEFORE, YOU KNOW,
THE FIRST PEOPLES HERE. AND THAT- THAT- THAT REALLY GOT TO ME-
GOING TO THAT LAW SCHOOL, I CAME ACROSS RACISM AS WELL.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I WA- I ASKED THE LORD
WHY WOULD YOU PUT ME HERE? IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD.
I REMEMBER GOING TO SCHOOL SOME DAYS FEELING SICK TO MY STOMACH
BECAUSE I WAS IN A VERY SEEMED LIKE A VERY UNFRIENDLY
SOME OF THE STUDENTS WEREN'T AH FRIENDLY-
AND JUST KIND OF LEAV- YOUR I FELT INVISIBLE. NOBODY NOTICED ME.
Conrad: IS THAT HOW YOU FEEL AT TIMES?
LIKE AN OUTSIDER, INVISIBLE? STEPHANIE REALIZED THAT THE WORLD DID NOT LIKE HER.
IT IS TOUGH GOING TO SCHOOL WITH WHITE PEOPLE WHO LOOKED DOWN ON HER,
BECAUSE SHE WAS NATIVE. YES, IT IS HARD WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO US.
BUT STEPHANIE KNEW WHO TO TURN TO.
WE SHOWED A VERSE EARLIER, PSALM 121:1 AND 2.
I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS... MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD.
STEPHANIE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON BECAUSE SHE CRIED OUT TO GOD
AND HE HELPED HER. HOW ABOUT YOU? ARE YOU CALLING OUT TO GOD
OR ARE YOU TRYING TO STILL DO IT ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH.
IN HEBREWS 4:16 IT SAYS, LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE,
THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEEK AND CALL ON GOD TODAY.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét