October 7, 2025 • 54 mins
Lorna Reyes shares her incredible life story a journey from the Philippines to finding purpose, healing, and worship through Christ. 🇵🇭✨ Her powerful testimony reminds us how God covers us even when we don’t realize it. Through pain, loss, and faith, she discovered that what was once broken can be made whole again.
Lorna’s love for music shines through as she sings in the choir at Christian Life Center (CLC), lifting her voice to the One who saved her life. 🙏🏽🎶 You don’t want to miss this story of grace, redemption, and breakthrough a true testament that God’s plan is always greater than our pain. 💛
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Mission Statement BOLD Beginnings The Podcast We are driven by our deep love for God and our commitment to love people. Our mission is to reach individuals with God’s love, embrace them with grace, and empower them through faith. We guide our listeners to discover how God’s purpose unfolds in their careers and everyday lives. Trusting God in every step, we aim to show that when we place Him at the center, everything we do has a divine purpose. Through our conversations, we reveal how faith can transform lives, inspire growth, and lead to true fulfillment.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:48):
Welcome to Bold Beginnings where we teach and show you how God works in our careers and our lives, what his purpose is for us.
And why we should trust him in everything that we do.
My name is Rita Wilson.
And I'm Sandra Fernandez, and we are here with Lorna.
What was your last name again? Reyes.
Reyes.
How are you? I'm great.
(01:09):
Good.
I'm excited to be here.
Yes.
Thank you for being here.
We're so excited to have you.
so she has sent me a message on Facebook.
and asked me for my email and then send me an email about wanting to share her story on the podcast.
Yes.
Which I thought was beautiful.
I was like, yes, absolutely.
Let's do it.
she also invited me to church.
(01:29):
She actually gave her testimony at church and it was so beautiful.
and that was just, what was it, 20 minutes you did at church? About, no, about 12 minutes.
Each of us was given 12 minutes.
Yeah.
So it was about 12 minutes and.
Just that 12 minutes was so powerful, so.
I'm excited to be here.
I'm excited to hear your testimony.
(01:50):
But before we get started I just want you to tell everybody a little bit about yourself and what do you love to do for fun.
Okay.
well, I am Lorna Re again.
And what I love to do for fun is reading, and I love to dance, so I have my own karaoke system at home and I love to sing, and that's beautiful.
I, I do love to wanna go back doing outdoors, like hiking and camping soon.
(02:14):
Yeah.
God willing.
I just, I just love, I love dogs.
You love dogs, that's for sure.
Aw.
What dogs do you have? Yeah.
I don't have a dog, but I have like dogs in my life way back when.
Our first dog Was named Brownie.
Aw.
Brownie's a mut, but he love him so much.
Aw.
You know? And, yeah.
He lived for a good seven, eight years.
Oh, seven, eight years.
(02:35):
Aw.
This is back in, still in Manila.
Aw.
Yeah.
That's beautiful.
That's, is that where you're from? Are you from Manila? I, I, I was born and raised in Mati City, Philippines.
Wow.
Which is the financial district of Manila.
Yeah.
It's beautiful.
That is so awesome.
That's awesome.
The Philippines, I've been super into, learning about different cultures and I just love when people are from somewhere else.
(02:58):
You will know about my culture.
So exciting.
Start telling about my story.
Yes.
I would love to.
That's awesome.
Philippines.
That's beautiful.
well, we're excited to have you, Lorna.
I'm excited to hear your story.
just, you know, thank you so much for taking the time to come share.
Your story.
That's what we do here at both beginnings of the podcast, right? We, we share our testimonies about how we came to Christ.
(03:22):
Right? Because this world is, is crazy.
And I think it's important for people to hear stories of how God has touched and impact lives, so, right.
Amen.
What a lesson.
Amen.
It is to have you here.
So I'll let you go ahead and give you the floor.
Okay.
I was told to, do my life testimony, so I'm gonna go ahead and start by letting you know that I was born November 20th, 1970, and I will be by, by the grace of God, I will be turning 55 this year.
(03:52):
Amen.
And the day that I was getting born, there was a storm Ravaging Manila.
My folks told me that there was no light.
It was super stormy.
the hospital that they brought, my mom has a generator and it's just like, okay, well, I was born and in the, in the Philippines.
(04:16):
In the Philippines, we have a custom that, the Typhoon are named after girls.
Ah, after women's name.
Yes.
And so the typhoon name there then was Yolanda.
Oh, let me go ahead and take it back.
Take it back.
I'm sorry.
It's yoing Typhoon Ying.
Y-O-L-I-N-G.
And so when I was born, my, my folks thought about naming me after the storm, and so they thought about naming me, Yolanda, my grandmother during RA came in and asked my folks on, you know, right in the nick of time and said, what are you gonna give your, you know, first daughter name? And they told about that.
(04:58):
They're thinking about.
naming me Yo Yolanda.
And she said, no, no, you're not giving my granddaughter that name.
Are you guys crazy? Yeah.
After this storm right here, it's just like storming cats and dogs.
No lights, power down.
No, I love my grandmother.
She was a Oh, I love her.
(05:19):
Aw.
Anyway, so she said, okay, let's go ahead and give her this name.
Lorna.
Lorna, because I love this name.
And your daughter is beautiful and she's, bouncy and she's healthy.
Let's give her Lorna.
That's beautiful, Lorna.
Yeah.
that's a good story.
It's beautiful.
That's so beautiful because there's so much power in your name.
Yes.
(05:39):
And I think even the Bible like expresses that and even how Jesus would come and change people's names, And that's a great thing.
And I think it's really cool.
And I've always been told since.
Since I was pregnant That the name had a lot of power.
So to name your son something that, yeah, like Ezekiel is the strength of God, right? And that's something that has like a good strong meaning behind it because that's what you're calling them.
(06:05):
Right? So that's really cool.
And we're very big about names in Africa too.
Yeah.
So I love it.
So, growing up in Manila, my grandmother was an educator.
I looked up to her, she was a, math major and, I remember when I was young that, I was really favored by her because every time that I come, see what she's cooking, see, we live in a two, story house, building.
(06:30):
My dad's family, young younger, her younger son lives on a second floor, which where we live, and she lives downstairs.
Every time that I would check what my grandma's cooking, she would tell me, oh, this is what I'm making right now.
sooner or later you're gonna learn how to cook and this is how we make this soup, beef soup, whatever, or, or some Filipino menu, that's recipe that really sticks to my heart too, is the Philippine Juanita.
(06:56):
Aw.
Anyway, and I would spend time with her, tweezing her white hair on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon under our, we call it kto plant, KTO tree.
It's a fruit in Manila.
When you open it up, it's really juicy and sweet, and it has come sort of like a milk, type of a juice.
(07:16):
Okay.
And, we would spend time together and talk and, you know, I really grow deep, love with my grandma because for once she is an educator.
She, speaks her mind.
She's really good with everybody.
She's our, She's our storyteller.
(07:37):
Every time that we would have like a blackout, we have this in Manila, a blackout is when the whole city don't have the lights.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
And my grandma would have, candles and, matches ready for everybody.
Seriously.
And, and we knew us kids, my cousin knew that it's going to be, there's going to be a story time maybe right after 10 15.
(08:00):
Oh, yeah.
I'm so excited when it's back out.
Anyway, so yeah, she would tell us stories about how her and my grandpa met during, the World War ii.
Oh.
And, it's just, she, you know, I really adore her.
She is just a woman of character and grit.
Amen.
And at the same time, when she don't like things, she will tell you too.
(08:20):
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
that's beautiful.
Yeah.
I love that.
I, I think, grandmas are.
It's such a blessing.
They are.
They are.
Yeah.
Because it's always you, you get spoiled when you're a grandchild.
Yeah.
I think we, I was not really spoiled, but I'm, I know I'm favored.
(08:41):
Yeah.
'cause she, she loves to spend time with me.
I don't know what happened to my cousins.
It's just like they're all not liking my grandma.
I don't know.
She's a likable person for me.
Okay.
Yeah.
But since my grandma have put so much effort in kind of like pouring her love mm-hmm.
And really experiences and her, you know, support in my life.
(09:02):
Mm-hmm.
I believe that I am the person right now because of her.
We love it.
Your grandma.
Yeah.
I love my grandma.
Aw, that's beautiful.
Yes.
Yes.
let me go back to my story here before I cry.
Me everywhere.
There's tissues, there's Okay.
(09:25):
It's beautiful.
My childhood in the Philippines was amazing.
Amen.
Amen.
I grew up with cousins that become best friends and childhood friends who we do a lot of group games outside the house, you know, in our streets and in front of our, compound.
(09:52):
Mm-hmm.
It's, Ola, it wasn't, it's not a very busy street, but there are cars and Japanese that would, swing by and pass and, do their business, whatever.
Mm-hmm.
But on a Saturday, Sunday, we would block that whole street and do all of our games.
We have, like ro we would do play, Dutch ball.
(10:13):
Mm-hmm.
And, what else? It's just, it's so much fun.
Yeah.
we learn how to really know how to, intermingle with people.
Yep.
Yeah.
growing up, see different characters and we know who's the one that kind of like, I am outta here.
I'm not playing with you guys.
Yeah.
kind of kids and, and, even, hide and sick In the rain is the best in the rain.
(10:38):
Yuma, I love that so much.
The richness of the culture and the richness of growing up in another country is, is just really, really beautiful.
Yeah.
And my grandma will always kind of tell us, you are not going to the first rain.
She don't let us go out.
Yeah.
(10:58):
And, and play in the rain.
But the second day, boy, we pray for a rain that is really kind like outpouring weaver.
Go out.
Aww.
yeah.
We would play tag, we would play hide and seek, as I said, and, and do other, group games Yeah.
With, children in the community.
So it was really fun.
Aw.
It's not perfect, but it's fun.
That's fun.
So fun.
That's beautiful because I, a lot of my childhood memories was in the rain, so I used to love to run In the rain.
(11:25):
I, I don't know why.
I just absolutely love the rain.
So I, and, and even when I came to the States, when it rained, I was always running.
It was like fun time for me.
Yeah.
It's beautiful.
I like that.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
I guess I'm supposed to go back to my story.
(11:45):
Just look at my notes here.
Okay.
There's also one more thing that I wanted to go ahead and highlight.
at one point, I believe, when I was 10 years old, I found myself sitting on top of the stairs, you know, the very top stairs, step of the stairs, in front of our door.
Because our, our stairs going down is outside.
(12:06):
It's not inside.
That connects the, you know, the second floor going up.
It was super dark.
It was one of the dark night.
I, I can see all the stars so bright and it was dark and I believe that's where God have called me.
Amen.
To pray.
Aw.
I kid you not, I just start talking and I was looking up and I said, God.
(12:32):
This is a beautiful night.
I thank you.
And you were 10? I was 10 years old.
Wow.
Now, looking back, looking back at my story and my life testimony, it's like, I believe that that's when God have called me to, to really pray for other people.
And pray for my need.
My needs too.
(12:53):
Because I, oh my gosh.
I'm crying.
It's okay.
It's so embarrassing.
No, it's not.
I said I'm not gonna cry and I'm crying.
It's okay.
It's, it's, it's, it's beautiful.
And when I, and looking back, I just have this sense of peace when I pray for other people's needs.
(13:15):
Amen.
Because we are asked to carry each other's burdens.
Right.
Amen.
That's beautiful.
And prayer doesn't stop there.
No.
You also have to intercede and be able to, you know, see what God is doing in your life and the life of other people that you are praying.
Right.
Right.
(13:35):
Amen.
Yeah.
That's beautiful.
So that's, that's where my prayer heart started is when, right.
God called me to really talk to him at night.
Right.
And look up the stars.
What a beautiful moment.
Was there anything else that you shared with him in that moment? Or was it just like you were just talking to him? I was just really talking to him.
(13:57):
It's like, prayers most of the time you don't need to have words on it.
Amen.
Because God knows what's in your heart.
Amen.
Amen.
He does.
And he knows he knows your words before you even speak it.
He does because I praise God for that.
And it has become.
My passion to pray for other people.
(14:20):
So nice.
Oh, that's beautiful.
Yeah.
That's so beautiful to, to, to receive that gift at 10 years old.
You know, and to, and to identify that that was God.
Yeah.
Sharing that with you, that is really powerful.
So from there, how did you, how did that look like moving forward? Because there's always that moment when, when you have that moment, that intimate moment with God, and then how does that walk look like after, I don't think I was really serious.
(14:51):
I know deep inside me that.
I grew up in a Catholic home, let's just go ahead and lay that foundation.
And we go to church every Sunday.
we would attend, Christmas Midnight masses and all of that.
And again, my grandmothers, bringing us all to church, which I really, truly appreciate, her heart.
(15:11):
And, I really did not get, deep into prayer prayers till I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, wow.
This is when me and my husband accepted, Christ During our first service that my pastor from Sacramento have, planted.
Yeah.
So, so you received it, but you didn't really implement it yet.
(15:34):
Which makes sense, right? Yeah.
Yeah.
There there's a lot more happening.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I just wanted to also share that, I'm not really proud of this, but I was.
that's that during my college years, I was graduating high school onto college in the Philippines when that happened.
And it was a difficult time.
(15:56):
Because I was so confused and it's like nobody had told me and my brother, there was only two of us then growing up, on what's happening.
We just heard it from my dad and my grandma's conversation.
Anyway, so I That your parents were getting divorced? that my parents were getting divorced.
And how old were you? I believe I was probably 17 and a half.
(16:19):
17, yeah.
17 years old.
Wow.
I was finishing up high school.
I really struggled with that and I have grown, So much anger with my mom.
She's the one that divorced my dad.
And, I love her mom.
I love my mom.
I still honor her.
It's just this is what happened.
And, yeah, it's just I've seen my dad's change in, change in behaviors after that.
(16:44):
So was it, and I'm gonna get a little personal here.
Sure.
And you can say, Rita, stop Uhhuh.
Absolutely.
And it's okay.
You don't have to answer, right? so was this something he was doing or was it just a decision she decided she was gonna make 'cause she was unhappy? Like, what caused the divorce specifically? I believe my mom wasn't happy.
She wasn't happy? Okay.
(17:04):
Yeah, because my dad also was a, OFW.
He, he worked, in the Saudi Arabia as a firefighter with his friends Oh wow.
For several years.
Just to bring.
Bring in bread and honey, right? You know, in our household.
Right.
I think it got to the point that she's really died and Right.
Very unhappy and Yeah.
And sometimes when you are working so far away You know, that like the connection causes like a separation really hard.
(17:32):
Yeah.
Right.
It's almost like you don't know the person in a sense.
'cause they're, you know, you get used to being by yourself sometimes.
So I, I can definitely understand it.
Yeah.
Well, I am sorry that happened, right? Because it does affect us when our parents separate.
I mean, that's our whole life.
(17:52):
Right.
True.
So I understand it.
Yeah.
when, before, before we, fly to, the United States I believe that was October of 1989 because all of our papers are done.
How many siblings do you have? I have three brothers.
You have three brothers, okay.
Yeah, I love them.
I went ahead and really prayed to God.
(18:16):
I said, Lord, help me forgive my mom.
Aw.
Help me to forgive my mom.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I'm still in the process.
Believe me.
I'm still in the process right now.
You're still working on that? I'm still working on that.
That's really deep.
So that's stayed with you Since you were young? Oh, Wow.
Wow.
Yeah.
So what made you guys come to the United States? What was the change? Why the change? because my mom had petitioned us here.
(18:40):
Okay.
And so, you know, I was a two year pre-Med BS bio in the Philippines.
Mind you, it's.
It's an easy call for me because I've always wanted to be a pediatrician and my dad, you know, went ahead and helped me sign up.
You know, in college.
Back home.
but I said, Hey, this, I'm going to the states.
Oh.
And the four of us traveled here and Yeah.
(19:04):
Yeah.
And I just didn't look back anymore.
You didn't look back.
Yeah.
But I missed my dad though because he stayed back home.
Okay.
Were you able to continue that education here or did you do something completely different when you, you got here? I did something completely different.
So where did you come from? The Philippines too.
So the Philippines to what, what, like where did you land? So were you in Oh, in San Francisco.
(19:25):
In San Francisco, yeah.
We stayed in San Francisco for two years.
That was our point of entry.
Okay.
by the grace of God, A leader.
After one week that we moved, I met this lady at the bus stop somewhere there, and she was telling me about this program of, nursing assistant into a CNA program that they were giving in one of the hospitals in Mill Valley, California.
(19:46):
And so I said, you know what, I'm gonna go ahead and jump in.
I don't have nothing to do right now.
transportation is gonna be provided because you have to cross the Golden Gate Bridge Bridge to get there And come back to the city.
Yeah.
And so it was, it's been a beautiful journey doing so.
And, yeah.
So I, I am just so grateful of what God have opened for me.
Then the door that, he opened for me and, I found out that I have a gift of, caregiving.
(20:13):
Caregiving during that, during that time.
That's beautiful.
And I stayed with nursing for about 10 years.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
Wow.
That's amazing.
How high did you go in nursing? Well, actually I kind of deviate.
I, I'm a medical assistant graduate.
Oh, yeah.
That's beautiful.
Yeah, I like that.
I did the, a certified nurse assistant for 10 years and then deviate and become an ma.
(20:37):
That's beautiful.
Yeah.
Which I did not use, by the way, because I, I'm bad in teaching.
No.
What brought you guys to Utah then? Oh, my son, my son, is here.
Okay.
He, he married, a local girl from Brigham City.
I could not pronounce that, name by the way, at the beginning.
Forgive me, I keep on telling, when I was in, California, I, I used to say Brig.
(21:01):
Brigham.
Brigham, Brigham.
And my son go, huh? Bring him.
Brigham City.
I said, okay.
And you like, I would, I'll get there.
Brigham City.
Yeah.
And she's lovely.
She's very smart.
And my son already have start bringing her to church and yeah.
Yeah.
I'm gonna go back a little bit about life in California.
Absolutely.
Let's talk a little bit about life in California.
(21:22):
before we come back to Utah.
So what was life like in California? So you came from the Philippines, right? and got into your career, right? and so I just wanna know a little bit how God played in that, or if God wasn't in that at all.
And then just your little bit like kind of your life in California.
Okay.
My life in California, so after two years we moved to Sacramento, California.
(21:45):
my aunt, my aunt, who is my mom's, sister Have, invited us over.
And so my, my, my, my mom and my stepdad, Found a, rental duplex in, Natoma, California.
And that's where we stayed.
I kept on, working as a CNA in, Suter Oaks, nursing center.
and that was really fun way, way back when, that there's a lot of perks working in a nursing home Because it's not only that you get to, take care of an elderly, but Yeah.
(22:17):
There's a lot of different facets.
you also get to be trained to, become a lead in your, in your work, area.
And, my bosses were so good to me, and, potlucks at night.
It's the best.
When you work with Filipino nurses, by the way, you're gonna eat, they're not gonna go ahead and make you hungry.
(22:38):
Yeah.
And it's given whether you work in hospital, love food, I like food hospitals.
I think just like Filipinos in general, anytime I used to go to church and it was all Filipinos and there was always food and it was always homemade food, and it was always the best.
Always good food.
It was always, isn't that amazing? Best food.
Yeah.
I believe that, Filipino is one way of getting, getting through your heart is through food.
(23:00):
Food, yeah.
Love it.
All right, so let's keep talking about California.
Go ahead.
Yeah.
So, after, after three years, I found, this man who happens to be, And This is still in California.
We're still in Sacramento.
Okay.
So I was warming up the mic at our house, we have a.
Party.
(23:20):
I don't remember what party it is.
It's one of the birthday party.
My mom was, finished, cooking.
She's serving up the food, getting the table ready.
And my brother and my brother Larry and his friend came through the door and I was warming up the mic.
Mm-hmm.
My, my mom, my god, for dearly.
Aw.
She, she thinks that I'm a singer.
(23:41):
And so what this is, she will do.
She said, stop helping me go ahead and sing, sing and sing and just warm the house.
I just want our visitors to, to know that you can sing.
My daughter.
Aw, my mama.
Aw.
Anyway, so I was singing my brother and his friend came through the front door and I think I was singing, I Miss You like crazy by, And so one of my brother's friend look at me and his name is Ramon Uhhuh, look at me like, like he, I can really tell because the boys, when the boys came through, came inside, they went, stopped and then went start walking to the garage, right? And so while Ramon was in the gar garage with my brothers and the rest of the boys, he said, bro, is that your sister? She can sing.
(24:35):
Would you introduce me to your sister? Oh, is that your husband? That's my husband.
Oh, how? Yeah.
So he, he thinks that I sing so beautiful.
And he keep on telling.
when we finally got together and met, he was telling everybody of all our friends, both sides that I fell in love with this girl because she can sing.
(24:56):
Aww.
So you guys met, so your brother introduced you? Yeah.
My brother Larry introduced me to To Ramon.
And then did you guys start dating? Like how did that go? it's funny because way back when they're still dating, we, we would come to the house and hang out because Yeah, that's, I love it.
That's, that's how Filipinos are.
You know, it's just like, you're not gonna date my daughter.
(25:16):
I'm gonna go ahead and get to know you too, Uhhuh.
Yeah.
That's, you're gonna date us.
You're gonna date us.
You're gonna go, if you wanna marry my daughter, you're gonna marry, family.
The family.
Yeah.
I love it.
Exactly.
I love it.
Yeah.
Awesome.
Yeah.
So you guys, and so after a year dating, we got married, it was a very simple civil wedding.
(25:37):
Aw.
We had Mark after that.
That was 1990 2nd of August fifth.
Yeah.
Aw.
And my son is just a heaven's gift.
Aw.
He is the most beautiful baby I have laid my eyes to.
He still is.
He still is.
Yes.
Made me cry.
He still is.
That's beautiful.
He is such a baby.
He's a, his face never changed, right? I don't know if it's just me.
(26:00):
Yeah.
But my son is beautiful inside out.
So how was the marriage life? So you got married after a year later? Well, the marriage life was a challenging, we started really, it's, it's a big challenge.
Because my, my husband was, had polio.
Okay.
So he get around with a, a crutches.
Alright.
And my mom didn't really like him.
(26:24):
And I was so, I don't know.
I'm just so enamored.
He has the biggest heart.
Not a lot of people knows them.
He has the biggest heart and, We both fell in love.
Yeah.
I don't know.
I cannot explain it.
We just, we just love each other.
and, he went ahead and helped help his, parents who had, what is this, Walnut plantation.
(26:44):
Walnut Orchard in Marysville, California.
And, he would come and help them, to be able to glean and clean the walnuts and dry and all that stuff.
So that's part of what he does.
when my son was, growing up and I continue working as a, as a CNA.
And I also, thought, I think when he was growing up, when my son was growing up getting ready to, preschool.
(27:08):
I went ahead and deviate again.
I become preschool teacher for eight years because I just wanted to go ahead and kind of like, follow him.
Be with you.
We don't, we just don't trust babysitters.
It's expensive.
It's just like, people are just like crazy.
You're not gonna touch my son.
Sorry.
I get it.
It's my own prerogative.
Yeah.
Yes.
No, you're good.
Yeah.
So, yeah, when, when, my son was growing up, that's where we found the church in Sacramento.
(27:33):
That's beautiful.
It's predominantly, Filipinos.
Okay.
Our pastors were from Sebu City.
Okay.
Yeah.
Pastor Will.
so how long were you married before you found the church? So this whole time you didn't really know God, right? You were just kind of like, so you had that moment when you were 10.
And then you were just kind of like.
You know, I had that moment, but Right.
(27:55):
So then how long were you married before you found the Lord? I believe where my son was about three or four years old.
Oh, beautiful.
Is when we, when my, my, when the, the church started, the first service.
And our pastor have a altar call and my husband and I came in front and accepted the Lord.
(28:15):
Look at that.
How beautiful Jesus's Lord and S savior.
That's beautiful.
I love it.
How is life after that? It was beautiful because we would go to church every Friday.
you know, for a basketball fellowship With the youth, and we would help out, we would have, again, food, you know? Yeah.
For the, for the community.
(28:36):
And it's our one way of kind.
Like, come on kids.
Yeah.
Come on, let's play basketball.
And our pastor would speak, you know, it's one way of us kind of like bringing people To, to, to this church and to the community of, you know, knowing God.
Right.
Yeah.
And it, and I also, worship, leader.
You know, I, I, I worship lead at this church because nobody wants to do it.
(28:58):
And since my mom and I.
And, at Benji, who is, pastor Will's wife, you know? Yeah.
wife of the pastor said, Lauren, go ahead and sing.
You can sing.
I said, okay, I don't know how to do this.
I said, oh, well, you know what? We're gonna go ahead and practice.
You will, you will do fine.
That's beautiful.
So with her, with her, approval and support and love, I'll be able to teach.
(29:21):
Not to teach, but, lead worship to the leadership.
That's amazing.
My son was part of my worship team too.
He played drums, so that was his first drum experience is part of my, worship team.
That's beautiful.
Thank you.
So you guys found God, amen.
And you, amen.
You joined this church.
(29:42):
Your, your son was part of the worship, the worship team.
Mm-hmm.
And how, how did life keep going after that? Our journey as, as a whole family serving God, revolve about church, function.
we would go to church serve through our, through my worship ministry.
(30:02):
My son would lead, I mean, would, play drums and I would also teach Sunday school.
There's where the teachers coming.
Mm-hmm.
And it's been a joy mm-hmm.
Of really telling, younger generations.
I, I believe I have the, the, at one point I have the three and the fours mm-hmm.
And then the youth and then the young adults.
(30:25):
Mm-hmm.
During that time of, open season where I join in and mm-hmm.
And minister to these kids.
But Amen.
it's just, it's so much fun.
it's a lot of work.
Mm-hmm.
And I knew that God is really calling me to, to do things.
Mm-hmm.
Teaching and worship.
Worship.
Yeah.
(30:45):
It's beautiful during that season.
And, it's not easy.
I have had challenges.
Yeah.
sometimes it's like I was looking at my husband's like, why am I gonna get this right? How are we gonna be able to.
Pay this, pay this.
Right.
Yeah.
It's not perfect God, but God, God always, always open to look God, I'm telling you, God is God.
(31:05):
God is so, yeah.
He's so faithful.
He always come through.
Yeah.
and he's always an on-time God.
Yes.
On time.
God, that's so beautiful.
Yeah.
So did you, how long did you guys stay in California then? Did you stay in there for how many more years before you transitioned to Utah? I stayed in California, well, my husband passed away when my, my, my son was Oh wow.
(31:29):
I would like say 15 Oh.
Years old.
Wow.
When he was in middle school.
He passed away.
He passed away.
He has a history of, drug abuse the year before he passed away.
Oh, wow.
And he smokes.
He smokes.
Yeah.
yeah, he really have struggles with that.
And so was it the drug abuse that made him pass away? I am pointing onto that.
(31:51):
He pretty much just, pretty much abuses himself.
Right.
Yeah.
Because, I'm not really, happy to share this, but he passed away the night before partying with his friends.
Oh.
This is when we were, helping mom and dad in, Marysville, California.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
So that must hard.
Yeah.
(32:12):
I just wanted to let you know that mother's prayers, God hears.
Amen.
I heard my mother-in-law, we've gotten really close during the season.
Because it's just like, kind of like Naomi and Ruth, right? You know, over at church today.
While we were talking about that with Pastor Rob, I heard, my mother-in-law prayed one night because we would pray, me and her would pray in the living room while Mark is sleeping.
(32:38):
And she said, amen.
That's beautiful.
God, would you go ahead and take my son? There's nothing I or his wife can't do anymore.
He's yours.
I kid you not, after two, three days, my husband passed away.
Oh, wow.
It's just my mother-in-law and my hearts are just like full of grief.
(32:59):
He just cannot see him really perish.
Right.
He was just hurting himself.
He's just hurting himself and, all of that.
Wow.
Yeah.
That must have been hard for your son.
How did that affect your son? I have hidden the fact that his dad was, abusing drugs.
Oh, wow.
Till I knew, till he, he got the, I think, till, few years ago.
(33:25):
Yeah.
I did not tell my son.
Oh.
Oh, wow.
I did not, I, I protected my son, although he mu must have knew it because he would hang out with his, his, his dad and go fishing And go to his friends, When I'm at, at work.
And, but I protected my son and I did not told him till I knew he was ready.
You know, mature with his heart and his mind.
(33:46):
Right.
And I told him, son, this is really what your dad is doing.
Wow.
He was abusing himself.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's, I believe that through that process that I know my son really have looked up to me and respected me because I told him, Hey, I'm trying to protect you.
I didn't wanna hurt you.
And it's not, yeah.
It's not your fault why your daddy did what he did.
(34:08):
Right.
Yeah.
That's, that's important to make sure that we, clarify that with our kids.
'cause I think sometimes the kids.
kids are so internal, they take everything so deeply.
Yeah.
Sometimes they think, well, did I do something wrong to make dad do this? Right? so I think it's important and it's beautiful for you to clear.
Like it's, it's, it's not your fault that he did it, right? so I, I think that's powerful and that's important, and thank you.
(34:32):
That's probably where the respect comes from, right? Because it's like my mom was trying to guard me, right? And sometimes kids don't understand.
Like even at 15, right? Like the age you think they will understand, they don't, right.
So that's kind of like a mother's thing, right? You have to gauge that.
As a parent, when do I tell my kid? You know, by knowing your kid.
And, and, and who they are.
(34:53):
So I think, I think that was a beautiful choice, for sure.
Thank you.
so is that when the transition to Utah happened? No, not yet.
Okay.
Okay.
Keep going.
Well, I, I stayed single.
I did not really.
after my husband passed away, I just focus on, raising my son.
Working busy, helping a church.
(35:15):
being celibate for 10 years.
Aw.
I'm so proud of that.
Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus.
10 years after he passed away, I said, I am not going.
She said, I did it for 10 years.
I have this.
Yeah.
Anyway, so.
Yeah.
Amen.
Amen.
let's see.
Yeah, I pretty much work.
my son, I just wanna let you know I got my son.
(35:37):
Let me go ahead and backtrack.
My son at one point, when he turned 18, decided to that he's going to move out.
Oh.
At that early age of they just said 19 or 18.
18.
I take it back.
Thank you.
Anyways, so I said, son, who are you going to be? Moving with, and he told me about a duplex and he told me about the friends that he's gonna be moving, him with.
(36:03):
And I said, okay.
I know the families and I know the kids.
They come to, our house, they eat and they, they play video and they're, they're very fun kids and I know their parents.
Mm-hmm.
And so, I would not, one thing for sure about me, I would not let my son really do that kind of move mm-hmm.
If I don't know the people he's gonna be living with.
(36:26):
Period.
Period.
So I have, my son assured me, mom, so this person right here, here, here are going to be moving with me.
We're gonna be fine.
Mm-hmm.
So when, when the time comes, when he moved out.
I cried me a river for three days.
Mm-hmm.
I grieve for him not being with me anymore.
(36:46):
And I was, living in a, the bedroom apartment.
Mm-hmm.
And I said, God, he's yours.
Wow.
He's yours.
And I partnered up with God.
I said, my son is yours, God, he's not mine.
Amen.
And he never, my son, he never gave me a headache.
Oh, look at God.
Amazing.
What a blessing.
(37:07):
Amazing.
He's my son was never perfect.
He's been a very independent and I'm just thankful that by the grace of God that I'm surrounded with brothers that are there for him.
Amen.
And pastors of church youth leaders.
Mm-hmm.
And he is just surrounded with all of his people.
(37:28):
So I'm so grateful.
So much support.
So much support.
It could have been a different story, isn't it? Yeah.
I really praise God for.
Us being a believer, right? Mm-hmm.
It makes a huge difference.
That's beautiful.
And today, while they were playing all this worship, worship song during the eighties, I said, son, remember that you, you learned that from Sunday school.
(37:52):
They were singing that at Sunday School.
And he just nod, no.
Oh, how beautiful.
Yeah.
So, you're a good mom.
You did a good job.
Praise God.
Thank God I am.
We all have floss, right? No, of course.
Especially being a same mom, right? Without God, we are nothing.
I was like, Lord, I'm just a hot mess, but I'm like a hot mess with you, so that's fine.
(38:17):
That's a hot mess.
Amen.
Amen.
Um, so did you, so after your husband passed away, did you not date anybody? Did you get into any relationships, anything like that? Or was it just, just I thought, Yeah.
few years back before I decided to move to Utah, I was in a relationship.
I thought this guy was really, we met at a, a library somewhere in the Bay Area.
(38:40):
And I thought he was really cute.
And he is a smooth talker and he claimed that he have, he has, he's a believer.
he would even tell me that he, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ when he was 10 years old Oh, wow.
In Richmond, California.
Anyways, so, during the pandemic, he, him and I thought, and he said, you know, I might not see you again.
(39:07):
And I said, yeah, I know I might not see you again either.
Because I was living in, you know, another part of town.
And so I said, I said, well, if that's okay with you, I can go ahead and move in with you.
Would you like that? I said, yeah.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
I said, okay.
Well, a friend of mine, in another town where, went ahead and really helped me back and move.
(39:28):
I think that was about.
A week after.
Because I don't wanna mention his name.
No, you don't have to say his name.
Yeah.
So this fellow and I, you know, went ahead and got together in Pittsburgh, California.
And, yeah, it was, it was so good.
For the first six months.
And, you know, we really treated each other nicely and everything.
(39:51):
And he's there for me.
We worked together.
I was working, he's a retired, ex Navy.
and then after on to the seven and eight month, I've seen him change.
Mm.
Little did I know that he was an alcoholic.
Mm.
He went back being alcoholic and, get back with his friend, best friend in high school.
(40:12):
And so To make the long story short, again, this part of my, part of your testimony, testimony.
Um, there are a lot of red flags that happened.
Because during one part that he drank, he would come home and he's just like a monster.
And I don't, I don't have no vices.
Okay.
yeah.
So he would bother me at night.
(40:33):
I would probably have like two or three hours of sleep knowing that I would wake up super early the following day to travel all the way to Walnut Creek area and work.
Oh, wow.
I just, I believe that this is during the season where God had really said, is this the kind of like you would like? Right.
(40:56):
And I have time.
I have like an hour, Going, going to work and coming back.
to really pray and be cornered by God.
Wow.
I love it.
Wow.
And so, no, no, no, no.
I, I really don't want to do this.
And, at the beginning, he promised me that he is going to marry me And he wanna be there for me in the long haul and all that stuff.
(41:17):
Right.
I kid you not, this gentleman right here is known by my family.
We do things with our, my family in Sacramento, barbecue, all of the holidays, we would get together, sang, sang on a couch, with my nephews and nieces with karaoke And, all those songs, and just do life with my brothers when we're there visiting in California.
(41:38):
And so, yeah, it's just, I think after, few.
Months, maybe towards, November or October or November of that year when, the pandemic, broke out, he decided that he wants to go and visit his son in Texas because he's having a big, big party.
(41:59):
And I said, why do you need to go? And so right there and there, I could not really stop him.
And so something tells me that I am not really that important to this person.
I cried and I was really rebellious to God.
I said, this is happening, Lord.
So my prayers then was, okay, well I think God, that you are telling me something.
(42:25):
You are telling me something big right here.
So when he left for Texas and attend his son's big birthday, because I knew he would see his, he would see his ex-wife.
Because ex-wife also did lives in Texas.
In Texas.
Okay.
And so, yeah, I did a lot of breaking, so that Thanksgiving that year I was alone.
(42:45):
Christmas, I was alone.
New Year's, I was alone.
Oh, wow.
He left, he left, he did not come back till after New Year's.
Two or three days after New Year's.
Yeah.
So, so what was the breaking point? Right? He wasn't good.
He was drinking a lot.
so what was the breaking point with him? Okay, so the, the breaking point was when we had a situation.
(43:05):
He came home super drunk one day.
I think he was upset.
I just came home from work that day, had a hard day, came home, I rest, I'm resting.
He called me to go ahead and take, his dog to the bathroom to get him, take her for a walk To, to go potty.
But the dog is sleeping.
(43:25):
Comfortably in the living room.
And I said, so yeah, this is what.
Sge was doing, I am not going to wake up her dog.
And I think that pretty much just send a, trigger on his head.
So an hour after he came home and, we had a little, talk and I was yelling.
(43:45):
He was yelling and he grabbed my throat.
Wow.
I dialed 9 1 1 and I said, please send help here because this guy's going to kill me.
And not only that, so I, when, when the 9 1 1 dispatch said, okay, I'm gonna go ahead and, send the police to your apartment.
(44:06):
I, and he got away, he let, let go of my throat.
I step out to the balcony and get some fresh air and start calling his dad.
While I was on the phone with his dad, he went ahead and punched the side of my head.
Oh my gosh.
And I grabbed one of my, planter, figuring up in my patio.
(44:28):
I was about to hit him.
It was a long neck thing where I put like things like this in my patio.
It broke.
It broke.
Oh, wow.
And so something told me it's like, I am going to leave.
This guy is going to kill me.
So he went back to the, the room.
While he was doing that, I run straight down to my carport and just wait for the police.
Oh, wow.
(44:48):
Yeah.
right there and there, I said, this is it.
this is what you're telling me to go ahead and God to go ahead and leave.
This is, this is the breaking point for me.
Right.
Yeah.
I don't deserve to be Hurt like that.
Wow.
Wow.
I'm sorry.
That's, that's, that's pretty tough.
that's probably a lot of trauma, right? Um, especially when it's physical.
(45:10):
Um, so that night, did you end up packing your things and leaving? I did not.
I went ahead and just packed a little bit in my little duffle bag.
left the apartment and, went straight to.
Check in at, a hotel in Martinez, California.
And then from there I went to straight to the hospital.
Wow.
And get checked out.
I, I just wanted to go ahead and praise and thank God that the only injuries I got is just contusion.
(45:36):
Just contusion.
Wow.
But I, I, God is so good.
God is good.
Done nothing else.
'cause I could, I could have been dead.
Yeah.
Right now.
And I know God is just, have protected me all this time and I, yeah, he's a good God.
He's a good father.
He's a good God.
did they found him at all? Yes, they did.
He went ahead and flee on foot.
so the police that came and interviewed me, asked his identification and asked who he is to me.
(46:04):
So I went ahead and told him.
And at the beginning I was kind of like, should I tell them that I was his girlfriend? Feel like I'm sick.
'cause they would, they would think that I'm crazy.
She's like, I'm not crazy enough.
Just like, anyway, so at the beginning I lied to the police.
I said, yeah, I do.
Anyway.
Yeah.
So, but anyway, I went ahead and rectified that statement and said, yes, I am a living girlfriend.
(46:27):
So, yeah, after, after two days, yeah.
They went ahead and picked him up.
went ahead and took him to jail.
Wow.
Yeah.
I'm so sorry you went through that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's just, I think that's really brave of you though to have spoken up and to have called, I think, I know a lot of people that, justify.
You know, and I think we justify it as women in a lot of different situations, whether it's physically, emotionally, sexually, you know.
(46:53):
We, sometimes we, will doubt it and we.
Question.
Is this really what I think it is? You know, and then sometimes we don't want get people in trouble and, but I'm very happy that, good point you stood up for yourself and that you had enough self-worth to say this is not okay.
Right.
you know, and sometimes we feel bad, but at the end of the day, people, we all need to take accountability for our actions and our decisions that we choose to, to make.
(47:22):
Yeah.
Wow.
So good for you.
You're strong.
That makes you very strong.
So, good job for, I'm really standing so strong because he called me about a month and a half ago, I think I went ahead and mentioned to you last time.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And he got a hold of me through Facebook Messenger.
And was just so crazy.
It's just like I said, John, why are you calling me? I want you to, in my life, you know, I'm a changed person.
(47:47):
The person that hit you wasn't me.
Oh wow.
And I said, no.
You and me are done.
Please go ahead and move on.
Right.
I am moving on and I'm healing.
Right.
I went ahead and did work inside and out.
Right.
I've gone through two counselings and people that have prayed for me over this, time at church and I've never left church because of that.
(48:08):
'cause I know I needed, faith community to really pull me through.
Right.
I think that's beautiful and that's the importance of community.
Yeah.
And you're so beautiful.
You do not deserve that.
Yeah.
You're scared so nobody does.
Yeah.
Right.
Right.
Wow.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Thank you very, very much for having me.
(48:29):
Yeah.
And then Utah, right? You came to Utah, so this happened in Utah, or did it Oh no, it happens in, the Bay Area.
Okay.
Pittsburgh, California.
So all this time my son was just telling me, mom, come to Utah.
You know, it's easy for you to go ahead and say that.
Say that son.
I said, I have a high paying job here.
(48:49):
I'm in a relationship and at the same time my family are in California.
but all this time he's been, telling me, mom, I need you in, Utah getting married.
When I heard him saying married, it's just like, I'm like, when? so that was the last year of September is when he got married to his wife.
So I moved here.
I am turning one year here in Utah on July 1st, next month.
(49:14):
Yeah.
California to Utah.
It's been a great journey to Utah.
Thank you.
It's been a great journey.
That's beautiful.
Yeah.
Plus you get to be close to your son.
Yes.
And he meets you.
Thank you.
And I need him to.
I need him to.
Yeah.
That's beautiful.
So no dating for right now? No.
I'm praying, I'm reminded about Ruth and BOA's story at church today, which is kind of like, okay, Lorna, that's how you kind of like measure up your, your desires.
(49:42):
Yeah.
Yes.
Uh, being single is never easy, especially in my age.
I will be turning, I'm 54, turning 55 on November.
Mm-hmm.
Amen.
And with, with my pain right now on my right leg and, slowing mobility at this season.
Yeah.
you just want somebody to kind of talk to.
Yeah.
And things like that.
I have friends, but I'm trying not to be so serious and Right.
(50:04):
You're just trying to just kind of keep going.
Keep healing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It was beautiful.
Yeah, I know.
My bogus is coming.
That's beautiful.
You might be at Mr.
Utah.
Someone prayed.
Well, a couple of my girlfriends in California said that Mr.
Utah is waiting for you.
Mr.
Utah.
Utah.
I said, I received that sister.
I, I think mine's in Texas somewhere.
(50:26):
Yours, yours.
I, I'm gonna be praying for that six.
Mine be home, right? Dog.
With our dog.
Dog.
My two kids.
Oh, sweet.
Mine in Utah, or not Utah? No.
Maybe traveling.
Maybe traveling to Utah, but he's in Texas.
Hey.
You never know.
You never know.
Might change something, right? There you go.
(50:46):
I feel it.
Amen.
Amen.
That's beautiful.
That's beautiful.
How is God using you right now in this, in this season here in Utah? I'm back.
I'm back with the worship ministry.
Amen.
I had sang my first, song Lead last week, and you just shared your beautiful testimony.
I just love the song at the beginning.
It's like, I, when, when Pastor Andrew have, messaged me the song, I said, I listened to it first and messaged him, pastor Andrew, I do not know this song.
(51:15):
I really don't.
And he said, Lorna, I have you in mind when I thought about this song, so you'll do fantastic.
I said, okay.
And then from that point on, I listened to the song.
I would do, I love singing in the afternoon, part of my therapy, I guess karaoke.
So I would sing like five, six songs with my karaoke system and then the song.
(51:39):
And then I even went to the library and really write the song on by hand.
So I know, I know what I'm gonna sing, right? Because, I don't know, I just love.
When I sing, I wanna be able to know what I'm singing.
Right.
And the heart of the song.
Amen.
It's worship.
Yep.
And that's beautiful.
I praise and thank God.
What's your favorite worship song right now? There's a lot of people have been blessed with that song.
(52:02):
Say that again please.
What's your favorite worship song right now? Oh, wow.
Oh, right now? Yeah.
Oh, there's a lot.
like, is there, you know how there's always that one for your, the season of your like Yeah.
Oh, there you go.
What's the song right now for the season you're in? That's a good one.
It's, it's Flowers.
Flowers.
Okay.
I don't think I've heard that song.
New.
It's a new song.
Who sings it? Lemme see it.
(52:23):
Let me look at it.
I forgot her name.
She's a new worship singer.
I, I do that.
I have songs for every season.
Yeah.
And then whenever I listen to this song and love it reminds me of it about, it talks about how God plant all the beautiful flowers in the valley, not on top of the, mountain.
Right? In the valley.
In the valley.
In the valley.
That's beautiful.
So that's, uh, okay.
(52:45):
Flowers, worship song.
Let's find out.
Yeah, she's a great singer.
Samantha Ebert.
Samantha.
Okay.
I'm gonna have to that out.
Flowers by Samantha Ebert.
Aw, that's awesome.
That's beautiful.
I'm gonna have to listen to it.
so if you had any last words for our viewers and listeners, just any encouragement, anything you feel like God has left on your heart to say.
(53:06):
Sure.
you wanna share that? Sure.
I would love to.
I have a couple of, life verse that I would like to share Absolutely.
With everybody.
the first one is Romans 8 28.
Romans eight 20.
All things work together for good, amen of those who love God and called according to his purpose.
Amen.
And the second one is one Corinthians chapter two, verse 19.
(53:29):
But it is written What? What I.
What No eyes have seen, no ear has heard.
And what no human mind have conceived the things God prepare for those who loved him.
Amen.
Yes.
Amen.
Amen.
Those are beautiful.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thank you RNA for sharing your story.
Thank you.
It's beautiful.
(53:50):
Thank you for being here.
fun.
fun.
And I'm sorry that I did, an ugly cry.
No, you're okay.
That's what we do here.
We cry, ugly cry.
We just have moments.
Yeah.
Don't you even be apologized because Amen.
You know it's real.
We want you to just be your real, authentic self.
Thank you.
That's what this is about.
And then, God, of course.
He's amazing.
So without him, we wouldn't be here, so, amen.
(54:12):
That's true.
That's true.
Thank you so much.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Remember to be bold, be brave and be better.
See you soon.
Welcome to Bold Beginnings where we teach and show you how God works in our careers and our lives, what his purpose is for us.
And why we should trust him in everything that we do.
My name is Rita Wilson.
And I'm Sandra Fernandez, and we are here with Lorna.
What was your last name again? Reyes.
Reyes.
How are you? I'm great.
(01:09):
Good.
I'm excited to be here.
Yes.
Thank you for being here.
We're so excited to have you.
so she has sent me a message on Facebook.
and asked me for my email and then send me an email about wanting to share her story on the podcast.
Yes.
Which I thought was beautiful.
I was like, yes, absolutely.
Let's do it.
she also invited me to church.
(01:29):
She actually gave her testimony at church and it was so beautiful.
and that was just, what was it, 20 minutes you did at church? About, no, about 12 minutes.
Each of us was given 12 minutes.
Yeah.
So it was about 12 minutes and.
Just that 12 minutes was so powerful, so.
I'm excited to be here.
I'm excited to hear your testimony.
(01:50):
But before we get started I just want you to tell everybody a little bit about yourself and what do you love to do for fun.
Okay.
well, I am Lorna Re again.
And what I love to do for fun is reading, and I love to dance, so I have my own karaoke system at home and I love to sing, and that's beautiful.
I, I do love to wanna go back doing outdoors, like hiking and camping soon.
(02:14):
Yeah.
God willing.
I just, I just love, I love dogs.
You love dogs, that's for sure.
Aw.
What dogs do you have? Yeah.
I don't have a dog, but I have like dogs in my life way back when.
Our first dog Was named Brownie.
Aw.
Brownie's a mut, but he love him so much.
Aw.
You know? And, yeah.
He lived for a good seven, eight years.
Oh, seven, eight years.
(02:35):
Aw.
This is back in, still in Manila.
Aw.
Yeah.
That's beautiful.
That's, is that where you're from? Are you from Manila? I, I, I was born and raised in Mati City, Philippines.
Wow.
Which is the financial district of Manila.
Yeah.
It's beautiful.
That is so awesome.
That's awesome.
The Philippines, I've been super into, learning about different cultures and I just love when people are from somewhere else.
(02:58):
You will know about my culture.
So exciting.
Start telling about my story.
Yes.
I would love to.
That's awesome.
Philippines.
That's beautiful.
well, we're excited to have you, Lorna.
I'm excited to hear your story.
just, you know, thank you so much for taking the time to come share.
Your story.
That's what we do here at both beginnings of the podcast, right? We, we share our testimonies about how we came to Christ.
(03:22):
Right? Because this world is, is crazy.
And I think it's important for people to hear stories of how God has touched and impact lives, so, right.
Amen.
What a lesson.
Amen.
It is to have you here.
So I'll let you go ahead and give you the floor.
Okay.
I was told to, do my life testimony, so I'm gonna go ahead and start by letting you know that I was born November 20th, 1970, and I will be by, by the grace of God, I will be turning 55 this year.
(03:52):
Amen.
And the day that I was getting born, there was a storm Ravaging Manila.
My folks told me that there was no light.
It was super stormy.
the hospital that they brought, my mom has a generator and it's just like, okay, well, I was born and in the, in the Philippines.
(04:16):
In the Philippines, we have a custom that, the Typhoon are named after girls.
Ah, after women's name.
Yes.
And so the typhoon name there then was Yolanda.
Oh, let me go ahead and take it back.
Take it back.
I'm sorry.
It's yoing Typhoon Ying.
Y-O-L-I-N-G.
And so when I was born, my, my folks thought about naming me after the storm, and so they thought about naming me, Yolanda, my grandmother during RA came in and asked my folks on, you know, right in the nick of time and said, what are you gonna give your, you know, first daughter name? And they told about that.
(04:58):
They're thinking about.
naming me Yo Yolanda.
And she said, no, no, you're not giving my granddaughter that name.
Are you guys crazy? Yeah.
After this storm right here, it's just like storming cats and dogs.
No lights, power down.
No, I love my grandmother.
She was a Oh, I love her.
(05:19):
Aw.
Anyway, so she said, okay, let's go ahead and give her this name.
Lorna.
Lorna, because I love this name.
And your daughter is beautiful and she's, bouncy and she's healthy.
Let's give her Lorna.
That's beautiful, Lorna.
Yeah.
that's a good story.
It's beautiful.
That's so beautiful because there's so much power in your name.
Yes.
(05:39):
And I think even the Bible like expresses that and even how Jesus would come and change people's names, And that's a great thing.
And I think it's really cool.
And I've always been told since.
Since I was pregnant That the name had a lot of power.
So to name your son something that, yeah, like Ezekiel is the strength of God, right? And that's something that has like a good strong meaning behind it because that's what you're calling them.
(06:05):
Right? So that's really cool.
And we're very big about names in Africa too.
Yeah.
So I love it.
So, growing up in Manila, my grandmother was an educator.
I looked up to her, she was a, math major and, I remember when I was young that, I was really favored by her because every time that I come, see what she's cooking, see, we live in a two, story house, building.
(06:30):
My dad's family, young younger, her younger son lives on a second floor, which where we live, and she lives downstairs.
Every time that I would check what my grandma's cooking, she would tell me, oh, this is what I'm making right now.
sooner or later you're gonna learn how to cook and this is how we make this soup, beef soup, whatever, or, or some Filipino menu, that's recipe that really sticks to my heart too, is the Philippine Juanita.
(06:56):
Aw.
Anyway, and I would spend time with her, tweezing her white hair on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon under our, we call it kto plant, KTO tree.
It's a fruit in Manila.
When you open it up, it's really juicy and sweet, and it has come sort of like a milk, type of a juice.
(07:16):
Okay.
And, we would spend time together and talk and, you know, I really grow deep, love with my grandma because for once she is an educator.
She, speaks her mind.
She's really good with everybody.
She's our, She's our storyteller.
(07:37):
Every time that we would have like a blackout, we have this in Manila, a blackout is when the whole city don't have the lights.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
And my grandma would have, candles and, matches ready for everybody.
Seriously.
And, and we knew us kids, my cousin knew that it's going to be, there's going to be a story time maybe right after 10 15.
(08:00):
Oh, yeah.
I'm so excited when it's back out.
Anyway, so yeah, she would tell us stories about how her and my grandpa met during, the World War ii.
Oh.
And, it's just, she, you know, I really adore her.
She is just a woman of character and grit.
Amen.
And at the same time, when she don't like things, she will tell you too.
(08:20):
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
that's beautiful.
Yeah.
I love that.
I, I think, grandmas are.
It's such a blessing.
They are.
They are.
Yeah.
Because it's always you, you get spoiled when you're a grandchild.
Yeah.
I think we, I was not really spoiled, but I'm, I know I'm favored.
(08:41):
Yeah.
'cause she, she loves to spend time with me.
I don't know what happened to my cousins.
It's just like they're all not liking my grandma.
I don't know.
She's a likable person for me.
Okay.
Yeah.
But since my grandma have put so much effort in kind of like pouring her love mm-hmm.
And really experiences and her, you know, support in my life.
(09:02):
Mm-hmm.
I believe that I am the person right now because of her.
We love it.
Your grandma.
Yeah.
I love my grandma.
Aw, that's beautiful.
Yes.
Yes.
let me go back to my story here before I cry.
Me everywhere.
There's tissues, there's Okay.
(09:25):
It's beautiful.
My childhood in the Philippines was amazing.
Amen.
Amen.
I grew up with cousins that become best friends and childhood friends who we do a lot of group games outside the house, you know, in our streets and in front of our, compound.
(09:52):
Mm-hmm.
It's, Ola, it wasn't, it's not a very busy street, but there are cars and Japanese that would, swing by and pass and, do their business, whatever.
Mm-hmm.
But on a Saturday, Sunday, we would block that whole street and do all of our games.
We have, like ro we would do play, Dutch ball.
(10:13):
Mm-hmm.
And, what else? It's just, it's so much fun.
Yeah.
we learn how to really know how to, intermingle with people.
Yep.
Yeah.
growing up, see different characters and we know who's the one that kind of like, I am outta here.
I'm not playing with you guys.
Yeah.
kind of kids and, and, even, hide and sick In the rain is the best in the rain.
(10:38):
Yuma, I love that so much.
The richness of the culture and the richness of growing up in another country is, is just really, really beautiful.
Yeah.
And my grandma will always kind of tell us, you are not going to the first rain.
She don't let us go out.
Yeah.
(10:58):
And, and play in the rain.
But the second day, boy, we pray for a rain that is really kind like outpouring weaver.
Go out.
Aww.
yeah.
We would play tag, we would play hide and seek, as I said, and, and do other, group games Yeah.
With, children in the community.
So it was really fun.
Aw.
It's not perfect, but it's fun.
That's fun.
So fun.
That's beautiful because I, a lot of my childhood memories was in the rain, so I used to love to run In the rain.
(11:25):
I, I don't know why.
I just absolutely love the rain.
So I, and, and even when I came to the States, when it rained, I was always running.
It was like fun time for me.
Yeah.
It's beautiful.
I like that.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
I guess I'm supposed to go back to my story.
(11:45):
Just look at my notes here.
Okay.
There's also one more thing that I wanted to go ahead and highlight.
at one point, I believe, when I was 10 years old, I found myself sitting on top of the stairs, you know, the very top stairs, step of the stairs, in front of our door.
Because our, our stairs going down is outside.
(12:06):
It's not inside.
That connects the, you know, the second floor going up.
It was super dark.
It was one of the dark night.
I, I can see all the stars so bright and it was dark and I believe that's where God have called me.
Amen.
To pray.
Aw.
I kid you not, I just start talking and I was looking up and I said, God.
(12:32):
This is a beautiful night.
I thank you.
And you were 10? I was 10 years old.
Wow.
Now, looking back, looking back at my story and my life testimony, it's like, I believe that that's when God have called me to, to really pray for other people.
And pray for my need.
My needs too.
(12:53):
Because I, oh my gosh.
I'm crying.
It's okay.
It's so embarrassing.
No, it's not.
I said I'm not gonna cry and I'm crying.
It's okay.
It's, it's, it's, it's beautiful.
And when I, and looking back, I just have this sense of peace when I pray for other people's needs.
(13:15):
Amen.
Because we are asked to carry each other's burdens.
Right.
Amen.
That's beautiful.
And prayer doesn't stop there.
No.
You also have to intercede and be able to, you know, see what God is doing in your life and the life of other people that you are praying.
Right.
Right.
(13:35):
Amen.
Yeah.
That's beautiful.
So that's, that's where my prayer heart started is when, right.
God called me to really talk to him at night.
Right.
And look up the stars.
What a beautiful moment.
Was there anything else that you shared with him in that moment? Or was it just like you were just talking to him? I was just really talking to him.
(13:57):
It's like, prayers most of the time you don't need to have words on it.
Amen.
Because God knows what's in your heart.
Amen.
Amen.
He does.
And he knows he knows your words before you even speak it.
He does because I praise God for that.
And it has become.
My passion to pray for other people.
(14:20):
So nice.
Oh, that's beautiful.
Yeah.
That's so beautiful to, to, to receive that gift at 10 years old.
You know, and to, and to identify that that was God.
Yeah.
Sharing that with you, that is really powerful.
So from there, how did you, how did that look like moving forward? Because there's always that moment when, when you have that moment, that intimate moment with God, and then how does that walk look like after, I don't think I was really serious.
(14:51):
I know deep inside me that.
I grew up in a Catholic home, let's just go ahead and lay that foundation.
And we go to church every Sunday.
we would attend, Christmas Midnight masses and all of that.
And again, my grandmothers, bringing us all to church, which I really, truly appreciate, her heart.
(15:11):
And, I really did not get, deep into prayer prayers till I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, wow.
This is when me and my husband accepted, Christ During our first service that my pastor from Sacramento have, planted.
Yeah.
So, so you received it, but you didn't really implement it yet.
(15:34):
Which makes sense, right? Yeah.
Yeah.
There there's a lot more happening.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I just wanted to also share that, I'm not really proud of this, but I was.
that's that during my college years, I was graduating high school onto college in the Philippines when that happened.
And it was a difficult time.
(15:56):
Because I was so confused and it's like nobody had told me and my brother, there was only two of us then growing up, on what's happening.
We just heard it from my dad and my grandma's conversation.
Anyway, so I That your parents were getting divorced? that my parents were getting divorced.
And how old were you? I believe I was probably 17 and a half.
(16:19):
17, yeah.
17 years old.
Wow.
I was finishing up high school.
I really struggled with that and I have grown, So much anger with my mom.
She's the one that divorced my dad.
And, I love her mom.
I love my mom.
I still honor her.
It's just this is what happened.
And, yeah, it's just I've seen my dad's change in, change in behaviors after that.
(16:44):
So was it, and I'm gonna get a little personal here.
Sure.
And you can say, Rita, stop Uhhuh.
Absolutely.
And it's okay.
You don't have to answer, right? so was this something he was doing or was it just a decision she decided she was gonna make 'cause she was unhappy? Like, what caused the divorce specifically? I believe my mom wasn't happy.
She wasn't happy? Okay.
(17:04):
Yeah, because my dad also was a, OFW.
He, he worked, in the Saudi Arabia as a firefighter with his friends Oh wow.
For several years.
Just to bring.
Bring in bread and honey, right? You know, in our household.
Right.
I think it got to the point that she's really died and Right.
Very unhappy and Yeah.
And sometimes when you are working so far away You know, that like the connection causes like a separation really hard.
(17:32):
Yeah.
Right.
It's almost like you don't know the person in a sense.
'cause they're, you know, you get used to being by yourself sometimes.
So I, I can definitely understand it.
Yeah.
Well, I am sorry that happened, right? Because it does affect us when our parents separate.
I mean, that's our whole life.
(17:52):
Right.
True.
So I understand it.
Yeah.
when, before, before we, fly to, the United States I believe that was October of 1989 because all of our papers are done.
How many siblings do you have? I have three brothers.
You have three brothers, okay.
Yeah, I love them.
I went ahead and really prayed to God.
(18:16):
I said, Lord, help me forgive my mom.
Aw.
Help me to forgive my mom.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I'm still in the process.
Believe me.
I'm still in the process right now.
You're still working on that? I'm still working on that.
That's really deep.
So that's stayed with you Since you were young? Oh, Wow.
Wow.
Yeah.
So what made you guys come to the United States? What was the change? Why the change? because my mom had petitioned us here.
(18:40):
Okay.
And so, you know, I was a two year pre-Med BS bio in the Philippines.
Mind you, it's.
It's an easy call for me because I've always wanted to be a pediatrician and my dad, you know, went ahead and helped me sign up.
You know, in college.
Back home.
but I said, Hey, this, I'm going to the states.
Oh.
And the four of us traveled here and Yeah.
(19:04):
Yeah.
And I just didn't look back anymore.
You didn't look back.
Yeah.
But I missed my dad though because he stayed back home.
Okay.
Were you able to continue that education here or did you do something completely different when you, you got here? I did something completely different.
So where did you come from? The Philippines too.
So the Philippines to what, what, like where did you land? So were you in Oh, in San Francisco.
(19:25):
In San Francisco, yeah.
We stayed in San Francisco for two years.
That was our point of entry.
Okay.
by the grace of God, A leader.
After one week that we moved, I met this lady at the bus stop somewhere there, and she was telling me about this program of, nursing assistant into a CNA program that they were giving in one of the hospitals in Mill Valley, California.
(19:46):
And so I said, you know what, I'm gonna go ahead and jump in.
I don't have nothing to do right now.
transportation is gonna be provided because you have to cross the Golden Gate Bridge Bridge to get there And come back to the city.
Yeah.
And so it was, it's been a beautiful journey doing so.
And, yeah.
So I, I am just so grateful of what God have opened for me.
Then the door that, he opened for me and, I found out that I have a gift of, caregiving.
(20:13):
Caregiving during that, during that time.
That's beautiful.
And I stayed with nursing for about 10 years.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
Wow.
That's amazing.
How high did you go in nursing? Well, actually I kind of deviate.
I, I'm a medical assistant graduate.
Oh, yeah.
That's beautiful.
Yeah, I like that.
I did the, a certified nurse assistant for 10 years and then deviate and become an ma.
(20:37):
That's beautiful.
Yeah.
Which I did not use, by the way, because I, I'm bad in teaching.
No.
What brought you guys to Utah then? Oh, my son, my son, is here.
Okay.
He, he married, a local girl from Brigham City.
I could not pronounce that, name by the way, at the beginning.
Forgive me, I keep on telling, when I was in, California, I, I used to say Brig.
(21:01):
Brigham.
Brigham, Brigham.
And my son go, huh? Bring him.
Brigham City.
I said, okay.
And you like, I would, I'll get there.
Brigham City.
Yeah.
And she's lovely.
She's very smart.
And my son already have start bringing her to church and yeah.
Yeah.
I'm gonna go back a little bit about life in California.
Absolutely.
Let's talk a little bit about life in California.
(21:22):
before we come back to Utah.
So what was life like in California? So you came from the Philippines, right? and got into your career, right? and so I just wanna know a little bit how God played in that, or if God wasn't in that at all.
And then just your little bit like kind of your life in California.
Okay.
My life in California, so after two years we moved to Sacramento, California.
(21:45):
my aunt, my aunt, who is my mom's, sister Have, invited us over.
And so my, my, my, my mom and my stepdad, Found a, rental duplex in, Natoma, California.
And that's where we stayed.
I kept on, working as a CNA in, Suter Oaks, nursing center.
and that was really fun way, way back when, that there's a lot of perks working in a nursing home Because it's not only that you get to, take care of an elderly, but Yeah.
(22:17):
There's a lot of different facets.
you also get to be trained to, become a lead in your, in your work, area.
And, my bosses were so good to me, and, potlucks at night.
It's the best.
When you work with Filipino nurses, by the way, you're gonna eat, they're not gonna go ahead and make you hungry.
(22:38):
Yeah.
And it's given whether you work in hospital, love food, I like food hospitals.
I think just like Filipinos in general, anytime I used to go to church and it was all Filipinos and there was always food and it was always homemade food, and it was always the best.
Always good food.
It was always, isn't that amazing? Best food.
Yeah.
I believe that, Filipino is one way of getting, getting through your heart is through food.
(23:00):
Food, yeah.
Love it.
All right, so let's keep talking about California.
Go ahead.
Yeah.
So, after, after three years, I found, this man who happens to be, And This is still in California.
We're still in Sacramento.
Okay.
So I was warming up the mic at our house, we have a.
Party.
(23:20):
I don't remember what party it is.
It's one of the birthday party.
My mom was, finished, cooking.
She's serving up the food, getting the table ready.
And my brother and my brother Larry and his friend came through the door and I was warming up the mic.
Mm-hmm.
My, my mom, my god, for dearly.
Aw.
She, she thinks that I'm a singer.
(23:41):
And so what this is, she will do.
She said, stop helping me go ahead and sing, sing and sing and just warm the house.
I just want our visitors to, to know that you can sing.
My daughter.
Aw, my mama.
Aw.
Anyway, so I was singing my brother and his friend came through the front door and I think I was singing, I Miss You like crazy by, And so one of my brother's friend look at me and his name is Ramon Uhhuh, look at me like, like he, I can really tell because the boys, when the boys came through, came inside, they went, stopped and then went start walking to the garage, right? And so while Ramon was in the gar garage with my brothers and the rest of the boys, he said, bro, is that your sister? She can sing.
(24:35):
Would you introduce me to your sister? Oh, is that your husband? That's my husband.
Oh, how? Yeah.
So he, he thinks that I sing so beautiful.
And he keep on telling.
when we finally got together and met, he was telling everybody of all our friends, both sides that I fell in love with this girl because she can sing.
(24:56):
Aww.
So you guys met, so your brother introduced you? Yeah.
My brother Larry introduced me to To Ramon.
And then did you guys start dating? Like how did that go? it's funny because way back when they're still dating, we, we would come to the house and hang out because Yeah, that's, I love it.
That's, that's how Filipinos are.
You know, it's just like, you're not gonna date my daughter.
(25:16):
I'm gonna go ahead and get to know you too, Uhhuh.
Yeah.
That's, you're gonna date us.
You're gonna date us.
You're gonna go, if you wanna marry my daughter, you're gonna marry, family.
The family.
Yeah.
I love it.
Exactly.
I love it.
Yeah.
Awesome.
Yeah.
So you guys, and so after a year dating, we got married, it was a very simple civil wedding.
(25:37):
Aw.
We had Mark after that.
That was 1990 2nd of August fifth.
Yeah.
Aw.
And my son is just a heaven's gift.
Aw.
He is the most beautiful baby I have laid my eyes to.
He still is.
He still is.
Yes.
Made me cry.
He still is.
That's beautiful.
He is such a baby.
He's a, his face never changed, right? I don't know if it's just me.
(26:00):
Yeah.
But my son is beautiful inside out.
So how was the marriage life? So you got married after a year later? Well, the marriage life was a challenging, we started really, it's, it's a big challenge.
Because my, my husband was, had polio.
Okay.
So he get around with a, a crutches.
Alright.
And my mom didn't really like him.
(26:24):
And I was so, I don't know.
I'm just so enamored.
He has the biggest heart.
Not a lot of people knows them.
He has the biggest heart and, We both fell in love.
Yeah.
I don't know.
I cannot explain it.
We just, we just love each other.
and, he went ahead and helped help his, parents who had, what is this, Walnut plantation.
(26:44):
Walnut Orchard in Marysville, California.
And, he would come and help them, to be able to glean and clean the walnuts and dry and all that stuff.
So that's part of what he does.
when my son was, growing up and I continue working as a, as a CNA.
And I also, thought, I think when he was growing up, when my son was growing up getting ready to, preschool.
(27:08):
I went ahead and deviate again.
I become preschool teacher for eight years because I just wanted to go ahead and kind of like, follow him.
Be with you.
We don't, we just don't trust babysitters.
It's expensive.
It's just like, people are just like crazy.
You're not gonna touch my son.
Sorry.
I get it.
It's my own prerogative.
Yeah.
Yes.
No, you're good.
Yeah.
So, yeah, when, when, my son was growing up, that's where we found the church in Sacramento.
(27:33):
That's beautiful.
It's predominantly, Filipinos.
Okay.
Our pastors were from Sebu City.
Okay.
Yeah.
Pastor Will.
so how long were you married before you found the church? So this whole time you didn't really know God, right? You were just kind of like, so you had that moment when you were 10.
And then you were just kind of like.
You know, I had that moment, but Right.
(27:55):
So then how long were you married before you found the Lord? I believe where my son was about three or four years old.
Oh, beautiful.
Is when we, when my, my, when the, the church started, the first service.
And our pastor have a altar call and my husband and I came in front and accepted the Lord.
(28:15):
Look at that.
How beautiful Jesus's Lord and S savior.
That's beautiful.
I love it.
How is life after that? It was beautiful because we would go to church every Friday.
you know, for a basketball fellowship With the youth, and we would help out, we would have, again, food, you know? Yeah.
For the, for the community.
(28:36):
And it's our one way of kind.
Like, come on kids.
Yeah.
Come on, let's play basketball.
And our pastor would speak, you know, it's one way of us kind of like bringing people To, to, to this church and to the community of, you know, knowing God.
Right.
Yeah.
And it, and I also, worship, leader.
You know, I, I, I worship lead at this church because nobody wants to do it.
(28:58):
And since my mom and I.
And, at Benji, who is, pastor Will's wife, you know? Yeah.
wife of the pastor said, Lauren, go ahead and sing.
You can sing.
I said, okay, I don't know how to do this.
I said, oh, well, you know what? We're gonna go ahead and practice.
You will, you will do fine.
That's beautiful.
So with her, with her, approval and support and love, I'll be able to teach.
(29:21):
Not to teach, but, lead worship to the leadership.
That's amazing.
My son was part of my worship team too.
He played drums, so that was his first drum experience is part of my, worship team.
That's beautiful.
Thank you.
So you guys found God, amen.
And you, amen.
You joined this church.
(29:42):
Your, your son was part of the worship, the worship team.
Mm-hmm.
And how, how did life keep going after that? Our journey as, as a whole family serving God, revolve about church, function.
we would go to church serve through our, through my worship ministry.
(30:02):
My son would lead, I mean, would, play drums and I would also teach Sunday school.
There's where the teachers coming.
Mm-hmm.
And it's been a joy mm-hmm.
Of really telling, younger generations.
I, I believe I have the, the, at one point I have the three and the fours mm-hmm.
And then the youth and then the young adults.
(30:25):
Mm-hmm.
During that time of, open season where I join in and mm-hmm.
And minister to these kids.
But Amen.
it's just, it's so much fun.
it's a lot of work.
Mm-hmm.
And I knew that God is really calling me to, to do things.
Mm-hmm.
Teaching and worship.
Worship.
Yeah.
(30:45):
It's beautiful during that season.
And, it's not easy.
I have had challenges.
Yeah.
sometimes it's like I was looking at my husband's like, why am I gonna get this right? How are we gonna be able to.
Pay this, pay this.
Right.
Yeah.
It's not perfect God, but God, God always, always open to look God, I'm telling you, God is God.
(31:05):
God is so, yeah.
He's so faithful.
He always come through.
Yeah.
and he's always an on-time God.
Yes.
On time.
God, that's so beautiful.
Yeah.
So did you, how long did you guys stay in California then? Did you stay in there for how many more years before you transitioned to Utah? I stayed in California, well, my husband passed away when my, my, my son was Oh wow.
(31:29):
I would like say 15 Oh.
Years old.
Wow.
When he was in middle school.
He passed away.
He passed away.
He has a history of, drug abuse the year before he passed away.
Oh, wow.
And he smokes.
He smokes.
Yeah.
yeah, he really have struggles with that.
And so was it the drug abuse that made him pass away? I am pointing onto that.
(31:51):
He pretty much just, pretty much abuses himself.
Right.
Yeah.
Because, I'm not really, happy to share this, but he passed away the night before partying with his friends.
Oh.
This is when we were, helping mom and dad in, Marysville, California.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
So that must hard.
Yeah.
(32:12):
I just wanted to let you know that mother's prayers, God hears.
Amen.
I heard my mother-in-law, we've gotten really close during the season.
Because it's just like, kind of like Naomi and Ruth, right? You know, over at church today.
While we were talking about that with Pastor Rob, I heard, my mother-in-law prayed one night because we would pray, me and her would pray in the living room while Mark is sleeping.
(32:38):
And she said, amen.
That's beautiful.
God, would you go ahead and take my son? There's nothing I or his wife can't do anymore.
He's yours.
I kid you not, after two, three days, my husband passed away.
Oh, wow.
It's just my mother-in-law and my hearts are just like full of grief.
(32:59):
He just cannot see him really perish.
Right.
He was just hurting himself.
He's just hurting himself and, all of that.
Wow.
Yeah.
That must have been hard for your son.
How did that affect your son? I have hidden the fact that his dad was, abusing drugs.
Oh, wow.
Till I knew, till he, he got the, I think, till, few years ago.
(33:25):
Yeah.
I did not tell my son.
Oh.
Oh, wow.
I did not, I, I protected my son, although he mu must have knew it because he would hang out with his, his, his dad and go fishing And go to his friends, When I'm at, at work.
And, but I protected my son and I did not told him till I knew he was ready.
You know, mature with his heart and his mind.
(33:46):
Right.
And I told him, son, this is really what your dad is doing.
Wow.
He was abusing himself.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's, I believe that through that process that I know my son really have looked up to me and respected me because I told him, Hey, I'm trying to protect you.
I didn't wanna hurt you.
And it's not, yeah.
It's not your fault why your daddy did what he did.
(34:08):
Right.
Yeah.
That's, that's important to make sure that we, clarify that with our kids.
'cause I think sometimes the kids.
kids are so internal, they take everything so deeply.
Yeah.
Sometimes they think, well, did I do something wrong to make dad do this? Right? so I think it's important and it's beautiful for you to clear.
Like it's, it's, it's not your fault that he did it, right? so I, I think that's powerful and that's important, and thank you.
(34:32):
That's probably where the respect comes from, right? Because it's like my mom was trying to guard me, right? And sometimes kids don't understand.
Like even at 15, right? Like the age you think they will understand, they don't, right.
So that's kind of like a mother's thing, right? You have to gauge that.
As a parent, when do I tell my kid? You know, by knowing your kid.
And, and, and who they are.
(34:53):
So I think, I think that was a beautiful choice, for sure.
Thank you.
so is that when the transition to Utah happened? No, not yet.
Okay.
Okay.
Keep going.
Well, I, I stayed single.
I did not really.
after my husband passed away, I just focus on, raising my son.
Working busy, helping a church.
(35:15):
being celibate for 10 years.
Aw.
I'm so proud of that.
Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus.
10 years after he passed away, I said, I am not going.
She said, I did it for 10 years.
I have this.
Yeah.
Anyway, so.
Yeah.
Amen.
Amen.
let's see.
Yeah, I pretty much work.
my son, I just wanna let you know I got my son.
(35:37):
Let me go ahead and backtrack.
My son at one point, when he turned 18, decided to that he's going to move out.
Oh.
At that early age of they just said 19 or 18.
18.
I take it back.
Thank you.
Anyways, so I said, son, who are you going to be? Moving with, and he told me about a duplex and he told me about the friends that he's gonna be moving, him with.
(36:03):
And I said, okay.
I know the families and I know the kids.
They come to, our house, they eat and they, they play video and they're, they're very fun kids and I know their parents.
Mm-hmm.
And so, I would not, one thing for sure about me, I would not let my son really do that kind of move mm-hmm.
If I don't know the people he's gonna be living with.
(36:26):
Period.
Period.
So I have, my son assured me, mom, so this person right here, here, here are going to be moving with me.
We're gonna be fine.
Mm-hmm.
So when, when the time comes, when he moved out.
I cried me a river for three days.
Mm-hmm.
I grieve for him not being with me anymore.
(36:46):
And I was, living in a, the bedroom apartment.
Mm-hmm.
And I said, God, he's yours.
Wow.
He's yours.
And I partnered up with God.
I said, my son is yours, God, he's not mine.
Amen.
And he never, my son, he never gave me a headache.
Oh, look at God.
Amazing.
What a blessing.
(37:07):
Amazing.
He's my son was never perfect.
He's been a very independent and I'm just thankful that by the grace of God that I'm surrounded with brothers that are there for him.
Amen.
And pastors of church youth leaders.
Mm-hmm.
And he is just surrounded with all of his people.
(37:28):
So I'm so grateful.
So much support.
So much support.
It could have been a different story, isn't it? Yeah.
I really praise God for.
Us being a believer, right? Mm-hmm.
It makes a huge difference.
That's beautiful.
And today, while they were playing all this worship, worship song during the eighties, I said, son, remember that you, you learned that from Sunday school.
(37:52):
They were singing that at Sunday School.
And he just nod, no.
Oh, how beautiful.
Yeah.
So, you're a good mom.
You did a good job.
Praise God.
Thank God I am.
We all have floss, right? No, of course.
Especially being a same mom, right? Without God, we are nothing.
I was like, Lord, I'm just a hot mess, but I'm like a hot mess with you, so that's fine.
(38:17):
That's a hot mess.
Amen.
Amen.
Um, so did you, so after your husband passed away, did you not date anybody? Did you get into any relationships, anything like that? Or was it just, just I thought, Yeah.
few years back before I decided to move to Utah, I was in a relationship.
I thought this guy was really, we met at a, a library somewhere in the Bay Area.
(38:40):
And I thought he was really cute.
And he is a smooth talker and he claimed that he have, he has, he's a believer.
he would even tell me that he, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ when he was 10 years old Oh, wow.
In Richmond, California.
Anyways, so, during the pandemic, he, him and I thought, and he said, you know, I might not see you again.
(39:07):
And I said, yeah, I know I might not see you again either.
Because I was living in, you know, another part of town.
And so I said, I said, well, if that's okay with you, I can go ahead and move in with you.
Would you like that? I said, yeah.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
I said, okay.
Well, a friend of mine, in another town where, went ahead and really helped me back and move.
(39:28):
I think that was about.
A week after.
Because I don't wanna mention his name.
No, you don't have to say his name.
Yeah.
So this fellow and I, you know, went ahead and got together in Pittsburgh, California.
And, yeah, it was, it was so good.
For the first six months.
And, you know, we really treated each other nicely and everything.
(39:51):
And he's there for me.
We worked together.
I was working, he's a retired, ex Navy.
and then after on to the seven and eight month, I've seen him change.
Mm.
Little did I know that he was an alcoholic.
Mm.
He went back being alcoholic and, get back with his friend, best friend in high school.
(40:12):
And so To make the long story short, again, this part of my, part of your testimony, testimony.
Um, there are a lot of red flags that happened.
Because during one part that he drank, he would come home and he's just like a monster.
And I don't, I don't have no vices.
Okay.
yeah.
So he would bother me at night.
(40:33):
I would probably have like two or three hours of sleep knowing that I would wake up super early the following day to travel all the way to Walnut Creek area and work.
Oh, wow.
I just, I believe that this is during the season where God had really said, is this the kind of like you would like? Right.
(40:56):
And I have time.
I have like an hour, Going, going to work and coming back.
to really pray and be cornered by God.
Wow.
I love it.
Wow.
And so, no, no, no, no.
I, I really don't want to do this.
And, at the beginning, he promised me that he is going to marry me And he wanna be there for me in the long haul and all that stuff.
(41:17):
Right.
I kid you not, this gentleman right here is known by my family.
We do things with our, my family in Sacramento, barbecue, all of the holidays, we would get together, sang, sang on a couch, with my nephews and nieces with karaoke And, all those songs, and just do life with my brothers when we're there visiting in California.
(41:38):
And so, yeah, it's just, I think after, few.
Months, maybe towards, November or October or November of that year when, the pandemic, broke out, he decided that he wants to go and visit his son in Texas because he's having a big, big party.
(41:59):
And I said, why do you need to go? And so right there and there, I could not really stop him.
And so something tells me that I am not really that important to this person.
I cried and I was really rebellious to God.
I said, this is happening, Lord.
So my prayers then was, okay, well I think God, that you are telling me something.
(42:25):
You are telling me something big right here.
So when he left for Texas and attend his son's big birthday, because I knew he would see his, he would see his ex-wife.
Because ex-wife also did lives in Texas.
In Texas.
Okay.
And so, yeah, I did a lot of breaking, so that Thanksgiving that year I was alone.
(42:45):
Christmas, I was alone.
New Year's, I was alone.
Oh, wow.
He left, he left, he did not come back till after New Year's.
Two or three days after New Year's.
Yeah.
So, so what was the breaking point? Right? He wasn't good.
He was drinking a lot.
so what was the breaking point with him? Okay, so the, the breaking point was when we had a situation.
(43:05):
He came home super drunk one day.
I think he was upset.
I just came home from work that day, had a hard day, came home, I rest, I'm resting.
He called me to go ahead and take, his dog to the bathroom to get him, take her for a walk To, to go potty.
But the dog is sleeping.
(43:25):
Comfortably in the living room.
And I said, so yeah, this is what.
Sge was doing, I am not going to wake up her dog.
And I think that pretty much just send a, trigger on his head.
So an hour after he came home and, we had a little, talk and I was yelling.
(43:45):
He was yelling and he grabbed my throat.
Wow.
I dialed 9 1 1 and I said, please send help here because this guy's going to kill me.
And not only that, so I, when, when the 9 1 1 dispatch said, okay, I'm gonna go ahead and, send the police to your apartment.
(44:06):
I, and he got away, he let, let go of my throat.
I step out to the balcony and get some fresh air and start calling his dad.
While I was on the phone with his dad, he went ahead and punched the side of my head.
Oh my gosh.
And I grabbed one of my, planter, figuring up in my patio.
(44:28):
I was about to hit him.
It was a long neck thing where I put like things like this in my patio.
It broke.
It broke.
Oh, wow.
And so something told me it's like, I am going to leave.
This guy is going to kill me.
So he went back to the, the room.
While he was doing that, I run straight down to my carport and just wait for the police.
Oh, wow.
(44:48):
Yeah.
right there and there, I said, this is it.
this is what you're telling me to go ahead and God to go ahead and leave.
This is, this is the breaking point for me.
Right.
Yeah.
I don't deserve to be Hurt like that.
Wow.
Wow.
I'm sorry.
That's, that's, that's pretty tough.
that's probably a lot of trauma, right? Um, especially when it's physical.
(45:10):
Um, so that night, did you end up packing your things and leaving? I did not.
I went ahead and just packed a little bit in my little duffle bag.
left the apartment and, went straight to.
Check in at, a hotel in Martinez, California.
And then from there I went to straight to the hospital.
Wow.
And get checked out.
I, I just wanted to go ahead and praise and thank God that the only injuries I got is just contusion.
(45:36):
Just contusion.
Wow.
But I, I, God is so good.
God is good.
Done nothing else.
'cause I could, I could have been dead.
Yeah.
Right now.
And I know God is just, have protected me all this time and I, yeah, he's a good God.
He's a good father.
He's a good God.
did they found him at all? Yes, they did.
He went ahead and flee on foot.
so the police that came and interviewed me, asked his identification and asked who he is to me.
(46:04):
So I went ahead and told him.
And at the beginning I was kind of like, should I tell them that I was his girlfriend? Feel like I'm sick.
'cause they would, they would think that I'm crazy.
She's like, I'm not crazy enough.
Just like, anyway, so at the beginning I lied to the police.
I said, yeah, I do.
Anyway.
Yeah.
So, but anyway, I went ahead and rectified that statement and said, yes, I am a living girlfriend.
(46:27):
So, yeah, after, after two days, yeah.
They went ahead and picked him up.
went ahead and took him to jail.
Wow.
Yeah.
I'm so sorry you went through that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's just, I think that's really brave of you though to have spoken up and to have called, I think, I know a lot of people that, justify.
You know, and I think we justify it as women in a lot of different situations, whether it's physically, emotionally, sexually, you know.
(46:53):
We, sometimes we, will doubt it and we.
Question.
Is this really what I think it is? You know, and then sometimes we don't want get people in trouble and, but I'm very happy that, good point you stood up for yourself and that you had enough self-worth to say this is not okay.
Right.
you know, and sometimes we feel bad, but at the end of the day, people, we all need to take accountability for our actions and our decisions that we choose to, to make.
(47:22):
Yeah.
Wow.
So good for you.
You're strong.
That makes you very strong.
So, good job for, I'm really standing so strong because he called me about a month and a half ago, I think I went ahead and mentioned to you last time.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And he got a hold of me through Facebook Messenger.
And was just so crazy.
It's just like I said, John, why are you calling me? I want you to, in my life, you know, I'm a changed person.
(47:47):
The person that hit you wasn't me.
Oh wow.
And I said, no.
You and me are done.
Please go ahead and move on.
Right.
I am moving on and I'm healing.
Right.
I went ahead and did work inside and out.
Right.
I've gone through two counselings and people that have prayed for me over this, time at church and I've never left church because of that.
(48:08):
'cause I know I needed, faith community to really pull me through.
Right.
I think that's beautiful and that's the importance of community.
Yeah.
And you're so beautiful.
You do not deserve that.
Yeah.
You're scared so nobody does.
Yeah.
Right.
Right.
Wow.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Thank you very, very much for having me.
(48:29):
Yeah.
And then Utah, right? You came to Utah, so this happened in Utah, or did it Oh no, it happens in, the Bay Area.
Okay.
Pittsburgh, California.
So all this time my son was just telling me, mom, come to Utah.
You know, it's easy for you to go ahead and say that.
Say that son.
I said, I have a high paying job here.
(48:49):
I'm in a relationship and at the same time my family are in California.
but all this time he's been, telling me, mom, I need you in, Utah getting married.
When I heard him saying married, it's just like, I'm like, when? so that was the last year of September is when he got married to his wife.
So I moved here.
I am turning one year here in Utah on July 1st, next month.
(49:14):
Yeah.
California to Utah.
It's been a great journey to Utah.
Thank you.
It's been a great journey.
That's beautiful.
Yeah.
Plus you get to be close to your son.
Yes.
And he meets you.
Thank you.
And I need him to.
I need him to.
Yeah.
That's beautiful.
So no dating for right now? No.
I'm praying, I'm reminded about Ruth and BOA's story at church today, which is kind of like, okay, Lorna, that's how you kind of like measure up your, your desires.
(49:42):
Yeah.
Yes.
Uh, being single is never easy, especially in my age.
I will be turning, I'm 54, turning 55 on November.
Mm-hmm.
Amen.
And with, with my pain right now on my right leg and, slowing mobility at this season.
Yeah.
you just want somebody to kind of talk to.
Yeah.
And things like that.
I have friends, but I'm trying not to be so serious and Right.
(50:04):
You're just trying to just kind of keep going.
Keep healing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It was beautiful.
Yeah, I know.
My bogus is coming.
That's beautiful.
You might be at Mr.
Utah.
Someone prayed.
Well, a couple of my girlfriends in California said that Mr.
Utah is waiting for you.
Mr.
Utah.
Utah.
I said, I received that sister.
I, I think mine's in Texas somewhere.
(50:26):
Yours, yours.
I, I'm gonna be praying for that six.
Mine be home, right? Dog.
With our dog.
Dog.
My two kids.
Oh, sweet.
Mine in Utah, or not Utah? No.
Maybe traveling.
Maybe traveling to Utah, but he's in Texas.
Hey.
You never know.
You never know.
Might change something, right? There you go.
(50:46):
I feel it.
Amen.
Amen.
That's beautiful.
That's beautiful.
How is God using you right now in this, in this season here in Utah? I'm back.
I'm back with the worship ministry.
Amen.
I had sang my first, song Lead last week, and you just shared your beautiful testimony.
I just love the song at the beginning.
It's like, I, when, when Pastor Andrew have, messaged me the song, I said, I listened to it first and messaged him, pastor Andrew, I do not know this song.
(51:15):
I really don't.
And he said, Lorna, I have you in mind when I thought about this song, so you'll do fantastic.
I said, okay.
And then from that point on, I listened to the song.
I would do, I love singing in the afternoon, part of my therapy, I guess karaoke.
So I would sing like five, six songs with my karaoke system and then the song.
(51:39):
And then I even went to the library and really write the song on by hand.
So I know, I know what I'm gonna sing, right? Because, I don't know, I just love.
When I sing, I wanna be able to know what I'm singing.
Right.
And the heart of the song.
Amen.
It's worship.
Yep.
And that's beautiful.
I praise and thank God.
What's your favorite worship song right now? There's a lot of people have been blessed with that song.
(52:02):
Say that again please.
What's your favorite worship song right now? Oh, wow.
Oh, right now? Yeah.
Oh, there's a lot.
like, is there, you know how there's always that one for your, the season of your like Yeah.
Oh, there you go.
What's the song right now for the season you're in? That's a good one.
It's, it's Flowers.
Flowers.
Okay.
I don't think I've heard that song.
New.
It's a new song.
Who sings it? Lemme see it.
(52:23):
Let me look at it.
I forgot her name.
She's a new worship singer.
I, I do that.
I have songs for every season.
Yeah.
And then whenever I listen to this song and love it reminds me of it about, it talks about how God plant all the beautiful flowers in the valley, not on top of the, mountain.
Right? In the valley.
In the valley.
In the valley.
That's beautiful.
So that's, uh, okay.
(52:45):
Flowers, worship song.
Let's find out.
Yeah, she's a great singer.
Samantha Ebert.
Samantha.
Okay.
I'm gonna have to that out.
Flowers by Samantha Ebert.
Aw, that's awesome.
That's beautiful.
I'm gonna have to listen to it.
so if you had any last words for our viewers and listeners, just any encouragement, anything you feel like God has left on your heart to say.
(53:06):
Sure.
you wanna share that? Sure.
I would love to.
I have a couple of, life verse that I would like to share Absolutely.
With everybody.
the first one is Romans 8 28.
Romans eight 20.
All things work together for good, amen of those who love God and called according to his purpose.
Amen.
And the second one is one Corinthians chapter two, verse 19.
(53:29):
But it is written What? What I.
What No eyes have seen, no ear has heard.
And what no human mind have conceived the things God prepare for those who loved him.
Amen.
Yes.
Amen.
Amen.
Those are beautiful.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thank you RNA for sharing your story.
Thank you.
It's beautiful.
(53:50):
Thank you for being here.
fun.
fun.
And I'm sorry that I did, an ugly cry.
No, you're okay.
That's what we do here.
We cry, ugly cry.
We just have moments.
Yeah.
Don't you even be apologized because Amen.
You know it's real.
We want you to just be your real, authentic self.
Thank you.
That's what this is about.
And then, God, of course.
He's amazing.
So without him, we wouldn't be here, so, amen.
(54:12):
That's true.
That's true.
Thank you so much.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Remember to be bold, be brave and be better.
See you soon.
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