In life, you will experience moments that completely change or shift your life. Moments that say, ” Life must change”. Stefany Watson, Haiti and Quebec birthed those moments for me.
My 20’s
In my 20’s, I was introduced to Depression. It wasn’t a formal introduction, Depression didn’t welcome me with a warm greeting, it completely tore my world upside and down with one hello. According to the National Library of Medicine, Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy miserable, or down in the dumps. Soon after graduating Howard University in 2004, I was depressed. I felt that my life had no purpose. I was living with my parents, I gained weight and couldn’t find a job in the field I received my Undergraduate Degree in. Women are about twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. This two-to-one difference persists across racial, ethnic, and economic divides. However, the depression rate among African American women is estimated to be almost 50% higher than that any other race. ( See more at: http://www.blackwomenshealth.com/blog/black-women-and-mental-health/#sthash.59p0teQ5.dpuf)
2009: Stefany Watson
My depression limited my social interactions with people, it confined me to the darkness of my own apartment, I secluded myself from others and was slowly slipping away. Until one day, my very dear cousin, mentor and friend Stefany , rescued me, she saved my life. God used her to pull me out of my dark moment (we must remind ourselves that these are moments, no matter how intense, how hopeless or traumatic that moment is, it is a moment and it will pass). She helped me create a vision for my life, what I want it to be and where I want to go, but most importantly, she helped me realize my potential and appreciate my own unique beauty. I made up in my mind I would NEVER visit this dark place again, and I asked God to give me strength, joy and peace, peace that surpasses all understanding. And he did.
Philipians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
2011: Croix Des Bouquet, Haiti
One thing about me, when I decide yes, I’m determined to see things through and make it happen, no matter the sacrifice, no matter the obstacles, I endure, persist and overcome. My vision for my life included obtaining my MA degree, moving back to my hometown of Inglewood, Ca, and volunteering abroad to name a few. In 2010, I moved to Inglewood, enrolled into National University and began taking classes to fulfill the MA Teaching Applied Behavior Analysis requirements. In 2011, I took my first trip to Haiti. I didn’t expect to do anything extravagant, I just asked God to use my gifts and talents, use me to share his love, let me be a light and a blessing to someone. I prayed and meditated and found Hatian American Caucus (HAC). They were looking for summer volunteers to help out around the compound, so I applied. When they received my resume and saw my background, they agreed that my experience would be greatly beneficial in their upcoming Teacher seminar and asked if I would be a presenter. This was beyond what I anticipated, but when God shows up…… So of course I accepted and In 2011, I went on my first missions trip to Croix Des Bouquet, Haiti and presented on Behavior Modification Strategies /Changing Behavior. I’m sure you can guess how amazing this experience was for me, it changed my life. I returned to the states feeling like I finally knew my purpose in life, I felt so close to God while on this trip, as if he walked beside me the entire time. After reflecting on my journey in Haiti, I knew I would return, but I couldn’t return just as a presenter, I had to do more. So, I founded backpacks for Haiti. Backpacks 4 Haiti strives to increase the number of children in school and provide educational and financial support to the Haitian Community. Backpacks for Haiti partnered with Opportunities for Learning in Palmdale, CA. to raise awareness and give local high school students an opportunity to fulfill their community service hours. Juniors and Seniors from multiple OFL sites received up to 5 hours of community service for turning in Backpacks filled with school supplies. Opportunities for learning collected over 50 backpacks filled with school supplies. When I returned in 2012, these backpacks were given to the students attending Ecole Shalom primary school in Croix Des Bouquet, Haiti. Again, when I set out to collect backpacks, I had no clear outcome, I just wanted to do more and I asked God to honor my desire and my efforts, that they be pleasing to him and that he use me to be a blessing. And just as he did in Matthew 15:32-39, he supplied the needs of the community.
Matthew 15:32-38
And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
2014: Montreal, Quebec
I had asked for joy, peace, life more abundantly and God provided just that. My heart was made whole, depression , although it still is apart of my life, is a very small part of my life, I am able to manage it. I am in love with God, I am in love with this world he created for us, and most importantly I am in love with me. I appreciate life, the still moments, the quiet of 5:00 am, the ocean, nature and its unique soundtrack. For many years I prayed for life long friendships, that I develop relationships with people who motivate and inspire me, who push me to my next levels and make me a better person. In the summer of 2014, this desire, this prayer came to fruition. I traveled to the east coast to attend the wedding of my dear cousin. I had NO idea what God had in store for me. So many times , we lean on our own understandings, we throw away relationships and people that could develop and mature in time, we let our insecurities blind us and cloud our judgements, and we allow social norms to shape our outlook and expectations. I’m very thankful that I decided to ‘let go, and let God’. I didn’t worry about anything or think about the what if’s or what will happen in the end, I just went, and my goings put me in a car with 3 friends and took me all the way to Montreal , Quebec.
There is so much I can say about this trip, it was PERFECT. None of it was planned, it was all spontaneous or I’d like to say God knew what he was doing all long, I think that is what makes this trip most memorable, that we all saw God in his Glory on this trip. One moment stood out, our last night there, all 4 of us gathered and fellowshipped and it was the most beautiful experience I’ve ever had. God spoke to each and every one of us that night and I am eternally grateful for that experience, that fellowship, the love that was shared and the life long friendships that were built. At one point, we all separated just to meditate, to spend time alone with God and nature. It was in this moment that he told me that life is supposed to be experienced, the only thing keeping me from living life is me. The happiness, the joy and love I felt in this very moment is something I can feel everyday of my life, he has given me the entire world as my playground, and this is my time to play.
The reason I always experience God in a surreal or supernatural way when I travel is because I am in my purpose when I travel. I now know, that THIS is what I am meant to do. When God made me, he added frequent flyer miles hahaha. After Montreal, I prayed that in God’s time, he would prepare me and allow me to travel the world, to see his creation, to spread his word, his gospel, his love and experience miracles. I was then introduced to the World Race, and here I am. We pray and pray and pray for our desires, and sometimes in the midst of the prayers, our life seems to fall apart, but things fall apart so God’s plan for your life can come together. I didn’t go into detail about the times I was let go from my job, how I am currently staying with a friend, and other circumstances that may not look pleasant. But if I didn’t lose my job, I wouldn’t have the time or opportunity to travel the world, if I kept my apartment, I would’ve been distracted with rent and other bills and not focused on fundraising for my trip. I thank God for his favor and that he loves me so much to grant me the desires of my heart. My entire life I was called , it is NOW that i’ve decided to answer and I’m so blessed that My dreams are coming true!!
Psalm 20:4 “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”
