Crash → Coma → Calling: The Accident That Launched Her with Kayla Rose Masteller

A second chance rarely comes how we plan it and Kayla Rose Masteller proves it. In this Hope Unlocked episode, Kayla shares her powerful testimony of a midnight accident, recovery, and the moment Philippians 4:13 became her lifeline. Hear how physical therapy, unexpected provision, and renewed calling led her from Bible college doubts to missions and seven years as a missionary-educator in South Korea. We also dive into faith-based entrepreneurship and Velvet Rose Studios—hand-painted art, canvas shoes, journals, and Ephesians-inspired collections that help people literally walk out their faith. If you need hope, healing, purpose, and a reminder that your story matters, this one’s for you.

Kayla's contact info:

Email - kaylarose@velvetrosestudios.com

Website - www.velvetrosestudios.com

Velvet Rose Store (Use code AUTHENTIC10 for 10% off)

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Transcript

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Welcome And Mission Of The Show

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Welcome to the Hope Unlock Podcast. I'm your host, Kristen Kurtz, and I'm also the founder of New Wings Coaching. I help and empower wild-hearted and adventurous women of faith feeling caged and stuck, unlock their true purpose and potential, break free from limitations, and thrive with confidence, courage, and hope. If you're curious to learn more about coaching with me, head to newwingscoaching.net and be sure to explore the show notes for ways to connect with me further. Get ready to dive in as we uncover empowering keys and insights in this episode. So tune in and let's unlock hope together. Welcome to the Hope Unlocked Podcast. I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host. I pray this episode is like a holy IV of hope for your soul.

Meet Kayla Rose

SPEAKER_01 0:55

Please help me welcome Kayla Rose to the show. I'm so excited to have her here today. Um, when we first connected, I I heard a little bit of her story, and I just knew that I wanted to have her on here to share her story and really the ways that the Lord is leading her in her world right now. And I know that she's gonna have such a beautiful testimony to share with you guys today. So, Kayla, would you be open to just sharing a little bit about yourself before we get into your story?

SPEAKER_00 1:21

Yeah, so thank you for having me on here. Um so my name is Kayla, and um yeah, so I'm an entrepreneur and I have a I started a business called Velvet Road Studios um back in 2024. And when I started the business, um uh so I have to kind of go back a little bit to 2020. So um I'm

Reigniting Art And Starting A Business

SPEAKER_00 1:44

actually from Canada. Um here living in the States on a green card, and I met my husband online uh during the pandemic, and um, you know, I just shared with him that I used to paint, but I didn't think I was very good at it. Okay. And he just encouraged me to start to pick up the brush again, to start painting. And that led me to creating so much artwork, not knowing what to do with it. And he said, I think you can start a business. And that honestly, I didn't know what what that was gonna look like. Um, but my heart has always been to share my story, and so I was looking at ways to turn my art into things more than just designs on shirts or bags. Um, and when I came across um this company where I could turn my art into shoes, something just stirred within me. Because to me, shoes symbolizes stepping out in faith. And I saw a beautiful way of me combining um my art, this talent, into creating um a business as a as a platform to share my story. So yeah. So beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 2:54

And I just really want to like give this highlight to your husband for just really drawing that out of you. I I think it it can be rare at times, um, you know, just for women that I've talked to, um, they don't always get support from whether it's spouses or friends or family members. It's it's more kind of questioning, like, hmm, do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 3:19

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

Um, so it's just beautiful that he really drew that out of you and helped you take that step, right?

Faith, Risk, And Online Dating

SPEAKER_00 3:26

And honestly, uh, like I didn't want to do online dating. Um, but that was something I felt God leading me to do. And I know it sounds odd to people when I tell, when I say, like, God told me to do online dating, like he led me there. Like my my faith walk is God tells me to do something or go somewhere. And it's like I am hesitant and I want to hold back, but I know that once I step out in that in faith, like God always meets me where I'm at, and he's um, he's not calling me and abandoning me. And so I know, like, yeah, he's just so good. And you know, I I do believe that God led me to my husband and brought me here and led me to start this business.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

So yes, well, love even what you said. I was just even imagining like Jesus calling Peter out of the boat, and he was kind of like, Oh, really? You know, kind of I imagine him kind of questioning, like, are you are you sure? And then he did it. Like, do you kind of resonate with Peter in the Bible?

SPEAKER_00 4:24

Oh, a hundred percent.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

I man, there's the my whole life has been questioning, you know, I question things, but then God would answer and meet me. And it's like, are you gonna are you gonna take that step? I think so many people want to um, you know, they they want to know all the answers. They want to know, okay, if I step on the boat, is it am I gonna start drowning? Like, or am I going to be on solid ground? So, and that's you know, faith isn't having isn't having all the answers. It's trusting the one that does. And um, yeah, so that's that's been my life story. And you know, I've had to walk through so much, so much, but God has never left me alone. He's always been there. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

Well, you and you said like walking this out literally your whole life. Um, do you remember maybe even that first time, like maybe even as a child, like walking this out? And um, were you hearing his voice at a young age like that?

Calling To Missions At Fifteen

SPEAKER_00 5:30

So I actually didn't become a Christian until I was 12 years old. Um and you know, I I I learned about God when I was in, learned about Jesus when I was like when I was a child, but I didn't grow up in a Christian family. I went to um my mom signed me and my sister up for a bus ministry that took us to Sunday school weekly um and took us to kids' ministry on Wednesdays. So that was my first introduction to Jesus. You know, um my Sunday school, I remember my Sunday school teacher saying, telling us that she was a Christian, and I admired her so much, and I was like, it's really silly. But I said, I was saying to myself, I want to be a Christian when I grow up. Oh and it wasn't until we left, um, we moved from northern Canada um down south, um, still north if you're in the States, but like um, um, so we moved down and I actually became friends with the pastor's daughter. And so it's a a bit of a long story, but um, that really started things off with um my mom getting married to my stepdad. He took us to church. He claimed to be a Christian, but I I, you know, he was more of a Sunday Christian, um, didn't really live that out. But um yeah, but I started to go to youth group and and God was really pursuing me because I remember when I was 12 years old going to my room after um one night after doing some devotions, um, and I and I had this fear that if I don't accept Jesus, like I'm gonna go to hell. And so I prayed. Um I prayed to God to forgive me. And um, you know, it it really started this whole journey of um with my faith. You know, a year later I signed up for a course at the call at the church um where we got to study the Bible within two years. Um that really set a foundation, and then that led me to um getting called to the mission field at 15 years old. Wow, 15. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:39

Wow. Well, tell us more about that.

SPEAKER_00 7:41

Yeah, so um it was a graduation of this like two-year program that I was in. Um, and God had uh like I didn't know it was God, I didn't recognize God's voice, but I kept hearing this thought missionary in my mind. And I thought, well, that's odd. Like the only missionary I knew was Mother Teresa.

SPEAKER_02 8:02

Sure.

SPEAKER_00 8:03

Um, and so the idea that I had was um a missionary was like living somewhere in Africa, building wells, feeding orphan, you know, being single for the rest of your life. And um at 15 years old, that was that was uh that that was not in the card for me. I'm like, no, thank you, I'm not doing that. Um and then a few weeks later, um, we go to the church, had like a little graduation for us, and the thought came back, and I was like, this is so weird. I don't even know what a missionary is. And this lady comes up to me, this older lady comes up to me and she says, I feel right now that God's telling me that you're going to travel to nations.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

Wow, wow, and you're you're 15 and you're hearing this.

SPEAKER_00 8:53

15 years old. Yep.

SPEAKER_01 8:54

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

And I think I'm gonna, I think I'm gonna die from my faith. Like I went to a con a concert, Christian concert. I won a free book from the door raffle, and it was about martyrs.

SPEAKER_01 9:07

And this was shortly after, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:10

Shortly after. Like I like I I I thought, okay, I'm gonna be single forever. I'm going to have to die for my faith. Like, right. So it was very scary. Um, but it was really beautiful how God was leading me through all of that. He never left my side. I I didn't have a father in my life. Um, I didn't have anyone to really direct me um where to go. Um, so I asked my pastor, how do I become a missionary? And he said, go to Bible college. And um, you know, I didn't want to do that either, but um what what other choice did I have? So yeah. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

So did you go to I I did.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

So actually, my friend who her her dad was the pastor, um, she wanted to do youth ministry. And it was back like back around the time when we all had dial-up, you know, the computers and not everybody not every had a home computer.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

I forgot about that. Yeah, okay. Um yeah, so that was like that was like what 20 years ago?

SPEAKER_00 10:25

Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah, because I went to college 20 years ago. So wow, okay. Oh my gosh. Um, so my I was like, I'm gonna go to Bible college. And I was looking up a college online, and I told my friend, hey, why don't you come on look like come to my house and look on

Bible College Struggles And Dismissal

SPEAKER_00 10:43

the computer? Because I had already decided on a different college. Um, and we came across a college that I ended up going to in Alberta called Vanguard College. Uh this is a really small Bible school, and um, their youth minister program and their missions program looked amazing. So um, yeah, so I decided that we were gonna we decided we were gonna go together.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Oh, you did.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Oh we decided we were gonna go together, got the application. Um, she decided that she wasn't gonna come anymore. Oh so I applied. Um yeah, so I uh so I uh had a filled up the application. Now, now I have to also say this that I was not a great student in school. My grades were really poor. I don't even know how I made it to college, like why they accepted me. But I prayed before I sent my application in the mail and I said, God, don't send this back to me approved if this is not where you want me to go.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

That's such a wonderful prayer, right?

SPEAKER_00 11:50

It's scary. I mean, I like I said, I was I felt kind of directionless. I didn't have I didn't have the support, like the the family structure and the support that you know most people have. So I was really relying on God to lead me. Um well um I did get an I did get an acceptance at the school. Um they put me on academic probation. Um, I found a roommate online through their online portal that they had for roommates, which was crazy. I literally took a Greyhound bus for 18 hours across the country to go to college. And um, yeah, like God really provided. Um now it was not easy. I questioned, I you know, for that first year, I wasn't sure if I had made the right decision. I signed up for four-year program because I was like, if God's calling me here to be a missionary, then I'm gonna do the four years. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

But did you do the four years?

SPEAKER_00 13:00

I did, but it took me five years to finish.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:04

Um, and I'll get into that because that that's um it's a it's a bit of a crazy uh testimony, and it's one that I um that I love to share. Um now I went to college the first year kind of doubting that I made the right decision. Then we went on a missions trip um in 2007 for six weeks overseas to Asia. Now, my like I had said, I was failing, I wasn't great in school. I actually almost failed theology. They, and if I had failed, I wouldn't have gone on this missions trip, but they um let me do some extra work so I was able to bring my grades up so they were so I was able to go. So I went on a seven, uh, we went over to Asia for seven weeks, and um, we taught English and did like some volunteer um projects over there. Um, and I remember when when I landed in China, that feeling that I had at 15 years old, I was 19 now, when that feeling that I had at 15 years old when when someone came and said you're gonna travel to nations, that fluttering in my spirit, like just that fluttering in my chest just came back.

SPEAKER_01 14:19

It's like full circle moment, right?

SPEAKER_00 14:21

Yeah. And I knew that this was exactly where I was supposed to go. This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. So I'll tell you, I had all this passion, all this fire. There was nothing, there was nothing appealing about being on this trip. We slept on metal bed frames, like with a bamboo mat. Like we had to take bucket showers sometimes because there wasn't proper running water, like, but I loved it so much because I knew that's where I was supposed to be.

SPEAKER_01 14:58

Wow. Wow. And would you say that it kind of like even went back to that word that you know somebody like had that vision of you, right? It was just like this confirmation, like, oh my gosh, this is where I'm supposed to be. Because obviously it sounds like it wasn't a luxurious trip, but what was it about that knowing deep inside?

SPEAKER_00 15:54

I think it was just having that awareness, um, knowing that um, knowing that God was really speaking to me and God was really leading me. Um you know, because like I was a I was a Christian for a few years, but I didn't have that intimacy with him, you know, and so I felt like that that can that began um growing as time went on and um just learning to hear him more. Um, but I will say, Kristen, when I went back to college after that whole trip for my second year of college, I was on fire. I was excited, but I was ready to run and just get my degree so I can go back overseas. Okay. And yeah, I was excited, I was all ready to go, but um, but I wasn't. I wasn't ready. Like there were so many things that happened my my second year. Um, I had a roommate, um, she left us behind, you know. So me and my other roommate were struggling with rent. Um, I wasn't great with finances, I wasn't great with school. Okay. Um I actually was my grades just kept declining. Where towards the end of 2007, um I got a letter from the college saying that they were dismissing me. Oh, really? Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

And that was your sophomore year?

SPEAKER_00 17:19

Yep. So they were dismissing me, kicking me out of school, and I like I can like if you can just imagine like the amount of um regret that I had, like I thought that I had messed up God's plan for my life. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 17:41

Yeah, you can almost like viscerally feel that when you say that, right?

SPEAKER_00 17:46

Yeah. I was like, what am I gonna do now? Like, I'm God called me to be a missionary, He He led me to go here and I messed up, you know. Um, and I prayed and I pleaded with God. I said, God, give me a second chance.

SPEAKER_02 18:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:02

And uh I honestly didn't know how that was gonna look. I thought, you know, at the end of the semester, I'm just gonna go back home. I'm not even gonna tell my friends or anyone that I'm not coming back. Um and I had started a part-time job who was working at Sears uh when that still existed. Yeah, that was Sears. Oh, dial up, Sears. I'm aging myself.

SPEAKER_01 18:28

We're taking it way back, girl.

SPEAKER_00 18:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 18:32

Yeah, so I'm definitely aging myself with the dial-up and the sears, but um, so I, you know, a friend of mine um had said was asking me if I was coming to the Christmas party. It was like we did a year-end Christmas party for the missions program, um, which involved gift exchange and they do midnight tobogganing down a ski hill. So tobogganing, like sledding if you're not from the north. Um yeah, and it's not a hat either. Um, yeah, so it's literally just going down on a sled uh down a ski hill. Okay. So I had no intention of going to this Christmas party. Um, but a friend of mine said, hey, like I'll come pick you up from work because like I had to work that night and the party was on the other side of town.

unknown 19:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 19:25

But I'll come pick you up. And I was like, okay. Um, but I didn't have a gift. I didn't have a gift for the gift exchange. Um, but I I went and I felt kind of embarrassed being there because I didn't have anything, but um, they threw in extra gifts for the gift exchange and I ended up getting plastic utensils.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

So it was you remember, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 19:48

Yeah, I I will say that I I have very vivid memories of this night um because this night changed everything from for me. It um because that night um I ended up getting into a really bad accident at the Christmas party that I had not intended on going to. Um that night, like I said, we did a midnight tobogganing. Um, I have no memory of that. Um, we went down um to the ski hill, and so so so my memories is about three hours before. Okay. So the next three hours that proceeded from that, um, I have no memory of getting dressed, going to the ski hill. We went down the hill for midnight tobogganing. I've done it once before,

The Toboggan Accident And Coma

SPEAKER_00 20:42

so I I'm familiar with the with the size of it. It's a pretty wide hill, but I guess I went down at quite a speed where I hit um a fence at the bottom of the hill, flew over top, um, hit a handrail on the other side for the chairlift. So I basically did a 180 um and hit the left side of my face, um, fracturing my cheekbone and my whole eye socket, um, and bruising the right side of my brain, which in turn paralyzed the left side of my body. I had um I had a brain hemorrhage, which caused all this pressure on my brain, cut off my breathing. They gave me, they gave me an emergency tracheotomy. They had to put a shunt in my skull to drain the fluid. Um, I was taken to ICU. I was in ICU for four days. Um, they didn't know if I was gonna survive. Um, and then once I was started recovering, they didn't know if I would ever walk again or talk. Um I was in a coma for 15 days. I miraculously was only in the hospital for three months. Like yeah. So when so when you think like, you know, with all of stuff that was going on in my life at this time, it's like I really was heading towards rock bottom. But also going back, I prayed, I prayed um to God to God to give me a second chance, not realizing that He was answering my prayer.

SPEAKER_01 22:26

Say that again. I feel like somebody needs to hear that.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

Yeah. So um like in that moment, I I was, you know, at rock bottom, but in looking back a few like shortly, I don't know how long before it was, um, I had prayed to God to give me a second chance, not realizing that what was happening in this moment, God was answering that prayer that I had that I had asked, you know, to give me a second chance. He just was answering in a way that I would never have expected, you know.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

Yeah. Um I mean, wouldn't you say, I mean, looking, you can look back at it now and see that, but at that time, like bring us into that moment. And when you did wake up, like tell us more about that.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Yeah. So when I came out of my, I went through post-traumatic amnesia for six weeks. So I don't have any memory first from going to the Christmas party six weeks later, lying in a hospital bed. Um, the room was really was with the lights were all off. I couldn't see very well, my vision was blurry. Um, and I couldn't move my body. And I remember going back to that night, remember that I was feeling getting kicked out of college, was not planning to be at this party. And I um and I just so I remember that moment and being like, I thought God was punishing me. Um, and I was like, I deserve this. I don't know where I am. I thought I was in a dream. I

Anger, Rehab, And A Verse That Shifted Everything

SPEAKER_00 24:06

I really thought God was punishing me. And um, but I and I was angry. Um I was angry for weeks, um, not understanding what was going on. I was angry at everyone that came to see me. Um, I was angry that I couldn't move my body. Um it was painful. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:28

I mean, I can't, I'm I'm just trying to put myself in that place of like awakening from being you were you're basically in a coma, you said for how long? Six weeks?

SPEAKER_00 24:39

Um, I was in a coma for 15 days, but the total time with my post-traumatic amnesia was six weeks.

SPEAKER_01 24:47

Okay. So you're you're coming out and you're like, just like, what is going on, right? Um wow. So the people that came to visit you, I'm sure, like, you know, well-meaning, but yet you had this anger, right? How did you how did you move through all of this? And like, what did it look like? You know, that next step, right? We talk about steps. What was that next step for you to um kind of move on into that next season?

SPEAKER_00 25:13

Yeah. So, um, so like I said, I was I was feeling angry at everyone. Um, I was angry that, you know, I couldn't do anything. I lost, I lost my ability to do everything. Um, I was moved from uh from uh just like a general hospital to a rehabilitational hospital once I came out of my amnesia. Um and there they they put me under 24-hour watch. Like I was strapped to the wheelchair because I would try to get up. Yep. I hurt myself many times. I um I was angry at God. I swore at people, I swore at God. Um and it was this one moment when I was sitting in the wheelchair after coming back from therapy. I would not, I would refuse to do physical therapy. It hurt to get out of my wheelchair, it hurt to move, um, you know, after being bedridden for so long. And a verse, so my friend, the one that was supposed to come to Bible college with me, um her favorite verse was four Philippians 4 13, where I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And that verse came back to mind um in that moment while sitting in the hospital, kind of having this pity party for myself. Um and I was depressed, like you know, I I messed up, so I thought. And I I remember like I remember feeling so angry at God, like you know, at this hearing this verse again. So I decided, okay, God, I'm gonna test you at your word. And you know, we're not supposed to um, you know, test God, um, but you know, his word is true. So um I do want to make sure that's clear that um we're not we're not called to test God, but you know, with his word we do test his word against things.

SPEAKER_01 27:12

Well and it's almost like you could flip the script and say just walk it out, like walk out the word.

SPEAKER_00 27:18

Yeah, right. Um, yeah. So I I just need to be careful. I I just wanna I just wanna put that out there.

SPEAKER_01 27:24

Um I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00 27:26

Yeah. Um, because so many people can can abuse and misuse scripture. And so um it's very, very important to um, yeah, with with with that. So, anyways, um, so I decided, okay, God, I'm gonna test you at your word, believing that he like, is he really gonna give me the strength to do this? So I started to apply myself to my therapy. And I because I was frustrated, I was I was angry, and so I was working through that. Um, and within, I think it was about two weeks, there was a massive recovery. I started to make massive strides in my recovery. Oh wow. And something shifted, and I knew God was real, and I knew Jesus was was real, and um, you know, I was actually nicknamed. Um, this is kind of funny. I was nicknamed the runaway patient because in the hospital I would try to escape. And that's why they strapped me to the wheelchair. Oh my god. Um and I started, I had this boldness because I was so close to like I had already been so close to death that um at this point I like I wasn't afraid, you know. And I started to proclaim Jesus in the hospital

Rapid Recovery And Miraculous Provision

SPEAKER_00 28:47

to people. And so they nicknamed me the evangelist.

SPEAKER_02 28:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 28:53

Oh my gosh. So I like I I just remember this one um this one memory that I have of someone put a friend of mine pushing me out of the unit of the hospital in my wheelchair. I couldn't walk yet. And I remember seeing this lineup of people from the geriatrics ward going into the cafeteria, and they were all sitting in a wheelchair, they had this depressed look on their face, and I could make eye contact with them. And I said to them, I said, I said, I know a God that's bigger than your situation and my situation, and I know that he's going to heal me and I'm gonna go running out of this hospital.

SPEAKER_01 29:32

Yes, girl.

SPEAKER_00 29:34

Like a medical missionary.

SPEAKER_01 29:36

Yep. Wow. Oh my gosh. Yeah. So you you you just had this huge turn of events and you were literally walking out the word with the Lord, and you knew that he was healing you. And like, how long was it before you were able to be released and and literally run away?

SPEAKER_00 29:59

So um, yeah, so I was in the hospital December 15th of 2007. Um, I got out of the hospital in March, March 15th, 2008. Now, a month before I was released, um, I had updates from like the medical staff. I think it was like psychology, my social worker said was giving some kind of like information about how my recovery was going with my friends who were there. Um, and they said, We're expecting you to be out of the hospital within a month to two months. Now, prior to this, they thought I was probably gonna be in the hospital for a year or longer.

SPEAKER_02 30:35

Really?

SPEAKER_00 30:36

But with all this, yeah, with all this recovery that I was making, they is they they thought, okay, I'll be out within a month to two months. And I said in that moment, I remember saying, I'll be out in a month. And a friend of mine, yeah, a friend of mine was like, Well, you might be in a little bit longer. And I said, no, I'll be out in a month. And honestly, I was out uh exactly a month later. Um and let me go back to my prayer. So that prayer, I said, God give me a second chance to go back to school. Now they had already, you know, I was already proceeding to be kicked out of college. I asked God to give me a second chance. Well, I had to live with my I had to live with a family for a few months after the hospital after I left the hospital in March. So I lived with my professor and his family. And um he was on the he was on like on the dean or the board or whatever of academics. Um, and for some reason they let me go back on a modified course load.

SPEAKER_02 31:43

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 31:44

Um, they, you know, I had to work with the tutor, I had to, I had to do hours of psychological testing. I had to have an outpatient person come and monitor me in some of the classes to see if I could, you know, if I could actually maintain this. Okay. So I um, yeah, so it was crazy because I knew God had answered my prayer. Now, um, there were so many other miracles that happened, and we don't have time to go into all of that, but I but um what I want to say is that when I went back to school in September, I took two courses. Um and I worked with a tutor. Someone heard about my accident, paid for two years of my schooling.

Graduation And Seven Years In Korea

SPEAKER_02 32:25

Stop it.

SPEAKER_00 32:26

Yep. Another um, another professor paid for all of my books for a year. Um there was so much provision. Um yeah, it was it was crazy. So I go, so I go to college and I'm like, I used to be that student sit in the back of the back of the classroom. I sat in the front of the classroom because I did deal with some um some issues um with attention and focus after I had my accident. So um I I needed no distraction because if someone was doing something in front of me, I would be distracted. Um so I I really applied myself. Um I went from D's to B's in a semester. I got off of academic probation and I um went on a missions trip, um, bought myself in 2010 um to Thailand for um yeah, for four months. And then um I did summer courses to kind of catch up with schooling. So I was held back like a year, but um, so I enrolled in September 2020 of 2006. I go I graduated college in 2011. I graduated in April um with a diploma in theology.

unknown 33:47

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 33:48

Finished up some courses um in August 2011 um with my Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies and Theology, um, as well as a teaching certificate. So my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 34:02

So incredible. And it's and it's almost like you know, you got a degree in theology, but you literally walked out, like you literally walked it out, like you walked out this faith life through that time, right? Would you say that that was more beneficial to you than the degree?

SPEAKER_00 34:20

Oh yeah, a hundred percent. I like the the degree was really helpful. I needed I needed that foundation. Um, also having having the degree gave me the opportunity to teach overseas because that was a prerequisite to teaching, was like you had to have a degree. Okay, yeah, in in anything. Um and so yeah, like literally like me um after graduating college, I was again, I was supposed to go overseas with a friend, another friend of mine. Um, and it was her idea to go to South Korea. I didn't want to go to South Korea. I was like, I'm gonna go to the unreached, I'm gonna go to, you know, to some place that needs a missionary. You know, I had all these ideas in my head of what a missionary was supposed to look like and things, but you know, um, but God knew otherwise. And so my friend, um, another friend, she suggested let's go teach in Korea. So I was like, okay, well, I'll go for a year.

SPEAKER_02 35:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:24

She backed out on me after I found I had found a job and I was considering going. And I was like, okay, well, she backed out on me. Do I proceed? And um, and so I just, you know, I just I did, and I was like, I have I don't know where else to go. So I did. Um, and I my recruiter that I found on a Google search told me to bring a thousand dollars with me to to go over for the first month. I didn't have a thousand dollars. I had eight hundred dollars. That was the most that I could bring with me. Um, I didn't have a credit card. Um I didn't have the family support that I needed in case something were to happen. Um and I like they paid for my ticket. Like I didn't know who I was meeting. Like I talked to one teacher and the my boss once on the phone.

SPEAKER_02 36:17

That was it. Yeah. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 36:20

Literally, I just went and I was like, I'm going to the airport. I had a suitcase and duffel bag, and um I went and it was amazing. Um, it was not easy. Um, I stayed at this job for two years. I ended up staying in Korea for seven years. Seven years? Seven years teaching.

SPEAKER_01 36:42

Okay, stop for a second. Like you went there with the intention of one year, and did you ever come back to the US in between that time?

SPEAKER_00 36:50

So I'm actually not from the US. So I was in Canada.

SPEAKER_01 36:53

Or from Canada, I'm sorry, I apologize.

SPEAKER_00 36:55

That's all right.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

Did you go back to like your hometown during I did?

SPEAKER_00 37:00

I went back, I think two years later. Um, after um, no, I think I went back the first year, and then I went back. Um, I only went back to Canada a couple times. Um, in between, I think the longest I stayed over there was like three, three and a half years without coming back.

SPEAKER_01 37:18

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 37:18

So um I love it.

SPEAKER_01 37:22

And then you know, it goes back to, you know, a lot of times when we give our yes, we don't you talked about this in the beginning, like we don't see the fullness of what we're saying yes to, and things can change. It's like Proverbs 3, 5 through 6. Like we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps, right? Wow. Girl, I love your tenacity and boldness. Um

Entrepreneurship As Testimony

SPEAKER_01 37:46

I know that this is gonna bless so many. I want to make sure that we, I know we're gonna kind of skip ahead a little bit. Um, I want to make sure that we just share a little bit more about what you're currently doing with your entrepreneurial um pursuits. And actually, I want to share a little bit about um through our connection, um, I saw what she was doing and I just wanted to partner with her. And sometimes I like to just, I don't know, just be a conduit of I don't know, coming alongside somebody and bringing an expanded idea. So I actually went to her and asked her if she'd be willing to create something for me. Would you be open to maybe just sharing about, you know, first of all, what it is you do right now, maybe what the process was like when I asked you. Um, and then you can share what what you created if you'd like.

SPEAKER_00 38:37

Yeah. So um, so I design shoes, they're just like canvas shoes. I design artwork by hand. Um, and to me, shoes symbolizes that stepping out in faith. And so I really want to encourage people to be bold in their faith, to create authentically and to step out in faith. Like I want this to be a reminder when you look down at your shoes to be reminded that that you're not walking this alone, this faith journey. And um, yeah, so my heart is to share my story. Did I go through a really hard time? Yes. Um, would I take any of that back? No. I am it was the worst thing that's ever happened to me, but it was the best thing that's ever happened to me. And it wasn't just because of all the amazing blessings that God did in my life, it was it was sharing in the sufferings of Christ and my intimacy with the intimacy that I gained during that time was not uh I I would not replace that, you know. We we share in the sufferings of Christ. I'm so grateful for that. Now, when I connected with Kristen, um, so I was, you know, still growing my business um online and trying to make connections with other business owners. Um, I, you know, I added Kristen and she, you know, messaged me. So like, like, what was it that um that made you want to reach out? So I was very, I was very honest. Um, I didn't really know what, like why. I just felt like I needed to just build more connections with um with like-minded Christians. And um I remember you, Kristen, looking at my website and you're like, ask me about stickers. And it's like, I don't design stickers, but I could.

SPEAKER_01 40:31

Um and because like I was, I think at the time it was just journals and yeah, but there was something on your journal that there was words that were exactly what I have said when it comes to this podcast.

SPEAKER_00 40:45

Yes, so my journal,

Collaboration On Journals And Stickers

SPEAKER_00 40:46

um, my journal is titled Your Story Matters, um, to write it out. So I actually created the journal um back in the spring. Um, my shoes, um, they're sent from China from a manufacturer over there. So with all the tariff issues, um, I had to put a hold on my store. And I was like, God, what what do I do now? You know, and I didn't want to put I didn't want to put my business on hold. You know, I I started a blog, I tried to focus on other businesses and promoting them, um, and having them share their stories, but um, I really felt led to um start this journal. And it's just a blank journal. But I documented a hundred moments, um, and one of them being my brain injury, which I did share online. But um, yeah, Kristen reached out to me and asked me about stickers, and I didn't I didn't know, like I didn't, yeah, you know, but um it was a really cool journey because um I was having to do research and learning about sticker companies and how to format things. And um through that whole process we were messaging each other back and forth, and I was drawing out the different elements that I was gonna add to the sticker, and um I was painting it and drew I drew the book, like it was a good book. Um and it was yeah, it was just a really cool, it was a really cool uh journey to be on. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:15

Yeah, I I just appreciate like just how you your business, like ethics and the way that you um are willing to take you know bolder steps than maybe some would be, you know. Um and and really follow the Lord in that. And I uh honestly I was like, oh my gosh, her journal says your story matters, which is um I I do something specific, which I'm not gonna share exactly why I have the stickers, um, but they are in relation to my podcast. So um, but I I got them and I was like, oh my word. It was so above and beyond what I could have, you know, asked or imagined, you know, Ephesians 3.20. So I just thank you for that. And I wanted to have you on here too, to just really get your name out there. Um, what what are you currently doing right now if if maybe somebody is listening in and they're like, oh, stickers and journals and you know, um, what are you doing and how can maybe somebody who's listening in today, like, who are you looking to come alongside in this time?

SPEAKER_00 43:19

Yeah, so um starting 2026, I really felt God shifting me to um to doing collections. So I have um, if you go to my website, velvetroasstudios.com, I um I have for this year, I have six themed collections based on the book of Ephesians. The first one is um uh entitled Chosen. So that's Ephesians 1, uh verse 4 and 5, talking about how we're a chosen nation, like chosen people. Uh, we've been adopted and what does that mean? Right. And so um each of the shoes are used to be a talking piece. You can use them for evangelism, but also to encourage yourself. Now, I do sell the journals as well. I also have shifted

New Collections And Small-Batch Partnerships

SPEAKER_00 44:03

to helping smaller businesses. So I am looking for partnerships right now, um, partnering along people that align with the vision that I'm going with. Maybe you're a small business and you uh don't have a lot of visibility right now. Um, that's something I'm also working on is creating custom products at a smaller quantity. Um, because if you're a new business um and you're trying to seek out manufacturers to create products, the minimum requirement is usually 50 to 100. I only offer 10 um as a minimum. Um, so I'm uh I'm working out a lot of moving pieces right now, and honestly, it's having to live out what I'm calling people to do, step out and faith. Exactly. Yeah. And I can't do that unless I do that myself. And so that's what my whole journey has been like. Um yeah. And so I'm looking at like collaborations with people. Um, I am I am growing, I'm working on different platforms. Like before this interview, me and Kristen were talking. Um I'm actually I my husband actually gave me permission to go part-time with my job next month. Um and I, you know, with my job, it's like I could make more money next month, you know, work is gonna pick up more um because we're not in the winter anymore. But it's like it doesn't make sense, but that's the direction that I feel like God's leading me into. And so I'm so thankful that um yeah, that my husband's willing to allow me to walk that out. Yeah. Um, yeah. So beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 45:47

Well, I can't wait to hear like what happens even over the next, you know, few six months. Um, I love your obedience. And

Encouragement, Prayer, And Closing Blessing

SPEAKER_01 45:56

you know, I often say that a lot of times, you know, even in my own walk as a business owner, it on paper doesn't make sense. But when he calls you to it, you say yes because your yes has like it has generational implications and your yes, there's like people waiting for you to be fully released to do what what you're called to be doing, and to not give up, even when, you know, the accounting maybe looks upside down. Just, you know, maybe you're not seeing the business you thought you would have right away. But I just always love to think of, you know, Galatians 6 9. Um, you know, it's basically encapsulated, do not give up. Do not give up. So I just want to speak that over you. Do not give up, keep going. Um, could you just share again your website so people can look you up when they get a moment?

SPEAKER_00 46:48

Yeah. So my website is velvetrose studios.com. Um, and I do have a I do have a coupon code. So anyone that's listening, if you use the code authentic10, you'll get 10% off.

SPEAKER_01 47:04

Okay, perfect.

SPEAKER_00 47:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 47:06

Um, authentic 10. I will be sure to add this to the show notes and um feel free to you know reach out to Kayla. She's amazing. Um, maybe you have an idea that, you know, like me, I'm like, hey, do you do stickers? I don't know. So just saying. Um, but as we close today, I would love for you to just think of that one who is listening in today. Um, would you just be open to just maybe sharing any other words of encouragement over this one? And then would you pray us out today?

SPEAKER_00 47:36

Yeah. Um, yeah. So I just want to encourage you, you know, God is always with you. You know, whatever hardship you're whatever um situation you're dealing with right now, you know, it's like we may not understand why, but um, or we may be questioning why me. And, you know, I kind of want to flip the script, why not me? You know, God trusts us and God's writing your story because your story matters. So um, yeah, so I'll all pray for us. Yeah, thank you. Father, I just thank you so much for um for today, Father. I thank you, Lord Jesus, for um for who you are. I thank you for everyone that's listening to this podcast right now, Lord Jesus. I know that you are writing a story, um, writing their story, Lord Jesus, whatever situation that they're in, Father, I pray, Lord Jesus, that um that you would remind them of who you've called them to be, Lord Jesus, that you have not abandoned them, that you are walking every single step with them. God, and may things may not make sense right now, but uh looking back, Lord Jesus, we can see your hand on everything, Father. I just pray, Lord God, that you would um, I pray for your provision, I pray for your blessings and your protection um over um over everyone that's listening, Father. And I pray that over Kristen and her ministry, Lord Jesus, um, and for all the people that she's going to be impacting, Father. Um, we know that we're not doing this for ourselves. We're doing this to expand the kingdom, Father, and to bless others. And so I just thank you so much for who you are and what you're doing, Father. Just give this, give you all the praise, all the glory, all the honor in Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 49:13

Amen. Thank you, Kayla, for being a brave voice who's setting so many free. I will close with our anchoring verse over Hope and Unlocked. It's may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. And that's Romans 15, 13. Thank you again, Kayla. Um, we'll probably have to have you back for part two in the future.

SPEAKER_00 49:37

Yeah, sure.

SPEAKER_01 49:38

So please reach out to her, follow her on socials, and I will be back with another episode next week. Thanks so much, listeners.