Souled Into Purpose Season Finale with Akeelia Thompson

Purpose Seekers, we’re closing out Season 6 with powerful conversations that will challenge, heal, and transform you 

This finale series features voices of resilience, purpose, healing, and liberation

 Episode 09 — Racquel Ambersley
From Comfort to Calling  Episode 10 — Helen Grandison-Whyte
From Brokenness to Becoming  Episode 11 — Gladness Katega
From Surviving to Sovereign  Episode 12 — Dean Elizabeth Brown-Richmond
From Labels to Liberation

Each conversation explores the power of transformation through faith, healing, identity, resilience, and purpose-driven living

In this finale series, we explore: Healing from life’s challenges Answering the call to purpose Rebuilding identity and confidence Faith, resilience, and personal growth Breaking free from limiting labels Becoming the person you were created to be

 If you’ve ever had to rebuild yourself… If you’ve ever struggled between comfort and calling… If you’re learning to heal, grow, and rise again…

This finale series is for you

 Souled Into Purpose Podcast | Season 6 Finale Watch on YouTube → @AkeeliaThompson or listen on all platforms via Souled Into Purpose

About the Host

Akeelia Thompson — Creativepreneur, Transformation Strategist, and Author of A Fall From Grace. Founder of Souled Into Purpose International and Host of the Souled Into Purpose Podcast, she equips faith-driven leaders and creatives to align their voice, visibility, and calling with purpose.

Work with Akeelia → akeliathompson.com
Personal branding support → Instagram: @yourfavecreativepreneur

Connect with Souled Into Purpose:

Instagram → @souledintopurpose
TikTok → @souledintopurpose
LinkedIn → @akeeliathompson
Facebook → @souledintopurpose

JOIN US IN PERSON

The Becoming Conference Jamaica 2026 Christar Villas Hotel – Kingston, Jamaica Saturday, June 27, 2026 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Hybrid Experience – Join online or in person Limited seats available Register now → https://bit.ly/4loKUm1

BOOK AKEELIA

Keynote speaker, host, or MC → https://tr.ee/IRfTXhDsAr

Support the show → https://www.buzzsprout.com/2307770/su

#SouledIntoPurpose #SIPPodcast #Season6Finale #PurposeSeekers #HealingJourney #FaithAndPurpose #Transformation #FromComfortToCalling #FromBrokennessToBecoming #FromSurvivingToSovereign #FromLabelsToLiberation #BecomingConference #YourFAVECreativepreneur

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:54

Thank you for joining us for another incredible episode of the Sold Into Purpose podcast. Well, it is the season finale for season six. We've had an incredible season with some very fantastic guests, and I'm sure you would agree, they came, they shared some hot stories, and as always, it is a privilege for me to share time and space with you. So just in case you are just joining us, sold into purpose, this is a space where we share with you heartfelt stories, providing you with actionable steps and, of course, things that you can use to live a more purpose-driven life. So all you have to do is stay connected with us on our socials at sold into purpose that is S-O-U-L-E-D into purpose. And then you can visit our website at soldintopurpose.com or send over your comments via WhatsApp at 1876-227-7590. As always, we love to hear from you as well as what are you tipping on. Please do let us know. To every listener, viewer, get supporter, partner, sponsors, those who have been with us since the inception of this incredible journey. We thank you so much because your priors, the shares, the comments, just the overall affirmations, they really mean a lot to us because you put in a lot of work in what we do here at Soul Interpurse International. And as soul, as you know, I am your host, Aquila Thompson, and as always, it is a privilege to share time and space with you and to host these incredible stories. Of course, season six was not short. We had so many powerful guests, and today you'll be hearing from some of those incredible individuals as they share their soul stories. As you know, we have our coming event, the Becoming Conference Jamaica 2026, and I have the release of my first book, A Fall from Grace, Finding Purpose in the Pit. And the soul, there's so much in store, and we just thank you for being with us on this journey.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Are you ready to step into who God is calling you to be? Calling all leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and purpose-driven individuals ready to move from process to purpose. Make sure you're at the Becoming Conference 2026. Happening in Kingston, Jamaica, the Crystal Hotel on Saturday, June 27th, from 9am to 5 p.m. This hybrid transformational experience is under the theme Becoming Alive from Process to Purpose. Register now at spuropen.com slash becoming conference or call 876-227-7590, the Becoming Conference. It's time to become.

SPEAKER_05 3:17

So we thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. And of course, we're closing out this finale with a bang. We're not giving you one, nor two, nor three, but four incredible soul stories that you absolutely do not want to miss. So this finale is very special because we have some incredible ladies who will be sharing with us. We have Raquel Amberse, she'll be talking on from comfort to calling. We have Helen Grandison White, and she'll be sharing on from brokenness to becoming.com. Book your brand clarity session today. Trust me, you don't want to miss it. You may also send us a message on WhatsApp at 1876 227 7590. Let's build your brand the right way. Yes, purple seekers. So this will be our final check-in or soul check-in for this season. And as always, this is where we take some time to pause. There's so much business in the world, and I just want to check in with you. How are you today? Feel free to let us know in that comment section or send a DM. We want to pray with you. Um, it's important for us to check on each other, especially with all that is happening around the world. We just want to ensure that the peace of God is within us, and so that we can withstand everything that is happening. I pray the peace of God will be upon you and that it will be upon all of your endeavors. And just check on somebody, it's just a two-minute check-in, right? How are you today? And you know, don't give those generic responses. What we have to do is to wholeheartedly be your brother's keeper, and that's why we have this incredible space. So, how are you today? Let us know. If you have an incredible virtual event, all you have to do is to book me as your host or keynote speaker. Are you hosting a virtual or in-person experience and looking for a dynamic keynote speaker or host? Have no fear, your girl is here. I'm Akila Thompson, host of Sold Into Purpose International, and my calendar is now open for international bookings. If you're looking for excellence, presence, and a curated experience that connects deeply with your audience, let's make it happen. Email me at akilia Thompson at gmail.com. That is a K-E-E-L-I A Thompson at gmail.com. Or you may send me a WhatsApp message at 1876-227-7590. You may also send me a DM at Iam Akelia Thompson. Let's create something unforgettable. Well, purple seekers, if you've been here long enough, you know the drill that we cannot go any further without acknowledging the one who has given us the skills and capabilities to do what we do each and every Wednesday to come live with you. So let us pray. Heavenly Father, as we come if you're presence, mighty God, we thank you for this season, the season finale of Sold Into Purpose Podcast Season 6. We thank you, mighty God, for every person that is connected to this community. We thank you, mighty God, for carrying us through another incredible season. We pray that by your grace and by your mercy, mighty God, that where there is pain, we will gain clarity, mighty God. Wherever there is confusion, we will gain peace. Wherever there is anxiety, mighty God, you will restore everything that the Palmer worm and the conqueror worms they have stolen, they have stolen from us, King of Glory. We pray that you will be with us in this difficult season and beyond, mighty God. Mighty God, I pray that you will remind us of your incredible love. I pray that you'll strengthen us in this season, guide us, restore us, mighty God, and give us the courage to continue to become all that you've caught us to be and more. We pray for blessings over every listener, every guest, every vision, every family, mighty God, every purpose connected to this platform. I decree and I declare by your blood, your grace, and by your mercy that as we close out season six, mighty God, we just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, mighty God, for your grace and your mercies. These are not unmentioned mercies we ask of you, King of Glory, and we say amen in the mighty, masterless name of Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Purple seekers, stick and stay with us because up next we have some very incredible soul stories. We don't want to miss it. Hey there, purple seekers coming up on the season finale of the Sold into Purpose Podcast. Yes, we're rounding up season six, and we have some very incredible guests and their stories. Take a look.

SPEAKER_04 8:30

It is important to embrace change. One, because we are not in control, and because life is unpredictable, you have to be flexible.

SPEAKER_06 8:40

I remember my husband coming to tell me that my dad had promised, and my youngest didn't get to meet my dad, and it breaks my heart.

SPEAKER_02 8:50

You have to get yourself in an environment that can empower you to speak up. You have to go to an environment and get the right resources to help you.

SPEAKER_03 9:00

Nothing lasts forever. It's only temporary. You just have to be patient and you have to really dig into your faith.

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Are you ready to step into who God is calling you to be? Calling on leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and purpose-driven individuals ready to move from process to purpose. Make sure you're at the Becoming Conference 2026. Happening in Kingston, Jamaica, the Crystal Hotel on Saturday, June 27th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This hybrid transformational experience is under the theme becoming alive from process to purpose. Register now at spuropen.com slash becoming conference or call 876-227-7590. The Becoming Conference. It's time to become.

SPEAKER_05 9:45

So, purpose seekers, I want you to know that I have exciting news. So my book, A Fall From Grace Finding Purpose in the Pit by Akila Thompson. It will be available for pre-order very soon. And I'll be opening up my website at Akelia Thompson. So stay connected to my social media platform at I Am Achelia Thompson. That is I am a K-E-L-I-A-Thompson on Instagram for all the incredible details. A far from grace is a story that many persons can resonate with because you can see yourself in it even in the difficult times. And so it's important for you to take a look at my story and to see how you can find yourself, but more importantly, how it is that you can find God in the midst of your challenge and your circumstances, and to know that if you're not dead, you are not denied, and that He still has purpose on your life and He wants to do a new thing for you in this season. Amen. Hi there, purple seekers, and welcome to Soul Stories. This is where we invite our very incredible guests from across the globe to share their impactful stories with you and I so that we can all live a more purpose-driven life. Today we have four incredible ladies and they'll be sharing their story. So we're starting off strong with Raquel and Bursley, and she'll be talking to us about from comfort to calling. Hi there, purple seekers. Thank you so much for joining us for another incredible episode. I'm your host, Aquila Thompson, and as always, it is a privilege to share time and space with you. Welcome to Sold into Purpose. Welcome to Soul Stories also. And right here on Soul Stories, this is where we invite our very incredible guests from around the globe to come and share their story to provide us with actionable steps and practical insights that you and I can use to live a more purpose-driven life. Today we are sharing a story from Jamrock. And if you don't know, we're in Jamaica. We have the incredible guests, and she's here today to teach us how to trust God. We're shifting from fear and we're tapping into faith, right? Because faith is a much needed currency if we want to do transactions with heaven. And in this space, she is one who is an author, she is a realtor, a serial businesswoman, one who has been in the space, educational space that is for over 12 years. And through her God-ordained vision, God would have told her to make a shift because in life pivots come, things come, and we just have to tap into his word because obedience is better than sacrifice. But I'm not here to tell her story. All you have to do is to stick and stay with us because today we're joined by the incredible Raquel Ambersley, and she's here to tell us all about her story. So all you have to do, purpose seekers, is let somebody know. Who will let somebody know that we are live, share the link with someone, and of course, as always, you don't want to miss this incredible soul story. Hi Raquel, how are you today? Thank you so much for joining us for season six of the Soul into Purpose podcast.

SPEAKER_04 13:10

Hi, Aquila. Thank you so much for having me. I'm doing well, and I'm just looking forward to having this conversation with you.

SPEAKER_05 13:18

Amen. But Raquel, we want to go back to your roots. Tell us about baby Raquel, what were her dreams and aspirations growing up?

SPEAKER_04 13:26

I grew up in what in Jamaica we call inner city community. It was always my desire, however, to be an educator, to be a teacher. So I was that child who was going home, writing on the door, beating the bed, beating the dolly. I've always wanted to teach. And however, I thought that was not going to be possible. Why? Because while going to school, I struggled academically. I remember being in grade six and doing the common entrance, well, grade five first and doing the common entrance exam. And I struggled because they asked me on the paper to write my middle name. And I don't know, I could, I just could not spell my middle name. And I had to tap on somebody's shoulder and say, Can you spend my for me, please? And that's how I wrote my name on the paper. And I failed that exam three times. But God was just so amazing that in the final time I was successful and I got the opportunity to go to Convent of Mercy Academy, which is a great high school. And then after that, I did, you know, just trusting in the Lord and the Lord working on me and giving my life to the Lord at that time. It's almost like I started believing the scripture that says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And so I started putting in a little work and I started believing that I can do this. And at the end of the day, in grade 11, doing CXE, I came out successful and was awarded top business student, and I got the opportunity to go on to university, did a first degree and a master's, and did exceptionally well during those times. So my journey has been up and down, but God has been faithful.

SPEAKER_05 15:17

Thank you so much for sharing that. And for somebody at your tender age at the common entrance level, experiencing that, I'm sure that would have been daunting. But to someone who is in your shoes now, as you were then, a little mini version of you, and they have those early failures, and we understand that also, depending on the environment that you are in, persons might say, Boy, you don't look like you're going to amount to much. What words of encouragement would you say to those young ones who are in that space right now?

SPEAKER_04 15:49

If we decide not to give up, then that's where the victory is. Because believe me, even though you're struggling now, as I was saying, there's some steps to success, there's some steps to overcoming. If you see the Lord, if you need external help, you can get the external help. But the important thing is not to stop. Sometimes it might mean that you have to change your environment, change the people around you, start getting some positive person. Because if everybody keeps speaking negatively about you, after a while it's hard to go against that. So you might need to find a brain, find unsure, find somewhere where somebody believes in you. And I think that was something that I had. There were people that believed in me. There are people that said good things. Even when I didn't believe it, they were speaking positive things about me. And so find somebody, get in the right circle, and somebody will see the key that God has placed in your life.

SPEAKER_05 16:47

So tell us, Raquel, at this particular point in time in your life, what does purpose mean to you?

SPEAKER_04 16:53

Purpose for me, as you say that purpose was calling me. I I genuinely believe that as an educator, I was living in purpose. But purpose has seasons as well. God has different intentions and different plans for us at different stages of our life. You know, one year you're single, another year you're married, and you have children. And so purpose for me is living a life of obedience. Purpose for me is walking in the wing plan that God has for me. Purpose for me is trusting God even when it looks as if things are not going to go well, even when it doesn't make sense to the other person. Purpose for me is you know, cover your ears to what the outside world says and allowing God to administer to you in the lowest seasons in the low moment. Purpose in me is saying yes every day to what God says. That's what purpose is obedient, it's just obedience.

SPEAKER_05 18:01

Thank you for sharing that. And as you mentioned, seasons, seasons come with different changes, right? But just for somebody out there, I know that we always say embrace the change and embrace the pivot, but I just wanted to just share a word of encouragement to someone. Why should we embrace change? How pivotal is change to our destiny and unlocking our purpose?

SPEAKER_04 18:27

It is important to embrace change. One, because we are not encouraged, we don't know what to do, and life is unpredictable, and because life is unpredictable, you have to be flexible, you have to be able to do the time. And because you understand that if if you if you have a mindset that says change will happen and I have to deal with it, when change comes, it won't cause you to feel frustrated, it won't cause you to become depressed, but instead it's going to allow you to process the thing properly and be able to recognize okay, this is what is happening. This is not what I planned for, but this is what is happening. So, what's my next course of action? And because you have that mindset, it won't roll you over, it won't bolt you down, it won't cause you to fall and don't get back up. You're able to get back up, you're able to restrategize, and you're able to say, Okay, this is what I'm moving on to next, and because you do that, then change will work in your favor. Because change is not necessarily a bad thing. If you recognize we are where we are, because we were willing to embrace the change again, I would have been teaching for over 12 years, and transitioning out of education that is something that I know and I love to embrace something new. If I didn't make that transition, who knows? I might not be on this podcast right now.

SPEAKER_05 20:10

Awesome. And as you said, a change is not here to break us, but instead to take us into another dimension. And your change, as you rightfully mentioned, would have led you into different eras, and one of that key era would have been you becoming an author. So can you please tell us all about your book and your journey in curating those pages? So let me click on my book so you can see.

SPEAKER_04 20:38

So the book is entitled Changing Seasons, Transitioning from Fear to Faith. And this book came out of my own season when I made the transition, and just going through life, I was fearful because I didn't know what the future holds. It was just uncertain. But if you are somebody who is feeling stuck or you just don't know what is next, this book is something that would help you to navigate the feeling, the emotions that come with that, and be able to learn step by step, day by day, what it means to live by faith. You know, when I was writing this book, it wasn't intended to be a book, it was just the Lord encouraging me, and I was journaling and just writing what the Lord was saying to me because in those seasons it was very low. Think about it. You need your 95, you need your good, good job, you don't know where the money is coming from, you're struggling. Everybody keeps saying, What are you going to do? What are you going to do? What are you going to do? And you just feel as if you have failed. You know, some days you just feel as if you have failed, but the Lord was encouraging me that I was going through a change and see that I was going through a transition in my life, and what God was doing was. Building my faith because the thing is, when you have the job and you're certain of the money, sometimes you put your confidence in the job, but when I wasn't certain of the money, the only person I could believe in was God to provide for me, and He did that. And so if you read the book, it talks about building your faith muscles because you're going to go through things that's going to cause you. The only way is to trust God.

SPEAKER_05 22:28

So if anyone, if you're out there, you're in a season of uncertainty and you need that trusted guide to take you along the journey. Raquel is here to help you navigate those seasons and tapping to your God-ordained purpose. But Raquel, before you go, to somebody who is out there and uh you just want to give them something that the Lord has laid upon your heart to show them your final parting words of encouragement. What would you say to them?

SPEAKER_04 22:56

You're not forgotten to know that God's plan for you is still sure, to know that how your feeling is valid, but don't give up. Keep going at it. As I said before, life is a process, life is a journey. You're like a seed that is planted by the rivers of water, and you will bear fruit in your season. Your leaves shall not wither, and whatever you do, it shall prosper.

SPEAKER_05 23:42

Well, stick and stay with us because up next we have the incredible Helen Branderson White, and she is all the way from Manchester, but she also has some British roots, and she's here to take us on a journey from brokenness to becoming take a look. Helen is a British-born Jamaican-based author and a professional development trainer with a deep passion for writing. She is someone who is sold out to her faith and she loves helping others to grow. She is a self-published author, two types of authors. She has a self-help book as well as a devotional, and her voice is one that carries inspiration, upliftment, and she seeks to encourage not only just herself, but also those who are around her. So, purpose seekers, please help me to welcome the incredible Helen Grandison White to the Sold Age of Purpose podcast. Thank you so much for joining us, Helen. How are you today?

SPEAKER_06 24:48

Thank you so much for having me. What an introduction. Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 24:52

You're most welcome. Thank you for being with us. And essentially, what we love to do here on Sape is to go on different journeys. And your journey is one that covers brokenness, aspects of becoming, but also growth, love, faith, and everything. But I won't give too much away. I'll allow you to share your story. But before we even get into the nitty gritty of the story, Helen, I want you to take us back because I mentioned that you're from Jamaica, but let me just correct that you're actually British born and you're here in Jamaica. So tell us a little bit about yourself. Tell us about baby Helen. What were her dreams and aspirations?

SPEAKER_06 25:32

Baby Helen wanted to be a mermaid, so that that dream didn't pan out. I don't think young of me would ever believe where I am today at all. I couldn't go back in time and talk to myself and truly believe that this is where I am.

SPEAKER_05 25:52

Alrighty, so thank you for sharing that. So young Helen wanted to be a mermaid, um, British born. How did you end up in Jamaica?

SPEAKER_06 26:01

My father was Jamaican, and we lived in England up until I was six, and my mother had a health retirement from the Metropolitan Police Department, and her health kind of required a tropical climate. Um, so they decided they were moving to the Caribbean, and they originally wanted to go to Antigua, I have no idea why. And then my dad decided coming home would be really great, especially with his family. So we came out a couple of times to visit, and at some point during those vacations, they solidified their plans, they bought land, and we came out here. When we moved, my mother's doctors told her she'd be in a wheelchair in about 10 years. But if we stayed in England, she'd be in a wheelchair in five. We've lived here now for 24 years this year, and she's still walking. So God works in crazy ways.

SPEAKER_05 27:10

You mentioned just now that your mom had her health crisis, but you also have or had another significant figure in your life, and that was your dad. Tell us about him, um, what were your fondest memories with him, and you know what happened as it relates to his story.

SPEAKER_06 27:29

He was the embodiment of the father heart of God, and I spent years and I still do some research, and I spent years studying what the father heart of God is, what it looks like, how it makes you feel, what it means as a believer. And I remember in 2018 was one of my hardest years. I've at the time I thought it was the hardest year of my life. And my father held my hand through it all, and he never wavered, not once. He never looked at me like he was disappointed in me, he never spoke to me like I was a different person, he just loved me. He never said, I told you so. He just he he walked me through it, and I remember thinking this is what it looks like when God is walking with us, this is what it feels like to be loved by God, and that is just the glimpse of what that truly is. So it's unfathomable how much God truly does love us, and to have a father who I can so confidently say really was the heart of God is such a blessing because so many people don't even talk to their fathers, you know. So, and I grew up with a lot of people who who don't even know their dads, so it I always knew that I had something really, really special. Um, in 2019, he got sick, and it was weird because my dad doesn't get sick, you know. I I don't know him to ever be sick. He had a cold once, and like most men, he was such a baby, you know, it was a cold, and he, you know, oh I can't get up, and I need some water, and pass me the remote that's at the foot of the couch right there, and he was such a baby, but he got over it in a couple of days, back on his feet, and then in 2019 he got sick and he just never got better, and we learned that he had had prostate and pancreatic cancer, he was also a diabetic, so there were a lot of things working against each other. We lost him August 2025. He died at home with my mom right next to him, and he died a couple of weeks before I gave birth to my first baby, and I remember my husband coming to tell me that my dad had passed, and it was the breath caught in my throat. I couldn't get my body to exhale or inhale, and and then I went to his room, and my mum was there, and my sister had already arrived, and they were saying their goodbyes, and I remember standing there, sorry, and I thought you were so close. I knew that there was a good chance he was not gonna meet my daughter when I realized he was declining in a way that we hadn't seen him do that before. He had declined before, but he'd always rallied and come back, so it was almost as if we knew we were losing him, but there was this part of us, especially me, that just felt like it's we're losing him, but we're not losing him. And I I walked over and I said my goodbyes to him, and I held his hand one more time. Um, and I remember thinking, you know, I just I gotta keep it together for this baby that I am carrying. I can't can't lose it now. Um, so close to full term, and it was that was the hardest, hardest thing I've ever had to do. It definitely overtook my struggles of 2018 by far. And still miss him incredibly. He was, like I said, the epitome of the father, heart of God. And when people talk about him, they talk about how loving he was, how kind he was, how giving. And I learned things about him that I didn't know when he was alive. I learned about his willingness to step out of his comfort zone to do things for somebody else just because it was the right thing to do. Um, a family of ours is a reverend and he had to do a lot of up and down. And my dad noticed he was really tired. And so for a good few weeks, he was getting up at four or five in the morning to drive him all over the island to these speaking engagements so that he didn't have to drive himself anymore and could take that time to rest, to pray, to go over what he was gonna speak about. And he didn't just drive him to these places, he drove him there, he sat down, he listened, he talked with him on the way there, on the way home, and it was a truly moving thing for the reverend to experience because not many people will do that, you know, they'll pray for you and they're gonna be there with you in spirit, but to actually give up their time to do something like that, not many will do or even think of unless they're asked. And my dad was a man that didn't have to be asked, and I hope that as life continues, I'm able to show the kind of love that he poured out, and in this time I've learned that grief and joy are not enemies, they don't combat each other, they live together quite peacefully. It's just us that have to learn how to allow that to happen. It's so healing to me, but also writing. So I wrote my first book entitled Let's Get Nude, a book of self-discovery and healing. And in writing that, I realized how far I'd come. I realized how much healing I had done, and sometimes our perspective is just it's in close-up, and you can't quite see what it is you're supposed to be seeing. So if you hold the book right up to your face, you're not going to see what the title of the book is. You have to bring it out a bit, you have to change your perspective, you have to change where you're standing, how you're looking at something. And I had to do that for myself. I had to look in the mirror one day and I realized I wasn't happy. And it's not because I wasn't happy with anybody else, I wasn't happy with me as a person. And if I'm not happy with me, how in the world am I gonna be happy surrounded by people? So what I started doing was writing down what is it I need to work on? What do I need to fix? And what do I need to give to God? And for me, writing is my biggest outlet. So I will write everything down. And I just started writing and writing and writing and writing, and I really had to lean on my faith and remind myself that I'm not just Helen, I'm a daughter of the living God. His passion, his love, his glory runs through my veins. I am entitled to so much because of who I belong to. And I had to walk in that power, I had to walk in that knowledge, and the more I did, the better I was getting, the better I was feeling. And I I went from I had bad cystic acne, and it was painful, which made me miserable. And there was one day I had a horrible breakout and I needed to go to the supermarket, and I didn't want to go because I felt so horrible. And I remember looking in the mirror, and this thought came into my head, and it was: would I talk like this to anybody else? Would I tell another woman that she should stay home because she has a breakout? Because she doesn't look great? Why is it that we talk to ourselves as harshly as we do, but we give everybody else this grace? And if God is giving me an abundance of grace, then why am I not giving myself that same grace, that same patience, that same love? And so I put some clothes on and I went to the supermarket, and someone pointed out my face, and I remember thinking, okay, I can either burst into tears right now or smile, and I just smiled and I said, Thank you for the opinion that I didn't ask for, but have a great day, and I left, and I felt so empowered because the only opinion that should matter is my own, the only one whose approval I should be seeking so hard is God, and so slowly but surely I started walking in that, believing it, and whenever I struggled, I have a ritualistic prayer where I just sit down and I say, God, I believe, or I have my faith, but God, I need you to help my unbelief, I need you to help my doubts, and sometimes that's 10 times in 15 minutes that that's happening, but leaning on him is sometimes like a crutch, and other times it's like I'm just standing against the wall. It's but it's a conscious effort, it is not a one-time thing and done, it is something you continuously have to work on because life has this way of life, and you know, things get thrown at you from all directions, and each season changes you, each season molds you into something else, so it's a constant journey. And I think once you realize that there is no real end goal, it is a oh, I reached this goal, I'm on to my next. When you realize it's a stepping stone, um, it becomes so much easier.

SPEAKER_05 39:50

You mentioned writing because writing helps you to tap into different dimensions of yourself. Can you tell us about your self-help book and your devotional that the Lord blessed you with?

SPEAKER_06 40:02

Tell us all about that journey. The beginning of it is funny just because it stemmed from an argument I had with my now husband. Uh, we were dating at the time, and it was months prior. We had had an argument and he'd said to me, you know what, let's just get nude. And I said, I'm sorry, what? He said, No, no, let's, I mean, emotionally, just put it on the table. And that phrase just stuck in my head, and we made this agreement where no matter how uncomfortable it was, we were gonna have the tough conversations because if we have them now, then in 10 years, we're not gonna argue about who put the cap on the toothpaste wrong because we didn't have the argument we were supposed to have five years earlier. And I remember saying to him one day, I'm gonna write a book and I'm gonna call it Let's Get Nude, and I don't know what it's gonna look like yet. And his response was, yeah, you are, write it. And he was just so he had so much faith in my ability to do it just off the jump, which made me want to do it even more. And I just started writing in November of 2023, and he proposed to me that December, and we got married June 14th the next year, and June 30th, I released the book, and it felt like such a full circle moment, and the inspiration for it really was my husband because he made me realize just how far I'd come. He made me look at myself and really appreciate the growth and really acknowledge the growth because it can be hard to acknowledge your own growth, it kind of feels like you're tooting your own horn, but you do have to look at yourself sometimes and think, you know what, I'm okay, yes, I'm just a little bit better than I was yesterday. And there are so many lessons I learned on how to handle things, how to respond, how to be angry without being aggressive, how to handle your anger and the person who's made you angry and to look at yourself. And with my husband, I learned why am I I learned to ask myself, why am I angry right now? Am I actually angry at what he has said or done, or has it triggered something else? And I realized that there is a lot of instances where I will lose my mind on someone, and it's not because I'm actually angry about what you said, it may be how you said it, how it was delivered, or it reminds me of something way back when, and that's the reason these things annoy me. So the book is a prompt for self-reflection to look at yourself more than you're looking at everybody else. Because if you start focusing on you and how you can fix this or why you're responding the way you're responding, you're going to realize that people start to annoy you a whole lot less. Even the ones closest to you, because your focus is now not why are you like this? Why why can't you just why can't you do this the way I want it done? It becomes more you know what? Let me just walk away from this situation. Not from you, just from this situation. Give me five minutes, and your peace becomes your priority with the Devotional. My eldest daughter. I I went back to church because of her. I came up in a wonderful church that's a non-denominational church, and I absolutely love it. There is such a heart for people and for God. And I loved church on a Sunday as a teenager. If my church was doing some outreach, if there was a volunteer thing, listen, I was there. I was not a party girl. I did not like going to concerts or anything like that. But if the church was doing something, you'd find me there. And I wanted that for my my daughter. And not long after I decided we're going back to church, she's gonna come up not just the way that I did, but she's gonna come up in it earlier than I did. So we'd always been going to church, but I didn't really enjoy church or understand church until I joined generations and understood that there's a relationship with God to be had. And I thought, you know, and I've said it so many times, if I had had this earlier in my life, I feel like there's a lot of things that would be different. But I also believe that everything happened the way it should.

SPEAKER_05 45:26

Helen, you would have gone through so much. So you experience pain, you experience joy, shifts, different cultural people, and places. So at this particular point in time in your life, what does purpose mean to you?

SPEAKER_06 45:39

Whatever God shows me that it means at the time, purpose can change, just like any goal. Right now, I want to be the best wife and the best mother that I can be as a new business owner. I want my business to thrive and I want it to enable people, to touch people, to elevate people. So for right now, I think my purpose is to love. And for me, that means loving on my family, and when it comes to other people and through my business, I think that looks like helping people elevate and grow professionally to realize that they are capable of so much, no matter what position they're in, they're able to go much further than they may initially believe.

SPEAKER_05 46:44

But Helen, I can't let you go without you sharing with our listeners and viewers your final parting words, something that possibly is on your heart, it could be a thought, anything that you believe will empower our audience today. Over to you.

SPEAKER_06 47:01

I think my final word is that whether you believe it or not, God is within you. Which means even your failure is a stepping stone, even your failure is a win. Because at some point you're gonna look back, and that failure is going to be exactly what you needed at that time. So no matter what is happening, there is a purpose behind it. There is a lesson to be learned. Every mistake is a lesson.

SPEAKER_05 47:44

Yes, purple seekers. I know that you were truly blessed by that. Up next, we have our very incredible guest, the Tanzania Queen herself, joining us from London. Yes, and she is here to take us on a journey from surviving to sovereign. I'm speaking about the incredible Gladness Katika. Take a look. She grew up in Tanzania and she's also now rooted in the UK. You'll hear her beautiful accent, and she tells us all about that. She is a serial entrepreneur and international speaker, one who seeks empowerment for women and who wants us to tap into our God-given purpose. She is so passionate about what she does, and you will definitely get that from her as we build up this conversation. But I don't want to tell her a story because that is why she's here. I'm talking about the incredible gladness, and she is full of joy. She'll share her last name in a bit. For now, purpose seekers, all you have to do is to let somebody know who will let somebody know that we are live. Share the link because this is a conversation that you don't want to miss. Hi, Gladness. Welcome to the Soul into Purpose podcast. And we just want to hear your story as you take us on a journey of shifting from pain to purpose. How are you doing today and welcome?

SPEAKER_02 49:16

Hi, Akia. Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here and truly, truly honored. And so, yes, my name is Mrs. Gladness Yankui, and um I'm from Tanzania originally, but I'm based in the UK.

SPEAKER_05 49:31

Awesome. Thank you so much for sharing that. And of course, we have to get back to your roots a little bit because coming from Africa, um, there are so many cultural dynamics there, and so many things that of course it's a complete contrast to the UK. So tell us what was that like growing up and just being in that space as a little girl.

SPEAKER_02 49:55

So I was born in Tanzania, but I came to the UK as a very young girl. So I have an experience of up to about five, I was about five, six years old before I came to the UK. So the memory is quite little, I would say. Um, but of course, growing up in a beautiful tropical country like Jamaica, you can just imagine where you don't have to worry about coats, you don't have to worry about the weather, and the culture is just so everybody is your family, everybody is your brother, your sister. You can get told off literally by the woman down the street. You can get disciplined by anyone in your area, which is very different to here, and being a mother here and having to bring up kids here, I'm kind of like this is so different because everyone is so sheltered, and you know, you can't just first of all, you will never get disciplined by your neighbor, hardly. It could be called all kinds of things. So that community spirit is definitely something that I miss personally. Um, but of course, Tanzania's home, and and although I came here at five or six years old, I still visit on a very regular basis.

SPEAKER_05 51:05

As you mentioned or culture and that rich dynamics, and then the contrast between you know being in the UK. Of course, as you grew up, you would have tapped into different areas such as your education and your success. Can you tell us a little bit about that and how did you get to where you are today?

SPEAKER_02 51:23

It's only, I think I only did like nursery in Tanzania. I came pretty much straight into primary school in the UK, um, went into secondary school, went into college, and um, I had some very interesting times in my college time where um you know people would tell me, Oh, you you know, you are very tall and you're confident, you should go into modeling and and this stuff, and that just wasn't me. Um, and then somehow, very somehow, accidentally, I was called to join a pageant called Miss Tanzania UK. So this is like just finishing college in my 20s, no, about 19. I won Miss Tanzania UK Beauty Pageant, and um that took me back home because I had to do the national pageants, and then I got involved in the tourist things of my country, and I fell in love with my country all over again. Um, so then that then shifted me into really discovering my confidence in who I am, and um, you know, everyone kept saying, family, you are really good at talking, you should become a lawyer. So I went off and did a law degree. That's a whole different topic because I truly believe that there's this culture of lack of really supporting young people and kids to to discover who they are first before going into education. That's another topic. But I am grateful because it just means that I learned a lot um having a law degree and and and it did increase my confidence, but then I knew that's not really for me. So I then went into business. I had done a business degree and I really enjoyed it. And um, I had kids, you know, got married. I'll come into that in the next question. But having three young kids under five, I didn't see myself going into full-time work. Um, so I decided to pursue my master's so that I can gain a little bit more knowledge about how to run a business so I can start my own business. Because I realized I really enjoyed writing. Um, I really enjoyed, yes, speaking, but not in the way of like speaking in court as a barrister as I had thought. More just speaking to people, solving people's problems. So, in my last year of my master's degree, where everybody else was kind of applying for jobs to become like the consultant and so on and so forth, um, the last project, there was an option to write a business plan. And um I said, yes, let me write a business plan of what I want to do, this consultancy. Let me put it into practice. And I really started visualizing and realizing I could do this for a living, I could finish my master's and start this consultancy, helping entrepreneurs set up their businesses, but also I discovered my gift of writing, Achilia. Do you know what happened for me to discover my gift? As we were in the last project, many people were struggling to write. You you know, last project is about 25,000 words. I wrote my project just like that within days, and everyone said, Oh my gosh, how did you do that? Do it for me. So I just started writing for people and helping them. I know this may not be the best thing to do, but I genuinely enjoyed to write, and I would write other people's business plans and they would tell me what they wanted to write about. And people said, You know what? You could get paid for this. And I thought, hmm, okay, that's when I realized, right, not just consulting now. If I could write 25,000 words just like that, so when I finished my master's, I started business plan writing. That's where my first book was born. Because I realized after writing so many business plans, I had mastered the art of writing and how to start a business and to attach with my consultancy. You know, I was so blessed in that season to go to the peak of having an elite office in one of the finest areas in London. It's called Canary Wolf. So, kind of like it really boosted my confidence. And I started working with trouble from different businesses. Others wanted to start a nursery, I would write the business plan. Others, a hairdresser, accountant, you name it, I would write that business plan and I would help you execute it. Then I started working with SMEs and corporations, and I realized that wow, there is something here. However, to kind of transition from that, after a couple of years, you know, this marriage that I was in was not God ordained, let's put it that way. Um, and I found myself struggling because the more I was elevating my mind, the more this person that was supposed to be my husband was not happy. And that's when I started really the more I was growing and and and building myself personally, I'm starting to realize that we are really not aligned, and apart from not being aligned, I was going through domestic abuse and I hadn't even realized it. Um so finally, when I managed to leave, um, after going through one of the most challenging, challenging um times of my life, my first daughter passed away. May she continue to rest in peace. That is when everything changed for me. Because I realized that everything I was doing was not really fulfilling, something was lacking, and the passing of my first child really got me to realize that this is life, that this is it. At any moment, one can go back to glory. And by the grace of God, I'm not down through. I mean, it took a lot, grief was still there, but because I had God by my side, I kept having these dreams, and I knew that my life is not over. Despite fleeing domestic abuse, going through divorce, I could feel that there is more to life than just this. That is when I took that pain into purpose, as my my message is because I had to make a choice, Achelia. I was either going to allow this to break me or elevate me. And I was coming across people that start confessing that they're also in domestic abuse, but they were wearing this facade in the same way that I was. Now it took, and sometimes Achelia, it does take a tragedy, unfortunately. It does take a catastrophic situation for you to wake up. And I always teach don't wait for that. Do not wait for a catastrophic event for you to really sit down and make a decision to change your life and live a purposeful life, to change your life and listen to the voices that are telling you that this is not fulfilling this. No, there's no connection. I cannot answer that question as to why my my child had to go back to heaven. I can't relate any of that. And anything that you cannot answer, leave it to God. Understand the power behind the pain. Because the problem we have, sorry, I'm drifting from my background story, is that we tend to dwell too much to try and figure out and understand. Life is life, it is not a computer system that you can upload and download and read the back ends to get to grips with what's happened. It's a choice to change your life, it's a choice that you make with the right support, of course. It is not easy. I'm not downplaying that, and it not it did not just happen split of a second, it took me a couple of years. But this to go back to my background and career-wise, it changed me from that consultant to a life coach because now I realize that my real gift, all of that passion of talking and helping people really was about helping people discover who they are and to walk into their purpose.

SPEAKER_05 59:48

Awesome. Thank you for sharing that. And as you are tapping into your God or the gifts and the plans that He has for you at this stage of your life gladness, what does purpose mean to you? Purpose for me is doing this.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:05

This is my purpose. Sharing my story so that others can be encouraged to realize that there is purpose to their pain, there is power to their pain, that their past hurts or experiences don't define them. My purpose is to empower women to discover who they were created to be, to step fully into it and unleash their potential. That is what I was created for.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:29

Awesome. Thank you for sharing that. And uh, as you would have alluded to it earlier, you spoke about your books and what led you to it, but now you have the floor to just tell us about the book, the journey and the story. What can people gain from this book and you know what insights that can really help them to go to their next level?

SPEAKER_02 1:00:50

Yes, absolutely. So I've written three books at the moment, and I think there are many more books to come by the grace of God. Um, and each book really is for whatever need that you have. For example, the business book is for entrepreneurs who want to discover how to start a business, how to write a successful business plan based on everything that I learned. So, and this is why I say your there's a purpose to your pain because it wasn't a waste that I went to um uh become a consultant and all of that. No, because there's use for it. So any experience that you face, don't look at it as a waste. Oh, well, I wasted my time, or that's not really what I want to do now. I don't know what to do. No. What skills did you learn from it? What can you take from that experience that you can use today to help others? So my books are very much like that. Um, the Queen Alice book, which I share my story, is to support and empower a woman to realize that this is how you can rebuild your life and discover who you are to help you not find yourself in these situations or come out of it. And my third one is the Purpose Queen Planner, it is a tool. One of the things that really is helpful for your personal development is affirmation. As we know, God started with words. He said, Let there be light, and there was light. So words are powerful. So when you affirm, when you write, when you put things to paper, and I'm a traditionalist, yes, I love the phones and the tablets, but actually, there's something about journaling and writing, it just makes it so tangible. And the way our brain works is that it believes what it sees and what is planted within the mind, and that's what people fail to realize. I'm not saying affirm chant and you know many Christians go and give, oh no, I don't do all the affirmation, I don't chant, I don't meditate. Well, that's interesting because we know that words are powerful, so why would you not want to sit down and affirm yourself and create? It's through words that God created. So why then as Christians do we say, oh, I don't do all of that? Well, you're actually denying yourself creation, you're denying yourself the ability to manifest things that you can um achieve by just saying it, by repeating it. You're reviving your brain. And I think one of the things we need to do, not to drift as Christians, is to get educated and informed about these things. It's not to use it for to it says don't be of the world, right? But we need to understand some of these tools and use it for good, use it, apply it for the word of God. So the journal is really just a tool for you to have that um reflection time to set goals and intentions so that you can actualize them. Um, some of the things that I've learned as a business coach, as a life coach, I've created the purpose planner so that you can set intentions and be accountable to yourself. Because that's another thing. The reason that most people are not accomplishing what they want is that they're not accountable to anybody, and you can be accountable to somebody else, but first of all, to yourself. Because the more you say, Oh, I'm gonna do this and you don't do it, the more your brain knows, oh, she's just saying that she ain't she's not going to do it. But when you say I'm gonna do this, you put it to paper, you've got it in, there's a section there for you to share your weekly wins, you let your brain know, I said I was gonna do this, guess what? I've done it, I've done half, I've done your brain gets to realize and rewire that oh, she means what she says, and the opportunities come, you start getting momentum, you start seeing, you know. I like to give this analogy the moment you start saying, Oh, I want a red bag or a red car, what happens? You will start seeing that red car everywhere. I'm seeing it, yes. Why? Because your mind is directing you to it, so it's the same thing with goal setting and and adjourning, is that you're letting your brain to be aware that this is my desire, this is what I want, I'm setting this goal, and they you know, God will then the universe. Some people say God, you will start seeing the opportunities, and even God starts realizing she's serious about this because most of the time God is waiting on you, right? You pray and you pray and you pray, but you do nothing, then you sit, you're waiting for like a miracle. We're not in those days, unfortunately, uh. Unfortunately, miracle happens when you pray and you action out. You pray, God, I really want to go into this, and then you meet the person who is in a similar field, but you make no attempt to ask them, oh, what opportunities are there? Oh, I have this idea, and then three months later you say, Oh God, I prayed my prayer did not answer. And God is like, I sent you that person, but you took no action. So that's what the journaling is really all about. Um, and by the grace of God, so many um other ideas I have for books. God gives me the grace, I will be writing some more.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:00

Awesome. Thank you for sharing that, and we look forward to seeing them. But for somebody who's listening and watching, and they'd love to get a copy of your books, how can they do so?

SPEAKER_02 1:06:09

Yes, they're available on Amazon. Um, they're available on Amazon on uh my website, so I've got a few. I'm a serial entrepreneur, so I have I ampreneur limited, uh, which is www.amwomanpreneur.com. You can see the books there, but they are available on most um uh publishing platforms such as Amazon Online.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:33

So thank you so much for sharing that. It's such empowering words, but we can't let you go, Gladness, without you just sharing your final thoughts to someone who is listening and watching. What are your words of encouragement to them?

SPEAKER_02 1:06:48

I think my final word of encouragement may sound repetitive, but um you are not living unless you're living a purposeful life. Because the key thing is fulfillment, you are created for purpose. I think once you're living a purposeful life, everything else becomes easier. Um, and I think it's really just discovering and understanding what it is that gives you fulfillment, what is it that you're so passionate about that you can do without being paid. Um, and that is the thing that can actually generate you. I say from passion to profit, because you can earn from your passion, but if it is not what you are passionate, if it's not what you are purposed to do and you're passionate about, that's when you will just start. You know, a lot of um uh people I admit, oh, I just want to I just want to make money and I just want to start this business. One minute they're doing a hairdresser, next minute they're doing because they're having sat down to really understand what is my real passion, what is it that I'm um created to do. So I think purposeful living is what I want to leave everyone with today to really discover what is their purpose in life and pursue it.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:13

And finally, we're rounding out our soul stories with our very incredible guest, Dean Elizabeth Brown Richmond, and she is here to take us on a journey from labels to the liberation. If you've ever wanted to break the stereotype, this is definitely the soul story for you. So take a look. You don't want to miss it. I mean, she's taking us from literacy to advocacy, and she's in the space today. Um, speaking about the incredible Dean Elizabeth Brown Richmond, and she is with us today. So, you know the drill. All you have to do is to let somebody know who will let somebody know that we are live shared with somebody as I welcome Dean to the Sold into Purpose podcast. Hi Dean, how are you? And welcome to STIP.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:29

Thank you so much for having me, Akelia. It's such a pleasure to be on your show, and I'm so happy that you're allowing the Lord to use you in this way to encourage so many people to step into their purpose. Tell us what was it like growing up in Manchester? It was quite good. Um, I lived in a good community where people were quite neighborly, and um I think I was well known in the district because you know, one of those families where we were always quiet and achieving, and I wouldn't say things were rosy in terms of uh economics because I would say I grew up poor, but my mom and my stepdad ensured that you know we survived. My mom was a prene person, so you know, even if things didn't go well, we might have grown in poverty, but we were rich in prayer.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:26

You had your fair share of challenges, Dean, as you were going through life, and you mentioned that in your early 20s you would have attempted suicide. Um, can you take us through that journey at that particular point in time?

SPEAKER_03 1:10:40

So, as I said, I alluded to the fact that I grew up in poverty, and um, but my mommy would send us to church, even if she didn't go at the time, and it was whichever church that was near where I lived. Because I remember we were living in the Greenvale community, it was the Adventist church we went. Then when we moved to another community called Duncanine, it was a Pentecostal church we went, and I think that's where I got baptized. But then, you know, as you're forming your identity as a young teenager, because I got baptized at 12, you would have been garnering experiences along the way. My mom was very strict, so we didn't go to other people's houses or other places. I mean, through high school, it was a miracle she allowed me to go on the cadet camp, and I'm still a cadet officer today, but anyway, back to the story. So by the time I ended up high school, um, I realized that I had to go and look at a job now, and it wasn't so easy getting into the job market, and I think that was on my mind. Um, and I don't think at the time I recognized how much help was available for me because when I look back now, I saw that every step of the way when I met hardship, there was somebody there to help me. In high school, when I didn't have any lunch or breakfast when I went to school, because I went to Manchester High School, there was a breakfast program. The counselor was an integral part of my life. She even helped pay for some of my sexy, for my sexy subjects when I did them. And so there was someone there to help. And I remember when I left, there was an art teacher, uh Mr. Little. He was like a mentor to me because even though I knew I had the gift to draw, I didn't think that was an area for me to go into. I just thought, oh, artists don't make money. But he would still encourage me, I would paint with him, he would get jobs for me at the library. I think then I ended up being a pre-trained teacher, but that was just a one year because you weren't a trained teacher then. Um but then I didn't have a job after that, and I don't know, going through some relationship issues, and I just thought, what was the point of life at the time? Um, in my limited capacity, and I was thinking, you know, nobody cared about me. Because in Jamaica, a lot of our families they they focus on, you know, caring for you, giving you food to eat, but they may not show love in that physical, tangible way where you're hugged or you are affirmed with words of affirmation. It was I didn't grow up like that. But looking on, I understand that we have different love languages, but I didn't know that then. And I remember the first time I tried to take those pills, uh, took a lot of pills, and I just thought that I wanted to die the easy way. I thought it was the easy way, and I mentioned it casually now um to my best friend because it's the same best friend I have from high school, and till now she's still my best friend. And when I sort of revealed what I had done, she was so surprised. I thought I think I bring this foggy now, she may have called some people when I ended up at the hospital. I saw that I realized that my mom actually cared about me because she was so concerned. I saw it was the first time I saw my friends cry because I had two best friends. Um and I remember when I saw the tears on their faces and I was like, they're really crying for me. I didn't realize that people loved me like that and they were really that affected. And then I remember the doctor counseling me and saying something like, When people attempt suicide, it's a call for help, it's just attention, they don't really want to do it. And but thinking about that, um, but anyway, that episode had passed, and I think I had attempted it again, a second time at some other point. But I think what really made that turning point for me was my best friend's mom sat and spoke to me, and she said, You know, there's no repentance in the grave. And I said, What do you mean by that? And she was explaining that when you're dead, you won't have the chance to repent from whatever sins you would have committed, and you're going to hell. So I thought about that, and I think that was the first wake-up call. And then um, she shared some other stories about um you know Christian life and different testimonies, and then I just decided that okay, I was gonna have a relationship with God or try, and then I realized that whatever was happening at the time, it passed. Things got better. I was worried about going to college, it so happened I ended up going to college because as I said, there was someone to help. I remember a teacher I had, my form teacher from third form, she came to live in my community, and then I remember her asking if there was a if I knew anybody who could do babysitting, and I asked my mom, and my mom said, you know, I could do it because she wasn't working at the time, and because of that, now we I got to she got to have an influence on us beyond high school, so she she helped us to apply to different places for help. So I wrote to the I think it was the office of the prime minister at the time I got assistance in going to college and just like that. As I said, I didn't realize at the time there's always someone to help. God always makes a way for escape, right? Even in the Bible, it says if there's any temptation, he always will give you a way of escape, it's just that we need to look. So I'm so happy that I was able to develop that relationship with God, and uh since then I've been able to discover all the things that he had deposited in me that were untapped, and how I was able to encourage others, meet the needs of others, and so much more. So when I think of my story, I'm thinking about Moses in the Bible, how he went through all that adversity, you know, being an outcast, almost killed, but then he got an opportunity to grow up in the palace, right? Ended up committing murder anyway, and we think that's the worst sin, right? But look what happened, he went through his wilderness moment again, and then God used him in the end to do so many things.

SPEAKER_05 1:17:36

Absolutely encouraging. But then you had another life experience where you survived a serious car accident, and that of course would have helped you to even reach deeper into your faith. Can you share in short about that experience and how God helped you through it?

SPEAKER_03 1:17:54

Yes, indeed. I remember after I had been teaching for a while, I was teaching in um Tatfield Primer in Junior High, and then I had moved to Kingston. I'd gotten married and moved to Kingston, and then I was teaching at Immaculate for a short while. And I was driving that morning to Manchester. I think I was driving to do an interview to start my doctoral studies at um Northern Caribbean University. So that morning was an interview morning for that. And I was driving on the highway, and it was, you know, on the highway you go to about 100 miles per hour, but I don't know what I had glanced to the to the left on. I glanced, but at the time I realized the car was swerving too much to the left, so I overcorrected, and the car was making a big S in the road, it was just going like this, and I just couldn't control the car on the road. I was a new driver too. I couldn't control the car on the road, and I was I was uh desperate now, and I just realized that okay, I am going to crash, and I'm thinking, okay, I'm gonna talk to God now because I'm saying there's nothing that can save me now, nothing on earth can save me now. And I was there talking to God, and I was there saying, God, you know that you have made me for a reason. I haven't even begun to fulfill that purpose. I'm just asking you for one more chance, and that's how I just was talking to God. I wasn't even screaming at this point, I was just talking to God, and when the car um, when I'd given up basically in trying to control the car on the road, the car um flew into a ditch on the side and it rolled over and it was rolling over and over with me in it, tumbling, and all the time I was saying, God, please, please, I'm begging you one more chance. I was just talking to God now. And when that car stopped rolling, and I realized I opened my eyes and I felt my chest that, okay, I'm breathing. The first thing I said was, Thank you, God, thank you, God. I know that you were, you heard me and you have decided to grant my request. And then I was there saying, Okay, where's my bag? Where's my phone? Not realizing the car was upside down and I was blocking in and out. People were passing by, I think. Um, there was someone who rescued me from the other side of the road. She came over and he took me to the hospital. And you know it's how I knew God was with me at that moment because the car was totally crushed, just where I was in that seatbelt. I remember there was a bottle of olive oil that I had um bought particularly to be blessed. I'm trying to remember if I'd blessed it that Sunday or I'd planned to bless it, but anyway, that bottle of olive oil was right in the car door, and that bottle of olive oil did not break. It did not break, it was right there, it did not break. And I just said, Thank you, Lord. The whole car was crushed, but I got bruises, but not a bone was broken, and that was the first of course, I would have had testimonies because God has been good to me over the years. But when I think of major testimonies that I've had, I think that is one of the major ones. Because up until that point, I kept saying to God, I'm always sharing other people's testimony, but I've never really had a big one of my own. But from then, I've begun to see other miracles that God would have, you know, done for me to show that he is hearing and he is answering.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:50

You came up with the concept of your incredible podcast and your book. I'll just tap into the book a bit, that is Faith Beyond the Labels from Awareness to Belonging. Can you just tell us about them, both of them in short, and uh what was the driving force behind your book and podcast, respectively?

SPEAKER_03 1:22:09

Yes, so as I say, as a mother of a child who is um neurodivergent, um, ASD diagnosis, I found that there were some challenges, challenges in terms of getting the child into school, people who are not aware of the condition and the rejection. And then we we we get um anxious and a little bit depressed if you're facing rejection. Okay, we don't have the support for your child, we can't take your child within this school, and you know, those are some of the things and um the things people will say, not realizing that it's not coming across very well. And I realized um, encountering other parents who are going through a rough time, um, I had to learn, I had to do my research, I had to live through this experience so that I could help my child um access the world, understand himself, and function. And so in sharing, I decided it would be a great opportunity to create this awareness. So I started this podcast, Faith Beyond the Labels, with Liz. It's aired on Flashpoint Media, and I have had some lovely conversations with um other advocates, parents, experts in the field, teachers who have a lot to share of how we can build a more inclusive community. And I just wanted to share how God has kept me and how God can keep you, and that He is not far away. And also, um, I decided to write this book because I think it's needed. Fake me on the labels from awareness to belonging, you know, creating inclusive communities together. So in this book, I share uh strategies and narratives to bring home the point of the different struggles and challenges that we have in the neurodiversity community. We could say that, and also how schools can help, because I know this concept is quite new, it's evolving this whole idea of inclusion in the schools. Not every school can have inclusion in the true sense. Some schools can just move towards inclusion, like we're doing in Jamaica, and there's just so much um help that people need, and so much um that research has pointed to. So I wanted to share that for the churches what that can look like, um, what inclusion can look like in the schools, in the community, and especially in families. And I think this is a wonderful resource that even business places can use so that they can get their workers quite aware of how they can help and we can have a more thriving community. I also have other books coming up as well, in short order. I do have a devotional for um Autism Mom because prayer is powerful, and I know firsthand you know how important this is. And I also have another book coming up, Daughter Arise. Yes, walking from victim to victor. So quite a number of projects coming up, so look out for that. And I've been in the publishing community before. I've um many people may know the popular secondary social studies workbooks. I'm one of the co-authors on that. Um was also the illustrator on those um books, but that's over a decade, so I'm now coming back with some new products.

SPEAKER_05 1:25:50

Thank you so much for sharing that. But Dean, before you go, can you please share with us your final parting words to someone who is watching and listening to you today?

SPEAKER_03 1:26:02

As someone who is listening, I just want you to know that whatever you're going through, you are not alone. You're not alone, there's always someone out there to help you, and your life is for a purpose. I remember first Jeremiah. Um, we all know that Jeremiah, that text that says, For I know the plans I have for you. 29 verse 11. Yes, for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and to give you a future and hope. So God wants you to prosper, He wants you to do well. All you have to do is ask. And the scripture I shared before, ask and it shall be given. Seek and ye shall find. Knock, and the door shall be open unto you. So don't sit there, you are not alone. It's the order of things. You must there must be someone there to help you.

SPEAKER_05 1:27:24

Such powerful stories, but purpose secrets, as we're closing out season six, we just want to take a minute to say thank you. You know, as we reflect on all of the gifts, all of the valuable lessons that were learned, you know, the co-off still, the conversations and transformational testimonies. We just want to say that we understand that this journey has not been easy, but it has definitely been a fulfilling because God has been good to us. And so to every guest, to everyone who has trusted us with their stories, to every listeners, viewers, those who would have complimented us, but possibly shared a kind. Sentiment you've interact with us on social media. We are most grateful to every listener, those on the audio side of things, we appreciate you so much. Thank you to every supporter, and remember that this is only the beginning. So, purple seekers, as we round out season six, this is the exclusive finale. We just want to say thank you so much to every listener, supporter guest, in whatever capacity that you would have partnered with us or team. Thank you so much. I pray that for this season you would have been encouraged, that you would have been strengthened, healed, and moreover, that you continue to remain in purpose. Purple seekers, you know the drill. Remember that it is not the beginning, but it is the continuing to the end until it is faithfully, wholesomely, purposefully, and wonderfully accomplished. I'm your host, Aquila Thompson, and until next season, see you soon. If you are out there and you wish to partner with us to share the vision across the globe, please feel free to visit our website at sold interpurpose, that is S O U L E D Interpurpose.com. As well as you may scan the QR codes that are presented on your screen. Feel free to also use the donation buttons and forms on our website. And we have our show link. Feel free to click that link and show us your support. We appreciate all that you do for the show. And we will continue to be sold into purpose.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:37

Are you ready to step into who God is calling you to be? Calling all leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and purpose-driven individuals ready to move from process to purpose. Make sure you're at the Becoming Conference 2026. Happening in Kingston, Jamaica, the Crystal Hotel on Saturday, June 27th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This hybrid transformational experience is under the theme Becoming Aligned from Process to Purpose. Register now at spuropen.com slash becoming conference or call 876-227-7590. The Becoming Conference. It's time to become.

SPEAKER_05 1:30:07

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