VOA Ð CONNECT EPISODE # 183 AIR DATE: 07 16 2021 TRANSCRIPT OPEN ((VO/NAT)) ((Banner)) Exploring Faith ((SOT)) ((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis Community Church)) Lord, you meet us in the darkest places of our lives. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) With the virus weÕve had this year, itÕs just been difficult for people. We donÕt get to fellowship any more and the church has been cancelled. ((Animation Transition)) ((Banner)) A Higher Calling ((SOT)) ((Jude Smith, Seminarian, Saint Meinard Seminary and School of Theology)) So, that's what I did and everything in a car and moved into a very small place over here at Saint Meinrad. There's something rewarding in minimalist and reduction of things. So, yeah. ((Animation Transition)) ((Banner)) Finding Peace ((SOT)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) Being in the forest, in nature, is good for us, especially during these pandemic times. Something that helps soothe body and soul. ((Open Animation)) BLOCK A ((PKG)) FAITH DURING COVID ((TRT: 12:45)) ((Previously aired January 2021)) ((Topic Banner: Faith: Evangelical Christian)) ((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Mart’nez)) ((Map: Fallon, Nevada)) ((Main character: 1 female)) ((Sub characters: 4 males; 3 females)) ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) My name is Wende Hook and I work at His Inspirations in Fallon, Nevada. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) His inspirations. How can I help you? Good. I have your two Bibles in for your sisters. Okay, no worries. It'll be under the counter for you whenever you get a chance. Okay. Bye. Thank you. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) This is a Christian book and gift store. We specialize in honoring Jesus. We sell Bibles mostly and books, lots of Christian gifts, wall art, kidsÕ books and all sorts of different things for all occasions. ((Popup Banner: 1 in 4 US adults identifies with evangelical Protestant Christians, believing that a spiritual rebirth or being Òborn againÓ is central to receiving salvation. : Pew Research Center)) ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) It's a needed location. It's a ranching community and a Navy base that's here and we have our churches, but I think having this outlet where people don't feel judged when they feel the love of Christ, when they feel accepted for whatever reason, I think they've needed it. I know I did. So, having it here has helped me. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Yes ma'am. I sure do. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) I was a teacher for a few years and living a great life, a very blessed life at the time and God decided that my life needed to change. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) My husband at the time was a pilot, flew the F-18s. He had children down in California and he also had purchased a small Cessna to go down and pick up the girls. So, he, on Memorial Day weekend of 2009, he flew down to get them on Friday night, flew over our house. We lived a little bit out and he flew over the house and that's when I put the pizza in the oven because that's what they wanted. And he waved at me like he always did. They didn't make it. They crashed right outside the airport, less than 200 feet [60 meters] from the runway and they all perished. So, it was him and three of my four stepdaughters that perished. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) I was in shock for quite a while. It seemed like it was just beyond hard. My mind was being attacked by the devil. But God was there too. I could feel Jesus right beside me through all of it, even though some days my mind was less evident of it, but I know he was there. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) My business partner, Carrie, she met with me and we went and had coffee and she said, ÒHey, you've always loved books. So, let's open a bookstore that will honor God.Ó ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) By November 23rd, we were open. God just flew open doors. We just wanted people to have the availability to get a Bible, to walk into a store and pray or be prayed with. ((NATS)) ((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis Community Church)) Lord, you meet us in the darkest places of our lives and I know you've done that for this woman and you've brought joy and light and hope into her life again. We love you Jesus. In your name we pray. Amen. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Amen. Thank you so much. ((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis Community Church)) Yeah. Thank you. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) You are such a blessing to me. ((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis Community Church)) All righty. Back to work. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Hold on. 29.11, right. Jeremiah 29.11. Ò ÔFor I know the plans I have for youÕ, declares the Lord, Ôplans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.Õ Ó That's my mantra. That's everything I've based my life upon since 2009. Didn't know what was going on and then I found that verse and I thought, ÒOkay, He knows. He knows what this is going to be, that He knows what He's going to do with my life and how He's going to use me.Ó I will help you find Jesus, you know. I think that's where He took my teaching and changed it into this. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Use us to be instruments of your word, Lord. Bring them to us and help us to help them, Lord. In your heavenly name we pray. Amen. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Good morning. How are you today? Can I help you with anything? ((Customer)) We are just looking for some Christmas gifts. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Okay. Oh, this is the best time of year. This is Christmas. This is when we celebrate the Lord's birth. And with the virus that we've had this year, it's just been difficult for people, myself included. Just feel isolated and distant from others and just the joy of Christmas and knowing that Christ is with us and hearing our prayers and knowing what's going to happen, knowing what the future is and just relying on him. This is one of our specialty masks. It says, ÒFaith over FearÓ, because as a Christian, I believe we need to have faith in Jesus over the fear of this virus. ((Customer)) So, I'm looking at this Bible. Revelation 12. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Oh, Revelation. Yes. Okay, so the woman in Revelation 12. Yes. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) People are nervous. And I've had people buying Bibles, you know, during the shutdown, Òwe need a BibleÓ. People are searching and wanting to know what's going on and, you know, your Christian friends are going to be talking about Revelation. And if you don't know what Revelation is, you might spark your interest, you know. So, maybe I better go get that. Revelation, the last book of the Bible, where Satan, the Antichrist, comes and kind of takes over the world and then, Jesus returns and does his thousand-year reign of the Earth. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Popup Banner: Some evangelicals interpret current events as foretold by the apocalyptic Revelation. Some also hold the more recent end time belief, called the Rapture, that they will rise together to meet Jesus.)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) I just can, you know, common sense can kind of see the signs. There's the microchips that they're using, is spoken about in Revelation with the sign of the beast. The one world order that we're hearing talk about on the news, is spoken about in Revelation. The son against father, mother against daughter, that's happening right now in the family units. ThatÕs scripture. ThatÕs prophecy. If you've read Revelation, you can't deny it. ((NATS)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) With the whole virus, the coronavirus going on, how has that affected you? ((Sarah Dowling, Customer)) Quite a lot. I've been staying home, basically. We did not go anywhere for Thanksgiving. We are not going to go anywhere for Christmas. You know, itÕs been tricky. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Have you been praying a lot? ((Sarah Dowling, Customer)) Of course. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Yes. ((Sarah Dowling, Customer)) Absolutely, yes. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) ItÕs difficult. We don't get to fellowship anymore and church has been canceled. I think God's trying to get our attention. I think he's trying to say, ÒQuit focusing on everything else. You need to come back and focus on meÓ, like when we were shut down, nothing was open. People were staying home. People were seeing each other for the first time. They may live together but they don't see each other because they're too busy running off to work or whatever. And I think through this, it's brought the family unit back. ((Cameron Hook, WendeÕs daughter)) Lord, I just thank you for this wonderful day. I thank you for this time I get to spend with my mom and to read about your word. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Lord, I just thank you for your blessings. I pray for your blessings upon us, Lord. In your heavenly name we pray. Amen. ((NATS/MUSIC)) Joy to the Earth! the Savior reignsÉ. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Hi, how are you? Doing well, thanks. Hanging in there. Glad to be back. Good to see you, Pastor Bill. ((Nettie Vaughn, Associate PastorÕs wife)) I have a great-grandson, six years old, prayed for me when I had the virus and he says, ÒDear God, don't let grandma Nettie die of the virus. We don't want her dead, yet.Ó Yet. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Yeah. Yet. ((Nettie Vaughn, Associate PastorÕs wife)) So, IÕm not asking when. I donÕt even want to know. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) DonÕt even want to know. ((Parishioner)) Got over the COVID, turn around and catch a cold. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Oh boy. Of course. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Popup Banner: Nevada state directives, at the time of filming, allowed houses of worship to hold indoor services for up to 50 people, if they observed social distancing and mask guidelines.)) ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Okay, we're back at church today, finally, at Oasis Community Church in Fallon. We had to close down for a little bit. We had some cases of the virus, so, they kind of closed us down for a bit. We were online and today is our first day back in person. So, we're very excited to be here. ((NATS)) ((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis Community Church)) Let's pray before we get started this morning. Lord Jesus, thank You so much for the opportunity that we have to gather together. We pray that You be with us, that You comfort us, that You give us peace. In Your name we pray. Amen. Take it away, Sam. ((Sam, Band signer)) Alright. If youÕre at home, feel free to turn to one another and say hello. If you are in the building, give a friendly wave, a wink, an air hug, an air five. Just some way to say, Ògood to be hereÓ. ((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis Community Church)) Yeah, I think just like any other faith community, weÕve struggled to balance the physical health needs of our people with their spiritual and emotional needs. You can see kind of awkward interactions with people, where even if we are wearing masks, weÕre not sure if we are supposed to hug each other or not. The experts say not to, but our hearts say we should. And so, we have an internal conflict there that is not easy to answer. And weÕve also experienced the virus hitting us personally. I myself came down with it about a month ago and had to struggle through recovering there as well. So, yeah, we struggled through it, but I think we've also found some joy and some victory in it. When you have a virus that could potentially lead to death for so many people, our mortality comes to mind, especially in loneliness. And the one fact of the matter is, every single one of us will die one day. And I think once we truly understand that and take it to heart, we begin to make different decisions and act differently because of it, hopefully in good ways, but not always. ((NATS)) ((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis Community Church)) Our goal during the four weeks leading up to Christmas is to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Messiah. That's what we celebrate on the 25th of this month. ((Wende Hook, Owner, His Inspirations Ð Christian Books & Gifts)) Well, I'm on my knees a lot and praying. Praying a lot and trusting in God and if He decides to return right now and rapture us, then please. Because then I get to see them again. So, you know. ((NATS/MUSIC)) TEASE ((VO/NAT)) Coming up ((Banner)) Keeping Things Tidy ((SOT)) ((Michelle Moon, Housekeeper, Days Inn)) Far as the clients go that stays here, some is good, some is bad, some is rotten. With some people, IÕll be wondering. Do they treat their houses, their places like that? BREAK ONE BUMP IN ((ANIM)) BLOCK B ((PKG)) CONNECT WITH - MICHELLE MOON ((Previously aired January 2021)) ((TRT: 02:39)) ((Banner: Connect With - Michelle Moon)) ((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss)) ((Location: Harmarville, Pennsylvania)) ((Main character: 1 female)) ((NATS)) ((Michelle Moon, Housekeeper, Days Inn)) My nameÕs Michelle Moon. IÕm 54 years old. IÕm a housekeeper at Days Inn in Harmarville, Pennsylvania and IÕve been working for this company for over 20 years. ((Michelle Moon, Housekeeper, Days Inn)) Quite frankly, I like it here. I like my coworkers, sometimes. Far as the clients go that stays here, some is good, some is bad, some is rotten. With some people, IÕll be wondering. They trashes a room. Do they treat their houses, their places like that? Because theyÕre nasty. But I just keep on going. ((Michelle Moon, Housekeeper, Days Inn)) I had no goals when I was younger, really, not really, just surviving day by day, doing whatever I do, whatever I want, and whatever I can. Just day by day thing. I had no regrets. Where IÕm at is where IÕm at. I have no regrets. I love my children and my grandchildren. TheyÕre bad as hell, excuse my language, but I love them just the same. ((Michelle Moon, Housekeeper, Days Inn)) The only thing I would change would be getting my oldest son back. At the age I had him, I wasnÕt very good. Well, the state didnÕt think I was very good at it, so they took him. Every time I had to go visit him, I had to sign a paper, my signature. So, one of those days, I signed the paper for my visitation to see him. Next thing I know, I got my visitation taken as well as my son. I feel like the case worker I had tricked me on signing the papers. And from that day on, I learned to look before I sign. But despite everything else, my son, Jesse, heÕs with a very good family. Right now, I know heÕs alright. So, that was my only regret. But anything else, I donÕt regret. I just donÕt. ((PKG)) CONNECT WITH Ð JUDE SMITH ((TRT: 03:24)) ((Previously aired February 2021)) ((Topic Banner: Connect With Ð Jude Smith)) ((Reporter/Camera: Deepak Dobhal)) ((Locater: Patoka Lake, Indiana)) ((Main character: 1 male)) ((MUSIC/NATS)) ((Jude Smith, Seminarian, Saint Meinard Seminary and School of Theology)) My name is Jude Smith. I'm a seminarian in the Catholic Church, studying to be a priest. Plans change, you know. Even though I was, I kind of thought in my back of my head, you know, I would like to retire in Mexico by age 40. Well, things change, you know. Here I am, giving up the rest of my life for something, which is not giving up, giving the rest of my life for God. ((MUSIC/NATS)) Well, I was in real estate for about 20 years but for most of my life, I've felt calling to the priesthood. And since, IÕd say, the recentpassing of my mother about three years ago, that I decided to go ahead and move forward with that calling. ((MUSIC/NATS)) I'm comfortable financially and I'm comfortable with what I've made, and that's just not important to me anymore. Maybe, if I had a wife and children and more responsibilities in that sense. But being single, you know, my house is paid for. I still have a place in New Orleans. You know, my mom had just passed away, and there's some property and some finances that she had left to us. So, that rat race is kind of over for me, in that sense. ((MUSIC/NATS)) When I moved from Louisiana, and kind of the motto, even the Glenmary (Home Missioners) missionary, Òyour life needs to fit into a car.Ó So, that was a pretty big difference from having a house in New Orleans, my mom's house, 3,000 square feet [278 square meters] full of stuff, a lot of it mine, you know, and reducing your life to what you can fit in a car and pick up at any given moment and go on to your next mission and what not. So, that's what I did and packed everything in a car and moved into a very small place over here at Saint Meinrad. There's something rewarding in minimalist and reduction of things. So, yeah. ((MUSIC/NATS)) And at 48, and like I said, having life experiences, I'm not, I don't have that thought of, ÒOh, what am I missing?Ó, you know, ÒWhat's the relationship like? What is romance like?Ó So, I am, I know what it's like, you know, and I know that I'm giving that up, but I also know what I'm giving it up for. ((MUSIC)) Do I have full support from everybody? No, you never do. I mean, I didn't have that much support of my own family with taking care of my mom, you know. So, but I have, I know I have their love and support, you know, at least somewhat. But, is that's, it's not, my life isn't based upon what other people think, you know. I have to move on, you know, make my decisions for myself, so. It's good to have that support though. ((MUSIC/NATS)) TEASE ((VO/NAT)) Coming up ((Banner)) Finding Peace ((SOT)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) I arrived in the United States when I was 21 and up until this year, I'd never set foot in an American forest. I just couldn't. BREAK TWO BUMP IN ((ANIM)) BLOCK C ((PKG)) REASEYÕS JOURNEY ((Previously aired January 2021)) ((VOA Khmer)) ((Banner: Journeys through Forests)) ((Reporter/Camera: Reasey Poch)) ((Producer/Video Editor: Lisa Vohra)) ((Additional Camera: Socheata Hean, Lisa Vohra)) ((Map: Dale City, Virginia)) ((Main Character: 1 male)) ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) My children take me to the forest. They know it's difficult for me. But they also know itÕs healing. Being in the forest, in nature, is good for us, especially during these pandemic times. ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) I like the Japanese name for it, ÔForest BathingÕ, something that helps soothe body and soul. It wasn't always this way for me. I'm Cambodian from Phnom Penh and up until I was 12, I'd lived a comfortable life in the city known as the ÔPearl of AsiaÕ. ((Courtesy: The Times Standard)) ((Courtesy: The Philadelphia Inquirer)) ((Courtesy: The Lost Angeles Times)) ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) But then the Khmer Rouge took over, forcing millions of us into the countryside to clear the land and plant crops. The terror was everywhere. So was starvation. ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) I would sneak into the woods to forage. I learned to set traps for fish, birds and rabbits. ((Courtesy: Reasey Poch)) ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) We lived with fear, always, and the forest gave no reprieve. I knew I'd be killed if I was caught. ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) Four years of this, and then ((Courtesy: The Albuquerque Journal)) ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) Vietnam invaded in 1978 and I escaped. I trekked through the forests, over mountains, dodging Khmer Rouge fighters, ((Courtesy: Reasey Poch)) trying to reach safety in Vietnam. We had no food, no water. ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) We just had to keep moving, not get caught, not get killed. I made it and I left the forest behind. ((Courtesy: Reasey Poch)) ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) I arrived in the United States when I was 21 and up until this year, I'd never set foot in an American forest. I just couldn't. Friends and family would ask me to go camping or go on a hike. No, I couldn't. ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) But as the pandemic restricted us, my children thought it was time. They're now in their twenties and they know what I've been through. My daughter had moved back home because of COVID-19 and like most people, we were feeling penned in. She convinced me to try walking in the woods. ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) During that first hike, I had flashbacks. The trees look different here. They're not tropical, but the fear came rushing back. But we took another hike. And another. Each time got a little easier. One day, we hiked a trail that ran alongside a stream. It wasn't like the muddy puddles I drank from fleeing Cambodia. The water was so clear. And in that moment, I could see it was just a stream. It didn't represent survival. ((NATS)) ((Reasey Poch, Journalist, Voice of America)) The trees were just trees. They didn't conceal an enemy. I was in the forest and I was calm. One day, the pandemic will be over. But my hiking days wonÕt be. I will keep on hiking. ((NATS)) CLOSING BUMPER ((ANIM)) voanews.com/connect BREAK THREE BUMP IN ((ANIM)) SHOW ENDS