Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202009S
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00:01 >> Hello and welcome to
00:02 It Is Written Canada. 00:05 You may remember that 00:06 last week we listened to 00:08 Neil Peralta who was the only 00:10 witness to a murder. 00:12 A woman who was living in the 00:14 lower level of his house 00:17 was murdered by her husband. 00:19 [Mike] Neil told us the story 00:21 of how he, at age of fourteen, 00:23 overheard screaming 00:25 coming from downstairs. 00:26 And when the screaming finally 00:28 subsided, the blood-stained 00:30 father came upstairs carrying 00:32 a knife in one hand and 00:34 his five-month-old baby girl 00:36 in the other. 00:37 That baby girl's name 00:39 was Jolly Grace. 00:41 >> Neil then held out his arms 00:43 and received the helpless 00:44 infant daughter whose mother 00:46 had just been murdered. 00:49 After some years of grief, 00:51 processing this traumatic 00:52 experience, Neil found hope 00:55 and the ability to forgive 00:57 Jolly's dad. 00:59 [Mike] Neil's family became 01:00 a surrogate family 01:02 to Jolly Grace when Jolly's 01:04 Auntie Divina, at the age of 01:06 twenty-one came from the 01:07 Philippines to raise her niece 01:10 and become Jolly's new mother. 01:12 >> In a moment, we will 01:13 continue with the second part 01:15 of this compelling story of 01:17 how God's amazing grace 01:20 worked in the midst of this 01:21 horrific crime, heart-break, 01:23 and tragedy. 01:26 ♪♪ 02:07 >> Jolly, it is wonderful to 02:08 have you back this week and 02:11 that was a traumatic 02:13 experience that happened when 02:15 you were a little baby and you 02:18 then were put in the arms 02:20 of Neil and he was like a 02:22 brother to you. 02:24 And then you had your 02:27 mother or your auntie, 02:30 your mother's sister come over 02:32 from the Philippines and she 02:34 now became your mother. 02:36 Tell us about that. 02:38 >> Yeah, so growing up 02:41 I saw her as my mom. 02:43 I would call her "Mom" every 02:46 time I'd see her basically so 02:47 she'd be my mom. 02:49 But growing up I 02:52 found out from someone, 02:55 they asked me, they were like, 02:58 "Hey, Jolly, how's your aunt?" 03:00 And I was like, "My aunt?" 03:02 Like, "Who's that?" 03:03 You know? 03:05 Like, "I don't know" 03:06 "who you're talking about." 03:07 They were like, 03:08 "Your Auntie Divina." 03:10 And I was like, "She's not my" 03:11 "aunt, she's my mom." 03:13 And so that really confused me 03:15 there and so I didn't really 03:18 address it right away to her. 03:20 I kind of kept it 03:22 to myself and tried to, like, 03:24 think about 03:26 why they were saying that. 03:28 And then I finally asked her. 03:30 I was like, "Why did this" 03:32 "person call you my aunt?" 03:36 And that was when she kind of 03:39 told me a little bit of the 03:40 reason and not 03:43 in depth of what happened. 03:46 But she did tell me, 03:47 she was like, 03:48 "Well, your mom passed away" 03:50 "and I came here" 03:53 "to be your legal guardian" 03:55 "and so we didn't want to" 03:57 "tell you until you" 03:58 "were older where you could" 03:59 "understand fully." 04:02 And so when I realized that 04:06 she wasn't my mom 04:08 and that she was my aunt, 04:10 my whole mindset of everything 04:13 kind of switched 04:14 and turned around. 04:16 And I was like, "OK, well..." 04:19 "What now?" You know? 04:21 And in a sense, I kind of lost 04:25 who I was and so it was really 04:29 hard to kind of find my way 04:31 back from finding out that 04:33 she wasn't my mom and then 04:35 finding out what actually 04:36 happened to my mom. 04:38 >> So how old were you 04:40 at this time 04:41 more or less, Jolly? 04:42 >> I was probably about eleven. 04:44 I don't really remember, 04:47 but I was around that age, 04:48 like eleven or ten when 04:51 they told me about everything. 04:54 >> And when you heard the 04:55 story, you're talking about 04:57 what happened that night and 04:59 when your mom passed away. 05:02 How did you feel about that? 05:05 >> I was really confused. 05:07 I was very much in denial and 05:10 I said to myself, like, 05:12 "That couldn't have happened" 05:13 "to me." You know? 05:16 And a little bit I was kind of 05:18 angry and like mad and 05:21 thinking like, "Why would you" 05:23 "tell that to me?" You know? 05:24 "Why would you say something" 05:26 "like that to me?" 05:27 And so I had to kind of just 05:31 think to myself and really, 05:33 let that, you know, sink in 05:35 for me to really ponder on it. 05:38 And so it finally kind of hit 05:42 me that that was my reality 05:46 and that's what happened. 05:49 And so, yeah, ever since that 05:52 moment of being told 05:55 what had happened to my mom 05:57 and my dad, you know... 06:00 It just definitely changed 06:03 my whole life. 06:05 >> What were your feelings 06:07 like towards your dad? 06:08 >> I was feeling very mad. 06:12 because I never thought that, 06:15 you know, having a dad, 06:17 you know a dad is supposed to 06:19 be loving, caring, you know, 06:22 supposed to be there for you, 06:25 but it just felt like he 06:28 didn't really care and so 06:30 that's how I felt 06:33 for most of my life and 06:35 I was very, very, very mad. 06:37 Yeah. 06:39 >> And have you seen your dad, 06:42 Jolly? 06:44 >> I've only seen him twice 06:46 so-- and those two times were 06:49 when I was like really little 06:51 so I wasn't even ten. 06:54 I was pretty small still. 06:58 But I did have a chat with him 07:00 on the phone when I was 07:02 graduating high school 07:04 and that was the only time-- 07:07 that was the last time 07:08 actually that I talked to him. 07:10 But I've only seen him 07:12 only twice. 07:13 Yeah. 07:14 >> So what did you do with all 07:15 those feelings of being angry 07:16 with him? 07:17 Do you still feel that way? 07:19 >> No, I've-- 07:21 It took me a while to kind of 07:23 have like a peace of mind 07:25 and just have a 07:29 calming over myself 07:31 because for a really long time 07:34 I struggled with 07:37 finding out who I was 07:40 like where I fit in, 07:42 where I belonged. 07:44 I struggled with forgiveness, 07:46 forgiving my dad. 07:49 And for a little while I was 07:53 struggling with forgiving God 07:57 and being angry with Him 07:58 because all my life I was 08:00 taught, you know, 08:01 "God is a loving God." 08:03 You know, "He helps us" 08:04 "through all of our trials" 08:05 "and everything that we go" 08:07 "through in life." 08:08 And I would think, "Well why" 08:11 "did You let this happen?" 08:13 You know, "Why weren't You" 08:15 "there during that night?" 08:18 And so, yeah, I really bottled 08:23 a lot of that up inside of me. 08:29 And I think the one thing that 08:32 really saved me was music. 08:35 Music kind of pulled me 08:37 out of my shell, 08:40 it let me see God in a 08:42 different perspective. 08:45 Having that in my life, 08:46 that's when I realized 08:48 that He is, 08:50 He truly is a loving God, 08:52 you know... 08:53 There are things that happen 08:54 in this-- in our life 08:56 that we don't fully agree with 08:58 and we get mad at God 09:00 just like that, 09:01 but in His eyes, 09:04 He never wants anything 09:07 bad to happen to us. 09:08 But because of-- 09:12 Going back to the very 09:14 beginning, like, Adam and Eve, 09:16 that first sin, 09:20 you know, and being-- 09:23 not knowing like, 09:24 "OK, yeah, God," 09:26 you know, "You've--" 09:29 "You make things happen" 09:30 "or You allow things to happen" 09:33 "in our life that we truly" 09:34 "don't understand," 09:36 "but we have to find it in" 09:39 "our heart that" you know, 09:41 "that's not the work of God," 09:42 you know? 09:44 And that's the work of Satan 09:48 because he's the one that 09:50 prowls in our life and tries 09:52 to take advantage of 09:55 His children. 09:57 And for me I had to really, 10:00 really dig deep 10:02 in my heart that-- 10:05 Allow myself to forgive 10:08 not only my dad, but also 10:11 to forgive the fact that I was 10:13 putting so much blame on God 10:16 and that He didn't 10:19 need any of that 10:20 because He was there. 10:23 But it took me a while to 10:25 really forgive, 10:28 but I had to change my mindset 10:34 of who I was and the mindset 10:37 of who God was to me. 10:40 >> What helped you to find out 10:41 who you were, 10:42 gave you a sense of belonging? 10:44 >> So, you know, growing up 10:47 in a family, you would think 10:49 that, yeah, your family is 10:50 the people who are gonna be 10:53 there to build you up and 10:57 to help you grow and become 10:59 the person you are. 11:02 My family definitely did that, 11:03 but I had a different dynamic 11:05 because of what had 11:07 happened to me and so 11:10 the people who were there and 11:14 who really understood me from 11:18 my core were my best friends. 11:21 They were the ones who 11:24 really helped me 11:25 find who I was 11:27 and who helped me gain 11:29 that sense of belonging. 11:32 >> And so you had a core group 11:34 that-- you grew up together, 11:36 you went to church together, 11:38 you went to school together... 11:39 >> Yeah. 11:40 >> And that's where your 11:42 family was really... 11:43 >> Mm-hmm. Yeah. 11:44 >> That connection. 11:45 >> Yeah. 11:46 >> So tell us about music. 11:48 Music is a big part of 11:49 your life. 11:50 You were saying that's how God 11:51 came to you was through music. 11:53 >> Yes. 11:54 >> What is music to you? 11:55 >> Umm... 11:57 So when I was little, 11:59 I did a lot of singing. 12:01 I sang at church, 12:03 I sang at school, 12:05 honestly, I sang 12:07 everywhere I went, you know, 12:08 at home, the shower, 12:10 just anywhere I could. 12:13 And music to me before, it was 12:18 more of a place where I could 12:21 just be myself and kind of 12:23 pour my feelings out 12:24 in that way. 12:26 As I got older, music became 12:30 more of a statement and more 12:33 of a testimony and that's 12:35 where I found worship as well. 12:40 [Jolly] And so connecting 12:41 those two, music and worship, 12:44 it really helped me 12:46 know who God was to me. 12:50 And so leading worship, 12:54 leading worship at school, 12:55 leading worship at church, 12:57 it allowed me to 13:00 be in that space of surrender, 13:04 and be in that space of 13:07 humbleness and it was just 13:09 me and God. 13:12 Music was my language of 13:15 how I could speak to God 13:17 and to other people. 13:19 >> So was that-- 13:21 the music allowed you to have 13:22 that strong connection with 13:24 God, that's the way you 13:26 connected with Him and how you 13:28 formed this beautiful 13:30 relationship with Him where it 13:31 was just you and God and you 13:33 could talk to Him through your 13:36 music and He would talk to you 13:38 through your music. 13:39 >> Yeah. 13:40 >> That's wonderful! 13:42 >> You've written a number of 13:43 songs and there's a song we 13:46 want you to perform now for us 13:48 and share with our guests. 13:51 Can you tell us a little bit 13:52 about that song before we 13:53 listen to it? 13:54 >> Yeah, so it's a song I 13:56 wrote a long, long time ago 13:58 and it was when I was in this 14:03 position in my life that I was 14:06 trying to find out who I was 14:07 and who God was to me. 14:10 And I just remember as I was 14:12 writing down kind of words, 14:15 all I thought was how God 14:19 saw me for who I was. 14:21 He saw my broken pieces, 14:23 but He was still there 14:25 and He was there to put them 14:27 all back together like nothing 14:30 had happened, you know? 14:32 And it was a journey of me 14:34 figuring out myself 14:37 and realizing that throughout 14:39 everything God was there, 14:40 you know? 14:41 He saw me for who I was. 14:43 and He allowed-- 14:44 And He was patient with me, 14:46 you know, He allowed that 14:47 time of growth 14:50 for me to know who He was. 14:52 So yeah. 14:54 >> So what's the name 14:55 of the song? 14:56 >> It's called You Saw Me. 14:57 >> You Saw Me. 14:59 OK, we're gonna listen to 15:00 that song right now. 15:15 ♪The day that I first saw You 15:21 ♪I felt like I was home 15:27 ♪You picked up all the pieces 15:30 ♪from my heart 15:32 ♪and You turned them back to 15:34 ♪life for the very first time 15:39 ♪and You saw me 15:42 ♪You saw through my heart 15:45 ♪and You loved me 15:47 ♪You loved me 15:48 ♪with all my pain 15:52 ♪and You gave me 15:55 ♪You gave me a chance 15:58 ♪to be loved, loved 16:01 ♪all by You 16:04 ♪You saw me 16:13 ♪You reached out to me 16:20 ♪And gave me my first hope 16:27 ♪You are my heart and my life 16:31 ♪The one and only thing 16:34 ♪that my heart beats for 16:38 ♪And You saw me 16:42 ♪You saw through my heart 16:44 ♪and You loved me 16:47 ♪You loved me 16:48 ♪with all my pain 16:51 ♪And You gave me 16:55 ♪You gave me a chance 16:58 ♪To be loved, loved 17:00 ♪adored by You 17:03 ♪You saw me 17:07 ♪You found me 17:10 ♪and You gave me life 17:13 ♪that I never thought I had 17:17 ♪You saw me 17:20 ♪You found me 17:23 ♪And You gave me life 17:26 ♪that I thought I had lost 17:34 ♪You saw me 17:38 ♪You saw through my heart 17:41 ♪and you loved me 17:43 ♪You loved me 17:44 ♪with all my pain 17:48 ♪and You gave me 17:51 ♪You gave me a chance 17:54 ♪to be loved, loved 17:57 ♪all by You 18:00 ♪You saw me 18:12 ♪♪ 18:17 [Divina] Jolly Grace, she lost 18:19 her mom at her young age and 18:22 I felt like 18:24 it was a hard start for her 18:27 when she was a baby and 18:29 we prayed so hard. 18:31 The only thing that we can do 18:33 is that we prayed with my 18:34 family and we have such 18:36 supportive church members 18:40 giving us some clues how to 18:42 raise her, how to guide her to 18:44 become a God-fearing woman. 18:48 [Divina] She has a kind heart. 18:51 She's not perfect, 18:52 just like any other kid, 18:54 she has ups and downs, too. 18:57 And she was so passionate in 18:58 singing, I saw that. 19:00 I think that's the talent-- 19:02 And I believe that's a talent 19:04 that God has given her 19:06 because she's just loves-- 19:07 has the passion and the 19:08 love in doing it. 19:10 [Divina] and we're so proud of 19:12 her that she's using it for 19:16 reaching out to other people 19:18 through music and we're just 19:20 praying that she will continue 19:21 in serving the Lord with all 19:24 her heart and using that 19:28 talent, God-given talent 19:30 to her for His glory alone. 19:33 ♪♪ 19:38 >> Neil, you've come 19:39 to join us. 19:40 How was Jolly growing up as 19:43 a singer? 19:44 >> Well, as a singer, 19:46 she was at first shy. 19:48 And our family worships I 19:50 remember my dad and my mom, 19:53 her grandparents, would then 19:55 encourage me to help her 19:58 and to sing. 20:00 And my dad said, "OK, Jolly," 20:02 "you're gonna go up in front" 20:03 "of us every time in worship" 20:05 "at the end, we're gonna sing" 20:06 "the song, Thank You, Lord" 20:08 "and you're gonna conduct us" 20:10 "at the same time." 20:12 We would encourage her to sing 20:14 other songs and then 20:15 eventually she became 20:17 comfortable singing in front 20:18 of us and then she became 20:21 comfortable singing in front of 20:22 our church members. 20:24 And so that's where her 20:27 talents of singing, 20:29 her love of singing started 20:30 was because our family did 20:33 that together as a family. 20:36 >> So, Neil, tell me about, 20:37 how does Jolly-- 20:39 Like, how is she compared 20:41 to her mom? 20:42 >> Her mom was an extrovert. 20:45 When she was around her 20:46 friends, her best friends and 20:49 they just loved to hang out 20:50 with each other, they loved to 20:51 cook with each other and 20:53 sometimes you would often see 20:54 them singing karaoke together 20:57 and it was the singing and the 20:59 love of being together and 21:01 the quiet part of her was she 21:02 was a deep thinker as well 21:05 and I often see that with 21:06 Jolly that Jolly's also 21:09 a deep thinker, she doesn't 21:10 make choices right away, 21:12 but she thoughtfully 21:13 thinks through it. 21:15 >> I wanna get from your 21:16 perspective, 21:18 here you have, Neil, 21:21 this little girl who 21:22 starts to realize, 21:23 "This is not my family," 21:26 "this is my auntie." 21:27 Now, you had to tell her the 21:29 story of the night when her 21:31 mother was murdered. 21:33 How did she take it? 21:34 How did that work, 21:36 that experience? 21:37 >> Well, it was hard at first 21:39 to tell her because when she 21:41 first found out, it was out of 21:43 anger that someone told her. 21:46 And then she came running to 21:49 us and she was crying 21:52 and then she was asking, 21:54 "Is it true of what happened" 21:56 "with my mom and dad?" 21:58 And so at that time it became 22:00 pretty awkward because we were 22:02 hoping to tell her when she 22:03 was much older, 22:05 around maybe eighteen or twenty. 22:08 But then she found out at a 22:10 young age and so I took it 22:12 upon myself to tell her my 22:15 side of the story because I 22:16 felt the responsibility that 22:19 since I was the one there that 22:20 night and since I had to go 22:22 through that hurdle of 22:23 learning how to forgive her 22:24 father and to be able to 22:27 overcome that, 22:28 I took it upon myself to share 22:31 that story, but also in a 22:33 compassionate way, but in a 22:34 real way so that she could 22:36 understand that what happened 22:38 that night was a bad decision, 22:40 a bad choice. 22:41 and that evil played in it, 22:43 but yet God came and 22:45 intervened on her part 22:46 and my part. 22:48 And so when she first heard 22:49 it, it was very hard on her. 22:50 She did cry. 22:52 And often-- 22:55 And then from then on, I would 22:57 just check up on her and just 22:59 remind her that, "Remember, 23:01 "we are your family." 23:03 You know... 23:04 "Although how tragic this may" 23:06 "have been how you ended up" 23:07 "with us, but we are your" 23:08 "family, we love you." 23:10 And we would always 23:11 reassure her that 23:13 "No matter what," 23:14 "we're gonna be here for you." 23:16 "No matter what." 23:19 >> So we've come to the end of 23:20 our time, but I just want to 23:23 know like, where does the rest 23:26 of the family come in? 23:27 Have they been able 23:28 to forgive? 23:29 Is it still-- 23:31 I can just see that this is a 23:32 very sensitive topic and 23:33 you're being very vulnerable 23:35 and sharing this with us. 23:37 Where does the rest of the 23:38 family stand on this? 23:40 >> I think, from what I see, 23:43 even her Aunt Divina at times 23:46 still struggles with it 23:48 because-- I feel for her 23:50 because the role that was 23:51 pushed upon her. 23:53 I mean, so from her 23:54 perspective, it's been tough. 23:57 I do know that from the 23:59 perspective of the fam-- 24:03 Her parents' friends, 24:05 it's been tough. 24:06 But there have been times when 24:08 Jolly would have a celebration 24:10 at our house, they would 24:11 hesitate to come to the house 24:14 because they felt as if they 24:16 weren't-- it was just too-- 24:18 I don't know how you would 24:19 explain it, but it was just 24:20 too awkward for them, 24:22 they were too scared, 24:23 they had fear, or it would 24:25 remind them of what happened 24:26 and so... 24:27 >> It was too painful. 24:28 >> It's too painful for them 24:30 and so I'm always praying that 24:32 one day that they would also 24:36 move beyond that and really 24:38 forgive as well. 24:39 >> Yeah. 24:40 Tell us about God's word. 24:42 Where does a promise from the 24:43 Bible, from both of you, 24:46 what gives you comfort? 24:49 >> For me, it's found in 24:51 Isaiah chapter 41, verse 10 24:54 and I'm just gonna 24:54 paraphrase it. 24:56 It's this whole idea that 24:57 "Do not be discouraged," 24:58 "do not be afraid," 25:00 "I will be right there," 25:01 "I will help you," 25:02 "I will strengthen you" 25:03 "and I will hold you up with" 25:05 "My righteous right hand." 25:06 And so that verse has 25:08 resonated with me 25:10 throughout my life, 25:12 especially in that situation 25:15 where it took me a while to 25:17 really understand that 25:20 although it was very tragic, 25:21 God was right there holding me 25:22 with His right hand, 25:23 holding her. 25:25 He strengthened me. 25:27 He definitely helped me. 25:28 He helped us to get through 25:31 and move forward beyond that 25:33 pivotal point of li-- 25:34 in that part if our life. 25:37 >> And yourself, Jolly? 25:39 >> Yeah, for me is 25:41 Jeremiah 29, verses 11 to 13. 25:46 And basically that verse is 25:49 God's promise to everyone and 25:52 I felt like it was also a 25:53 promise to me that 25:56 He's there to guide me through 25:59 life and that He has a plan 26:01 for me when I didn't even know 26:03 what my life was going to look 26:05 like after, He knew from the 26:07 very beginning that 26:09 He had a plan for me. 26:13 And even thought it took me a 26:14 while to realize 26:18 and to accept, 26:22 but He's always been there 26:24 pushing and being there and 26:28 guiding me of where 26:30 He wants me to be. 26:32 >> Thank you for sharing that 26:34 with us. 26:35 Can I ask you, Neil, to pray 26:37 for us as we close? 26:39 >> OK, alright. 26:40 Our dear, heavenly Father 26:42 we thank You 26:43 that You brought us here. 26:45 Although we've been brought 26:47 together with this interview 26:49 and this discussion and the 26:52 different types of 26:53 circumstance, we thank You for 26:54 just watching over 26:56 Jolly Grace as she's grown 26:57 and for guiding her 26:59 and for protecting her. 27:00 We thank You that you have put 27:01 people in her life that have 27:04 molded her, mentored her, 27:05 and loved her, 27:07 as if they were-- 27:09 she was their daughter 27:11 And we thank You for this 27:12 opportunity that we could 27:13 share this message of hope and 27:14 strength that we can find 27:16 forgiveness, 27:17 that we can move forward and 27:19 thank You for this time that 27:20 we can share this testimony. 27:22 May it be a blessing to not 27:24 only us, but to those who will 27:25 be watching, Lord. 27:27 I pray all this in Jesus' 27:28 wonderful name, amen. 27:29 >> Amen, amen. 27:30 Neil, thank you for that 27:32 lovely prayer. 27:33 Jolly, Neil, thank you 27:34 very much for joining us. 27:36 >> Thank you for having us! 27:38 >> Friends, if you've been 27:39 touched my Neil and Jolly's 27:42 story today and how God helped 27:44 them and carried them, 27:46 our free offer for you today 27:49 is a little booklet called 27:50 Jesus Can Help, 27:52 just like He helped them. 27:54 And so if you are interested 27:56 in getting this free booklet, 27:58 it can be yours, free today 28:00 and the information is on the 28:02 screen right now. 28:04 ♪♪ 28:11 >> Whatever we're going 28:12 through, we know that we can 28:13 trust God's word. 28:15 And Jesus Himself said it when 28:17 He said, "It is written," 28:18 "man shall not live by bread" 28:20 "alone, but by every word" 28:22 "that proceeds out of the" 28:23 "mouth of God." 28:29 [Jolly] God we want to give You 28:32 our lives this morning, 28:33 our hearts. 28:36 [Jolly] God, Your name 28:38 Your name is above all names. 28:41 Your name is wonderful, God, 28:45 Your name is powerful, 28:47 Your name is beautiful, 28:48 and sometimes we forget that. 28:53 [Jolly] "Jesus" on "3." 28:54 1, 2, 3... 28:56 [all] Jesus! 28:57 [Jolly] Woo! Alright. |
Revised 2020-11-27