Participants: CA Murray (Host), Carot Dorve
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY017060A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:39 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:07 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:10 My name is CA Murray, and allow me once again 01:13 to thank you for joining us today 01:15 and for sharing a little of your day with us 01:18 to thank you as always for your love, your prayers, 01:20 your support of Three Angels Broadcasting Network. 01:23 I'm very, very excited about our program today 01:27 and my guest. 01:29 There are times when a person is given 01:32 what would say a bad break in life 01:34 but through dedication, 01:36 through a positive spirit, through the love of Christ 01:39 and through dedicating your time and talents, 01:41 the Lord can take what is a challenge 01:44 and turn it into a triumph. 01:47 And that's what we're going to talk about today. 01:49 It is a personal testimony, 01:50 but what a personal testimony this is. 01:54 This is something really fabulous. 01:57 And I will admit too, I have on the other side 02:00 of these cards not a lot of information 02:02 because we didn't sit down and write out bullet points 02:05 to talk about. 02:06 We just began to talk. 02:07 And then, my guest unfolded for me 02:09 a really remarkable story that is still ongoing. 02:13 This is just a great, great story 02:16 that I think will warm your heart. 02:18 So may I encourage you to disabuse yourself 02:22 or whatever you're doing for the next 50 minutes or so 02:25 because we got a lot to talk to you about. 02:27 And you're going to meet someone 02:28 that I've come to like really a lot in just a few minutes 02:31 that we've talked before this program began, 02:33 and that is Carlot Dorve. 02:35 Carlot, good to meet you. Good to have you here, man. 02:37 Thank you. Good to be here too. 02:40 This, first of all, is a neat guy. 02:41 He's still a relatively young. 02:43 I'm not going to ask you how old. 02:44 I'd say somewhere between 20 and 30, I would suspect. 02:48 But a lot has happened in those years. 02:50 And God has taken you to and through a lot of stuff, 02:53 a lot of stuff. 02:54 Amen. Yeah. 02:56 You are a native, I can say, of Haiti? 02:57 Yes. 02:58 And where in Haiti were you born? 03:00 I was in born in Petit-Goave 03:01 which is the soft part of Haiti. 03:03 But I grew up in Port-au-Prince. 03:06 You left the island just before that big earthquake 03:09 that we... 03:12 That dominated the news so much so many years ago, 03:14 but you got out just what? 03:15 A week before, two weeks before? 03:17 A week actually. That was exactly one week. 03:19 I came on Tuesday in United States. 03:21 Tuesday, January 5, 2012, 03:24 and on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 03:28 that was the earthquake. 03:29 So basically, exactly one week. Wow! 03:31 Praise the Lord that you got out 03:33 and you got out safe. 03:36 In the chair next to you is a trumpet. 03:39 And on the floor, in the front of that trumpet 03:42 is a flugelhorn. 03:44 Yes. 03:46 So you play them both? 03:47 Yes. Yes, yes. 03:48 Now let's deal with the elephant in the room 03:50 just now because we've got to work our way 03:51 through this burden of chance. 03:53 Carlot has one hour, and you would not think that 03:56 a person could be so proficient on these 03:59 two particular instruments not having two arms to play. 04:03 But he does play them, 04:05 and he plays them exceedingly well. 04:07 And we're going to talk about that. 04:09 But I want to go back, man, to your growing up days 04:14 and kind of walk through this whole experience. 04:18 Talk to me about your home growing up, 04:19 brothers and sisters. 04:21 Yes, I do have brothers and sisters. 04:24 I have five siblings. 04:25 I have three brothers and two sisters. 04:28 Wow. 04:30 But of course, growing up, I have a stepfather as well. 04:34 I had a stepfather. 04:36 Because growing up, my mother 04:39 and my father were not married. 04:45 But my mum... 04:47 My mother realized that my father has a wife. 04:51 So that led to this connection between those two. 04:55 And later on 04:59 during this Christmas vacation, 05:03 I keep asking my mother to take me to my grandmother, 05:06 to spend the vacation. 05:08 Because I think, at that point, probably kids, 05:10 love to spend vacation with their grandma 05:12 because grandma spoils kids. 05:15 But at this point, I need to stop you... 05:17 This was not an Adventist home just yet? 05:19 No, that was not an Adventist home yet. 05:20 Okay. 05:22 And at that point, when I get there, 05:25 and then that's how also I lost my arm because I fell 05:29 and I broke my arm... 05:30 Basically, it was my wrist. 05:33 At your grandma's? At grandma. 05:37 But my grandmother, at that point thought 05:39 if my mother knew that my mother will be stressed, 05:43 so she's trying to avoid all the stress on my mother 05:49 and decided to hide it from my mother 05:52 and then tried to see if my arm could be healed 05:55 without letting my mother know. 05:57 And she took me to a leaves doctor... 05:59 Leaves doctor, who will... 06:01 I mean, that thing in United States will 06:04 basically say it's an herbal doctor. 06:07 People who use leaves and natural medicine. 06:09 Now although some of them may have some connection 06:14 with may probably voodoo. 06:18 And after 14 days, when the leaves doctor 06:22 or herbal doctor put some stuff on my arm, after 14 days, 06:27 my uncle realized that my arm started to smell. 06:32 And they decided right away, 06:34 they have to take me to the emergency. 06:36 Now you were how old about this time? 06:38 I was four years and a half. 06:40 Do you remember any of this? Or this... 06:41 You're recalling this as it was told to you? 06:43 I remember some of the stuff because 06:45 I can remember before I fell... 06:51 My cousin was on a horse, and basically, 06:56 me and my cousin were playing horsey basically. 06:59 Playing horse and then use a stick, 07:01 that was probably a corn stick, and then run, 07:04 and then of course, we could not catch my cousin. 07:08 And there was a tree that looked like a horse. 07:12 And then basically we jump on it 07:13 and try to play horse. 07:15 And she said, "Let's go." 07:17 And I said, "What? Let's play more." 07:19 And there was a plantain tree 07:23 and I jumped on the plantain tree 07:25 and then she pulled my hand. 07:26 And of course, that planted tree is slippery. 07:28 And I fell and I broke my wrist. 07:30 So that's how you broke your wrist. 07:32 Yes. Okay. All right. 07:33 But after 14 days, things that they put in my arm 07:36 probably was a circulation issue 07:39 or maybe it's because things that they put in my arm 07:43 got infected. 07:44 I don't really know. 07:46 But what happened after 14 days, 07:48 they realized that my arm got gangrened, became darker, 07:54 and then started to smell. 07:55 So by the time, we got to the hospital, 07:59 the doctor said two things. 08:03 Of course, they called my mother, 08:05 and the doctor said two things, 08:08 "We have to amputate the arm or he will die." 08:11 So my mother at that point 08:13 was in a very difficult situation. 08:16 Whether she should decide for my life or for the society 08:23 because the society sees you in the different eyes. 08:26 Then your parents of course will. 08:29 So the idea of saving the arm was no longer issue. 08:32 Arm had to go? 08:33 Yes. Okay. 08:35 So her choice is to maim you 08:41 for the rest of your life 08:43 which is going to cause some rejection in the society 08:45 because they don't look at whole children 08:48 like they look at children who are challenged. 08:50 There's going to be some discrimination. 08:52 That's going to last a lifetime. 08:54 Or keep the arm and you die. 08:57 Which is a rough choice. 09:00 Of course, you always choose life, 09:01 and your mom chose... 09:02 Life. She chose life. 09:04 Okay, given the understanding that you're going 09:07 to be challenged for the rest of your life. 09:11 On the heels of that decision, as you got older, 09:15 was that prediction did that come to 09:17 as far as being sort of looked down on 09:20 because you didn't have two arms. 09:21 You weren't like everybody else, 09:22 was that kind of rough? 09:24 It was very rough. 09:25 In fact, the first thing that was pretty rough on me 09:28 that was the decision of my father 09:31 because of the reaction because my father told my mother, 09:37 "I did not have a child with one arm, 09:39 therefore, he is not my child. 09:40 This is your child." 09:42 And at that point, you can understand, 09:43 my mother tried to protect me and not letting me 09:46 know those things. 09:48 But she did some amazing things that I understood later on. 09:53 She never considered me as someone 09:55 with a physical disability. 09:57 Never. 09:58 In fact, when she leaves the house every day, 10:00 if she gives chores in the house, 10:02 she will ask me to do anything as she will ask 10:05 my older brother to do certain things. 10:07 For example, she might have said, 10:08 "Well, you do the bed, or you wash dishes." 10:12 She will make no difference. 10:13 She will just ask me to do something. 10:16 But never question how I am going to do it. 10:18 She let me figure it out. 10:20 And all those things make me feel confident 10:23 that I can accomplish things on my own. 10:27 On your own, yeah. 10:28 So your mom didn't coddle you in any sense 10:31 or leave you lot of time for self-pity. 10:34 She had you and nurtured you just like anybody else. 10:36 In fact, if neighbors try to complain, 10:38 she basically goes after them. 10:41 She goes after them, and then say, 10:43 "Well, this is my son. 10:45 I have to deal with him the way I want." 10:47 Yes. 10:49 So she had a lot of intestinal fortitude. 10:53 I mean, she is really a strong woman. 10:56 So your dad sort of disowned you? 10:59 Yes. 11:00 And left the family? Mm-hm. 11:02 So your mom remarried? 11:04 Well, that's a good question too 11:05 because my stepfather, as I mentioned 11:08 at the very beginning, 11:10 my father never get me with my mother. 11:12 Right. 11:14 However, they would still have communication. 11:18 And I was still young 11:19 but my mum trying to run away from my father 11:23 because she found out that my father has a wife. 11:26 Has a wife, married, yes. 11:27 And my mum was with my father and then that happened 11:31 because they were dating. 11:35 It was a little bit bad because my father 11:37 basically used my mum 11:40 and then my mum got pregnant with that one. 11:43 And so she felt like she has to stay 11:46 in that relationship after being used by my father, 11:50 and also a child came, then I came on in the scene. 11:56 And when she found out that my father has a wife, 12:01 she basically deserted herself from my father. 12:04 But since me and my older brother 12:06 were still connected with my father, 12:11 she will take us see my father 12:13 even when I was four, five, even three. 12:17 But the thing I've never seen 12:18 my father under the same roof with my mother, 12:21 not even one day. 12:23 Yup. I see. 12:25 So once he sort of out of the picture, 12:30 your stepfather comes in. 12:32 And then there are four children by him. 12:34 Right. Yes. Okay. So six in total. 12:36 Yes. Six in total. 12:39 How was your relationship with your stepdad? 12:43 It wasn't... 12:44 At first, it was good, at first, but later on, 12:48 it was not that good because of the way 12:50 he started acting with my mom. 12:52 And in fact, he started to cheat on my mom 12:57 and lead my mom to have some issues 12:58 with some other women. 13:00 And my mum, even actually when she was pregnant, 13:03 has even got to jail because she was fighting 13:05 with another woman that my father 13:08 had some involvement with. 13:10 And that was not really a good picture 13:12 because there was a lot of tension at that point. 13:16 And it was not that good for us but I usually stayed calm, 13:21 never get involve in those things, 13:23 but even later on, my older brother got involved 13:27 because my stepfather would try 13:28 to hit my mom one time. 13:31 And my older brother stepped in. 13:34 And so your stepfather is away. 13:35 How did, Carlot, how did Adventism 13:38 come into the picture? 13:41 In my life, especially that was... 13:43 When I was around six or seven years old 13:45 when my stepfather got married with my mother, 13:49 and we started going to Seventh-day Adventist Church, 13:53 but before that, my mom will make us memorize 13:56 Bible verses. 13:58 She was a single mom because she was the one 14:01 who tried to feed us every day therefore, 14:03 she has to go on the street and sell 14:06 so that she can take care of us. 14:08 But we rarely go to church on Sunday. 14:11 So with my stepfather came in, we go to church every Sabbath. 14:16 And we started to know a little bit 14:17 about devotion in the morning. 14:20 But because of difficulties of life, 14:23 I had to go live with my aunt. Oh, boy. 14:26 And I started living with my aunt, 14:27 I got confused at that point. 14:29 I was around 13. 14:31 And because I remember one day, I went to a Bible study 14:35 because I love God, I wanted to do what is right. 14:38 And that was Free Methodist Church. 14:43 And I remember in the Bible study, they say, 14:45 "Well, you don't have to keep the law 14:47 because Moses broke them." 14:49 That was a very hard situation for me. 14:52 And I was confused, and I started praying about it. 14:55 And later on, the same month, I believe and I felt convinced 15:01 to leave my aunt and then go downtown. 15:06 And there was like 15:08 an Evangelist Seventh-day Adventist Church, I heard it. 15:11 And I came in, and I felt so moved. 15:15 I said, "Man, this is my church." 15:18 From that point, 15:20 I tried to not miss any of those nights. 15:26 Now my aunt was not too happy with it. 15:29 Yes. 15:31 And after a few days, I told my aunt, 15:33 "I'm going to get baptized." 15:35 My aunt said, "Which church?" 15:38 I said, "Seventh-day Adventist Church." 15:40 She says, "That's not going to happen." 15:41 And I said, "Well, I understand, Aunt, 15:43 I want to get baptized." 15:46 So now before I get baptized, it was very difficult 15:49 because the Pastor refused me because I was 13. 15:52 Actually, at that point, later on, actually... 15:55 It is that after, later on, that was at 16. 15:58 Okay. I should make sure I explain. 15:59 I was 16 at that time, and I told my aunt 16:03 that I'm going to get baptized. 16:05 Now for most guys, 16 is old enough. 16:07 I was baptized younger than 16. Yes. 16:09 I've been baptized, I think, to a low of 9 or 10. 16:13 But they were pretty selfish children 16:15 and knew what they were getting into for the most part. 16:18 But 16, that's well I suppose. 16:20 When I say 16 and I want to get baptized, my aunt said, 16:23 "That's not going to happen." 16:25 And the Pastor and the people in the church 16:28 wanted to visit with my parents before they even choose me. 16:32 And they call everybody, and then 16:33 I remember they didn't call me. 16:35 I went back and I talked to the Pastor, I said, "Well, 16:38 I don't hear my name, and I sign up." 16:41 And they said, "Well, we have to talk to your parents first." 16:44 I said, "Well, you know what, let me tell you exactly 16:46 what it is. 16:47 I talked to my aunt about it because I'm with my aunt. 16:50 My mom is a Seventh-day Adventist, 16:52 but my aunt said no. 16:54 But please don't reject me 16:56 because I don't want to leave here 16:58 without getting baptized." 17:00 And the Pastors think about it, say, "Well, 17:03 we cannot refuse him." 17:04 All right. "So we have to let him in." 17:06 And after he baptized, he said, "I'm going to pray for you." 17:10 And from that point, when I got back home, 17:12 and I told my aunt, 17:15 "I have to let you know that I got baptized." 17:17 And now she started a new way to persecute me in a way. 17:22 She used to sell stuff in the street, 17:24 and she used to send me buy stuff for her. 17:27 And on the Sabbath morning, she told me, 17:29 "I want you to deliver this merchandise for me 17:31 at that place." 17:33 And I said, "I am sorry. I will not be able to do it. 17:37 And, you know, today is my church 17:39 and it's a Sabbath. 17:40 I will not be able to do it." She said, "What? 17:42 If you don't do it today, you leave the house." 17:44 I said, "Well, you don't have to even repeat it again. 17:46 I'm going to leave today. 17:48 You will not see me after the church." 17:49 Wow. So I left. 17:50 Wow. Wow. 17:52 I left. I went to my mum. 17:53 And my mum was happy as well. 17:55 "You know, you're never too much for me." 17:58 Wow. 17:59 All right, I want to move from that point 18:05 to when you began to pick up an interest 18:08 in musical instruments. 18:10 One would not think, 18:11 particularly this challenging an instrument 18:15 that would be something that you'd gravitate to. 18:16 When did that interest in music start? 18:19 That interest started when I was around seven. 18:23 I remember I was walking in the street, 18:25 that was a Flag Day, probably May 18th 18:28 because that's when we have the Flag Day in Haiti. 18:30 And in the street, I saw a lot of kids, 18:34 even young adults, playing in the band. 18:37 It's like a marching band. And I... 18:38 The first thing that came to mind I said, "Man, 18:41 I wish I could play like those people." 18:45 But the second thought that came was, 18:47 "It's impossible because your mom will not be able 18:49 to afford it." 18:51 So I keep it and I never said anything to my mother. 18:56 But I was in the school, they call St. Vincent's. 18:58 It's a school for people with children with disability. 19:03 But also in that school 19:07 when you get to a certain grades, 19:09 they start you with music. 19:11 And when I get to that grade, I was very excited. 19:13 And I said, "Man, that's going to be it. 19:15 This is it." And very excited. 19:18 So the idea that "I cannot do this" 19:19 was never entered your mind? 19:22 I eliminated that I could not do anything. 19:24 In fact, when someone tells me that I cannot do something 19:27 I start to question why. 19:29 They say that I cannot do certain things... 19:32 I mean, I believe also it's because of the way 19:34 my mum raised me. 19:36 Yes. 19:37 So to finish, at that point, when I get to the class 19:42 and they took everybody and then 19:44 I was left in the class. 19:46 And I start to ask the teacher, I said, "So why I'm not in?" 19:50 She said, "Oh, no. You have one arm. 19:51 You cannot play." 19:53 And I keep asking, and each time they tell that 19:57 I could not, that lead to me question why 20:01 and then find a way to prove them wrong. 20:04 So I asked them for over three years, 20:08 keep asking them. 20:09 And then one day because of my persistence, 20:11 and then someone heard me asking, 20:13 that was another teacher, he said, "Man, you know, 20:15 I think he can play the trumpet. 20:17 Let him try." 20:19 But they give me a trumpet. 20:20 Of course, that trumpet was not a good one 20:22 because it was the one that no one used. 20:25 But in my brain, I said, "Well, this is it. 20:28 You cannot leave that opportunity go. 20:31 You have to do your best to make sure that you make it." 20:36 So when they gave me the trumpet, 20:37 I showed them I could play. 20:39 I said, "Well, I'm going to use my thumb, 20:40 and my baby finger to play it, 20:42 and then use my middle fingers." 20:44 But it was still a challenge. Yes. 20:46 Because that fourth finger and that fifth, 20:49 they kind of connected to each. 20:51 When you move one, the other one tend to move. 20:53 They want to. 20:54 So what I did, I basically tried to stretch 20:57 these two everyday to make sure I have like a big wrench 21:02 to make them independent a little bit. 21:04 So when I get to that point, they let me try. 21:07 But I did have to make a commitment to myself. 21:09 I said, "Well, now this is a first step. 21:12 I better practice more than the other kids." 21:15 Sometimes I will hide myself to practice. 21:18 That's kind of funny because when you think about it, 21:21 I would hide myself. 21:23 I basically, watch every kid, if they practice one hour, 21:25 I will try to practice two. 21:27 Ah, I see. 21:28 Even if that required me to miss a meal, 21:31 I will try to practice two. 21:33 And I made a lot of progress very quick to the point 21:36 they even had me to help my fellow classmates. 21:41 I see. 21:43 So you caught up pretty fast. Oh, yeah. 21:47 And of the two instruments, did you have a favorite? 21:49 The flugelhorn or the trumpet? 21:51 Oh, the flugelhorn was not in the picture at all. 21:53 Okay, so just trumpet at that point. 21:54 It was trumpet. 21:58 But I got the flugelhorn, 21:59 actually just got flugelhorn recently. 22:02 And because when I got Penn State, 22:04 there are certain things that you have to play, 22:05 as a graduate assistant, you have to do certain things, 22:07 so I got in the picture. 22:09 The trumpet was the instrument that I started. 22:12 Now I've got to ask this because 22:14 given the earthquake which was 2010, 22:20 were you making plans to come to the States? 22:22 Did you realize that you needed some stateside training 22:24 to improve your craft, to improve 22:26 what you have selected to do? 22:27 There I believe this is a miracle. 22:29 I'm going to explain why. 22:32 At that point, January 2010, there was a program, 22:34 I knew about the program. 22:36 And I was in the school. 22:38 They did not want me to leave really. 22:40 But I was supposed to be in Scotland for the festival. 22:45 So my preparation... 22:47 I was supposed to prepare to go to that festival 22:49 for the school that I was at. 22:52 But in November, out of the blue, 22:55 and I received that call that said, "Well, 22:57 we're chosen to be in United States 23:00 in the cultural exchange." 23:02 I said, "Well, I'm going." 23:05 So when I got here, the earthquake happened. 23:09 And believe me or not, I do believe if I was in Haiti, 23:12 there was 90% chance, 23:13 if it was not by God's grace, I'll die. 23:16 Because the building that I know for sure at that time 23:19 that I will be is completely destroyed. 23:22 And a lot of people were killed, 23:23 people that I know died. 23:26 I need to ask you, were you in proficient in trumpet 23:30 before you came to the States or did you sort of 23:32 pick up your craft and improved your craft here? 23:35 Now when I was back home, I used to practice a lot. 23:38 The reason why I wanted to... 23:41 Because I know it was very difficult 23:42 people will look at the way you are, physical disability, 23:45 but I wanted to play in the level 23:47 that people will not see me as if someone 23:50 with a physical disability but for what I can do. 23:53 Therefore, that requirement to practice more. 23:55 So this is a funny story because I remember 24:01 some people used to compare at the end of the trumpet play 24:04 in that school. 24:06 And I felt so bad because I said, "Man, 24:07 if they start comparing me with someone else, 24:09 that's mean if there's an opportunity 24:11 that person will have it," 24:13 because one thing I have to remember, 24:14 I was very poor. 24:16 I was very, very poor. 24:18 There's no way I can make it in the State. 24:20 And they won't... 24:22 If I apply for the visa, they will just deny me. 24:24 So where did you get your initial instruments from? 24:27 Well, this is a good question. 24:29 My initial instruments, what I did... 24:31 There's this professor, he was an American. 24:34 And I saved my pocket money, and then pay him 24:39 like every month, give him little by little, 24:42 little by little until I get my first instrument. 24:45 And after a time, I get my own instruments. 24:48 And I was able to own my own. 24:53 I did those things in two ways. 24:56 I used my pocket money to pay for my instrument. 24:58 I also used my pocket instrument 25:01 to just look our in the street to find 25:03 CDs and DVDs to learn and to watch other people play. 25:09 Excellent. So you came to the States. 25:13 Did you have relatives here in the States? 25:14 Or this is sort of a leap in the dark or leap of faith? 25:16 I didn't have anyone here. 25:18 Actually, when I came here, I came here in the winter. 25:20 Ooh! In Michigan 25:24 And in Michigan, double ooh. 25:27 And I didn't have a coat. 25:28 When I got here, it was January 5, 2010, 25:30 it was very cold without the coat. 25:32 Bless your heart. 25:33 And having no one, but, you know, 25:37 I had to believe God has a plan for me 25:38 at that point too because when I got here, 25:40 and I know the earthquake happened, 25:43 it was very hard for me to bear. 25:46 But yeah, God was so faithful to me, took me step by step. 25:52 Did you have an acceptance to school? 25:54 Or you, 'cause I'm trying to... To come from Haiti... 25:57 Uh-huh. 25:58 With not a lot of resources. Uh-huh. 26:00 On the way to Michigan, that takes major faith, 26:02 you know, even if you got some place to land 26:04 when you leap, still that's a major cultural-shift, 26:11 language-shift, weather-shift, you know, 26:16 there's no linkages that would say 26:19 a move from Haiti to Michigan would be a comfortable thing. 26:22 And that you were willing to do that. 26:24 Well, I wanted to do it because 26:26 it was a cultural exchange program 26:27 that I had to participate in for the four months. 26:31 So I came in January, 26:32 I was supposed to leave in May 4th, 26:33 I think, it was. 26:37 But because of the earthquake, things changed. 26:41 Amen. 26:42 Because the government allowed me to stay longer, 26:45 and then gave me an employment authorization card. 26:47 Although, at that point... Yeah. 26:50 I don't even have any of the benefits 26:53 as people will have because, you know, 26:54 consider someone has nothing... 26:56 How are you going to make it still. 26:58 Right. 26:59 Now are you done with high school 27:01 or you still in high school? 27:02 I was done with high school at that point. 27:04 Okay. So you're looking to get into college? 27:06 Yes. Yeah. 27:07 And that's also, at that point, I... 27:12 Someone heard me play in the church. 27:14 And this person was an alumni from Michigan State University. 27:18 And that lady said, "You are very talented, 27:21 why don't you go audition at Michigan State?" 27:24 In my brain, I said, "Well, how could that be? 27:26 I mean, I just got here. I don't even have anything. 27:29 How am I going to make it?" 27:30 In the following week, she called me, she said, 27:33 "I talked to the trumpet professor 27:35 and told him about you. 27:36 He is very interested to hear you play." 27:38 Ooh. Wow! 27:40 So they scheduled an appointment, 27:42 I go and play for him. 27:44 And after I play for him, and I remember 27:45 I play concerto like Arutiunian trumpet concerto. 27:50 And he said, "You did a pretty good job, 27:53 but I don't know your goal. 27:55 If you're interested, I think if you audition, 28:00 the faculty will definitely give you a full scholarship." 28:02 Wow. 28:04 And I said, "Why not?" 28:05 You get off the plane from Haiti with no prospects, 28:10 nothing sort of in your pocket, 28:12 and the Lord begins to look out for you. 28:14 Amen. 28:15 So obviously, you got into Michigan State? 28:17 Yes. 28:19 Yeah, and you majored in and took? 28:20 In music performance. Music performance, okay. 28:24 You finished the program? 28:26 Yes, I did. Uh-huh. 28:28 While you were there, while you were in school, 28:30 a number of things happened that allowed you to witness, 28:32 and I don't want the time to get away from us 28:34 before we tap on some of that stuff. 28:36 Because all along the line, it occurs to me, 28:39 in hearing your story that God was allowing you... 28:42 He was blessing you. Amen. 28:43 But He's also giving you opportunities 28:45 to witness and to spread your faith. 28:47 Talk to me about some of that stuff. 28:49 When I get to, accepted to Michigan State, 28:51 for me, it was a miracle. 28:52 And as that to think about those things, 28:55 and I said, "Why me?" 28:58 And in my eyes, I started seeing other students 29:01 who started quitting school because they cannot afford it 29:04 in the music program. 29:06 And I said, "Well, why me?" 29:08 God probably has a reason why he put me there, 29:11 and he blessed me so much in that school, 29:14 and I need to find out what it is. 29:16 And I remember asking Him one night in prayer, I said, 29:19 I asked God to show me what he was meant to do. 29:23 And then later on, I started to have that burden, 29:27 share your faith. 29:28 Share your faith, yeah. 29:30 And I said, "Well, that's a pretty good thing, 29:31 but, you know, I may need more training." 29:34 And I decided to go to Emmanuel Institute 29:38 for Evangelism. 29:40 And when the church heard that I wanted to do that, 29:43 the church, my church sponsored me to go. 29:46 And I said, "Well, I'm going to take advantage of this." 29:48 I went there, I was like very excited 29:51 with the Pastor Mark or the way he was teaching those things. 29:55 And then he basically injected passion, 29:59 it's that happy to have passion to share your faith. 30:02 Yes. 30:03 So when I got back, he said, "Well, 30:06 I need to find any occasion that I can find to witness." 30:10 So now I started thinking, "I have a full meal plan, 30:15 so I can go to the cafe any time." 30:17 So I would go to the cafeteria, and then sit, 30:20 and then listen to the conversation 30:22 of the other students. 30:23 And then sometimes, join the conversation 30:25 and then bring God into conversation. 30:29 And sometimes, there are some people 30:31 who are atheists, I bring prophecy. 30:34 And later on... 30:36 There is one guy who remember I had a conversation, I said, 30:39 "Man, have you ever asked yourself 30:41 why people believe the Bible? 30:43 And why the Bible is the Word of God?" 30:46 And I started sharing a little bit 30:49 and then this guy said, "Man, that's amazing." 30:51 I said, "Well, you know what, we can get together 30:53 and then study more about this, I mean, I can share with you." 30:56 And we... 30:57 I started a group Bible study at that point. 30:59 And that's also where I have some friends 31:02 who became an Adventists, and among that group, 31:05 one girl who used to be a jazz guitar. 31:11 And she used to play a lot of rock, metal, 31:14 heavy metal stuff. 31:15 Yeah. 31:17 And we started the Bible study, and later on, 31:20 she got baptized and became an Adventist. 31:21 Praise the Lord. 31:22 Actually, she just got married with one of our new pastors 31:24 in Michigan. 31:26 And at the same time, I said, "Man, Lord is blessing me. 31:32 Maybe there's another reason that I should probably 31:34 keep sharing more." 31:35 Now I want to recount because you came to school, 31:37 you came to States with nothing, 31:39 somebody picks up your... 31:41 Is it tuition? Is it a full ride? 31:45 Someone's paying for everything? 31:48 Someone's paying for my room and board. 31:50 Okay. 31:51 And when I auditioned 31:53 I have a full ride scholarship by the school. 31:55 Oh, okay. 31:56 The school decided to give me a full ride. 31:58 In fact, it's interesting 32:00 because I don't want to talk too much about... 32:03 too much detail, but these particular things 32:06 for me was amazing how God worked things out. 32:09 The university has done things for me they have never done 32:12 for any student in the entire history 32:14 of the university. 32:16 Allowed me to... 32:17 Without English, you know, 32:18 English is not my first language. 32:20 I started without even passing a TOEFL test. 32:24 And the school, the music, the college department 32:26 paid a semester of English for me 32:30 to have me at the university. 32:31 Wow! 32:32 That is a blessing of the Lord. That's a blessing. 32:34 It is a major blessing of the Lord. 32:35 Amen. 32:37 So all your potential financial worries 32:39 are pretty much being solved one by one by one? 32:42 By one. Tuition, room and board... 32:44 Room and board was by Wynton Marsalis. 32:47 That was by Wynton Marsalis. 32:48 Now tell me about the Wynton Marsalis thing. 32:49 That's a very famous name. 32:51 Anybody who knows jazz, anybody who knows trumpet playing, 32:54 knows Wynton Marsalis. 32:55 And Wynton Marsalis is paying now 32:57 for your education. 32:58 Yes. Walk us through that. 33:01 I had a few videos online, and one of the trumpet player 33:07 who was a good friend of Wynton Marsalis, 33:10 he heard that I was coming to New York, 33:11 he said, "Well, connect Carlot with me." 33:14 And I called him, the next day he said, 33:16 "Man, you know, I'm going to see 33:17 Wynton Marsalis tomorrow, would you like to join me?" 33:20 I said, "Sure." 33:21 And when I see Wynton Marsalis, and Wynton Marsalis told him, 33:25 "See, I just got new trumpet, that new trumpet. 33:27 Would you like to try to it?" 33:28 And he gave it to my friend, my friend said, "No. 33:30 Carlot, you try it." 33:32 And I took his trumpet, and I was trying it, 33:35 and Wynton Marsalis turned, 33:36 he said, "Man, I like this guy." 33:40 And then at that point, we connected a little bit. 33:43 He even promised me, he said, he promised to teach me, 33:47 but connect with him through email, 33:49 he is a very busy man. 33:51 That could not work. 33:53 But at that point too, since I was at his rehearsal, 33:56 I met a lot of other musicians. 33:57 Yes, yes, yes. 33:58 And the following year... 34:00 The same year, I was playing for the ITG which is 34:02 International Trumpet Guild Conference. 34:05 And I met I see one of his friends, 34:09 and then this friend, later on, texts me, said, 34:11 "Man, we're going to be in Michigan. 34:13 Make sure that you come backstage, 34:16 and then see us." 34:17 And when I came, and I didn't know why, 34:20 and at that point, I needed a support 34:22 for room and board. 34:24 Okay. Yeah. 34:25 And before that I pray, I say, "Lord, 34:27 I'm not going to worry about it. 34:29 I let it in your hand." 34:31 And when I got to backstage, and then Wynton Marsalis saw me 34:34 and said, "Man, I remember you, I saw you last year. 34:37 Make sure you play for me after the concert." 34:38 Wow! 34:40 And he had me have lunch with him. 34:42 And after the concert, he asked me to wait. 34:44 And after I wait for him and played for him, 34:48 he asked me a specific question, he said, 34:52 "If I would like to help you, how can I help you?" 34:55 And I start thinking, I said, "Well, what should I ask." 34:58 And I said, "Well, maybe with my... 35:01 Have lesson with you because I think 35:03 this is very important, you are a very famous guy. 35:04 You're a very good in the trumpet." 35:07 And I said, "Well, but again, you're in Manhattan, 35:09 and I'm in Michigan." 35:11 He said, "Yeah, that's true. Is there anything else?" 35:15 And then that clicks in my brain, I said, 35:17 "Maybe with my room and board." 35:19 He said "Oh, sure. 35:21 How much is it?" And I said, "I'm not sure. 35:23 I think it's probably around $10,000-13,000 a year." 35:26 He said, "Give me your address, I'll send you the check." 35:29 And he was so serious about it, 35:31 then I tried to write my address, 35:32 he said, "You know, I'm in a tour. 35:34 Take my cell phone number. 35:35 If you don't hear from me in four days, give me a call." 35:37 All right, so he was that impressed 35:39 after basically two meetings and hearing you play... 35:41 Yes. That he wanted to sponsor you. 35:43 Yeah, he wanted to sponsor me, and he made sure 35:45 he paid for that four years. 35:47 In fact, we always stay in touch 35:49 from time to time. 35:50 When I text him, he always say, "Make sure you keep me updated 35:53 from time to time." 35:55 And actually, recently I texted him 35:57 that was last week. 35:59 So he paid for your full undergrad? 36:01 Undergrad, room and board. 36:02 And then since I haven't a citizenship, 36:04 I feel like I need to give him a break 36:06 although he always wants to know what's going with me. 36:09 And I was talking to him because his mother 36:11 just passed away. 36:13 And I said, 36:16 "Well, I think I'm going to come to visit you sometime." 36:19 He said, "Well, just come whenever. 36:20 You're free, make sure you come." 36:22 Amen. Yeah. 36:23 So God really, and... 36:25 During this time, you never sacrificed your faith, 36:29 you witnessed for Christ wherever you could, 36:31 you didn't hide that you're Seventh-day Adventist, 36:33 you lifted up the energy, and then God blessed you 36:36 with this train of very wonderful things. 36:37 In fact, this is wonderful too because one thing I realized 36:41 while I was in Michigan State is God puts some issues 36:46 in front of you, for example, so that I could witness. 36:48 For example, challenge I should say, 36:52 the Sabbath issues come, and for me, 36:55 because I was supposed to play for the orchestra 36:57 at Michigan State. 36:59 And when I realized that performances, 37:00 some of the performances are going to be in Sabbath, 37:03 I told the conductors, "I'm not going to be able 37:05 to make this performance." 37:07 And he was shocked, they said, "What are you talking about?" 37:09 I said, "Yes, I will not be able to do that 37:11 because I'm a Seventh-day Adventist. 37:12 I keep the Sabbath." 37:14 He said, "Well, in this case, you cannot be here 37:15 in the orchestra." 37:16 I said, "Well, I understand this." 37:18 But I thought he was going to be... 37:20 It was done, but all the faculties 37:22 started talking to each other that I have a new faith. 37:26 Yes. 37:27 And then one of them come to me and said, 37:28 "Well, Carlot, I heard you have a new religion." 37:31 I said, "Well, I don't have a new religion. 37:33 I'm a Seventh-day Adventist. 37:34 Have you ever heard of Seventh-day Adventist?" 37:36 They say, "Oh, yeah. 37:38 I heard of Seventh-day Adventist. 37:39 Those are people who keep the Sabbath." 37:40 But he said, "I can challenge you that 37:42 you don't have to keep the Sabbath." 37:44 And I said, "Professor, that would be great because, 37:45 you know, I love the truth. 37:47 If you don't mind meeting with me that would be great." 37:50 He said, "Okay, let's meet. 37:51 Send me an email and we can meet about this." 37:53 And we met, and we talked about the Sabbath. 37:56 After that I said, "Professor, this is this paper," 38:00 there is one pamphlet that has 100 facts 38:03 about the Sabbath. 38:05 And the root of Sunday worship and Sabbath, I gave it to him, 38:08 and I said, "Maybe after you read them, 38:10 we can have a second conversation." 38:12 He never got back with me, but I knew why. 38:14 Yeah, 'cause he read it. He read it. 38:17 He was convicted. 38:19 He was convicted. Sure he was. 38:20 But that same time, my trumpet professor 38:24 almost cried because he said, 38:25 "Man, I talked to all the trumpet players 38:27 that I know, they said there's no way 38:29 you're going to make it." 38:30 And he said, "Well, can I talk to your pastor? 38:34 Maybe you need an advisor." Yeah. 38:37 I said, "Well, Professor, that doesn't work that way. 38:39 It would be hard for me to know in my conscience 38:41 this is the truth and then deny it 38:44 just because I want to please myself, 38:45 and please this professor, or please this school." 38:49 And at that same time, I was supposed 38:51 to play in Carnegie Hall. 38:52 Oh, wow. 38:54 And they said, "Well, I know you cannot come 38:56 play in Sabbath on Saturday, but in about Carnegie Hall 39:01 is going to be on Saturday night, 39:03 but except you have to do a rehearsal on Saturday at 3." 39:06 And I said, "Well, that's going to be an issue. 39:09 I'm not going to be able to do that because of this." 39:12 And actually, one of the professors even said, 39:16 "You know, there was one guy, 39:17 he used to be the same religion as you, he did it. 39:20 Why can't you do it?" 39:21 I said, "Well, I understand, Professor, 39:23 but I believe in the Bible, I believe in what is truth. 39:26 This is what I believe in the Bible is true. 39:28 I believe the Sabbath. 39:29 There are things you should not be doing 39:30 in the Sabbath. 39:32 You cannot do any work." 39:33 And he said, "Man, I'm really sorry for that." 39:35 I said, "Well, don't be sorry for me, Professor, 39:37 I believe this is the right thing to do." 39:40 And he said, "Well, it's only one hour of your life. 39:44 What if... 39:46 You may never have an opportunity to be in that." 39:48 To do in the Carnegie Hall. Yeah. Carnegie Hall. 39:50 And I said, "Professor, I understand, 39:52 but think about this. 39:54 Do you know how long it took Adam and Eve 39:56 to sin to bring this world into this mess?" 40:00 And then he looked at me, he shook his head, 40:01 he said, "Well, I'm really sorry. 40:04 But there's nothing we can do. 40:05 I'm really sorry for you." Yeah. 40:07 And I said, "Professor, that's really fine." 40:09 It doesn't stop this way. 40:10 Actually, even in Penn State I had the same issue. 40:13 Now I want to stop you there and we'll kind of leave it 40:15 on the cliff if you ever got to play at Carnegie Hall or not 40:18 because we need to hear you play, 40:20 and we want to go some muse just now so that we can hear, 40:25 you know, this gift that God has given you. 40:27 I think the song is Tis So Sweet Medley. 40:30 Anything you want to say to set this up? 40:32 Well, this song, that's a song that 40:34 we basically just arranged for studio 40:36 because I just was in a studio to record a CD. 40:39 This is one of the CDs. 40:41 It's on the CD, so I wanted to play something on that. 40:45 So this is on the CD which will be coming out soon. 40:48 All right, Tis So Sweet Medley. 44:52 Well done, very well done. 44:54 And that was a flugelhorn. Yes. 44:56 Little mellower sound than a trumpet. 44:57 Amen. And beautifully done. 44:59 Now we got to hurry, man, because 45:00 our time is going to get away from us. 45:02 You got three testimonies. 45:03 I want you to start with 45:05 the third generation Baptist Pastor's son who is now... 45:09 Well, I don't want to get the first line. 45:10 Tell us about that and how that went. 45:12 We studied... 45:14 I met him on campus, and I asked him 45:15 for Bible study, although he kept rescheduling me, 45:18 but the first time that we studied, 45:19 he thought that I was a Bible scholar 45:21 because he never found someone with that truth. 45:24 Later on, he told me that he met people 45:26 who preached on the Book of Daniel 45:28 but never 2, never 7, never 11. 45:32 And later on, when he learned about the Sabbath, 45:36 he challenged his dad about the Sabbath. 45:38 And that led him to make decision 45:40 to become a Seventh-day Adventist 45:42 after probably four months. 45:44 We studied in April and in August, 45:46 he became a Seventh-day Adventist. 45:47 Wow. 45:49 And he went to Emmanuel tried to do Bible study on campus. 45:51 And now he's studying at Southern to be a minister. 45:55 I think he is a junior right now. 45:57 Ok. All right. Studying theology. 45:59 He left a full ride scholarship 46:01 as a jazz major at Michigan State. 46:02 Wow. A full free education? Full education. 46:06 Third generation Baptist Pastor, 46:08 now he's studying at Southern Adventists University 46:10 to be a Seventh-day Adventist Pastor. 46:12 So you didn't get to Carnegie Hall, 46:13 but you got one more in the kingdom. 46:15 Amen. Praise the Lord. 46:17 Now I know you got another Chinese student. 46:19 Okay, the Chinese student was a visiting scholar. 46:25 Yes. And I met her at a bus station. 46:28 I saw her with a Catechism in her hand. 46:31 And I said, "Oh, man, she's going to get trapped." 46:36 And I said, well, let me calm down 46:38 and talk to her. 46:39 And I said, "Wow, it seems like you love the Bible." 46:41 And she said, "No, no. 46:42 One of my friends tried to help me to become Catholic." 46:45 And I said, "Well, by the way..." 46:47 And I have a card that said free Bible study one on one 46:52 or through Skype or in group. 46:55 And so the most difficult question, 46:58 and I give it to her. 47:00 And after I give it to her, when she took her bus, 47:03 and I make that prayer, I said, "Lord, 47:04 if you want her to know the truth, 47:06 let her do call me." 47:08 And she emailed me the next day saying, 47:10 "That's pretty bold to say 47:12 and so the most difficult question." 47:14 And later on, I said, "Well, I believe that 47:17 the Bible had the answers." 47:18 And we have lunch, and we have the Bible study 47:20 after seven months, she became... 47:23 She was a dead atheist. 47:25 She struggled with it, but after seven months, 47:28 she decided to make the step, and crying with her 47:31 an amazing testimony and became an Adventist. 47:33 Now she is in China witnessing to other Chinese, 47:37 trying to help other Chinese to become 47:38 Seventh-day Adventist. 47:40 And of course, the third story is that the jazz musician 47:43 who ended up marrying a Seventh-day Adventist Pastor, 47:46 and that is really fabulous. 47:48 And I'm hurrying you along 'cause I want to get 47:49 to this song, and the next song is... 47:52 There is a Quiet Place. There is a Quiet Place. 47:55 This is a beautiful piece. There is a Quiet Place. |
Revised 2021-05-18