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Life is like a roller coaster, but it's so much better when we go through it together. It's true. We are better together. And this season I'm asking our podcast community to do something together to make a difference in the world. There are hard things going on around us. Hurricanes, floods, fires, people hurting. And as followers of Jesus, we show up in the hard stuff and we build relationships with people who need us. We give. Each week I'm bringing you a short piece of an interview with a special guest. And each week you'll hear more about what we can do together. These are short episodes, less than 10 minutes, so come join us.
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The reason I wanted to learn learn English and that's the reason I speak English is because the church so how much I love my letters all or how I wanted to volunteer organizing the letters for other children at the at Dulce's office. And that's how they enrolled me into English classes in my ghetto. And so that's how I actually got in love in with the dream of speaking English in the future. And it was both sides. It was hope for eternity, but hope for the current reality that I was going through. And this is funny because Jamie didn't know by saying keep on preaching, she was promoting heresy because I put Jonah in the cross and Jesus in the womb of the faith. I was just baptized and they gave me a mic. But that's the power of letters. And I reflect on the New Testament. It's 30% letters and this is not the word of God. That's not what I'm trying to say. And yet the word of God in the form of letters were given to churches, to Christians in need going through trials. And these words from old apostle in jail give them hope for the current reality that we're going through and the future reality, the future grace that we're expecting in Christ. And for me, letters were that after that event, when I was 12, I continued growing in maturity. I'm now serving in the church. I'm involved in service opportunities. I'm all in about Christ. I'm sharing the gospel in my school, in my community. I'm still in poverty, but I am aware that God is working and he has a plan. And when I was 14, the most difficult moment came in my life. My father again hidden me from his family. I was born out of his marriage and I do remember I used to meet with him once a month for five minutes in different places. It was an FBI relationship and I didn't understand why we will meet in different places every Time, Once a month for five minutes.
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Yeah.
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One day, a Saturday, two of my father's brothers, two of my uncles show up at my house. I didn't know them. I only knew my father. And then my mother told me, jonathan, these are your uncles, your father's brothers, and they're going to take you to meet your father's family. And that was, for me, scary and exciting at the same time. Suddenly, I'm in a room later that day full of people that I have never seen in my life. I'm 14 years old, and my father's wife was there, my four sisters were there, my father's daughters, my grandparents, uncles and aunts, family to spare that I didn't know. And everybody's looking at me like, oh, yeah, he's Almonte. He's from our family. He looks like my father. They were like, oh, yeah, he's from the family. A year passed and never talked to my father about that meeting. And the day came when we met in one of these spots that we used to meet. And in Latin America, we say, father, will you bless me? Or mother, will you bless me? And they say, God bless you. It's a. It's something that we do out of respect for our parents. And you do that for your grandparents, uncles, aunts and. And father and mother. And he didn't bless me that day. And he said, why you did that? He was angry, and I was like, why I did what? And then suddenly he said, you met my family without my permission. And I understood what he was talking about. And I said, dad, I'm sorry, I didn't know that you didn't know. It was Uncle Lucas and Pedro who wanted me to meet them. And you have a beautiful family. And then he interrupted me and said, neither you or my brothers had the permission to get involved in my life. You have to understand, you're a mistake in my life. And I am 14 years old. Yeah. So if you ask me what is the worst poverty that I have gone through, that is the worst poverty. Again, I learned how to deal with my broken shoes, with lacking school uniform, lacking food. But how can I deal with the reality of my father thinking that I was a mistake? The reality can do. That's the reason I said at the beginning, there is a lot of blaming in poverty. But nobody gave me a menu to be born. Where I was born, I was just born.
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Yeah.
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I was born in the reality that I was born.
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Right.
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And yet my father think that I am a mistake. And I do remember, I ran away crying Crying, crying and spend days crying and angry. I was angry at my father. I was struggling in my faith. I didn't under. I didn't understand God. Like how God is a good father.
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Yeah.
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The Bible speak about God being a good father but my father hates me.
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Right. And so many people can relate to that who don't have their father in their life or have a really bad father as the example. And so to think of God as a good, good father can be really challenging for so many people.
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Yeah. And that's why many people, and I did blame God because of the sufferings they're going through. And I was in that spot, I was thinking like why I didn't choose this. And anyways, I got this letter from Jamie and this is maybe the most important letter in my life from Jamie.
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Come back next week to hear more about Jonathan's story. To see how we can make a difference together. Go to Candice.com and click where it says the word compassion. You'll see more about my story and be able to change the life of someone like Jonathan. Go to Candice.com click where it says compassion and join me until next time. Be grateful all day, every day. Candy Rock Entertainment all rights reserved.
The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast: "Being Poor Isn't Just About Money I Jonathan's Story Part 8"
Release Date: April 3, 2025
Introduction
In the eighth installment of the "Jonathan's Story" series, hosted by Candace Cameron Bure under her CandyRock banner, the podcast delves deep into the intertwining themes of poverty, faith, family dynamics, and personal growth. This episode, titled "Being Poor Isn't Just About Money I Jonathan's Story Part 8," offers an intimate look into Jonathan's life, exploring the emotional and spiritual challenges he faces beyond financial struggles.
Learning English and Its Connection to Faith
Jonathan opens up about his early motivations for learning English, highlighting how his faith and involvement in the church played pivotal roles. His passion for volunteering, particularly organizing letters for children at Dulce's office, led him to English classes in his community. This experience not only honed his language skills but also deepened his commitment to serving others.
Notable Quote:
"The reason I wanted to learn English and that's the reason I speak English is because the church..." (00:51)
Navigating Poverty and Personal Struggles
While Jonathan has endured material hardships—such as inadequate footwear, lack of school uniforms, and insufficient food—the most profound poverty he confronts is emotional: feeling unwanted by his father. At 14, Jonathan recounts a heart-wrenching encounter where his father bluntly told him he was a mistake. This revelation was a turning point, intensifying his feelings of abandonment and confusion about his faith.
Notable Quote:
"But how can I deal with the reality of my father thinking that I was a mistake?" (03:20)
Strained Relationship with His Father
Jonathan's relationship with his father is fraught with tension and misunderstanding. His father's rejection not only affected his self-worth but also caused a significant rift in his faith journey. Jonathan admits to struggling with the concept of God as a good father while experiencing paternal rejection firsthand. This internal conflict led him to question and even blame God during his darkest moments.
Notable Quote:
"The Bible speaks about God being a good father but my father hates me." (06:04)
Struggles with Faith and Seeking Hope
Jonathan's faith is tested as he grapples with his father's disdain and his own spiritual doubts. Despite these challenges, he reflects on the importance of letters from apostles in the New Testament, which provided hope during times of trial. These letters inspired him to continue serving in the church, engaging in community service, and sharing the gospel, even amidst ongoing poverty.
Notable Quote:
"Letters were that after that event, when I was 12, I continued growing in maturity." (03:20)
Receiving a Transformative Letter from Jamie
A pivotal moment in the episode is Jonathan receiving a letter from Jamie, which he describes as potentially the most important letter in his life. Although the transcript does not delve into the contents of this letter, it signifies a turning point in Jonathan's journey, offering him solace and perhaps guiding him toward healing and reconciliation.
Notable Quote:
"And anyways, I got this letter from Jamie and this is maybe the most important letter in my life from Jamie." (06:53)
Conclusion: Moving Forward Together
Candace wraps up the episode by emphasizing the collective responsibility to make a difference. She encourages listeners to engage with the podcast community and contribute to transformative efforts through the "compassion" initiative on her website. Jonathan's story serves as a testament to resilience and the power of faith, inspiring listeners to support one another through life's rollercoaster moments.
Notable Quote:
"Life is like a roller coaster, but it's so much better when we go through it together." (00:02)
Final Thoughts
"Being Poor Isn't Just About Money I Jonathan's Story Part 8" offers a profound exploration of the multifaceted nature of poverty, extending beyond financial constraints to encompass emotional and spiritual battles. Jonathan's candid recounting of his struggles with familial rejection and faith provides listeners with a relatable and heartfelt narrative, reinforcing the podcast's mission to foster conversations about living with kindness, class, and purpose.
For more insights and to support transformative initiatives, visit Candice.com and navigate to the "compassion" section.
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