Marvina Hooper and C V

00:01 Marvina, Perez Hooper age, 65 today's date is Wednesday, November 3rd. 2021, Columbus, Georgia.

00:15 I'm interviewing Carmen Elena Vera. And relationship is mentary.

00:26 My name is Carmen Elena Vera age. 43. Today's date is Wednesday, November 3 2021. I'm in Columbus, Georgia. I'll be interviewing marvina Hooper. And the relationship is my mentor and friend.

00:47 Okay. I'm so excited about being here today, with you Carmen. It says, kind of a dream come true really for us to be able to share in this way after knowing each other for so long. That tell me a little bit about yourself. Garmin. Well, as I said, I'm 43 years old. I live in Tegucigalpa Honduras, Central America, and I'm happy to be here, visiting Georgia, cologne at Columbus, Georgia. And we, my story is that I was born in a Christian home and I will always love serving the lord. And in my years of growing up and Hunter is in a Christian, Bilingual School. I knew that God has something big for us for our family, for myself. When I started, the University was very shy. I didn't do much of anything, but I had two very good friends. Invited me to go to, like, a Baptist Student Union group. And I decided, OK, Google,

01:47 And that really changed my life. And that's how I'm here today. I think I'm taking the decision. I currently I'm the mom. I have two kids and my wife and I also have other jobs or formal jobs. I do a lot of things.

02:06 Great, you know, Carmen you're an amazing woman. I can't believe all you can do in the matter of today. It's just amazing.

02:16 Camarena. So, tell me a little bit about you where you from about your background. I'd love to, I was born in the Bronx in New York City. A large family, Hispanic family. My mother was from Panama. My father was from Puerto Rico and we grew up very sheltered in many ways. They were, they were Believers and went to church all the time. And I learned about God's love for me early on. And I'm just so thankful for the upbringing. I had even in a, a rough neighborhood and, but God was good and took care of us, and went to college, the way from home, and really grew in many ways. And then I went on a mission trip in 1983, which really changed my life. It was a women's camp and the theme of the camp was Lord, send me. And that's where it really started when I started asking, God what it was that he wanted me to do. You got involved in missions and went to the mission field for 2 years met, my husband from Little.

03:16 Rural, Louisiana, and he was on the mission field as well. And we fell in love and got married to married 35 years. We have two amazing boys, who love the Lord. They married both married and we have a grandbaby's, which is amazing. And most of my jobs. I've been a teacher, most of my life teaching English as a second language to International adults, and now I am retired. Hallelujah. The best thing that ever happened to me. And I am working with this very, very special organization that will talk about in a minute. So, how long have we known each other? Well, so we met. When I started the university will be for really your missionaries in Honduras. And so we knew you through church activities and all we really, really, really get to know you when I started attending.

04:16 It was, it's a funny name self. The name formal name. Is it real good there now, but we also called the school. I like the country. It was. And that's where all the University students will get together and you and how we were the ones leading that group, and that's where our friendship started. There was a special time. You were young. I was young, but it was a very special time of my life and we were able to work with University students, there in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. And that's how we met. And it was a, such a special time. We've had such a special relationship to that time, and I'm so thankful. So, so thankful for that. So, tell me what, or how did you feel that God was calling you to the mission field and then 200, you know, it's a great question. When I was the very first time, I went to the mission on a mission trip and that camp said,

05:16 The theme was here and I, I was at the beach and I didn't hear an audio Audible Voice but I, I felt in my spirit guide was saying marvina. I've created you with special talents and I want you to make a difference in this world and it was just something that I just felt in my spirit. I can't even explain that. I'm just so thankful for that. And since then we've been just working hard at trying to to make a difference. And so that's where this whole idea was born. The idea of Casa David. David is a nonprofit that was started seven years ago, 8 years ago now and what happened was?

05:58 Do you remember when we used to go to the hospital?

06:01 Yeah, so and that time we were the university like on it was something totally different, you know, we were studying in the universe and doing homework doing all that stuff, but going to the house, the house you and how he had for the University students was the place of retreat, a place to just connect with other people. Other people are studying different things from different backgrounds. And so we had this wonderful group that we will go to the hospital, every Saturday, every Saturday morning and once a month on Friday night. Remember and then I was so special because, you know, you're in your bubble studying and all that and just going on Saturday, when you could be sleeping or you could be doing any other thing. And we decided to wake up to go early in the morning, prepare. All our stuff, and go to visit the children in the hospital and they said the children specialty Orthopedic to see all the kids with a broken door and some broken legs.

07:01 I couldn't move and just helping them, maybe move and get them together. And a special place is special room and just do Bible stories sing with them color with them. And that was so special because it, it helps you see how blessed you are. And at the end that you give what, two hours a day and make those children Happy by sharing with them. And so, that was so special. And also, and I think while we talk about the organization going on Friday night, just saying the people awful wasn't making line if to see they can get care. Are they got the care, but they cannot go home and they have to sleep on the floor because they don't have money to go to a hospital and will bring

07:45 Blankets will bring coffee close Bibles and just share with them and that for that person. Maybe that was the only coffee had had the whole day cookie and there were so grateful that we were there and I was on the Friday 9 we could be doing any other day. We decided to go and help others make a difference. You have been making a difference for a long time and it was an amazing time. I remember one night that we went to the hospital in to see all those pants because they weren't allowed to go up and stay in the room cuz they're B12 kids in a room, but seeing all those people sleeping on the floor on there was a marble floor in the lobby and seeing them on card boards and cuddled with her stuff trying to protect their stuff that they had. And I couldn't even imagine how horrible for to have your child who was in the hospital, almost, probably so sick. And many of them died.

08:45 And having to sleep on the floor and not resting. And for me, I can remember. Clearly the night. I said, oh God, someone should do something about this, but I never thought it would be me. I think someone should do something about this, cuz it might be us. But that was a special special time for me to. And I remember the despair.

09:10 And the hopelessness is so many people had, I remember a man who had a baby who had leukemia and we met him on the stairs, going into the hospital, and he was holding his baby in tears. He was in tears and he was taking his baby home to die and it was it just, you know, we have no idea here in the United States, how difficult it is. And when we talked to him, and we begged him to leave to stay, and to let the baby try to have a fighting chance. He said, if I stay and he dies, I have no way to take him home.

09:48 And I rather carry him home to die in my arms and I can remember that being such a

09:54 It was hard to remember any stories from that time. And that time, I remember another family to

10:01 I think they were from the North Coast in the mall this Autumn and Saturday the baby died and how we were able to get some money to buy. You another confident with people. You know, they die. They don't have the money they come from so far, you know, as he said they had to pay for so many things and there was enough money for them and it's so sad. You do it, take their babies, just in a blanket. So, just able to give him a coffin and money to go and it was such a different day and and and they are the bidding war over there for months. And so you will come in and okay, then either knew it was one, two, three, four months, and there was still there. So, for us, it's sad to see them there, but they were so happy to see us this week, and they had at least one hour of fun with us. And so that was a life-changing for them. And Elsa Frozen were able to share God's love. We deliver.

11:01 Brought sunshine to that room when we came now. I can remember this so many stories. I hope to write a book someday with some of the stories that I remember. Cuz it was a such a and eye-opening experience as a North American coming into a into hunters and seeing the need and the, the poverty in the sadness and hope. And I think the word hopeless was the biggest thing, you know, and, as we went in and offered coffee and bread or cookies, but not only that, the word of God, and God's love, and actually tangibly physically giving them something very small, but that they appreciate it is so much. It was very important. So, how long did you lived in Honduras? And what ears, also that good to see and what year they were there. So, how long and then, why did you have to leave on Earth 1993?

11:55 To about 2,000. Right at 2,000, my boys were two years old and 4 years old, Evan, and Seth when we took them to the mission field and now that I'm a grandma, is I realize that was a big thing for my parents allowed, their grand babies going. So we were there during that time and we lived in Florencia. So well. First, we lived in right really close to the hospital in Alameda and people would come and knock on our door and asked, if they could use our Pilla or an outside sink to wash their clothes. And of course, we couldn't let people in cuz it was so dangerous. So if you know, I think God Was preparing me all along for the ministry that we have today. Yeah, so

12:37 That's where we went. We went was 1993 and were able to see and love the feel of love the people of Honduras and we fell in love with people like you, man. Yeah. I remember the going away party. We had for you guys. But yeah, it was bittersweet. Here we go. See, you know, God has something different for you guys to go. And you left a really good group that continue to be continued until most of us graduated from the University. And I think those students that were your students in that moment. I think I'm really good professional. They all have more. And they, I think most of them also serving the lord in different areas and I know is the Legacy that you and how we left there. We learn so much so much with you guys how to serve how to organize camps in infants, and so many things and reach to our friends and

13:38 A guy knew that, we needed that at that time and that place you better remember and 1998. We had a hurricane and we were able as a group to go and serve and help different places just to clean up and all that. So that it was great. And I think everybody has to learn how to serve others. We cannot live in a bubble and can't and say, okay. It's only about me. We all have a responsibility for a fellow, our fellow, man. And it said that when we look back now, I think, wow, that was preparing us way back.

14:13 For the work that we're doing now at Casa David and I just want to really want to talk about Kassidy cuz that's such an important that, all right? If it's so you left in 2013, roll up their teen years later. During that time. We only knew about you from Facebook and I didn't know Facebook on Facebook, but you know, I got lost. So 2013.

14:49 With the beginning, really that we emails and stuff like that. So we kind of lost touch for that long a time. And I remember reading a book by Mark Batterson, the The Circle Maker and one of the questions was what is a dream God's given you that you've never done anything about that. You could never do unless God does it through you? And I knew at that moment. It was a house for those people. We had seen years before and I'm sleeping on the floor and who are desperate and hopeless and so I was like, no, I don't think so. Let somebody else do it, but I knew God was calling me today and I was like, I can't do this. This is no way I can do this and I sent the guy said exactly marvina. You can't do this.

15:35 But if you are obedient, you will be able to see what I can do.

15:40 If you're willing to follow me and so it was then that we called a b after many years, baby was our president of our University group. He was studying to become a doctor and he became a medical doctor and then God called him to the ministry. I didn't even know that when I called him and we talked and laughed and cried was a wonderful reunions after 13 years. And I said baby, you know, this is what God put in. My heart and said, come, let's see what he has for us. And so shortly after that. I came down to 100. I went down to 100 and met. We had the great reunions after so many years to see everybody married and with babies. And it was just an amazing time for us a really, really was. And I'm so thankful for what God had prepared us. And so, all these young people were not professionals. We're now ready to say will join you. Let's do this. We've seen the need. We've been there. We know what it's like. And so it's the idea for Casa. David was a house.

16:40 Where people could come kind of like the Ronald McDonald House. People could come and be loved and cared for receive food and a clean bed. Be safe and that we be able to share God's love with them. And that was the big, the big, the idea. And I went down to Honduras and presented. The idea never said, let's try. Let's try to remember that. Yeah, so you called baby. So they be and I were really good friends still from the time of the university and his family and my family. We we, we like make life together. All of us going to the same church, and then I don't remember if he was him directly. I think it should have, but telling us about your idea and then sharing that we should get together and talk about that. And so we got together a few of us. And we talked about this and you came and talk more and talk tomorrow.

17:40 And I know it was there that I kind of in and out, and I carrying whatever they were going, you're going to do. But then, you know, just, I think God put it in each of us, something in our heart and say like OK, Google all in, and it's amazing because I don't know when you started the first call, would they be right into that? Wasn't that? It was like March of 2019 and then you came in summer summer again. That's where we decided to do a, a meeting of horrible meeting invite everybody. In share with prayer meeting that we had lunch to see if people are interested, and everybody said, yes, and we got, the board members. Are there in front of October. We open our doors since an February, 2014. Only God, can do that. And my mom was a prayer Warrior and she would pray every morning. She would

18:40 Tell her prayers every morning, she lived with us. And I remember going to 200th and her praying for Casa David. It was it, it had a name. It was a dream but it had no reality whatsoever. Mom had been praying. She had a heart attack in September and died, four days later. It was, it was 92 years old and amazing woman. And when I checked that night, I went and saw her. I looked at her journals. What she did the last thing? She had written as a prayer was, it was in her book. Said Casa David? She had been praying for Casa V. So we when she passed, we asked people not to get flowers but to give money in her name to a dream. She believed in, we raised $15,000 that people gave and that's the seed money that we started classes of eat with, you know, a woman who her faithfulness and her love for people. It was just it, just such a special story for me because that was Mom and I know she's so proud, you know, I know whatever she is.

19:40 With the Lord, I know and that she's so proud of what we're doing. So 7, we almost seven and a half. Almost eight years coming up in February and we served over 18,000 people almost 19,000 over 80,000 meals. And we've had so many people restore the relationship with the Lord or come to know the Lord and want to see Kenmore and we've planted Sears, so many seeds and so many lies it just an amazing thing.

20:08 Yeah, and it did a question. Everybody asks why. So David wants some day, be so a bit confused. Where does the name comes from? Right? And it's, it's when we got to the mission field, where veteran missionaries, who have been there for many, many years Joyce and Dave's dr. David harms. And they had served almost 30 years and Hunter is giving their lives, basically to the people of Honduras that the people in Honduras, loved loved and still love them. They're still living in in Plano, Texas right now. And so, when we were thinking of a name, how do you name a Ministry like that is like we had no idea a little house on the corner on the hill or House of Mercy, house of love. And then we decided to take the largest said honor, Uncle David, honor him, and use that name and you think of David, the great the great, a king, from the Old Testament, a lot of people knew that. So we connected that

21:08 And it really, was such a blessing, because, so many people knew David harms, dr. Horn and love him. It's, it was almost like that help out open doors for us and Hunter us because of his name being a social and we never had that was not my purpose because I'm not smart enough to minister to the people and for integrity to that was part of him and who he was and it carries over now into custody. So we so thankful to be able to name that Pastor David after Uncle David harms and Joyce, who did an amazing amazing work. So some of the things I just wanted to say one so many stories for Casa V. We see people coming in, they are referred by the hospital. They have to have somebody at the hospital when they refer to us, and we just see so many. So many sad stories. Are we just start? We're in the middle of a great event for

22:08 And how we're doing our auction, our annual auction fundraiser here. And that's why you're here with me and Columbus. You'll be going back on Saturday. And so it's just an amazing thing. When we see all these different stories. We in, the people who are affected and how much they're hurting in the sadness. We did our a video about this little boy, and his family, the mom and dad have been staying at Cassidy's, we finished the video and then we found out onto Monday Tuesday, that he had the baby had passed away after we had filmed the whole thing and it happens all the time.

22:48 It's nothing new. It happens all the time. And it's just it's sadness. I remember a day when we had a team at Casa de vide and a lady came in her baby had been very sick. She came just to take a shower so she could go back and we get a knock at the door and it was, we found out that there was a lady who the baby had passed away. And her sister had come in to tell her and I remember her falling on the ground and really just crying. But all the other people who are David understood her pain because they were going through the same thing as it around her, put their arms held her, pray for a cried for her to the community that we formed is amazing there and it. So it's just, I'm just so thankful to be part and then I've got to say the volunteers that we have are phenomenal and the people who are working or staff loved the Lord and see it not as a job. It is a Ministry and that's you.

23:48 I'm so thankful. Tell us something about your, your experience with Cassidy. And so imagine you come from very far to a big city. Like maybe New York, something that makes you scared. Like, I don't know how to manage myself in this city. So they come to the capital city CC alpha, or some Pedro Sula as City in Honduras and now and I and so it's an emergency. Maybe your child get sick. Now, you forgot to do that. You don't bring anything. Bring maybe your wallet, whatever you have $5, $10 and you just run and come to the hospital. And then they tell you that your child has to stay there for 1 week. What do you do? Where do you go? So, you decide to just sit outside and with covid?

24:48 Made it harder for at least a parent could stay in, maybe, besides the child, both parents. And now, it just either mom or dad and usually will be mom and dad has to stay outside for. I don't know how many days sometimes it's month. We had a lady at Casa David who stayed over a year while her baby was in the hospital. And then at the end of that year, he finally passed away Snyder. So sad. And so when they find that, there's a cassava and its interest and usually it's one of the guards that's outside of the hospital. And they see them as if they were saying like, I don't have a place and they said there's cuss Ivy or a nurse or maybe another of the guests, you know, they are the ones like our voices that you know, I'm saying here you should stay here and so they they do need to be sent by the hospital. So the hospital, there is social the social workers or die in service. That will write a note saying that they can come to our house and they will receive

25:48 Breakfast daily a hot breakfast I'll receive dinner and then we have coffee and sweet bread 24/7. And it's like a hotel. So they do their check, after 3, they get there. They're badass individual beds, but those beds. They get their towels and their pillows. And anything they need they get their shampoo hair shampoo, the toilet, everything. So imagine you, no coming with nothing and getting all this and do they pay? Well, it's not a payment. It's really. We asked him for an offer $10.00 and with those $2, maybe they would have but something to eat one time, one time and that's it. And with $2, they get everything.

26:38 And so, for many of them staying for 45 days, 3 months, when here, $2 to start adding adding adding and they cannot pay for it and they don't have to wait. But you know, what? Even is this a donation? Yeah, but you know what? They go back home and then many of them they have to come back and they bring cheese and a red marbles and eggs. That's the way they can. And they know I don't want to share with her with the other guess, you know, whatever they bring their bring coffee. And and that's the way they say. Okay. Thank you so much for having me last time. I'm paying you right now this way and we don't ask him that, you know, it's something they do. They also help around the house because they want to know that we had this man or his wife was in the hospital for 45 days. And so he couldn't go to visit her, be by her side, do the only once a day for like 10 minutes. So the rest of the time he was there.

27:38 He was doing a lot of stuff because he was so thankful. And also it was a way for him, you know, to do something. I just sit around and so it's so cool to see how people are thankful. And the way you say it they shall. That's all. What I do. Is that him and directed event. I'm in charge of doing an event to raise money and awareness and awareness. And so it's important to get the message out. What do we do? And that people give them the opportunity to serve. Absolutely. And that's one of the things I really love about you. Cuz I so often, we think about the guess who's getting the services, we forget that, it's the volunteers and this boy scouts, and the Girl Scouts, and the young people from the school who come and see if they have an Avenue to serve their people in the community comes together. And that's there is, it's Priceless. It's absolutely Priceless. What we find with these

28:38 People who come and help and share and give, and they're so excited. And I do want to say before we, and I want to say something about our second house, the government saw, what we were doing in Honduras and take us to Galva, and they offered us a house in San Pedro, Sula 4 hours from the capital and the house belonged to a drug lord. And it's, it was he's, he's in prison for his life and they said, hey, there's an empty house. Would you like to use this and bring another Casa David to this s a city? And we said, absolutely, it's a beautiful home has eight bedrooms 8. There's a swimming pool. If it is a beautiful home and it's now Casa David to be able to share with the people there, in San Pedro Sula. And then just an April, how he? And I went to the inauguration of our new house in Antigua Guatemala. And so we're seeing God multiply this. It was never my dream. My dream.

29:38 What house? And I only would have but what an awesome thing that God has just allow this thing to multiply. We don't know what he has in the future. We're waiting to see, maybe I'll stop by the garage, Panama Colombia, who knows, you know, we just don't know. I just want to be obedient to his leading. Whatever it is that he leads me too. And I'm just so thankful for the opportunity that he gives us every day to serve him. I do want to say something about our donors, 9:00 here in the United States. There is an amazing, amazing. A group of people, people who are willing to give generously in Honduras. I see more of the people give of their time,

30:25 But here people give up their resources and and I know in Honduras as well. They give the give of their resources. Absolutely. You know, what are the women for a social security and they send me $10 a month for the ministry. And so there's such a great responsibility. We feel to those gifts that people send us not a penny stays here. It all goes to Honduras and Guatemala. I do not receive a salary.

30:53 So I just it's just amazing to me, the see the people and then we have very generous donors who helped us and we could not do this unless it was a generosity of the people. I know you work with that in Honduras. What do you see in Honduras? As far as generosity and kindness, kindness Without Borders Without Borders and stuff because we are working with us and the people who supported us from the us and what we see is that people are willing to help me. I think it's been many years that we expect people from outside to do the things for us, but more and more, you know, the generation, the new generation know that they did be part of it and I just put their hand and received a lot of students to come and help in so many ways. And maybe it's not financially, but it's what their time with their time. And so they come and help and I can never see students doing project. But I fear our events, we have a lot of small.

31:53 And also medium-sized companies, that they give, they give up their stuff either for our actions, or it's for the house, and it's amazing. And I, I liked one of my friends said they get in. She gives a lot of coffee to us coffee. And so like we will have no doubt and they are an amazing family that they always say yes, and she was saying, you know, just giving it will make me poor little, just blessed me more giving won't make me before. Yes, it'll matter. Just let me know. Bless and she says not also a blessing that God is going to send you more money, but just the feeling of, I know I'm doing something better for someone else, you know, and not getting anything in return. Yes. Yes, because she gives out of her heart. That's all and I took her there's a lot of other people that daily pray for us.

32:54 Are there you know, just seeing what's up with ghosts IV. How can I help? And you know just sharing the social media that's an easy one, but it's hard for many people. We are teaching. Also. I think we need to teach our children more North because this generation. Also it's more about me about me and my selfies and social media and meet Mimi. And so and if we help you don't have to also put in social media, it's it's more like I'm helping and I just didn't think I was obedient to God. Absolutely. You know, it one of those things that just proves my heart is, when my son, that's my son. Say to me, Mom. We're so proud of you for, so proud of the Legacy you're leaving behind. And that's, that's what we want to do. We want to teach the generations that are coming to continue the work that we're doing and, and I need to say so. So strongly that the work is God's work.

33:50 You know, he just uses us to bless other people but it's him and I want to make sure he gets all the glory for this, the house and everything else up as people say, what do you think? You know, you're the founder of this and it's like, it's not me. It's him and he's giving me the abilities. He's giving me everything that I need to be able to serve him in this way. And I love absolutely love the team that he is giving us the volunteers. He put his foot around us, the people who give so freely and we could not do it without them. So we're so thankful. I am so thankful Carmen for you and your lies. And for Davion Vanessa, and Eddie and all the people God has put in our lives. All those old Cubanos University students were still contributing to Casa David and helping, and encouraging, and, and our board members. And it's just been a amazing. I can't imagine that. I said, know, you would have missed out on.

34:50 So much. And so, I really, I'm always trying to encourage people, find that dream that you have find a dream. It could be, it doesn't have to be big. It could be small. It could be your neighbor across the street. You know, your friend who needs someone to listen to them. It's but do what God has called you to do that. I think that's so important. And also, when you had the dream, I like telling the story you dream of a yellow house. Now, are we looking for the house? You found a yellow house. And one just one block from the hospital. And the house is yellow, and we painted more yellow, you and thinking, for your seder, open, some feta Sula, never remembered his house, and this year, during the pandemic, we open, but they got the gym and also, we have a lot of her stuff that are just amazing. And I was just thinking of this Bible verse in Jeremiah 33:1 to 3, but I'll read from the

35:50 Second verse, this is what the Lord said, he who made the Earth, the Lord, who for men in Spanish at the Lord, is his name call to me and I will answer you and tell you, great and a search of all things. You did not know. So we can like, leave this life and I got, I got, I want to do your will, but you know, we never called to him whenever search him, the will never do his will because we're not searching himself. I'm glad you search him that you were looking for him. You called him, and he open the screen because more than 18,000. Do we say 18700 people. I know there is more to our doors. I know their life has changed. Absolutely, and just feeling those, those words of encouragement, those arms and hug them and those and cry, when they had a really bad news or when they have really good, news are happy there celebrating. So it's not. Everything is bad. You know, they come in there. They just want a battle. They just got a new baby they were way.

36:50 For it so many. We celebrate a lot of good things. And so for every counts, for every staff member, they're grateful, because you were obedient to God, do what he had for you? And I am grateful to God for, allowing me to be obedient for sure. It's been a journey and the neatest part is, I don't think he's done. I don't think there's more to come. And I had, this is, I think we're right in the middle of a story story. It's Are Thankful until the day he calls me home. I hope to be faithful. And I know you feel that way. Yes, so we thank you for this time. I think it's been wonderful to have you here in Columbus, Georgia with me for this week. As we go through this auction are big auctions tomorrow. So we can't wait to see what the results will be to that. We've been working, really, really hard. Everybody is really, really tired, but it's a joyful time it is, and we're happy to serve.

37:50 Yeah, and so that's what makes it even easier to work. Because we're happy serving. We're filled of joy of doing this and it really is joy and I have clean toilets at Casa David and that other things that I don't even like to do it at home, but you're so thankful and that you're able to do that and to give that back to the The Beautiful People of Honduras and The Beautiful People of Guatemala. And so I can't wait to see what else he has for him. And in the days ahead. I'm sure he has wonderful things that we cannot imagine how absolutely God bless you. And I'm so thankful for your life. Thank you for being a, thank you for your time also, and for having me here, and sharing our story, absolutely. God bless.