Participants:
Series Code: IAADD
Program Code: IAADD000010A
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00:27 Welcome to Issues and Answers.
00:28 Today, we're gonna be dealing with the topic 00:31 From tragedy to triumph. 00:34 You know, that can be applied 00:36 to a lot of different situations. 00:37 It could be applied to a nation going from tragedy to triumph, 00:41 from a group of people from tragedy to triumph, 00:44 from an individual. 00:46 Well, God has blessed us with the wonderful guest today, 00:49 that is gonna talk about it all from her life story. 00:53 It is none other than Ra'Shall Steede. 00:56 Who is a native Selma, Alabama. 00:59 She is going to share with us personal tragedy in her life 01:03 and how God has made it a triumph, 01:06 in the midst of everything that was coming against her. 01:09 It is an amazing story that you don't want to miss 01:12 and I am so glad that you've tuned in. 01:14 Ra'Shall is a graduate of Oakwood University. 01:18 She is a pastor's wife and has two wonderful children. 01:22 Welcome to the program, Ra'Shall. 01:25 Thank you, thank you so much for having me. 01:28 So you are from Selma. 01:30 What was it like growing up in Selma, Alabama? 01:34 Well, truly when I think about Selma, 01:37 I just have wonderful thoughts of Selma. 01:40 Really? 01:41 I know that it was extremely hard 01:44 with the racial, tension and everything 01:47 but Selma in my time there was wonderful, 01:51 because when I think back about family coming together, 01:55 you know... 01:58 visiting my grandparents, being with family-- 02:03 So how was it for your family like the generations? 02:07 You know, that's a big thing, the march on Selma, 02:09 it was a huge, huge thing. 02:11 And did you grow up with that legacy? 02:13 Did people talk about it? I mean. 02:16 Well, yes, as matter of fact, I do believe my grandmother 02:20 and my mother was a part of the "March". 02:24 They marched? That took place there. 02:25 Yes, and I also do believe 02:27 that my grand mother was a part of the Bloody Sunday. 02:31 Oh! Really? That took place in Selma. 02:34 So my family does have a stake in the situation 02:39 that took place there and it was really a tough time 02:44 during that time but as always God brings us through. 02:48 Well, that's interesting. 02:49 So did people having, you know, your loved ones, 02:52 did they kind of say, you know... 02:55 were they angry 02:56 from what they had gone through? 02:57 Did you grow up in an environment 02:59 where people were segregated? 03:00 And they said, you know, keep, stay away from white people 03:03 or stay away from other people 03:05 because they're gonna be mean to you? 03:08 Well, as a young kid at that time 03:11 I don't remember any of that. 03:14 But I do know that there was high tension 03:16 as far as blacks getting great jobs 03:20 or you know, we couldn't do certain thing 03:24 but it was more so 03:26 not as far as the kids were concerned. 03:30 I mean, it was more dealing with the parents and rarely, 03:33 they didn't really talk about it that much 03:36 it was more an adult situation. 03:39 But when they dealt with us, it was more of a... 03:43 you know, just, 03:45 it felt like there was none of this stuff going on. 03:48 Really? So things have changed. 03:50 Yeah, well, in their attitudes and in their mind 03:54 as far as the kids were concerned, 03:57 they always, you know, talked, 04:00 you know, it always a happy time, you know. 04:02 Family getting together, eating together, 04:05 so a lot of the tension even if it was going on, 04:09 we weren't a part that. 04:10 We didn't experience the negative side 04:14 of living in Selma. 04:16 There was one situation though that I recall as a little girl, 04:21 I don't know I might have been about seven years old. 04:24 I remember my mother sending us to the bathroom 04:30 because at that time, 04:32 down the street from us across broad street 04:35 cause we lived on field part at the time 04:37 but across there was broad street 04:40 and the Ku Klux Klan were actually having a march there. 04:45 And we were sent to the bathroom 04:48 because no one knew it they would crossed it-- 04:50 cross the road over and to-- 04:52 you know, cause trouble or whatever. 04:53 So other than that, that was the only experience of, 04:58 you know, dealing with the racial tension of things, 05:01 you know, we went to school, 05:03 you know, it was just a happy family time. 05:06 Wow. 05:07 Then you had another incredible experience 05:10 where you actually, you left Selma you grew up from Selma 05:14 but then you ended up in Bermuda. 05:17 Well, that is really funny. Tell me about that. 05:20 Because growing up, you hear about the Bermuda Triangle 05:25 and you are told to stay away from the Bermuda Triangle 05:29 and it's funny. 05:30 I was in Oakwood singing in Dynamic Praise 05:34 and there was a mission trip that they were having 05:37 and they were looking for students 05:38 that wanted to be a part. 05:40 I wasn't a student but I was there singing in the choir. 05:44 So they said, "Come right long." 05:47 And I said to Bermuda? Really? Really? 05:49 A field trip, six weeks? 05:51 You know we went there-- 05:52 You must have a great singing voice, 05:55 to get a free trip over. 05:57 No, it was just some friends that I had met, 06:00 that knew about the trip and asked me to come. 06:03 And I went there, you know, six weeks the whole time 06:06 scared to death praying that there is no triangle to get us. 06:10 But we made it there safely and of course, 06:13 we did a lot of God's work and just a tad bit if our own. 06:17 Really, lot of God's work? 06:19 What, what kind of things did you do? 06:20 Well, we were doing Bible studies, 06:22 we were getting-- 06:23 they were having a crusade 06:25 and we had to prep the community 06:27 and get them ready, give them Bible studies 06:29 and you know, talking to them 06:31 and getting their understanding. 06:32 So when it came time for the crusade, 06:35 they will be ready and be baptized. 06:37 Wow, so you were doing Bible study, 06:39 you were right there on the front line. 06:40 So did you see baptisms? 06:42 How was that for you to be involved in Lord's work? 06:44 Yeah, it was awesome. 06:46 I didn't know I could do a Bible study. I had no idea. 06:49 But it was really awesome, meeting the people, 06:55 you know, Bermuda is just a beautiful island. 06:58 Yeah-- 06:59 You know, and people are very nice and great. 07:03 Wow. 07:04 It sounds like God was preparing you for next step. 07:08 What happen most significant thing 07:10 in most significant way for you 07:14 on the beautiful island of Bermuda, 07:16 something that would change your life forever? 07:20 What was that? 07:22 Well, I meet the Lord. You met the Lord, wow. 07:26 Yes. 07:27 It was just an awesome experience 07:29 but I did meet a gentleman. 07:33 You met a gentleman? I met a gentleman. 07:35 You met a Bermudian gentleman. I met a Bermudian gentleman. 07:40 I met him through-- 07:42 his mother was my Bible worker and when ever she couldn't come 07:46 she would send him to take me to visit my different-- 07:51 the people that I was doing studies with. 07:54 And we just really got acquainted 07:57 and we got to know each other. 07:59 But nothing really happened 08:01 until I came back to the States. 08:05 So did you kind of do, 08:06 you know, everyone would like to know 08:07 a good romance story, 08:09 you know, did you walk the beaches together? 08:12 Yes we did. 08:14 Did you ride those little mopeds around the island? 08:17 Yes we did, He actually had motorcycle, 08:21 I think that he was-- 08:23 yes, and I got to drive his boat. 08:25 So nice-- 08:26 You know, so it was really, it was really nice 08:28 but this was my friend. 08:31 But it was during the time they had hurricane Fabian that, 08:36 I had gone back home and he was home getting ready 08:39 to come back to Oakwood but the storm came through 08:42 and it was as if he might not have been able to come back 08:46 that year because it was really bad, 08:48 the storm was really terrible and I went to praying, fasting 08:54 I watched more news than I've ever watched in my whole life, 08:57 trying to keep up with storm 08:59 to make sure everything was going well, 09:01 so that he could come back. 09:03 And he did get to come back. 09:04 It was bad but he was able to come back to Oakwood 09:07 and from then on we were-- 09:10 So you guys continued the budding relationship 09:14 and then you got married. 09:15 And then we got married. You got married. 09:16 So now, tell me something about your husband, 09:19 what kind of work does he do? Well my husband is a pastor. 09:22 He is Pastor David Steede. 09:23 He pastors 09:25 at New Covenant Seventh-day Adventist Church here. 09:27 And he is an awesome pastor, 09:29 I really like him, I could truly say it. 09:31 Well, that good! He is really good. 09:33 And I think he is a very compassionate young man. 09:38 So where did you guys go? 09:39 So you went from Selma, 09:40 a really tough area of the country, 09:44 you took a chance, you went over to the Bermuda 09:48 and you met a Bermudian gentleman. 09:51 You both came back and then you both got married. 09:53 Where did you go after that? 09:55 Well, after that... 09:57 What was your sign? 09:58 You went to the seminary to Andrews, 09:59 okay, so after you left Andrews then where did you go? 10:02 We went to Massachusetts, 10:04 we moved to Massachusetts in 2005. 10:07 And we pastored there for almost 5 years 10:11 and then we received a call to come to Memphis, Tennessee 10:14 and that's where we reside. 10:17 So how was it moving from the North east coast 10:20 down to the South? 10:23 Back again to the South, I guess. 10:24 Back again to the south, 10:26 well, it was really interesting. 10:31 I tell you history is really crazy, 10:34 because in the history book again I read about, 10:37 you know Road island and Massachusetts 10:40 and Plymouth rock and all of those things 10:42 and here I find myself actually living there and being a part 10:46 and now to come back home again, it was really refreshing 10:50 because I was not suited for snow, 10:53 you know, it was really cold there so-- 10:55 and I was far away from my family. 10:59 So the move of coming back, was really-- 11:03 it was rough but it was really happy-- 11:07 it was a happy time 11:08 because I was gonna be close to my family. 11:12 Right. 11:13 So now this is where a life changing event 11:17 happened in your life and I want you to share, 11:19 take your time and share with us 11:21 what happened on one particular night 11:24 when you were driving back from Huntsville to Memphis. 11:29 Okay. 11:31 Well, first of all, living in Massachusetts, 11:34 like I said I was distance away from my family, 11:38 so I really only got to see them maybe once in a year 11:42 and so moving back to Memphis, it was really-- 11:45 moving to Memphis, it was really exciting for me 11:48 because I was only three and half, 11:51 I was away from my family, considering 11:55 really being 20 something hours away from them, 11:58 so that night or that day it was actually Easter. 12:04 It was April 4th 2010 Easter Sabbath, 12:10 It was on Sabbath that we well, 12:12 it was actually the Sabbath before Easter. 12:16 We decided to move-- 12:18 I mean, I'm sorry... 12:19 To travel down to Huntsville? 12:21 To travel down to Huntsville to see my mom, 12:23 after all of those years of not being able to see her. 12:27 It was beautiful sunny day. I woke up that morning. 12:30 This was your first visit to see your mother from-- 12:32 After we moved, yes. 12:33 After-- 12:34 you know, so I was really excited. 12:36 This was also the first the time 12:37 that we could for alumni weekend, 12:40 you know, and so I was really excited about that 12:43 and after church, we went to church, 12:45 he preached and I after church, it was so beautiful 12:49 we just "Let's get in the car and drive to Huntsville." 12:52 So we drove to Huntsville in hopes of seeing my family, 12:55 as well as getting to see some-- 12:59 getting to see some activities from alumni weekend. 13:02 And then as anybody else. 13:04 anyone else that's leaving from alumni 13:06 or leaving from a trip, you got in the car 13:08 and you headed back, but then something-- 13:12 That night we were driving back and it was pretty late. 13:17 We had stayed around for a while, 13:18 it was pretty late and my husband was driving 13:24 and we were on the road and basically 13:30 the next thing I could recall is that we are actually rolling 13:36 or tumbling down the highway and-- 13:41 The car is flipping, over and over, 13:44 just you have gotten into an accident. 13:46 Yes, we had gotten into an accident 13:49 and the car is flipping and flipping 13:51 and I can remember hearing a voice say to me, "Call me." 13:58 Because during that time, I was awakened out of my sleep 14:01 into a roll and I thought my husband was talking to me 14:06 but he wasn't. 14:08 And I heard this voice that just said to me 14:10 as clear as day, "Call me." 14:12 And I'm thinking, "Call me, "but I'm so scared 14:16 and I started just calling Jesus, Jesus help us, save us, 14:22 forgive us, and I just kept repeating that 14:24 over and over and over. 14:27 And the car finally stopped. 14:30 And when the car stopped, my family, 14:33 well my daughter started screaming 14:36 and so I turned around to help her get out of the car 14:39 and, you know, let her get through the sunroof 14:42 and got my son out of the car 14:43 and my husband had gotten out of the car. 14:45 But I couldn't get out of the car. 14:48 So when I unfasten the seat belt, 14:50 I kind of dropped and-- 14:53 then a gentleman came by and he said don't move her 14:57 because we don't know what's wrong with her. 15:00 And then I heard my son say the car is gonna blow! 15:05 But I guess I turned the switch 15:08 and took the keys out of the car. 15:09 You did? 15:11 I did all of this not really know what's going on 15:14 and then and few minutes later, 15:15 I heard the fire department come 15:19 and they cut me out of the car and I hear them ask me, 15:26 you know, what's my name and all of these things 15:29 and I said, okay, it must be important 15:30 because they want me to remember my name. 15:33 So I have to remember who I am, 15:35 these are all the things that are going through my mind. 15:37 And apparently I told them who I was 15:40 and next thing I knew, I heard helicopter sounds, 15:43 where they had flown me to the hospital too, 15:47 actually at that time it was Med in Memphis, Tennessee, 15:50 The trauma centre. The trauma centre. 15:52 You need to know. Trauma centre, yes. 15:53 It's well known for that. 15:54 And they had taken my family to Mississippi. 15:57 So you are in the hospital and what was the diagnosis? 16:01 What did they say to you? 16:03 Well, they didn't say anything to me 16:05 because at that point I was going in and out. 16:08 But they told my family that it didn't look good 16:13 and that I had a broken leg and then they found out 16:17 other things that was wrong with me, 16:19 which turned out to be both legs were broken the same 16:23 but my right leg was-- 16:25 the artery in it was really damaged. 16:27 And they tried to save it several times 16:30 but they couldn't save it. 16:33 So they ended up having to take it. 16:36 And during that time, during that process 16:39 I was coded on the table twice. 16:41 That means that you died. 16:43 I flat lined twice on the table. 16:47 My family got a phone call twice 16:49 to come to the hospital for me and-- 16:54 And they essentially, 16:56 like you said, they took your leg. 16:58 How long were you in the hospital? 17:00 I was in the hospital for about 17:03 maybe three and a half months or so-- 17:07 I was there. 17:09 And then I went to rehab 17:10 on the other side of the hospital 17:12 and I was there for about a month 17:15 and then I went home in my hospital bed for a month. 17:20 But before I went home 17:25 there was situation at the hospital, 17:27 when it was time for me to go home, 17:29 when it was time for me to go home 17:32 I had to get in a car. 17:36 I was afraid to get in a car. So I couldn't get in a car. 17:40 And I begged them to put me in the ambulance. 17:43 However, I still I couldn't get in the ambulance 17:45 because I just kept seeing the car in my head, I kept, 17:52 so I didn't want to get in the car. 17:55 And they wanted to put me on the medication 17:58 to get me in the car. 18:01 But I couldn't do medication because I didn't want 18:04 to be hooked on medication every time I got into the car. 18:08 So I just prayed a lot that God would help me 18:13 and He helped get in the car. 18:15 He helped me to get in the ambulance 18:18 and they drove me home. 18:20 But at the same time 18:21 there was a wonderful gentleman, 18:23 it's amazing that how God always put someone-- 18:28 In you life-- 18:29 In your life at the time and the actual paramedic 18:33 that was in the ambulance, he was a young guy 18:36 and I didn't even remember his name. 18:38 But all I remember was the tattoos 18:40 that he had on his arms 18:42 and he was sitting there with me 18:44 and I was crying and screaming 18:46 and not acting like a first lady at all, 18:49 you know, I was just scared to death. 18:52 I was really scared to death but he said "it's okay." 18:56 And he held my hand the whole trip home 18:59 and that was just amazing for me 19:01 because it helped me to, you know, comfort-- 19:04 it comforted me in that situation. 19:07 So you went through rehab. 19:09 Now you also happened to be in Memphis, 19:11 which is known for prosthetics, right. 19:14 So that was real blessing, the top place, 19:16 one of the top places in the country, 19:17 where they actually manufacture and make them. 19:19 How was that for you to-- 19:23 I mean, did you-- 19:24 do they automatically give that to you 19:26 or did you have to take time to heal? 19:28 How did that work? 19:29 Well for me there was a lot of damage done 19:34 in the accident on me because what I found out later 19:38 was that my right leg was in and out of the car 19:42 and the car was rolling over it as we were rolling 19:46 and I honestly believe that's why God spoke to me, 19:51 to say to call him because I think in that moment 19:56 as I was calling Him, it got louder and louder 20:00 and I think during that time, 20:02 you know, I couldn't feel the pain 20:04 of what was going on with me, I couldn't feel any of that 20:07 because I was calling him. 20:10 So a lot of damage was done, a lot of meat was taken. 20:13 So I was went through skin grafts 20:15 and everything on both legs and you know. 20:19 So it took a long time for me to heal 20:22 before I could even get into the prosthetics 20:26 and different things. 20:27 Like how long? 20:28 It took about a year maybe a half 20:31 before I could actually get the a-- 20:32 and it could fit me for prosthetics 20:35 and I remember driving up to precision prosthetics 20:39 and there was a young man there who was the owner of it. 20:44 And he said to me "It's going to be okay". 20:47 Because when I drove up in the parking lot, 20:49 I've been thinking why in world am I here, 20:52 you know, I was just scared, I saw a lamp in the window 20:56 that had a leg and I am like oh God! 20:58 Is this really happening, you know, even though I knew 21:01 I had lost my leg, you know, it's something 21:04 when you go through the process of, 21:07 you know, dealing with it. 21:08 It was just like, wild, I mean, I am scared to death. 21:11 So I went inside there-- 21:14 and he was so nice and he comforted me 21:17 and told me, "it's gonna be okay," 21:19 and he just measured me 21:22 and just talked to me about the whole process 21:24 and it went so well, it went well. 21:27 About a year and maybe eleven months, 21:32 I finally got-- 21:34 he finally was able to shape a leg or socket 21:39 which is the part that actually goes on your leg and, 21:42 you know, for my leg and I was able to start trying to, 21:46 you know, just put it on 21:47 and get my leg comfortable with that 21:49 but it was really-- 21:51 this legs are really expensive, you know. 21:54 I always wanted a Lexus but I guess this is my Lexus, 22:00 because they are-- 22:01 you know, the cheapest one is about $28,000. 22:06 Wow. 22:07 You know, if you want one that does something 22:10 or look like something that's 50, 60, $ 80,000 22:15 that you have to pay to get, you know, those things. 22:17 Is it covered through insurance? 22:19 Well, see that's the key because many times, 22:22 you know, you get insurances not thinking, 22:25 that something like this is gonna happen. 22:28 When we got our insurance, 22:30 you know, we weren't thinking about losing a limb. 22:33 So many times you skimp on that so and my insurance, 22:37 it was a good insurance, but it didn't cover everything 22:41 that he needed to cover. 22:43 So I-- 22:44 my family and I had to try and come up with funds, 22:47 which is very hard situation. 22:51 But I encourage anyone, 22:54 even though you don't ever think 22:55 that you would have to experience this, 22:59 you never know. 23:01 So don't skimp on those things, when it comes to insurance 23:05 because it is really hard 23:07 when you don't have that into your insurance. 23:11 Well, right now, I would like to invite your husband 23:13 Pastor David Steede to come on to the set 23:17 because he was the big part, I am sure. 23:19 And we didn't have the opportunity 23:21 to have your children, 23:23 who actually I have taught at one time, 23:25 very precious David and Summer. 23:27 But I understand now that you are on your own, 23:32 you drive, you do all kinds of stuff, 23:34 can you share with us Pastor, 23:35 you know, from your point of view. 23:38 How do you think you wife, how did she get through this? 23:41 I mean, looking on as as your-- 23:42 as this is the love of your life, and to see her, 23:45 I mean look at her now, she just beautiful, 23:48 what can you share with us? 23:50 Yeah, you know, before the accident 23:56 my wife loved to shop... 24:04 I mean shop, shop, shop, unbelievable. 24:10 Just like I almost woke up to go to the store, 24:12 you know, that the reason 24:14 she get up in the mornings to go the store. 24:15 And I thought that there just might be a possibility that, 24:21 now that she was sort of, you know, some what limited 24:26 that that might decrease. 24:30 But it has definitely increased, 24:31 you know what I am saying. 24:33 And so she gets around, she drives often times, 24:37 she would drive and take the kids, 24:39 you know, to school or she'll pick them up, 24:43 there's nothing she can't do. 24:44 She gets it done. 24:46 Really? She gets it done. 24:47 Was that hard to do? Was that hard to start driving? 24:49 It was very hard to start driving. 24:51 What was inside of you that kept you going 24:53 with all these things that came against you 24:56 and having to re-learn certain skills? 24:59 How did you do it? 25:00 My children, my family was really the drive. 25:05 I remember my daughter saying to me, 25:08 "Mom, can you take us to the park? 25:10 It's right down the street." 25:13 And I said, yeah, if you only know 25:16 how far down the street is for me in my mind 25:19 because, like I said, I still kept re-living, 25:23 you know being in the car and in my mind 25:26 I didn't want to be the cause 25:27 of any thing happening to my children. 25:30 So it was safer for me to stay in the passenger's seat. 25:34 But one day, I told them go inside 25:37 and do their home work 25:39 and I said, I am gonna try this, 25:41 you know, so I just got into driver's seat. 25:44 First of all, I had to figure out 25:46 how to work the prosthetic leg and talk to God a little bit, 25:49 how in the world did you take the right leg, 25:52 you know, I mean. 25:54 Why would, you know, this is the driving leg. 25:57 But I learned to manipulate the leg and, 26:00 you know, move it to the side over my lap 26:03 so that I could get in the car and practiced 26:05 driving out of the drive way and going back 26:08 and doing that for a while and then backing out 26:12 and driving down the street a little bit. 26:14 It took time because it was more of a mental thing, 26:20 you know, it was more of getting my mind back around 26:23 but everything during the whole experience, 26:25 I prayed a lot. 26:27 I am glad, you've mentioned prayer. 26:29 Because I know that there are some people at home, 26:32 who've gone through some of the experiences 26:34 that you have, perhaps soldiers who have gone to war. 26:37 Other people who've been in car accidents 26:41 or because of health reasons 26:43 that have gone through an amputation, 26:46 such as yourself and I am asking for prayer. 26:50 Sure. We can have prayer about that. 26:51 You really had a rich experience 26:53 from Selma to Bermuda to Memphis, 26:58 from tragedy to triumph. 27:01 Yes. 27:02 Would you offer a prayer, please? 27:03 Yes. 27:06 Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you so much 27:10 for allowing us to be here, today to experience, 27:14 telling our testimony that it may help someone, 27:18 who's experiencing this God. 27:20 This is not a easy situation to go through, 27:24 struggles and traumas and come through shining. 27:28 But God the only way we can do it is through you. 27:32 It's you that gives us the strength, Lord. 27:34 I can see how people lose hope 27:37 and I can see how depression takes in 27:40 but one thing I remember in my experience 27:43 is that I had to go back 27:44 and think about all of the things 27:46 that you have done for me, 27:48 all of the places you have been with me before 27:52 and by doing that it helped me to know 27:56 that if you were with me then, 27:57 you will be with me now through this situation. 28:00 And that all we have to do is forever call up on you 28:03 and you will hear. 28:05 You are there for us when we are in trouble. 28:07 Seek you first and no matter what happens, 28:11 call no you and you're there for us. |
Revised 2016-03-30