 Could you please tell us your name and where you're from? My name is Mary Lou Martinez and I'm from the Tri-Cities. Thank you. Mary Lou, how did you come about hunger generation? And can you share a little bit of your salvation story with us? Okay. So I got invited by my co-workers, Katrina and Vicky. And it was kind of just like, just a casual thing. You know, like, I went to school in Missouri for a year and a half and I just recently moved back. So I was just kind of wanting to get to know, like, more people and I had never really had, like, friends or girls. So I thought it was kind of cool that they invited me to the Valentine's Banquet. So they're just, they're like, well, you should come to the Wednesday service to get to know people. And I was like, okay. So it wasn't really anything. I just, like, I've gone to youth groups, I've gone to church before, but I didn't really, like, expect it to be how it was, you know. Like I said earlier, it was, like, going up, like, to a mountain or whatever. And then, like, I was like, oh, yeah, I want to see the view or whatever. And then they're like, okay. And then, like, let's jump. And then they just, like, let me fall. And I say that just because it was just so emotional for me. Like, I, like, I was dealing with all these emotions and I thought it was just me. Can you tell us a little bit of your background? What family you were coming from? I know you mentioned to me earlier. Mm-hmm. So my mom was pretty much a single parent her whole life and I'm the fifth of six children. And so it was kind of, it was kind of hard. I had a lot of trust issues when it came to relationships, either with just people in general, but mainly with men. Like, I didn't really trust guys. You guys for a very long time, to be honest. Which led me to wrestle and... What caused that hate towards men? So when I was younger, I would see my mom get abused by my step-dad. So it was just something I just, it was really hard for me to let go of. So I, like, once I gave my life to God, like, I kind of just, like, I was a Christian before, but I, like, when I went to college, I kind of just, you know, like, I, my goal was to go and get out of here. I did, I graduated, I got accepted to every school I applied to. So I thought, like, after I reached my goal, it was like I was lost and I got into, like, partying and just bad, bad crowd. And you mentioned that you were wrestling. Can you tell us about it a little bit? I started when I was a junior and it was kind of more of a challenge because I wanted to get in shape for track and there was nothing else. I'm not a good dancer, not a good basketball player, so that was my only option. But I really wanted to prove everyone wrong because they just saw me as this fragile little thing. And I wanted it to finish it off and I ended up getting a scholarship my senior year to go to Missouri Baptist University and I ended up taking forth that statement. My senior year just being a second-year wrestler. So when you moved to Missouri for college, how was your life over there and why did you come back to trash cities? Well, of course, when you're a freshman, it's fun and then reality hits. I started having to cut weight. I was a starter for my team, so I had to cut, like, 10 pounds every week to make 116 and it just kind of broke me mentally. I had a job, I didn't have a car, so it was just a lot of things that I didn't really put into consideration that would happen being on my own. And I was just in a relationship that wasn't healthy for me and I felt like I was losing who I really was. I was getting into a lot of trouble, so I felt like I needed to come home to kind of re-evaluate my life and see, like, just have more hope. You know, I was fighting depression. I had an eating disorder. I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping. Like, in my own little, like, misery, but I was able to, like, get out of it and even before coming to church, like, I was starting to get better but there was always just something missing. It wasn't until I invited Christ back to my life and just started being, I just, like, everything just started changing, like, I began to feel more hopeful. So after you rededicated your life to Jesus, after girls invited you here, what changes you started to see in your life? My spiritual life started to get better. Everything I prayed for just kind of just falls into place. I wanted to go back to school, back to college in Russell and Canada and, you know, I really wanted to go there but I prayed about it and I was just like, if I don't get accepted there, I have all these other options. So I'm like, yeah, that's my plan. I want to go there, but, like, God's plan is greater than mine and He said not to go to Canada and to stay home. Well, we love that you stayed here with us. You also mentioned to me earlier that you were struggling with unforgiveness and feelings of bitterness and resentment. How do you feel right now? I feel like I'm so liberated with every, like, person that has hurt me, like, either if it was my stepdad, my biological dad, you know, friends, just people who, or even just past, like, relationships with guys. Like, I've forgiven everyone for hurting me and I feel so, like, just, I don't have any ties with anyone. I don't hate anyone. I, like, even if someone who has hurt me before in their, like, just come into my life, I wouldn't, like, push them away. I would, you know, I would want to know and wish them the best. That's all. Okay. And what about your college situation right now? I know you mentioned some financial even breakthroughs that you received after you decided, after you were not accepted to go to the college in Canada. What happened? I just applied at CBC and, at first, I was struggling with my financial aid. I wasn't really sure if I was going to, like, get it paid for, but I ended up applying and it kind of took, it was kind of a process, you know. I was just praying about it, not trying to panic. And then last minute, not only did they provide me with financial aid, they also gave me money back that I don't have to pay. So I'm just saving it to pay off my debt for the previous college. Let's put our hands together for Jesus. We thank God for these amazing breakthroughs and changes that God has done in your life. But would you please tell a word of advice to people who may be struggling with rededicating their lives to Jesus Christ? Can you say a word of advice to them? I feel like rededicating my life to Christ was one of the best things I ever did. And with that, I just kind of, I just feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I belong. I feel like I can make a difference. I feel like even though I'm struggling right now, just that I'm always around people who need help, it just makes me feel so much better. So if you're struggling with your faith, if you're struggling with anything, I advise you just to pray and just to seek someone because there's always someone listening. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Thank you. What an amazing testimony.