Envision Magazine, issue #12, May 2021

N ATI O N A L AWA RD -WI N N I N G, CH RI STI A N COLLEGIATE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 12, 2021

FASHION for

CHANGE How one fashion line is helping women in Ghana

CAN’T STOP LOVE EASY, HEALTHY RECIPES BENEFITS OF MUSCLE ACTIVISIM + ARTISTRY

Leila Creates Change

W W W . A D V E N T N E X T . C O M

JOIN THE CONVERSATION. LIFE AND FAITH DISCUSSIONS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

ADVNT NXT L I F E A N D FA I T H D I S C U S S I O N S F O R T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

The Voice that Calls You Crazy

9

I Left Religion, not Faith

12

Room for All

15

Not Just Bad at School: The Inattentive Disorder

18

Out with the Old, In with the New

20

Leila Creates Her World

26

Change the World with Fashion

34

Can’t Stop Love

37

Muscle Motivation

40

Let’s Eat!

47

Beautifully Broken

50

Overtures of Grace

COVER PHOTO NICK COLLARD PHOTO BY KEITH BULLARD DRESS BY SAUNDRA OWUSU-ANTWI DESIGN BY STEPHANY FIGUEROA

2020 WAS A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER! SO WE ASKED THOSE INVOLVED WITH THIS MAGAZINE: WHAT HELPED YOU GET THROUGH IT?

Heather L Macyauski My standard poodle, Annie, helped to combat the loneliness of 2020.

She’s my best pal!

Adwoa Tuffour

By God’s grace and time with my family and loved ones.

Keith Bullard Talking to family and friends and reading whole lot of manga.

Rachel Keele Lots of cooking, Zoom workouts, and counting my blessings.

Nehemiah Sitler Working, camping, and learning new hobbies helped me survive the pandemic.

Dave Sherwin Trusting in God and also exploring a number of new still-life photo set-ups in the studio.

Courtney Saunders Staying connected to people has helped me, whether that meant Zooming with family or a Netflix party with friends.

Felecia Lee Hiking with Stephen brought me through.

Watching the news caused so much stress!

Nature reminded us that God was still in control.

Mel Burdick The main thing that helped me survive the pandemic, no surprise, was books!

Gillian Kuhn Podcasts, puzzles, & puppies.

Silvia Bacchiocchi Amidst all its challenges, the gleaming silver lining was getting to savor family time—both in quality and quantity!

Stephany Figueroa I kept myself active around the house and enjoyed my family’s company.

Nick Collard - reading - making photographs - my wife - my new cats: Jill & Niles Reyna Samms Family is what got me through. I am so blessed to have such a close relationship with them and being stuck inside for 6 months wasn’t all too bad.

Reema Sukumaran This pandemic allowed for new hobbies to develop such as baking, doing puzzles and a new fascination with TikTok!

Felix Gillett Anime.

Leila Victorin Creating art, Social Media, TV, and the fact that our dog has to be walked every day, because that’s the only way our family got consistent doses of fresh air and physical activity.

Katherine Figueroa I kept being positive and trusting that God would protect us.Also, being with my loved ones kept me be strong.

Photo © Rene Audain

Christina Rogers One thing that helped me make it through 2020 was taking care of my houseplants and garden and getting to watch them grow.

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Diane Myers Family, our pets, and fostering three kittens!

Laura Fierce Surviving this pandemic taught me to change my perspective in moments of boredom to inspire creativity. I was able to connect with myself and my passion.

Produced by the Department of Visual Art, Communication and Design at Andrews University COMMUNICATION EDITOR T. Lynn Caldwell WRITERS Mel Burdick Laura Fierce Anthony Isensee Sean Kelly Nehemiah Sitler

Rayno Victor Staying positive about quarantine and focusing on changing the things that I can control.

Kaity Cancel I got through Covid by baking...a lot.

Kari Friestad I got through 2020 by giving myself a really big project—I bought a house that I’m currently fixing up. This picture is of my dog Charlotte and I in the backyard after I got the keys.

Anthony Isensee Books, good food, longboarding, a best friend, a remote job, and way too much Netflix.

ISSUE 12, 2021

DESIGN EDITOR Diane Myers DESIGNERS Keith Bullard Stephany Figueroa Gillian Kuhn Heather L Macyauski Courtney Saunders Adwoa Tuffour PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Dave Sherwin PHOTOGRAPHERS Keith Bullard Kaity Cancel Nick Collard Felix Gillett Christina Rogers Reyna Samms Rayno Victor CONTRIBUTORS Sylvia Bacchiocchi Katherine Figueroa Angel Hou Rachel Keele Felecia Lee Edgar Luna Sandra Owusu-Antwi Reema Sukumaran Leila Victorin COPY EDITOR Kari Friestad

T. Lynn Caldwell The same thing that helped me survive 4th grade math as well as my graduate studies –RECESS!

Onslow Myers Treats, toys, and lots of walks.

MODELS Solana Campbell Itumeleng Gabasiane Michelle Greene Onslow Myers Courtney Saunders Adwoa Tuffour SPECIAL THANKS Jasmine Collard Nathan Collard Colton Hodges Stephen Lee Nick Miller Levi Woodard

THE VOICE THAT CALLS YOU

Crazy “I’m crazy,” my mind screamed as I tightened

STORY & PHOTO BY ANTHONY ISENSEE DESIGN BY STEPHANY FIGUEROA

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my grip on my steering wheel, my vehicle weaving down the unfamiliar gravel road. “I’m crazy,” I said out loud, as I made a right turn, leaving the woods and entering a gorgeous New Zealand valley with its rolling, green hills. “You’re crazy,” taunted the voice of caution, pounding its fists into the knot of anxiety in my stomach. “Turn back now,” it pleaded. “C’mon man, help me out and take yourself back to the land of the known.”

Despite the knot of anxiety in my stomach, I registered the irony in my inner turmoil. While I was pressing forward into something scary and new, behind me lay over 750 miles through Te Waipounamu, the more beautiful of New Zealand’s two main islands. Everything behind me was new, adventurous, crazy, and outside of normal. The mountains made me dizzy with their size and grandeur. It was the trip of a lifetime. I was throwing myself outside of the comfortable yet again.

I met Peter in an airport in Australia on the way to New Zealand.

“Greymouth,” I thought out loud, sitting in my campervan, planning the next day’s itinerary. “Isn’t that where Peter said he lived?” I’d met this friendly character a week before, and while he’d been talkative, he hadn’t exactly invited me to come visit him. But the hand extended in friendship in a crowded airport terminal was firm in ways surpassing mere grip strength. “Go visit him,” some deep inner voice seemed to be saying. “Now, or you’ll regret it.”

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I found myself turning to the internet to find out more about Peter’s community. “What was the name of the place that he said he lived?” I asked myself. “Holy Valley? Glory Valley?

Glory-something-or-other?” I set Google upon the problem, turning up thousands of results and one perfect match: Gloriavale, a community described as small, isolated, and very Christian, tucked between two mountains. With an address in hand, I set my GPS and started out.

“I’m crazy,” I said again, reading my GPS’s screen. “Peter’s not going to want me there. I barely met him, and here I’ll be, knocking on his door.” Trying to find some justification to turn around, my mind flashed back to our conversation in the terminal.

“Hello!” he said, gesturing to the instrument case beside me, the bane of any musician’s travels.

“Is that a violin that you’ve got there?”

“Yes, it is!” I said. “How’d you know?”

“A couple of my girls play the violin,” he explained. “And ho, you’re not from Australia!” he added, reading my accent. “Where are you from?”

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I explained that I was returning from a semester at a Bible College on Australia’s Eastern seaboard, and traveling to New Zealand for a holiday before returning home.

“Well, it’s a beautiful country! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

“How about you?” I asked, detecting a Kiwi lilt in his speech. “Where are you going?”

To my surprise, he tugged up his left pant leg, revealing a prosthetic. “Home” he said. “Farming accident. Just here for treatment that wasn’t available in New Zealand. The Lord blessed, and the community that I’m a part of was able to pay for me to come here.” His eyes began to tear up.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to have them pay for my treatment. If I’d been anywhere else, I don’t think I would’ve been able to afford it.”

“Really?” My interest piqued, I asked him to tell me more about his community before the plane boarded.

My vehicle lurched over another bump in the gravel road and I was jerked back to the present. While I’d learned a few details about

Peter, I didn’t think we’d quite been at the ‘I’d like to extend an invitation for you to come visit me in my semi-exclusive community’ level of our acquaintanceship. “Turn baaaaaack!” the voice of apprehension wailed. “You’re not wanted here! This is his home, not yours. You shouldn’t be invading like this!”

My doubts were momentarily forgotten as my vehicle crested a final hill, revealing white and grey buildings sprawled across the landscape. “You have arrived at your destination,” my GPS confirmed. Driving forward, I was greeted by three teenagers, all wearing the same dark blue outfit and herding sheep.

“Where’re you goin’?” drawled one of them, his New Zealand accent reminding me of an older English in Amish communities. “I…I’m here to visit Peter,” I nervously chirped. “I met him this last week, and… well, I think God wants me to come visit him.” I would have laughed if I hadn’t been so anxious. I was fresh out of a three-month God-infused Bible college, trying to listen to God, and the feeling I’d had was issuu.com/envisionmagazine

so strong. The three gestured me on, glancing back over their shoulders as I drove forward.

I arrived at the main building where Peter welcomed me enthusiastically into a large commons area. He listened, nodding, throwing interjections of ‘uh-huh’ and ‘ah’ into my story occasionally. “Well, I’m glad you’re here!” he remarked, smiling. “Let me show you around the place!”

We started in the school where happy children moved quietly from class to class. I heard the strings of violins ringing and learned their education was meant to praise God for the goodness and beauty that He’d placed in their world. English, chemistry, biology, and maths, they learned it all, he explained. Their children received a thorough and practical education from the smartest in their community, participating in labs where they were introduced to the working roles in the community. Eventually they were placed where they showed the most aptitude for, working to contribute to the collective good. issuu.com/envisionmagazine

We toured the industries next. Peter explained how hundreds of cows were milked each day and showed me their massive gardens. He gave me a tour of the community’s apiary, bees buzzing in the air and honey in 50-gallon drums. “We sell all our excess to those outside the community,” he explained.

“All the profits of our industries funnel into one bank account, and all expenses in the community are paid out of that same fund.”

As the morning wore on, Peter kindly invited me to eat with them. “It’s simple food” he told me, “we all eat at the same time, but you’re more than welcome to join us!” I was happy to accept his invitation and joined his family in the massive dining room, where I realized the size of the community. There were so many happy children, genuinely wanting to take care of their visitor. It had been a solid week since I’d had a home-cooked meal. Deliciously seasoned carrots boiled to perfection, creamy mashed potatoes with hints of their purple skin, and a generous serving of tender venison.

Peter then introduced me to several leaders of the community who came over to say hello. We talked for hours about Gloriavale’s beliefs and ideals. Some of them I agreed with (the chaos of the world, the need to serve and love others, the commitment to family and marriage), and others I couldn’t (a controlling patriarchy, arranged marriage, and a commitment to retreating completely from the ‘evil’ outside world). I didn’t critique or argue. They weren’t my beliefs and I didn’t feel the need to defend mine. I listened and learned about this unique peaceful New Zealand community, tucked away in a not-often visited corner of the country. You could see it in people’s interactions, feel it in the way that they treated a stranger, and hear it in the quiet, happy chatter all around. They no doubt had problems and difficulties, but for the most part, they struck me far more content than most. For that one day, I experienced their peace and contentment.

They tried to convince me to stay, believing God sent me there to join their community.

They invited me to stay for however long I wanted to, but I told them no. I had a flight to catch, a family looking forward to my return, and a life that I was happy and content in.

Leaving the community, I had a sense of peace, my eyes opened to the spectrum of the human experience. I embraced something that has since become the subtle theme of my life: pushing myself to find the unexpected place that magic can truly happen. If I’d listened to the voice insisting “You’re crazy,” I would never have experienced this beautiful life, nestled among the mountains. I would have never ventured out in the first place, admitting the lunacy of following an inner voice prompting adventure and growth.

Now when the voice that yells “You’re crazy,” when some internal prodding grinds its heel into the pit of my stomach, I ignore them. I know the cautionary promptings are looking out for me, with my safety in mind. But I’m the one in control here. “Will this help me grow?” I ask.

“Will pushing myself outside of this particular comfort zone teach me to see humanity and the world in a more beautiful way?” When I really listen for answers, the inner monologue quiets.

I’m challenging myself for positive change and that’s something the old voice can’t argue against.

“You’re crazy,” it continues to whisper.

“That’s okay,” I reply.

Anthony Isensee is an aspiring sophomore pursuing a degree in Computer Science, having temporarily placed his continued exploration of the planet on hold. He is passionate about photography (www.anthonyisensee.com/ newzealand for photos of his NZ adventures), prefers the quiet of nature, and finds life’s fulfillment in deeply connecting with and caring for others. Additionally, he would like to thank the wonderful Dr. Beverly Matiko for her kind encouragement and guidance in helping him find his voice in telling this particular story.

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I LEFT R ELIG NOT I O N FAITH STORY BY MEL BURDICK

PHOTO BY KEITH BULLARD

DESIGN BY STEPHANY FIGUEROA

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W

hen I was a child, Saturday was my favorite day of the week because I got to go someplace absolutely magical.

A place where I didn’t have to worry about homework or chores, a place where I could dress up in my best clothes, a place where I learned about my best friend in the whole wide world: I got to go to church.

To my young, impressionable mind, there was nothing more incredible than this crazy powerful Being in the sky who could split seas and raise the dead, who somehow cared about every individual human on earth. I came to love the all mighty Existence that created light with a mere word, and yet knew my name long before I was born. I would listen with avid fascination 2021 ISSUE 12 / ENVISION / 9

to the most amazing stories, belt out the wrong words to songs of praise because He knew what I meant even if no one else did, and then settle down to color and act out the stories I’d just learned with Bible figurines while the pastor spoke of things I had yet to understand in my innocence. Sometimes I would listen, counting how many times he said a certain word in hopes of snagging a coveted prize after the service, and other times, I would lay on the hard floor between pews and take a nap because what was the Sabbath but a day of rest?

Then I grew up. I was no longer allowed to play or draw during the sermon. I was warned to sit still and pay attention, forced to listen to lectures on morality and sin, on right and wrong, like the pastor had any right to tell me what’s wrong in the eyes of God. Church stopped being a place of wonder and became a prison of white and black, obedience and sin, life and death. A place where one man was lauded for knowing God’s Word better than anyone else, with no room for argument, correction, or even discussion.

I stopped looking forward to it. I stopped welcoming the Sabbath as a time of excitement and wonder because instead it filled me with dread, anxiety and irritation; church was no longer a place of awesome power and majesty, no longer a place to spend time with the One who knows me best. At some point I realized that the moment I stepped through the doors to take my place in the uniform pews facing a raised stage and a single pristine podium, I became nothing more than a voiceless, faceless doll. A tiny piece of a vast congregation.

We form these congregations, these gatherings of multitudes, searching for others like us. We build organizations to foster fellowship in faith, but in the process, we neglect the very thing for which we came together. We abandon faith and instead embrace religion, a construct that feigns spiritually while silently endorsing a form of slavery that we blatantly ignore even as we preach equality.

We tie ourselves to old rules and laws that no longer apply and pretend it makes up for turning a blind eye on the suffering minorities we claim to care for.

I don’t go to church anymore. Not because I stopped believing ― nothing could be further from the truth! ― but because my faith and my expression thereof were stifled by the very people who

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spoke of all-encompassing love and acceptance. My relationship with my best friend was strangled by the tenants of ‘religion,’ by man-made laws that claimed foundation in God’s Word yet catered to the whims of His people.

But I don’t need church to be faithful. And neither do you. God created the seventh day to be one of rest and holiness, to spend time with Him and recover from the stress of life, not to be a day of pomp and ceremony, of acts and masquerades.

God doesn’t want a puppet; He wants to be your friend. If you don’t want to go to church, if you don’t feel welcomed or blessed by your attendance, then don’t go. He won’t love you any less for being true to yourself.

Mel Burdick is a senior communication major at Andrews University with a passion for the written word. Their free time is spent watching movies and playing video games with their friends, reading as many books as they can get their hands on, and of course, writing about anything and everything that catches their interest. You can find them on Twitter @LKheios, on Discord as Loki’s Kheios#1938, or you can just email them at the_kheios_factor@yahoo.com. And if you ask, they’ll be more than happy to share their AO3, where they share most of their current works.

WE TIE OURSELVES TO OLD RULES AND LAWS... issuu.com/envisionmagazine

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RO OM FOR ALL STORY BY LAURA FIERCE

ILLUSTRATIONS BY GILLIAN KUHN

DESIGN BY GILLIAN KUHN

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“I

didn’t come out to them, they outed me and they did not support me.”

This is a common theme found among the life experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals growing up in Christian communities. Levi is one of those people.

Levi’s father is a pastor and this experience was a shameful and a degrading moment as his father outed him. (Outed: to be forced out of the “closet” on your sexual orientation without having the opportunity to tell others about it on your own terms/time). “I was in high school, my senior year, when my dad found out, he called all his siblings and told them all and talked about his disappointment in me. They then had a family meeting where they went around reading bible verses condemning homosexuality, Sodom and Gomorrah stuff. Afterwards, I was cut off from the outside world. They took my phone and technology and blocked everything on it, no calls, no messages, no social media, they threatened to call the police on the people I was talking to,” Levi said.

Levi felt trapped. There was already a shame surrounding him, imprisoned by his own family because of his orientation. As the son of a pastor, Levi grew up moving and changing schools frequently. Even when he was younger he knew his identity was something he would have to keep secret. “Before I was in boarding academy and I knew I had to bury that, there would be consequences if I was out. I didn’t want my identity to ruin my education. I still feel that way. If the church finds out I could be cut off and lose my subsidy [which I need] to go to school.”

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The church has a history of condemning homosexuality. Bible passages of Sodom and Gomorrah and Leviticus 18:22 are often used to enforce this. Over the past few years, this has changed. Many denominations and churches are accepting members of the LGBTQIA+ community into their congregations and leadership roles.

With this change in the Christian church’s acceptance and the combining of these two communities, this topic of debate is discussed in Christian literature including the following: Calling the Rainbow Nation Home; Justified Through Christ; The Bible, Christianity and homosexuality; A Letter to Louise. These books cover the definition of sin and question the meaning of salvation. From Calling the Rainbow Nation Home, author E. T. Sundby says, “It’s clear that no one particular group of people has ever been excluded from salvation. Nor is any sin so great that it cannot be cleansed by the power of the blood of Jesus. Salvation has nothing to do with one’s sexual orientation, and everything to do with our acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ” (Sundby). This new perspective gives the church the opportunity to grow and minister to more people like never before. Experiences like Levi’s is what Christianity is trying to prevent. In order to break the cycles of shame and condemnation, we need time, a safe space for tough conversations, and educational awareness.

Small conservative Christian colleges and universities find themselves taking on the task of educating their students regarding issues surrounding gender, sexual identity, and sexuality. Calvin College is considered a pioneer in the context of this type of support.

SAGA (Sex and Gender Awareness) is a peer education group started by alumni parents in 2014 to help educate and spread awareness for LGBTQ+ students and create community for all students. Kelsey Colburn, coordinator for the sexuality series, is the staff advisor of SAGA. Colburn says, “We think it’s important to educate our student body to be aware of how diverse and unique the body of Christ really is.”

As staff advisor, Colburn provides mentorship to students, acts as director of sexuality education which brings guest speakers to campus, and provides classroom training on sexual education and awareness. Within the context of sexual education and religion, she explains: “Sexuality can feel like a very messy and uncomfortable subject for a lot of people— people from all religious backgrounds feel

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uncomfortable about it. But making a safe space for those uncomfortable subjects and having those tough conversations is important.

It can be challenging at times to make sure that space is safe and that everyone feels heard, making everyone feel like they have a place at that table, too.”

For other universities and colleges who are looking to reach out to educate the student body Colburn offers encouragement. “First think about the work you’re doing. Prepare your students for the future relationships and conversations they are going to have.

Convincing people for God’s diverse kingdom and be exposed to different world views. Not changing minds, but preparing them for what’s out there. Be prepared to never change someone’s mind. For a lot of people what you talk about can be core values to someone, and you can’t make someone change those, just give them a different perspective,” said Colburn.

It’s important to keep a balanced perspective in trying to achieve a safe space to even have these conversations. Since most college campuses are the place where ideas for the future and future generations are beginning to take place it’s important to remember your affiliation with the church, but be realistic about your duty to the student body. Colburn knows it’s tough for Christian colleges and universities to lead out, but it would be far worse to not do so.

“Acknowledge that the church has their opinion, but we’re here to have a conversation with, and around Christ. If you keep Christ at the center and we are making the conversation between two people who are made in the image of God, it is easy to keep that conversation respectful and empathetic. Keep love at the center.” “When looking for speakers to educate the campus partners with campus ministry, try to keep an ear out in the community for authors, speakers on a wide variety of topics whether it be in married life, domestic abuse, spiritual abuse, healthy dating relationships, and gender studies. The goal is to prepare students for a successful life and career.”

We need pioneers in our church to progress the education and treatment of those who are different than us. We need to make a place for diversity at the table of God’s kingdom.

Laura Fierce is a senior communication major focusing in public relations. She enjoys writing human interest stories and spends her spare time hiking, swimming, and spending time with friends.

You can follow her latest adventures on Instagram at @Fierce_influence.

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The

Inattentive Disorder

W STORY BY SEAN KELLY

DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY HEATHER L. MACYAUSKI issuu.com/envisionmagazine

riting this article is one of the most difficult things I’ve done lately. Ironically, that problem is exactly what this article is about: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Unless you have ADHD, you may have some misconceptions about what this condition is; even those who have been diagnosed still learn new things all the time. After my recent diagnosis in 2019, I am learning a great deal of information on ADHD, and have found that everyone’s experiences are different. If you are a college student like me who also struggles with ADHD, you might learn something here, too.

Let’s identify what effect ADHD has on the brain. ADHD is a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is usually known as the chemical that causes pleasure, but in reality, 2021 ISSUE 12 / ENVISION / 15

it is more closely related to the brain’s reward-motivated behavior. Because the brain lacks the necessary dopamine needs, it searches wildly for sources to provide the chemical. Once the brain finds a source of dopamine—usually some fun activity or a similarly enjoyable thing—it tends to latch onto that source, resulting in a very intense focus that may lead to burnout, or cause the individual to ignore other needs in favor of the stimulating activity. For example, using food as a source of dopamine can lead to unhealthy eating habits.

I mentioned that writing this article was difficult for me, and this is the reason why. Writing is something I really enjoy, but it is a very low-stimulation activity. I find it harder to do low-stimulation activities like writing, which require the brain to work but give it little reward in return. It turns out that more people have this problem than I realized. The national resource center on ADHD, CHADD, in Lanham, Maryland, states, “Approximately 10 million adults have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).” This is a huge number, even though it only includes adults. “Symptoms continue into adulthood in more than three-quarters of cases,” states the CHADD website. ADHD is a condition that can affect people of all ages and origins, and it can continue past childhood, sometimes going undetected for entire lifetimes.

Popular media often portrays ADHD stories quite incorrectly. They show characters getting distracted by every little “shiny” thing, or never listening when others talk. These depictions may lead people to misconceive ADHD as something it’s not. While there may be some truth in these portrayals, half-truths can be just as harmful as untruths.

These depictions most commonly show the inattentive aspect of ADHD. Inattentiveness is more complex than hyperactivity. On the surface, inattentiveness may be identified by someone having trouble focusing on a task, being very talkative and jumping from topic to topic, or asking for repetition frequently. In reality, these issues run deeper. According to the Centers for Disease Control and

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Prevention (CDC), “research does not support the popularly held views that ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos.” ADDitude, a well-known and reputable online database and magazine for ADHD, says that the “inattentive” portion of ADHD has shifted to a broader concept: Executive Function Disorder, or EFD. Many people with ADHD experience EFD. Executive dysfunction is “a brain-based impairment that impacts a person’s ability to analyze, organize, decide, and execute things on time.

It causes assignments to be lost, deadlines to be missed, and projects to overwhelm.” It’s also described as “chronic difficulties in executing daily tasks.” Executive function can be loosely defined as the ability to self-regulate and get things done. As the name implies, executive dysfunction causes difficulty in managing executive functions.

In my personal experience, executive dysfunction works handin-hand with ADHD. I often find myself in a state of “attempting to work,” and feel that I have to focus on one project and can’t do anything else until that assignment is done. The problem is that I’m also unable to start on that assignment, and so I become “stuck” in this state of executive dysfunction, unable to do anything at all. “Russell Barkley, Ph.D., who has been at the forefront of exploring the relationship between ADHD and EFD, says, ‘It is not that the individual does not know what to do. It is that somehow it does not get done.’”

I had a short Q&A session with Sara Reynolds, a Junior student and Visual Arts major who also has ADHD. She provided some answers and advice that may be helpful to people with ADHD.

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How does executive dysfunction most commonly affect you in your daily life?

“My executive dysfunction can make it difficult to get things started, if I spend too much time doing something I enjoy, it’s harder to get to the things I don’t enjoy.”

Reader, it is important to remember that everyone’s experiences with these conditions are different, and everyone struggles in different ways. If the difficulties mentioned here don’t line up with your own, don’t worry. That doesn’t mean you don’t struggle in other areas.

Did you have any difficulties in getting your diagnosis? If so, what were they?

“I got lucky with my diagnosis. My mother taught children with ADHD when she was a teacher and the doctor that diagnosed me had a child with ADHD, so they were very familiar with it.”

In response to this, reader, if any of these issues sound familiar, consider pursuing a diagnosis. Sometimes, receiving a diagnosis can be hard. Women with ADHD are sometimes overlooked due to the gender stereotype of the “bubbly and airheaded girl.” It also may not be as easy to receive a diagnosis for adult ADHD, as adults show symptoms differently than children. But don’t be discouraged, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Getting an official diagnosis is a big step toward a better understanding of yourself. An official diagnosis can help put you on the right track to learning to function with ADHD and counter against executive

dysfunction. Sometimes, strategies may take a long time to figure out, and you may need to “trick your brain,” or do things a certain way to avoid situations where executive dysfunction may occur.

What strategies do you have to help manage your ADHD? Do you take medication, and if so, how does your medication interact with your strategies?

“My strategies for managing my ADHD are to write everything down and have a schedule, setting up tasks with times of the day. Occasionally I take medication to assist me with days where I have a lot to get done and this can help me get things done faster, sometimes completing tasks ahead of time until I eventually burn out at the end of the day.”

Here, Sara brings up an important point to remember. Medication is not a cureall, and it will not magically remove your condition. When a qualified physician prescribes medication, it is certainly a big help, but without proper strategies, it will not fix any problems. Some people are not helped by medication even if they take it.

Everyone is different, and medication should not be treated as a magic cure.

Living with ADHD does not have to limit you or keep you from reaching your full potential. With knowledge of how your brain works, combined with strategies to combat the condition, and sometimes with the proper medication prescribed by a psychiatrist, ADHD becomes something that is manageable and understandable. I once thought I had no abnormal conditions or disorders, but now I realize that having conditions or disorders such as ADHD is not abnormal at all. There are so many people who are like me, and I take great comfort in that knowledge. Discovering things about yourself is rewarding in many ways, and it can lead to a happier, healthier life. Even if college has been a surprisingly difficult experience, know that success is still within reach.

Sean Kelly is a Senior English student who enjoys both reading and writing, both for school and in spare time. He likes midwestern gothic, audio drama, and bookstores.

Resources If you struggle to keep focused on tasks, feel the need to stay on the move, or have super-human focus, you’re not alone!

In addition to offering some more helpful information on ADHD, the National Institute of Mental Health recommends seeking a professional evaluation that could help you find the best way to succeed with your situation.

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D L O T U O IN NEW H T I W THE

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s a pastor’s kid I hear and see the many different ways things “go down” in a church, ranging from the positive, joyous moments when people are happy, to the negative, sad moments when people treat others like trash. All these moments are present in my mind. Naturally I only want to think about those positive moments, when I and those around me were happy, but I cannot because I remember the moments when others were harmed and accountability was not honored, all in the name of divine action. These are the stories and events that drive me mad about the church.

Churches have become empty shells of progress only honoring a pastime of success. When churches are presented with opportunities and ideas for meaningful growth in the future, they are cynical and insist upon prioritizing the ideas of the past. These behaviors antagonize the very people the church needs in order to grow. While we preach the message of a God who spent three years on this earth changing practices and overturning the tables of expectation, many would rather live in tradition.

Young people are leaving the church at alarming rates and phrases like “I know this is selfish, but we cannot change” have become tokens of comfort in a church that claims they follow the most revolutionary being to live on earth.

The other behavior which frustrates me is our inability to hold others accountable for abusive behavior. I have heard too many stories of church members sexually abusing children or spouses. When their behavior is discovered and they are brought before the congregation for discipline, people are quick to make excuses and not hold them accountable for their behavior. Laws for accountability and demands

for justice are met with religiously veiled excuses: “But, doesn’t God offer second chances?” How is it that secular government and society ware more willing to punish and hold accountable a child molester than the church? Should there even be a discussion about the outcome?

These experiences have made me aware of an awful reality. The church is reluctant, and many times unable, to implement meaningful change.

It seems as though neglect and permissive behavior is allowed by a baptized culture of toxicity. Accountability and necessary change is viewed as secular and the behavior of self-interested people. The churches lack of desire to eliminate outdated practices so resources can be devoted to new practices is what Peter Drucker talks about in his book Management Challenges for the 21st Century.

Successful organizations need to eliminate old and inefficient practices so resources can be devoted to those which are meaningful and new. In the September–October 1992 issue of the Harvard Business Review, Drucker stated, “Organizations increasingly will have to plan abandonment rather than try to prolong the life of a successful product, policy, or practice.” This reluctance to change is what I believe has become the problem with many of our churches.

I believe God wants us to offer second chances and remember our past. However he was also the God who turned money tables over in the temple, wrote the sins of national leaders in the dust of the ground, and said, “whoever ensnares one of these little ones who trust me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the open sea!” (Mathew 18:6 CJB). God supports growth and eliminating outdated practices so new behaviors can flourish. I also believe he wants us to hold each other accountable when we fall short.

“HE WAS ALSO THE GOD WHO TURNED MONEY TABLES OVER IN THE TEMPLE...”

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Nehemiah Sitler is a junior communication major at Andrews University. During the summer he enjoys working at Timber Ridge Camp in Indiana.

When not in school he enjoys working on his many entrepreneurial hustles and helping his community.

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ARTIST LEILA VICTORIN AN SWERS STUDENTS' QUESTIONS ON ART & LIFE. STORY BY LEILA VICTORI PHOTOS BY ANGEL HOU

DESIGN BY COURTNEY

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SAUNDERS

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EILA VICTORIN, aka Leila A Creates, is a Haitian-American painter based in Southern

California. Leila graduated from Andrews University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Painting and a Bachelor of Arts in French Studies. In 2018, she graduated with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Over the years, Leila’s artistic style evolved as she defined her creative voice and how to highlight narratives of Black lives. While giving energy to her human subjects in her portraits, she also developed an affinity for inanimate objects, approaching them in an unconventional and alluring way.

Leila’s journey has not been easy; by working as a compassionate speech-language pathologist by day and a groundbreaking artist by night, Leila Creates Her World. She is eager to share what she has learned along the way. Following is an interesting conversation between aspiring student artists and the talented Leila Victorin.

When did you know you wanted to be a painter?

PHOTO © LEILA VICTORIN

What does your creative process look like?

PHOTO © LEILA VICTORIN

I knew I wanted to be an artist probably around 5, but I didn’t know I wanted to be a painter really until I started doing it consistently. I don’t even think I “knew” when I finished my BFA. It was probably within the last few years that I was more sure of it.

What advice would you give to current students?

It’s a bit messy and a little bit impulsive. I usually start with getting comfortable, playing a new episode of a terrible reality show, and then very loosely sketching out either a portrait or some idea that’s been bouncing around in my head for the last day or week.

All of that feels like the “inhale” part of creating and then putting the paint on the canvas is like the “exhale” where I typically use paint directly out of the tube with very little blending, and make bold marks and shapes. I try not to overthink it too much and I think that keeps that work fresher and more authentic to me.

TOP: DIRTY WATER V.4, 8” X 8”, 2020 BOTTOM: DIRTY WATER V.5, 8” X 8”, 2020

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Don’t be afraid to try different things and don’t get bogged down by trying to be the most original or the most profound. Everyone is inspired by something and sometimes you have to tap into what other people are doing to find out what connects with you.

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PHOTO © LEILA VICTORIN

JOHN LEWIS MEMORIAL MURAL PAINTED IN 2020 AT RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA

What advice would you give to your college senior self?

Make work you’re interested in! Not everything has to be conventionally profound for it to be legitimate. Also, take your time thinking about what you want. It’s not a race.

As an alum of Andrews University, did you feel prepared for the real world? If so, in what ways?

As far as the creative work and cranking out artwork, yes. Particularly working under Kari Friestad and Steve Hansen. As far as the business and networking part, that came quite a bit later.

AU will give you opportunities, but it’s really up to you to take advantage of all of them, be proactive in your own learning, and ASK questions and ASK for opportunities.

What didn’t you expect when entering the workforce after you finished college?

I didn’t expect that there would be so many ways to make money as an artist. issuu.com/envisionmagazine

How do you get inspiration?

I have to say from other artists a lot of times and then from my surroundings.

How much time does it take to finish painting a mural?

It depends on the size. I worked on one mural that took 3–4 days and another that took a few months.

What projects are you most proud of?

I’m very proud of my mural work in Riverside, that’s probably the largest project I’ve ever been a part of and I enjoyed working with other artists. I’m also proud of my Black History Creates challenge that I did in February. That really pulled me out of my own creative comfort zone and allowed me to explore new types of work. That actually is what propelled me into my most recent collection of still life pieces and another collection I’m working on to hopefully be released at the end of this year.

When receiving criticism from your clients about the work you are producing for them, how do you separate your personal feelings from that interaction? How do you use their criticism to fuel your determination to produce what they are looking for?

GREAT question. Please bear with my response, lol. So I think all of this depends on what kind of criticism we’re talking about. If it’s about style, the hope is that there were already creative boundaries set at the beginning of the project (what style you’re willing to work in, details on what they want, etc). Oftentimes it’s remembering that I want this person to be a consistent collector so I have to get it together for this interaction. I will say that with painting it may be different than with other creative fields but I really don’t take projects that are not already typical of the work I make. There are a few times that I have and those projects were emotional roller coasters. I stayed professional

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with the clients but I’ll be honest I’ve had meltdowns once the phone call was done and painted over pieces over and over again and then given up until a friend convinced me to just try it again. lol. I don’t know if the criticism fueled me or if it was my pride but I’m sure there was a combination of that and knowing that the work meant something to the commissioner so if nothing else…it was going to matter if I did it or not.

Nowadays, if I’m going to say yes to a project one of the first things I do is ask: does this person know what my work is about or do they just assume that I’m a painter so I will paint anything in any style. If it’s not typical of my work, (I’ll ask myself): do I genuinely want to invest in this project? If the answer is no, I recommend them to another artist who makes similar work to what they’re looking for. Once the person knows what I do and we’re clear, then I’m ready to address critiques that may just have to do with preference and those are changes that I allow within my commission process so there’s less of a personal feeling attached to that because we’re on the same page. I hope that answers the question.

What is a day in your life like?

I wake up ridiculously early and start my day working with kids as a speech pathologist. During my lunch break sometimes I’ll get on social media, ship any artwork as needed, update my website, etc.

Go back to work ’til 5. If I didn’t get to ship packages, I’ll do that then. Then I come home, walk the dog, hang out with my husband and/or work on paintings or respond to emails, send commission contracts, social media, etc.

Go to bed.

How do you create anyways?

So my negative feelings often come to me when I’m already a bit burnt out or I’ve been isolated from other creators for a while, and on those days/weeks, I often don’t create and I take my mind off whatever projects by doing other nonart related things guilt-free, just to give myself a break. What has helped me the most though is when I reach out to another creative friend and ask if they want to video chat while we work on our projects, especially when it comes to commissions I’m having a hard time with and my thoughts of ‘why would anyone pay for this?’ come through. Chatting with other people while I paint keeps my mind off the negative feelings and allows me to get work done without being too bogged down by my own self-doubt.

What was your biggest rejection with your art, and how did you learn from it?

Here’s the honest truth, I have not typically been in positions where I could get rejected in a catastrophic way. But I have submitted to a ton of open calls and mural projects but have gotten rejected or just silence. In some ways I regret not pushing further but I reaaaallly piled on the safety nets before starting my creative career

Do you struggle with the fear of failure and rejection?

YES.

Spending time with other artists and fleshing out my feelings with them, and once I realize we’re all pretty much in the same boat, I feel less alone and more empowered to keep pushing. I also watch/listen to “The Gap” by Ira Glass on a regular basis.

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PHOTO © LEILA VICTORIN

How do you combat it?

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and only really did projects that I was either running or that I was personally requested for so that people already knew what they were getting. That probably wasn’t the best way to learn but it’s what I did. I have had people not like my work before, but in that case I’ve found that for every work that someone doesn’t like, there seems to be someone else who does. In fact, sometimes there is work that I don’t even like, that connects with other people.

The fact that the feelings toward different (kinds of) work can be so fluid has taught me that at the end of the day I simply just have to own it. Not everyone will love it, but not everyone will hate it either. There Wtruly seems to be a niche for eeeeveryone in the creative world even if it takes a while to find it.

What does vulnerability look like for you with creating?

Letting people see my process. Sharing work that wasn’t thought out. Being honest about the fact that even though many days I think highly of my work, sometimes my work is trash and I wonder why anyone would pay for it, lol.

Your work transitions through different styles and techniques, do you have any advice on how to develop your personal style? Is this something you’ve found is forever evolving or is there an end goal?

PEACE OF MIND, 40” X 33” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, 2020

My feelings on this fluctuate. I think the only way to develop a style is just to start making a ton of work.

I don’t think I could’ve predicted that I’d be making the work that I’m making now without just making stuff. Even now, I have a style that I’m drawn to, but I still switch it up depending on the mood I’m in. I’ve attempted to reconcile the shifts by grouping my work into collections, so that in my head I can categorize them without judging myself for being too “all over the place”.

I think also, consuming a lot of work that you like from a variety of artists and seeing what you’re drawn to can really help in building your own style as well.

How do you as an artist balance your personal work with paid projects?

Do the lines often blur between the two?

Great question. It depends. Some months are VERY commission heavy and others allow for more personal projects. It used to be a constant struggle where I would sometimes resent paid projects because they prevented me from making my own work. To be honest that still happens if I’m not intentional. But what I’ve done is make my “personal projects” the majority of what I sell and attempted to provide some consistency there by having portrait drops every month and an email list, so I’m still making the portraits that I want, (along with whatever other work I want to make) but the consistency has allowed me to build an audience which in turn allows me to make money off of my “personal work”. And then with paid projects, I’ve done my best to limit what I say yes to so that I’m not overwhelmed by the less preferred work.

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Should artists work for exposure?

I say take it on a case by case basis and be strategic. I’ve worked on projects for free that I shouldn’t have, but I’ve also done projects for very little pay and built a rather large audience from it. Either way though, I think it’s important that whoever you’re doing the project for is aware that you are in fact, donating your time and how much time you will donate. Whether it’s sending an invoice with your prices crossed out or simply just stating how much time/resources you’re willing to donate. Not in an “in your face” kind of way, but in a, “I value the vision of this project so I’m willing to donate some time” (it also doesn’t hurt during tax season to have documentation of the value of your donated time/resources, etc). Just be clear ahead of time about what you are doing and why.

Do you have any advice on how to cultivate artistic vulnerability and introspection while needing to fit into an often heavily commercial and corporate world?

That’s something I’m still playing with myself. I’ve been able to recognize what people seem to want within my niche, so I for sure make that work because money is a great motivator. But I also try to create my own creative challenges or collaborate with other artists to bring myself to new places. I think there are ways to make both work, but I think sometimes it’s hard to cultivate artistic vulnerability and introspection when you’re trying to eat.

So what I’ve done is find ways to make work that is quick for consumption (smaller pieces) that people can count on. A lot of artists do this by making prints of their most popular work. And then that allows me the mental space to simply make work for the sake of it. I believe everyone has to gauge for themselves, but I know that once I begin to burn out, sometimes it’s time for me to take a break from creating for a bit (that’s when I think things like prints can be helpful) so my brain has time to generate new ideas.

Leila Victorin of leilaacreates.com is a Haitian-American, California-based, New England-raised painter whose work focuses primarily on Black themes using expressive brush strokes and color. When she's not painting she works as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and enjoys watching comedy and spending time with her husband and their fur babies. You can follow her creative exploration on Instagram @LeilaA.Creates.

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EMBODIED EVENING MIDI DRESS.

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CHANGE THE WORLD WITH

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F A S H I O N

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have been surrounded by beauty since the day I was born.

My childhood memories are filled with beautiful experiences, in beautiful surroundings, with beautiful souls. My dad, a pastor and the president of an Adventist university, and my mom, a professor of English literature, infused beauty into every aspect of our Seventh-day Adventist home, and I never once questioned that I was loved. Strong Adventist principles undergirded my belief system, and I enjoy continuing to incorporate them into my daily life.

At the same time, my desire to create beauty for others seemed to conflict with these principles. My Adventist community looked down upon creative pursuits and I wanted to change the world through fashion.

Self-expression, especially artistic expression, was seen as being rebellious. It was regarded as an outright rejection of the church, or as a symptom of lacking love for and devotion to God. I didn’t realize the impact that environment was having on me at the time, but it led to immense feelings of shame in my self-expression and by default, shame of myself. Perhaps the most serious impact of my shame was how easily I began to pass judgement on others who were also expressing themselves differently from what the Adventist community “approved.”

Fast-forward to starting my company in 2018. What began as a social impact project seamlessly merged with my passion for creative self-expression to create Mabel Brempong, a high-end fashion brand named for my parents, the people who first created beauty in my life. I had been so resistant to the idea of actually pursuing fashion full-time, especially as an avenue to make a missional impact.

However, after soliciting advice from trusted friends regarding a business they thought I could start, love, and grow for the rest of my life, fashion was the clear winner.

Growing up, I was conditioned to think that an industry like fashion was part of “the world”, and I as a Seventh-day Adventist was supposed to be set apart. I was meant to be in a field that was considered more wholesome, holistic, and serving. Although I had committed to pursuing this fashion brand, the internal conflict I had felt while growing up remained. This began my struggle with shame around my vocation.

I believed that modesty was essential in every aspect of our lives. Modesty in how we eat. Modesty in how we dress. Modesty in how we do everything, including how we spend. This was the central battle of my internal struggle. I felt supported by the “outside world” to the point that I secured sponsorship for Mabel Brempong’s fashion show, but what I was really battling with was feeling accepted by my nuclear community, my Adventist brothers and sisters. I desired to share my mission with them, yet I felt the need to hide my company from church members out of fear of what they might say or think.

My parents were leaders in the church, and as such, I didn’t want people using my decision to pursue fashion as a way to hurt them.

Mabel Brempong has been dedicated to my parents from the beginning

as a way of commemorating their contributions to the lives of people in need, and the last thing I wanted was for them to feel disrespected by it. In fact, I wanted my parents to believe in every thread of the fabric of the company and its foundation established in their honor.

The night after my first fashion show in South Korea, everything about my perspective changed. My parents had stayed up to watch the show online, and it was the first time they had actually seen the products. I didn’t have the confidence to show them throughout the design and production process out of fear that they would be disappointed in me. My parents called me immediately after the show and their reception could not have been any more supportive!

My mom told me that she was proud of me and this began my healing process. I remember hugging my business partner and crying ugly tears right after that call. The fear, limitations, and anxiety I had been carrying for almost two years had been lifted.

We go on mission trips. We improve living conditions and bring hope to others. Could fashion do that? My answer is an emphatic, “YES!” You are probably reading this wearing...something. That something was made by someone going through the same processes that I go through to bring our designs to life. So why feel fear, shame, and guilt for being a part of the process and not just being the consumer?

I believe that fashion—that anything in the creative and artistic industries, for that matter—can bring about positive and impactful change and hope to people around the world.

Mabel Brempong is doing that in several ways including: 1. Mabel and Brempong Owusu-Antwi Foundation: We use 10% of our profits to support a young person with an underprivileged background gain vocational skills and secure investments to build their own business so that they can have a sustainable life for themselves, their family, and their community. We finished our first project with a young family in Kumasi this February.

2. Sabbath: I have instated observance of the Sabbath into our company policy, ensuring that every worker, regardless of religious or denominational affiliation, experiences the blessings of the Sabbath every week.

As you are considering your vocation and discerning God’s call on your own life, I hope that my story can offer some guidance and encouragement. My experience has been that if it’s changing a life for the better (your life included) and bringing hope to others, then it is God’s work, and you are God’s vessel.

Sandra Owusu-Antwi is the Founder of Mabel Brempong, a high-end fashion brand. She graduated from Andrews University with a B.S. Psychology and B.A. Religion. She holds her Master’s in Business Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago. For the past 6 years she worked as an Administrative Supervisor and Lecturer at Yonsei University in South Korea while simultaneously building Mabel Brempong.

She is now back in the U.S. and hopes to continue making an impact in her field of work and through her fashion Brand.

STORY BY SANDRA OWUSU-ANTWI PHOTOS BY FELIX GILLETT, CHRISTINA ROGERS, NICK COLLARD DESIGN BY HEATHER L. MACYAUSKI

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HAND PLEATED VELVET HIGH WAISTED SKIRT, PEPLUM PUFF SLEEVE TOP.

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BALLOON SLEEVE FAUX FUR CROP COAT, FRINGED BAILIAN SILK MIDI SKIRT.

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CHAINETTE FRINGE JUMPSUIT.

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BAILIAN TIERED TWO-PIECE DRESS.

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Can’t Stop Love

© MIKE SEARS PHOTOGRAPHY

DESIGN BY ADWOA TUFFOUR

We might be in a PANDEMIC, but that doesn’t stop everything, especially LOVE. Three couples answer our QUESTIONS and share their experiences.

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Stephen & Felecia Lee When and where did you meet?

In December 2019, I prayed the boldest prayer in my life so far; Lord, my 30th birthday is coming up (January 4) and I’ll be working for you. I won’t be around family and friends to celebrate.

So, I would like to meet a young man at GYC (an annual conference for young Adventists).

I would love to spend my entire birthday with this person. He would spend the time asking me questions and getting to know me. He would help me break down my booth as well. If I meet such a guy, I know he would be a potential spouse.” Well, I wrote the prayer down in my

i prayer app but mmediately deleted it because I thought it was a silly, trivial idea. ‘Why would God go to that extent for me? Why would some random person spend my birthday with me?’

But then a thought followed, ‘Why wouldn’t God go to that extent? Trust Him.’ Well, I uploaded the prayer again and continued praying.

However, by the time GYC came, I forgot about the prayer. I met Stephen on the second day of GYC. On my birthday, he spent the entire day with me, asking me questions, getting to know, and even helped me break down my issuu.com/envisionmagazine

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

My favorite part of the wedding was our foot washing ceremony. We incorporated this into our wedding day as a sign of our life of service to each other.

How did you know your spouse was “the one”?

We both approached our relationship with the concept that we had a choice to make in regards to each other, rather than thinking he or she was “the one.” After learning more about each other, talking to our families and friends, and praying on the matter, we made a decision that this was a good choice to make.

The biggest question we had to answer was, “Will getting married allow God to fulfill His purpose through us or will it hinder us?”

As we saw that our lives, passions, work, and ministry lined up with each other, we knew that we would be a greater blessing to the world as a couple.We also had assurance about each other because we each fit what the other was looking for and more.

Stephen fit the qualities I was looking for in regards to spirituality, stewardship, and strengths. I fit what he was looking for in terms of the type of marriage he wanted to have and long term goals. Our feelings were growing, plans aligned, peace flooded us, and it was very clear (through an abundance of circumstances) that God was leading us to be together.

Anything else you’d like to include?

The biggest lesson we learned as a result of getting married during a pandemic is Christ “doeth all things well” (Mark 7:37). We His power and faithfulness at work in impossible circumstances. Life never goes according to what we plan.But if we remember that the Lord has the final say even when we plan (Proverbs 16:1), our hearts can be at peace, believing that everything will work together for good.

When did you realize they were “the one”?

For Stephen, he knew almost right away that he wanted to pursue a relationship with the aims of marriage. But before he expressed this to me, he prayed and talked with a few people who were close to him. He wanted to be careful but he also felt sure.

I was also hesitant, naturally. The timing of our relationship was very different from what I expected and even though God answered a prayer so clearly, I wanted to be sure that we were not being presumptuous. I did not tell Stephen right away about my prayer because I did not want to force the situation. However, it gradually became clear to me that I could fully trust and move forward into marriage with him.

When my family (especially father and brother) expressed that they had no reservation about him, that added to my certainty bucket. When his family welcomed me with open hearts and arms, I became more sure. As I prayed and saw if his life lined up with the purpose God was calling me to and as I experienced complete peace from God, my certainty bucket became full!

When and where did you get married?

We got married on October 4, exactly 10 months after we met!

The wedding was held at the compound of Tekoa Missions in Newport, New Hampshire. Since it was Fall and we had a mountain view, the glorious autumn colors served as a perfect backdrop for our day.

What was it like to get married during a pandemic?

The pandemic definitely changed our wedding plans. The biggest shock and change was that my immediate family was not able to attend because of travel restrictions in our home country.

I cried several times about this and we prayed that it would work out for them to attend. Although plans did not pan out as we hoped, we saw God put other people in place to support us in ways we never could have imagined.

The number of attendees was another adjustment. Under normal circumstances, we know our number would have exceeded 300.

However, we cut our list down to 50 guests. Zoom was definitely not something we would have consideredbut the platform allowed us to celebrate with almost 400 loved ones from around the world. issuu.com/envisionmagazine

© OLIVIA WOODARD & MARGAUX TAN

booth when the conference ended. When I got back to my room late that night, I remembered the “silly, trivial” prayer and realized God had answered. The rest is history!

Nicholas & Jasmine Collard When and where did you meet?

We met at Andrews Academy in 2017 How did you know your spouse was “the one”?

Neither of us remember. It just was.

When did you realize they were “the one”?

A couple weeks in.

When and where did you get married?

We were married August 14th of 2020 in front of Jasmine’s parents’ house.

What was it like to get married during a pandemic?

Venues were closed so we opted for our front yard which worked out really nice, thankfully! We originally had close to 200 people on our guest list, but had to cut that number down to just 50. We sent livestream invites to friends and family out of state and Jasmine’s kid cousins held the livestream camera.

We could only have our immediate family and wedding party stay afterwards for the reception and food, so the rest of the guests were given to-go boxes that were prepared and handed out. Jasmine’s father made wooden benches for the guests to view the ceremony from as well as a white backdrop.

We had two ceremonies, one traditional-ish Korean, one standard American. Nick circled the front yard carrying Jasmine piggyback, which is a Korean tradition.

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What was your favorite part of your wedding?

Nick’s: I was most touched by many a heartfelt speech given by friends and family. Also, the piggy-back ride.

Jasmine’s: Finally seeing Nick after not being able to all day, as well as my Daddy telling me that he is proud of me and loves me right before handing me off to Nick.

Any other tips?

Try not to micro-manage—the day will go smoothly, no problem. The wedding day itself goes by so fast, so just try to take it all in and remember it.

Edgar Luna & Katherine Figueora When and where did you meet?

Edgar: It was my first week at Andrews. I didn't speak English and I didn't know many people. Ricky, a childhood friend was also studying Andrews, asked me to help two of her friends by taking them to Mackinac City to pick up their car that had broken down a few weeks earlier.

I agreed without knowing that the trip would be 5 hours and that on the trip I would meet the one who would become my best friend and later my wife.

Katherine: We met at Andrews University in the back parking lot of HPAC on a Friday afternoon.

How did you know they were “the one”?

Edgar: In my mind, there is an ideal person for each of us. We each know what kind of qualities, mindsets, or affinities we are looking for in another person and when you find someone who meets those qualities, you know that they are the person with whom you would like to share your life.

In my case, Katy fulfilled the expectations that I had about my partner because she is a person who loves God above all things, is very friendly (which is difficult for me), supports me in my projects, and is willing to help people. I always dreamed of sharing my life with a person who had these qualities.

Katherine: He is someone I didn’t want to see my life without. He is someone that brings me closer to God and motivates me to get out of my comfort zone. He has the qualities that I lack and accepts me for me. He has been a friend to me ever since we met and still really is.

When did you decide to propose?

Edgar: Last year was very difficult for me because the pandemic affected my life and knocked down all my plans. I reached a point where I felt that I had nothing and that even though everything was confusing and difficult, the only thing that gave me life a purpose was my relationship with Katy.

So after 8 months of dating and much prayer, God placed in my heart the certainty that things would go well with her and that God was going to take care of the rest.

What was the proposal like for you?

Katherine: The proposal was everything I wanted, it was a moment I shared with the people I love so much. He went out of his comfort zone to make the moment so special.

© STEPHANY FIGUEROA

When and where will you get married?

There will be two weddings because we want to share this moment with all the people we love. We’re getting married on August 1st and 8th. The first wedding will be in my backyard.

We have some woods where the ceremony will be held and the reception in a clear, grassy area. The second wedding will be in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, MX. It will be held in an hacienda surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes.

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MUSCLE

MOTIVATION Building muscle has more benefits than you may realize!

STORY BY RACHEL KEELE PHOTO BY RAYNO VICTOR DESIGN BY KEITH BULLARD

A

s a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, nutrition coach and manager of the Andreasen Center for Wellness, a lot of people share their personal fitness goals with me. What do I hear more than anything else? People want to be stronger! Of course, people still want to “look good”, but gone are the days of focusing on weight loss or aesthetics alone.

Incorporating strength training into a workout routine has many benefits. While it can help create a toned or muscular physique by increasing muscle mass, it also helps manage overall weight, as muscle requires more energy to exist in your body than fat does. This means that the more muscle you have, the more calories you will use, even when not exercising. In addition, the body tends to take longer to recover from strength workouts than those workouts that are purely cardiovascular (such as jogging or cycling). This means that while you may burn more calories during a run compared to a lifting session, you will probably burn more calories in the hours, and in some cases days, following a challenging strength workout.

Perhaps most importantly, increasing strength inevitably increases ability. Whether it’s hitting a baseball further, managing a heavier pack on your next hiking trip, or carrying all your groceries into the house in one trip, building strength will improve your everyday life.

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Just like exercise in general, there is no “one size fits all” for strength training. Ultimately, strength is built through resistance. This can be achieved with a loaded barbell (via power lifting, Olympic lifting, cross training, etc.), free weights (such as kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, sandbags and all manner of weighted items), and even just the weight of our bodies. In a pinch, I’ve been known grab some books or the Costco-size bottle of laundry detergent to make a quick home workout tougher. Whatever you use, keep this goal in mind: you’re looking for muscle “failure”.

This means your last few reps should be very hard to impossible and you should feel sore later.

While there are likely millions of strength workouts available online, here’s one to try! You’ll need a set of dumbbells and about 20 minutes.

Perform three to five rounds of the following movements, 10-20 reps each. The number of rounds and reps you choose could be based on how heavy your weights are or how much time you have. Just remember that last round should be tough!

Rachel Keele is the Director for University Wellness and the Andreasen Center for Wellness. She received an MA in Educational Psychology from Andrews University and is a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach and group fitness instructor. Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband, Donnie Keele who serves as Dean of Men at AU, as well as their two dogs. She also loves cooking, eating and contemplating food.

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Don’t know where to start?

Here’s a quick workout to point you in the right direction.

Renegade Row: Start in a plank position with arms extended and hands gripping the dumbbells on the floor.

Make sure they’re lined up under the shoulders, you have a straight line from shoulders to heels, and you’re bracing the muscles through your core. Pick one hand up and pull the elbow straight back until the dumbbell is next to your rib cage, then return the dumbbell to the floor and do the same motion on the other arm. Do your best to keep your chest pointed down towards the mat throughout the movement.

Goblet Squat: Start standing tall with the feet under the shoulders and holding a dumbbell against your chest with elbows pulled in. Brace your core and begin the squat by pushing the hips backwards, like you’re sitting down on a stool. Then bend the knees and continue to lower the hips, keeping your chest up, weight in the heels and knees in line with the toes (not drifting in towards the middle). Reverse the movement to return to your starting position.

Reverse Suitcase Lunge: Start standing tall with dumbbells hanging by your sides (like you’re holding a suitcase in each hand). Draw the belly button into the spine and brace the core as you step back with one leg, dropping the knee down to the floor, keeping the chest up. At the bottom of the movement, the front knee should be over the ankle, and the back knee should be under the hip. Keep the weight in the front heel as you step back to the starting position. Repeat on the other side.

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Hammer Curl to Press: Start standing tall with feet under the hips and arms hanging to your sides, palms facing the thighs. Draw the belly button in towards your spine. Leave the upper arms in place as you bend the elbow and draw the dumbbells up to your shoulders to complete the curl. From there, extend the arms, driving the dumbbells straight up to the ceiling, finishing with the arms fully extended and in line with the ears.

Don’t arch your back!

Glute Bridge Floor Press: Lie on the floor with your elbow at your sides and dumbbells pointed up towards the ceiling. Bend the knees placing the heels on the floor under the knees. Press the shoulders into the floor as you push the hips up toward the ceiling, trying to create a straight line from shoulders to knees. Hold this position as you extend the arms, pressing the dumbbells up towards the ceiling. Lower the dumbbells and repeat the pressing motion keeping the hips up until the reps are complete.

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Tired of breakfast burritos? Looking for a late night study-sesh snack?

Here are 4 easy, healthy, and dorm-friendly recipes that won’t break the bank!

t ' s e ea l

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t! issuu.com/envisionmagazine

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA ROGERS

DESIGN BY GILLIAN KUHN

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TIP: cut down on sodium Make sure to drain and rinse your canned beans before use. Canned products often contain high amounts of sodium. Rinsing can cut sodium levels by more then 30%.

BLACK BEAN SALSA 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can of corn, drained and rinsed

1 bell pepper, diced

½ of a red onion, diced

½ cup of chopped cilantro

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1 fresh jalapeno, seeds removed and chopped Juice from 1 lime ½ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp salt Pinch of black pepper Tortilla chips to serve

Drain and rinse the cans of black beans and corn, place them into a large mixing bowl. Add in the diced bell pepper, red onion, cilantro and jalapeno, stir to combine.

Dress the salsa with the lime juice, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Serve with tortilla chips for a tasty snack!

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Cucumber Greek Salad

L O W - Fat F eta provides an excellent source of calcium and protein without containing a lot of calories or fats.

3 large tomatoes, chopped 2 large cucumbers, chopped 1 small red onion, chopped ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil Juice from ½ a lemon 1½ tsp dried oregano 1 cup low fat feta cheese Pinch of salt and pepper In a large bowl combine the chopped tomatoes, cucumber and red onion.

Add in the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, feta and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix together thoroughly and enjoy!

Cucumber contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, folic acid, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Who needs a multivitamin?

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p ea n u t b u t te r & h o n ey ½ cup rolled oats ½ cup soy milk

1 tbsp ground flaxseed 2 tbsp peanut butter 1 tbsp honey

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a jar or tupperware container and allow it to sit in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, top with banana slices, peanuts and honey, enjoy!

H o n ey contains antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

It has been shown to have immune-boosting powers so make sure to reach for it the next time you have the sniffles.

ras p b e r r y & c h o c o l ate

creamy overnight oats 44 / ENVISION / ISSUE 12 / 2021

½ cup rolled oats 1 cup soy milk 2 tbsp chia seeds 2 tbsp cocoa powder 1 tbsp mini dark chocolate chips ½ cup raspberries Combine all the ingredients in a jar or tupperware container and allow it to sit in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, top with additional raspberries, sliced almonds and dark chocolate chips, enjoy!

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spiced tropical smoothie turmeric contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, folic acid, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Who needs a multivitamin?

24-oz coconut water 2 cups spinach 1 cup frozen pineapple ½ cup frozen mango 2 tbsp chia seeds 2 tbsp ground flaxseed

2 tbsp honey ¼ tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp turmeric powder 3 scoops of vanilla protein powder of your choice

Place all of the ingredients inside a blender and blend until smooth, enjoy! This smoothie is especially great post-workout. It’s full of electrolytes, nutrients, and special properties to help your body recover.

T i p : S n ea k i n the greens adding leafy greens to smoothies is an easy and efficient way to get in more vitamins and nutrients and consume more vegetables!

chia seeds are a fantastic source of heart-healthy omega fats. They also contain large amounts of fiber and plenty of highquality protein, as well as essential minerals and antioxidants. issuu.com/envisionmagazine

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A SPACE TO DIG DEEPER INTO ISSUES OF FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY

A BLOG FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE SEVENTHDAY ADVENTIST CHURCH REAL LIFE FAITH ISSUES THROUGH THE LENS OF THE BIBLE

ASKING HARD QUESTIONS, FOSTERING HONEST CONVERSATIONS

ibelievebible.com

A true story of survival, hope, and healing.

STORY BY REEMA SUKUMARAN PHOTOS BY KAITY CANCEL DESIGN BY DIANE MYERS

M

Warning: the following story deals with abuse and may be disturbing to some readers.

y heart filled with so many nostalgic feelings as we turned off Old US31, greeted by the Andrews University globe statue. The Welcome Globe wasn’t there in the 80s when I was a student, yet it sat there like it has belonged for decades. My girlfriend and I were back at Andrews for her son’s graduation.

I was immediately taken back in time as we drove through those entrance gates, remembering the rush to

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make curfew, and hoping the security guard was someone we knew. Lamson Hall has not changed much! I remember the very first day I arrived as a student, driving up with my parents, feeling apprehensive but also excited about my new school. My home, up to this point, was living with an extremely physically abusive father and my mom was the textbook ‘battered woman’. My two younger brothers and I grew up never knowing exactly what would 2021 ISSUE 12 / ENVISION / 47

If you are sexually harassed, mistreated or

abused by anyone who is a church institution employee or volunteer (including elders,

deacons, or other church officers) within

the Lake Union, you can make a confidential report to a support counselor at

Project Safe Church, who can help you seek accountability.

www.projectsafechurch.org If you desire to speak to an Adventist

counselor or psychologist about a traumatic event, the Abide Counseling Network can provide one, either in-person or

on-line, depending on where you are. www.abidecounseling.us Andrews University

Counseling & Testing Center

provides in-person and virtual services, call for a CONFIDENTIAL appointment.

269-471-3470

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set my dad off, but the results were the same, him physically inflicting pain on us.

My heart broke as my family drove back home after dropping me off at school. I had to hold on to my faith that God would protect them. He had to be watching over us, or we would not have survived what we did. Like most, all I ever wanted was for my dad to love and care for me as fathers are supposed to. I wanted my mom to scream at my dad to leave us alone and not hurt us anymore! I wanted, no begged, my mom to take us away and just leave him behind. She was, after all, the sole provider for our family.

Yes, it would have been uncertain and scary to leave, but we would have been safe! She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. Sadly, she was trapped in a way that victims often are by their abusers.

When I came to Andrews, I was happy to leave my home town. We were misfits—it was a very cliquish community, where the norm was to be rich and educated—and we did not belong. When you add the anomaly that was my dad, our lives were filled with uncertainty and despair more often than not.

Coming to Andrews opened up a whole new world to me. There were students and teachers from all walks

of life and ethnicity and economic status did not seem to matter. My superpower in high school—had I been allowed one—would have been to be invisible. At Andrews I finally began to find myself, and I became visible. I had friends from all different ethnicities and walks of life. I wasn’t ‘different’ anymore, I was just another student on campus. I always looked forward to meeting up with my friends to eat together, sharing clothes in the dorm, and getting dressed up for events like Vespers, with the hopes of seeing my crush of the week.

My girlfriend and I continued our journey down memory lane as we walked around campus.

The Education building was where I had spent many of my days as a student. Becoming a teacher was exciting and I loved how I was able to utilize my creativity. I have always loved kids, which might be obvious as my husband and I are parents to 6 beautiful amazing humans! Life as a student was so full of possibilities! When it was time for me to do my student teaching, I decided to leave Michigan and go back home.

It was purely a financial and practical decision—no expenses living there! My youngest brother was still at home and in his last year of high school. We were very close and it just made perfect sense.

As we passed the campus bookstore, the memories of those months I was back home student teaching flooded over me. A single moment had changed my life forever. The chaplain of the school I worked at back home— someone that my brothers were close to and trusted—befriended me when I was back home. He was beloved and respected by the community. He was married. He was a father. He was a man of God. He was someone I looked up to and admired. His wife asked me to babysit a few times. He came home early one evening. He put his son in the bath as we chatted.

The next thing I knew I was being violently raped by him. issuu.com/envisionmagazine

I had to deal with the realization that I needed help.

Campus was quiet since it was a Friday. My girlfriend and I climbed on the structure in front of the science building. I found myself struggling emotionally. It had been 25 years since the rape, yet the memory was very present, and had changed my life forever.

My girlfriend asked how I was doing. This was a weekend for me to simply exhale and do what girlfriends do—like talk nonstop—but she knew I had broken down. I was unsure how to clearly explain the nightmare my family lived through. It was as if my body shut down and was rebelling. It was finally time for me to take care of myself. I am a caretaker, I take care of everyone. I am the person that listens to others. I am the one that always smiles. I have a loving husband, 6 adoring boys, and am ‘living the dream’. All of this is true, yet my body protested and reacted.

Inside, there was a nightmare in me that never went away. I was afraid of my own shadow.

My dad passed away two years ago, and I thought I would finally be able to find some

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peace. Instead, his death triggered severe panic attacks. I found myself unable to be alone, and unable to be the wife and mother I once was. I needed help. As we lounged on that piece of concrete in front of the Science building I cried my heart out. I shared how the pains of my past were still very present— showing its ugly head—and how scared I was.

It has been four years since I walked on the campus that carries a special place in my heart. I had to deal with the realization that I needed help. I had survived significant trauma, and I was suffering from anxiety and depression.

Mental illness runs in my family. Had my dad sought help, how different could my life have been? I had to accept the fact that medication needed to be part of my daily life for me to function as I wanted. I had to seek help from a therapist

who continues to work with me. The work is hard but with God, all things really are possible. He wants me to be my best self.

The rape changed my world. Times have also changed. The #metoo movement has shown me that I am not alone. We are all broken in some way. It takes a lot of strength and courage to accept one’s brokenness and seek help. I wish I had not waited 25 years to seek help for mine, but I am so glad that it’s never too late.

God promises us that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds.” Psalms 147:3 Reema Sukumaran graduated from Andrews University with a B.S. in Education. Together with her husband, Sanj, who graduated from Andrews with a BA in Communicative Disorders, they are raising their six sons in Ontario, Canada. Reema has recently published her memoir, Beautifully Broken. You can learn more about her at www.reematalks.com

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Overtures of Grace STORY BY SILVIA BACCHIOCCHI PHOTO BY KAITY CANCEL DESIGN BY ADWOA TUFFOUR

O

vercast skies are often an overture of grace. This may seem paradoxical, but as we conclude our first (and hopefully last!) covid winter, the warming rays of the sun piercing through the once-gray Midwestern sky elicit an indescribable joy.

And the good news is that God is constantly working to brighten our darkest days! He is the Sun of Righteousness who rises with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2). The darker the day the brighter the smallest speck of light.

One of my favorite ways to brighten a dark day is found in 1st Thessalonians 5:16–18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

On dark days, I know I need to spend more time in my journal, enumerating the blessings in my life and listing my prayer concerns. Not only does this lighten my burdens, but when I revisit my journal and see God’s countless answers to prayer, my faith is strengthened.

A second way to increase joy is through service, for “those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).

We can water others by offering a listening ear, a word of encouragement, or sincere praise.

So if clouds are overshadowing your joy, try thanksgiving and service, and get out your shades—it’s going to be a sunny day!

Silvia Bacchiocchi has an M.A. in literature from New York University and an M.A. in religion from Andrews University. Her favorite pastime is spending time with her husband Gianluca, a New York lawyer, and their three adolescent kids—Isabella, Gianna, and Enzo. Silvia is working on her Ph.D. in systematic theology at Andrews.

This photo was taken at dawn on the last day of a five day canoe trip through the backwoods of Round Pound, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Maine.

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A DV EN T I S T L E A R NING COMMUNI T Y

DISCOVER A NICE JOURNEY

Adventist Learning Community SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING PASTORS, TEACHERS, MEMBERS, AND SEEKERS WITH FREE COURSES AND RESOURCES. www.adventistlearningcommunity.com

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