FORGED BY FIRE
“I love that the kingdom is so diverse!”
After enduring many trials that put his life on the line, few can understand suffering for the gospel quite like Paul. However, to say Elikia has had her fair share would be an understatement. It is inspiring to hear her testimony, and what she had to overcome in order to get here. God is just getting started with her, and he will continue to do incredible things.
Ricky Jean~ Chief Editor
Ricky: Tell me a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, stage in life, working, going to school, are you from DFW originally?
Elikia: I was raised in Africa after I was adopted by my parents, when I was a young baby. I lived all over Africa and I’ve been to a lot of countries. Like Traveling. I moved to the US in 2010, and then I moved to Texas in January of 2018, to go to UTA. 
I currently own a home, and a small dog boarding and grooming business in Benbrook. Which is located kind of like West Fort Worth. I am not in school currently, but I might look into going back to school.
Ricky: What are some of your favorite hobbies, and something you would consider unique about yourself?
Elikia: I love to draw and paint. I love to ride my motorcycle, and I speak multiple languages? I guess that would be unique about myself.
Ricky: Tell me how you were met/invited to Church?
Elikia: In my neighborhood we have this app called Next Door, to keep in touch with your neighbors, and Taylor (Mogollon) posted about a bible study. Actually– I think it was bible talk? But I didn’t want to download zoom (she laughs), because I had so many apps on my phone already, but I finally gave in, and invited them to my house and we did a bible study together. 
We met in person for like the first time. First bible study and all that. And then I finally gave in and downloaded zoom, and started doing the bible study series. For baptism.
Ricky: Describe your relationship with God prior to studying The Bible, and how it has changed?
Elikia: My relationship with God? I was raised by Christians, and I kind of just called myself a Christian, and would go to church or youth group now and then. I would always go to youth group actually. But I wouldn’t really go to church after I turned like twelve.
I stopped going to church, and that was primarily because I was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. I was living with a chronic disorder in a third world country, and church would be like five hours long.
So my parents thought it would be best for me to like, stay home, instead of going into the middle of like, the village. In case something would like happen, and also because I had to take insulin; and that needed to be refrigerated. So…anyways, so I would just call myself a Christian, and then I would go to youth group, and go to camp, and you know– whatever was being offered.
But every now and then I would get like, a small like– burst of like– excitement, and you know, really wanna learn the word and follow God. But it would last like a day, or a couple days, then it would go away, and I would go back to being busy with life. And so, now my life is different, but it can still improve my relationship with God.
I’m just glad that I have a better relationship with God, and that I can recognize where I currently need to improve my relationship with God.
Ricky: What are some of your favorite scriptures and why?
Elikia: I like Luke 11:35. It says, “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.” I actually have it tattooed on me. And I– I like this scripture, because I like it even more now, then I did a couple years ago, when I got it tattooed. But I like it more because after really starting to study the bible, before getting baptized, I really realized the importance of this verse, and what a simple word like darkness actually means in the bible.
Because it means a lot, a lot, of things. You know? Like, it means like, just to make sure that you’re not constantly checking off stuff, on like the sin list. Like, being like conceited, or boastful, or rash, or anything like that; or lying or stealing. And that you’re living kind of more, you know, living in the light. Because that’s what God calls us to do.
So I really like that verse, a lot, and it’s a very important verse to me. I– I think about it weekly actually. So that would be my number one.
Ricky: What advice would you give someone who has started studying the Bible, or is considering it?
Elikia: Honestly, just like persevering, having determination, and motivation, and reaching out to people when you need help. Because people can’t automatically assume what’s going on in your mind, and that you’re struggling.
Like– they may be able to see sometimes when you’re struggling, but if you’re really struggling– you need to reach out to them, and having confidence to do that. So that you can have someone, like, come and grab your hand, and you know, guide you or just simply be there for you, because it’s worth it.
Ricky: What do you love about the Kingdom?
Elikia: I love that honestly, I love that the kingdom is so diverse! I love that you have people from all ages, and races, and ethnicities, and walks of life entering the kingdom, you know. And that, and that, you can just see a family, and that is a beautiful thing.
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