"You're Worth It" with Rosie Haro

In this podcast episode, I sit down with my guest Rosie Haro as she shares her story.
Rosie grew up in a abusive home with a lot of fear and feelings of unworthiness. Over time she developed a distorted view of love from her childhood and found herself in the same abusive cycle she saw at home with her own relationships. 
Rosie went through a major health scare in which she witnessed the love of God that changed her life. Rosie and her husband own several businesses in the heart of La Villita. Helping this community and low income families is the heart behind their mission. Rosie is also a part of a women's empowerment group and assists her close friend in her ministry for women. She is also in the process of writing her book.

I pray you will be encouraged and inspired by Rosie's story as I was.

Blessings

Transcript

Ann: 0:11

Hey there, friends. My name is Anne Calvio. And welcome to her Scars. Tell a Story, podcast, a safe space for women from all different walks of life and different backgrounds coming together to share their stories of God's redeeming love. So grab your cup of coffee and journey with us now. Hey there friends. Welcome to her Scars. Tell a Story podcast. I'm your host, Anne Calvio, and today I'm with a wonderful guest. Her name is

Rosie: 0:52

Rosie. Hi Rosie. Hi Anne. Thank you for having me. Hi. Thank you

Ann: 0:56

for being here. Uh, so Rosie and I had met a few years back, right? Rosie was, prob not a few, more than a few, few more, more than a few. It's been a while. But it just so happens that we stay connected through Facebook. it, we actually met through our daughters, being in a pageant called Quinceanera. Right? Yeah. Many, many years ago we stayed connected through Facebook. Um, and it turned out that, you know, I didn't know Rosie was also is also a believer. And I got to see, through her Facebook, her share some videos and just share her faith so this was really nice to know and, and to see. Divine connections is how I have to put that. Because now I see, the things that you're doing for the community, Rosie, and I'm like, man, that could only be God. That could only be God. So before we get into the present, please share with us, a little bit about yourself and your story.

Rosie: 1:57

So a little bit about myself. Um, first of all, Public speaking is not my thing, but, but this is for the Lord, so, yes. He's brought me to this. Um, so I grew up in a broken home, where I experienced a lot of trauma and it made me, this is the, where the public speaking comes in. Yeah. Um, I grew up with a lot of fear, a lot of fear. Um, you know, my parents were in a domestic violence relationship and. Since I was little, I, I saw that. So I always thought that love hurt. Mm-hmm. I always thought like I couldn't speak up for myself or something bad would happen to me. Mm-hmm. Um, so I think, you know, when you're little, you, you're like a sponge and you grasp all of that and you start. Developing this in your life. So I was always afraid. The fear just got bigger and bigger as I started growing. Growing up in school I wanted to be invisible. It was like I wouldn't wanna raise my hand. I was like really shy. Um, and then I think it even started. As I developed more, it became a big part of my relationships where I think that we learn from our parents. Yeah. And seeing this like, you know, abuse going on at home, the fear that if I would, try to defend myself, I was gonna get hit, you know, or something would happen to me. So I think that I held onto that, and even in my relationships as I started growing up. I started going through that. Mm. So, you know, they say like you, it's a cycle. Yeah. It's a cycle. Yeah. And, so most of my relationships were pretty bad. Mm. But I always, um, held on, I, I think that, I was afraid to be alone. I was afraid to let go of that, those relationships. Yeah. And, and I grew up thinking that's how love was supposed to be. Mm-hmm. Um, then, you know, my parents got divorced, my father left, and I lacked that love from my father. Mm-hmm. So it was always, and it, when I look back, I'm like, I was dating men that were like my father. Mm. I, I looked for these men that had similar. Characteristics, right? You know, how you say in Spanish, like the machista, womanizer. I was in like for four years I was in a really bad domestic violence relationship. And, there's also shame that comes with that. I didn't want anybody to know. So you kind of stay in those relationships because you're ashamed, but you're also afraid. The domestic vi violence relationship I had, got really bad to when I just, I couldn't take it anymore and I ended up going to the police. I had to leave the state. So I even had to leave Illinois because this person was looking for me. And um, so when I left, I ended up in Texas. Yeah. And, you know, I thought I was gonna change, but I hadn't healed. Mm-hmm. Um, I was still kind of going. Through that same cycle again. I ended up in another bad relationship and I always thought, because I was going through every type of abuse you could think of, you know, and it's like, The mental, physical, emotional, sexual, I mean every abuse. Sometimes even the emotional and mental was worse than the physical. Yeah. Because you're crushed. You're torn. You feel worthless. Yeah. And that's engraved in you, so you believe that. Yeah. I always thought like, God, where are you? Like I always. Believed, I thought I believed in God, right? Mm-hmm. But I kind of doubted mm-hmm. Because I was going through so many bad experiences. Yeah. Where I was lost. Right. I was broken, I was lost. I was drinking, trying to like numb, you know? Mm-hmm. Because you wanna escape that reality of what you're going through. Yeah. But it was like, once you're sober, It's back. Yeah. You know, and sometimes even worse. Yes. And, um, I just couldn't fill that void. I couldn't feel that, lack of love I would blame my father and be like, this is all happening because of you, I just felt I needed that, so that's why I would stay. Mm-hmm. These relationships and, um, so finally, I hit rock bottom. Yeah. I was just like, I was in Texas. No family. I was in this other relationship now and, so I ended up having my daughter in Texas, which was one of the biggest, best blessings in my life. Yeah. I was always told I couldn't have kids. So that was, part of the problem in my domestic violence relationship. Okay. Because I couldn't, but I was blessed, my life changed during that time because now I had someone to live for. Yeah. So now I was like, she can't go through what I'm going through. Mm. Um, but. I also didn't want to leave this relationship. Mm-hmm. Because then I was like, she's gonna grow up without a dad like me. Yeah. And so I stuck around, but actually, it's been like 10 years ago almost to this date, I ended up getting a M R s a staph infection in Texas. So I guess because I was. Holding on to all of this. Pain, hurt, shame. My immune system was really low, so when I got this infection, I didn't even know. Yeah. I just ended up with fever. Went to the hospital and they told me like, You have to call a relative because you're septic. They're like, your Oh, the infection was so bad that, um, I had to call my mom to go overnight Yeah. To Texas. And, um, they're like, her organs are gonna start shutting down. Oh my goodness. Yeah. So it was horrible. At that point. There was no one else to go to, but to God. Yeah. Before I ended up with the M S A I, it was a couple weeks. Mm-hmm. I was already like, like, help me God. Like why do I keep going through all of this? Mm-hmm. Well, I didn't have a church, so I remember I walked into the first church I saw, it was actually a Baptist church in Texas, Uhhuh. And, um, I walked into the church and I was just like, I didn't even know what to do. I just I grew up in a Catholic home, so I was used to the Catholic church. This was like completely different. Oh yeah. But I walked in and I just sat down and the music just like did something. Cuz it's completely different from what I was used to. I remember I was crying and there was two little old ladies next to me and as I'm crying, she's just like, he hears you. I was just like he hears me if she's telling me. And, um that day I went by myself. Then couple weeks later is when I ended up with the infection. Well, I had gotten a number from one of the ladies at the, at the church and I had messaged them. Yeah. So they actually, while I was in the hospital, they sent the pastor from the church Oh my goodness. To go pray for me Uhhuh. And I had never, experienced something like that because I was always, in a Catholic church, you know you go to church but you don't have like that personal relationship. With like a pastor or, yeah, like I didn't know about groups in church so I just had messaged to lady like, Hey, I'm at the hospital. He shows up, my mom's there cuz she had came from Chicago and, he prayed over me it was the first time, sorry, um, that I experienced that. Mm. And it just like changed everything. Changed everything. And I was like, God, if you, if you let me go through this, like if you take this away or just let me live for my daughter, I was like, I'll talk about you or I'll spread the word about you or just show people that. You are real. Mm-hmm. Since that day, actually, I started getting the, the memories on my Facebook. So I was like, I have to tell Anna about it. Yeah. Um, since, since that day, and it was June 18th, 2013. Every day I have posted like something about God. Yeah. On my, on my Facebook. As I started doing this, It wasn't about me anymore. People would reach out to me or like message me like, I needed to hear this today, or you changed my morning, I've been doing that for the past 10 years now, every day. So fast forward, I ended up getting better, but I left that relationship. Um, I came back to Chicago and, I just started growing my journey with God and my relationship with him. Yeah. I actually met a lady from New Life and I joined her group. It was like a woman's Bible study. I was never in a group like that. Oh my goodness. It was just, it was beautiful. Beautiful. It started growing my faith. I started learning more. From there I ended up in a women's group. Mm-hmm. Um, that I was mentioning to you earlier. I don't know how I got in that group, to be honest, and everybody asks me, or we'll talk about it with the ladies in the group, Uhhuh. I'm just like, honestly, I don't know how I got in that group, but the first day I was in there, I was scrolling through there and I'm, I'm still, you know, I was still in my journey like, I need Jesus, you know? Yeah. I need, I need God. And I saw, um, she's a pastor and she was announcing for some Bible studies and yeah, I jumped into the, into the Bible studies group and I mean, I've been in there since. But it's awesome. It's been a journey. Yeah.

Ann: 12:10

Yeah. Oh, that's amazing. So I'm listening to you, Rosie, and I mean, I want you to take me back, and I know you talk about like the, the violence that you went through, right? And growing up in a home where there was violence, now you find yourself repeating a lot of the cycle. Right. What you went through, what you saw happening at home, now you're personally living through it, and you said there's, there was shame attached to that, right? There was shame of what will people think and what will people say. And then you finally bring yourself to a place like God, where are you? Mm-hmm. God, where are you? Yeah. Right. And, and like you said, you always knew. There was a God you always knew, okay, I believe there's a God. But you didn't have that relationship. No. Like

Rosie: 13:06

you do now. I, I actually even went to a Catholic grammar school and so we prayed, we knew prayers, we did our sacraments, but it was just something repetitive that we were taught, like I. Didn't talk to God. Like the way I talk to him now, it's like Yeah. Every day. Like I have to Yeah. You know, like I have my conversations with him. it is so different. During that time I was more, I could say like, kind of mad at him. Mm-hmm. Or kind of like, why, if, if there is a God, if God is here, why? Is all this bad stuff happening to me? Mm-hmm. And this is just a little piece of my story, you know? Yeah. Like, there's just so much. I was living on my own since I was 17. Mm-hmm. So I went through a lot of obstacles and Yeah. I was always like, where are you? Mm. Like if, if you love me, if you're here, why is this happening to me? But now mm-hmm. Having this relationship with him. Yeah. And actually like, Seeing the signs and, and looking back, I'm like, he was there all along. Yeah. Because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have made it out of these situations. Mm-hmm. Um, so when I do look back into my past, I'm like, man, he was there. Yes. Because only God could have gotten me through that situation. Yeah. Now I see the signs and I know that it's him. Mm.

Ann: 14:34

That it's him. Yeah. Speaking. And so you're now in this relationship with the Lord. How did he begin to heal you from that past hurt that you had?

Rosie: 14:46

I started, well, I, I didn't love myself. When I had my first daughter, I started seeing this different love, right? Where all my love back in the past was like her toxic. Yeah. But this was like a pure love. Mm. And as I started growing my relationship with God, I started seeing that. So is his love. He loved me that much. That's why I was here. I didn't know that in the past. I had, um, talked to you about where. In the past, I, um, and this is like crazy, right? I was at a party, it was a tattoo party, so this isn't right. Dark stages, right? Uhhuh, Uhhuh and my brother. And before Christ. Yeah, before Christ. My brother had this tattoo party and I was like, okay, I'll go, you know you're young and Yeah. Tattoo tattoos, right? And I was like, I don't know. I don't know what I'm gonna get. And I was like, pick one for me, right? Mm-hmm This is my mentality. Back then I was like 18 and so my brother picked this a tattoo Uhhuh and I got it Uhhuh and it, it was worth it. In a heart. But at that time, I didn't feel I was worth it. I didn't, you know, and now I'm just like, oh my goodness. Like, yeah, everything goes back. Like everything I went through Yeah. Was worth it. Mm. You know? And that is good. Yeah. And it's just like, and I was worth it. Yes. And um, yeah. So I had even wrote that down in my little. My little notes, but yeah, it's just so many things go back to that now and I'm just like, you know, I wanted to get it removed and, you know, trying to figure out ways, but I'm like, you know what, maybe this was meant to be there It's a daily reminder now that I am worth it because for so many years it took me, Most of my life to, to learn that I was worth it. You know, I was always like doubting myself or, I believed what others said about me and it's just the enemy doesn't want you to love yourself. He doesn't want you to be confident or, um, he wants to keep you there. Yeah. He wants to keep you hindered and in bondage and. Not allow you to see your worth. Yeah. And yeah. And you know, we are all worth it. Yeah. If, if you're here, you're breathing your life, you're worth it and you're, you're here for a reason. So, yeah. So that's, that's my, that's my scar, you know, that's my daily reminder. I am worth it. My life was worth it.

Ann: 17:25

I feel as if you've made it your life calling. To let people know they're worth it. Mm-hmm. I feel like as you were sharing your story with me, you and your husband now, and, and that's a whole nother story in itself, but it's like a mission that you guys are on. Yeah. To say, you know what? These people are worth it. These people that you know, they may not know us. But they're worth it. Mm-hmm. They have a purpose, right? Yeah. So tell us a little bit about that. I know you've been through all these, abusive relationships this cycle. What did it look like to finally meet someone that you knew in your heart saw your worth? Oh.

Rosie: 18:11

It was completely different in the beginning. Mm-hmm. I, I was afraid. I was like, what is this? Like, yeah. It was something I wasn't used to at all, so I, I fought it. I yeah, questioned it. I fought it. I was just like, I thought it was too good to be true, to be honest. Like, I, I was just like, this, this isn't for me. Like Yeah. I. This is not the relationships I'm normally in. No. So for a while, yeah, we, we dated, but I was kind of like, I had this block, I had my guard up, right? Mm-hmm. I was just like, no, this, there's something, there's, there has to be something wrong with this guy. Like, guy, when is the real, you gonna show up? Right? When is that other side? He's gonna change or something's gonna happen. Yeah. I was just waiting for that. But, it was so different from other relationships where we actually put God as our F foundation. We started to go to church together and worship. I never had that. Wow. So this was just like, wow. Like, God, you know, this is God. Yeah. And um, I re even remember one time where, um, we're, we're in worship and um, we're in service and. I was like, you know, crying cuz you're feeling the music. And I was just like, God, if this man is for me, just give me a sign. We were already dating for a little bit he wanted to be like our relationship to the next level. I was just like, God, give me a sign if this man is for me, because if he's not, then. I need to let this go. I can't go through the same thing again. Mm-hmm. And I remember like, we're there the Ocean song was on so I turned around and like, he grabbed my hand at that moment and I see like tears. So I was like, oh. I was like, okay, that's it. That's it. He answered my prayers. Aw from there, he proposed to me, we got engaged. I had my dream wedding. We had a destination wedding. It was beautiful. It was just something I wasn't used to, but he showed me and he saw everything in me that, that I didn't even see in myself. Mm. So like, I always doubt myself. Yeah. But he brings out like the best in me. And, um, even, even till this day, like he, he sees all that I am. Yeah. Where I never did, I never, so I know that God sent him my way to like, yeah. Push it out of me. And now, we do things together and I think we have the same. Mission, you could say, or Yeah. Or purpose, to help other people. And he sees like when I do my post or my little videos, like my motivational uhhuh, videos, he sees that and he's just like, I've seen this on along. Like, you didn't see it. So now even with the school, I help. With all of that, like to help our students and with social services and supportive services.

Ann: 21:15

That's incredible. I just, I'm amazed at that because here you are struggling to see your worth and God's sense, this man to compliment you to draw that out of you, to remind you, yeah. You are worth it, right? Yeah. And that you are worth loving, right? You are worth, um, just being prized, being loved, being cared for. Any sons, your husband. Yes.

Rosie: 21:53

That's precious. And that, and that love is not painful. Love doesn't hurt. Love is beautiful. Yeah. I think that, I was living in my way. I wanted to hold onto things because I felt I needed it. Yeah. But I wasn't allowing God to open those doors or bless me with his blessings because I was so stuck. You know? I was so stubborn, like, I can't live without this man. Or I can live by myself because what are people gonna say? Or, yeah, you know, what about my daughter? But then looking back, it's just like, I didn't want her to be in, in that, you know, or see that what I saw. Yeah. Because then you're just repeating. Yeah. So now we're more cautious. I'm more like mm-hmm. I want them to know that love is pure love is beautiful. Like it's, yeah. Not painful. And I actually brought a little picture Uhhuh, like I carry this with me everywhere. Oh my goodness. So I don't know if they can see it, but. It's just a reminder that if you trust in God, like yeah, he has bigger plans and a bigger purpose for

Ann: 23:03

you. Oh, I love this. So for those of you listening on the podcast, it's a picture of this little girl and she's holding onto this little teddy bear. And then there's a picture of Jesus and he's holding onto this really big teddy bear and right behind his back, like he's not showing it to her just yet, but, he's saying, just trust me. And then, the little girl is saying, but I love it. God. And then she's just like holding onto that little teddy bear, not being able to see. What God has in store for her is much greater than what she won't let go of. Yes, man, that's so powerful. I love that.

Rosie: 23:49

I carry it everywhere cuz I'm just people need to know that, like there is a bigger. Prize for you. There's a bigger purpose, a bigger call, A bigger blessing. And we need to stop living for us, like, you know what we want. Allow him to show you what he has for

Ann: 24:09

you. Now that you and your husband, have been, On this mission right, with this heart to help others. Tell us what that looks like now in your lives.

Rosie: 24:21

So now we have three businesses and one. We have a culinary program. Which we help minorities, low income individuals. Mm-hmm. We allow them to get certifications in, culinary. We give them, certifications they would get at a university. Yeah. Just not at the price of a university. Yeah. Or at the amount of time. So they're grant-based where they can go to school for free if they qualify. And we do find them work. We find them internships. We also help them if they wanna start their own business. Okay. That's his specialty. He's the on the entrepreneur side. And he Okay. He loves helping people like, Start their businesses. And then we have Rex, which we just started a program, a med medically tailored meals program, which we are giving medically tailored meals to 25 individuals, uh, for the next six weeks. Yeah. And we're monitoring them to see how they're. Weight changes, um, their gut health. Yeah. We partnered with UIC and we're actually like doing an analysis of how they came in before. Yeah. Um, they started eating healthier. And then we're gonna do the comparison at the end, like how their gut health has changed. Yeah. And, um, it's, it's amazing. I mean, just we are like, they say you are what you eat, right? Yes. Yes we are. And you know what? It's not just the food. But it's also like holistically, like, what are you watching? What are you, listening to? Yes. What are you surrounding yourself with? You know, is, is everything aligned in your life? Like, your spiritual side, like do you have a relationship with God all of that affects your gut? Oh yeah. And like all these illnesses start from your gut and people don't realize that, you know, like, um, certain illnesses because you're holding onto so much in your. Gut inside of you affects certain organs of your body. Stress is like the number one. They say it's like the silent killer because you're messing up your organs and you know, just with all this stress that you're holding onto. Mm-hmm so we try to do stuff with, um, the participants. We're gonna have them do like workout classes, Zumba classes together. Um, yeah, just doing things together, like to build this community. Okay. And see how they improve, you know, how their health improves. Yeah. Um, and we, we have seen a difference cuz people are like motivated. They're happy They're feeling better. Right. So they're like more energetic. Yeah. Um, so that, that program's going great. The culinary school, we also have Spanish classes where, they're shorter. Mm-hmm. Um, they're not grant based because, um, what, through the grants you have to have like documentation and Okay. Um, but if you don't have that, we also offer Spanish classes. To people who, who don't have a social or who can't get into a school. Okay. Um, so we do all offer classes for them, and then we have the banquet hall upstairs. Yeah. So it's, it's a lot. And now we start feeding the refugees. Yeah. So we're making meals, uh, three times a days, uh, six days a week. Mm. And we're servicing three police stations where we, we go and feed the, the refugees. And

Ann: 27:43

you said you're, bringing about 300 meals a day. Mm-hmm. A day. A day. And, and you guys are pretty much preparing, well, your chefs, and, the students, right? Yeah. They're all preparing these meals. Mm-hmm. And. That just like blows my mind. That just blows my mind. Because you said that it all started in the pandemic. Can you tell us what that looked like back

Rosie: 28:06

then? Yeah. So we, we didn't know what we were doing, right? We, yeah, we wanted to help, you know, COVID hit and everybody was like, what do we do? And, you know, people started losing their jobs. Um, we're in the culinary business, so culinary field and restaurants closed. Mm-hmm. You know, Everything shut down. Yeah. So all these chefs and cooks, they lost their jobs. They were like the main provider in their household. Mm. And it's like if the wife didn't work and their children, like how were they gonna provide? Yeah. So, um, we got together with chefs who also were out of work and, you know, they were like, let's do it. So we, we got together with them and we started making meals and um, what started as 600 meals out of pocket, like our own money. Um, and a couple of months grew to 28,000 meals. And we were just then, we were, that's unbelievable. It, it is. Only God, only God.

Ann: 29:07

And how, and who was distributing them or how did you get that were.

Rosie: 29:11

So I actually had just had my, my second blessing. She was two months old, so I had just had her and we, we were out there and there was people there like, you're crazy. Like, what are you doing? And yeah, but we were like, you know what, God, cover us. We're, we're doing this for your people. You know? Yeah. We're, we wanna help and this is the only way we know how and hopefully, It helps somebody. And we had lines of people, like we were just like, we started on 26th Street. Um, from there we were, we started giving, um, like it was like 150 per organization. So we had a nonprofit organizations Yeah. Like coming to us and we were distributing to them. Okay. And then they would pass out, um, New Life was one of them too. We would do something new

Ann: 30:00

life. Wow, that's

Rosie: 30:02

amazing. And, and then they would distribute in their community. So our meals were, yeah, they were getting around.

Ann: 30:10

And, and so tell us where are you located?

Rosie: 30:12

So right now our, our business is on 26th and Christiana. Okay. Um, that's, it's actually right in the corner, so it's like a incubator like, uh, culinary incubator. That's so cool. Um, we also do like shared kitchen, like, um, we do have commercial kitchens, so. Okay. If like street vendors needed,, a commercial kitchen to, to rent to do their, um, tamales or, you know, whatever they're doing. Oh, that, that's neat. They can also rent the kitchen because they, they require like a commercial kitchen, license. Okay. So it would fall under ours and they can go ahead and. Oh,

Ann: 30:51

that is awesome. So you're in Little Village. Little Village Lanita. Yeah. La right. Uhhuh. That is so awesome. I know you had shared, I think a while back,, a little. Clip of, you were on the news with your husband, right? And you guys were sharing Oh, yeah, yeah. You guys were sharing about that. And so it's becoming more known, right? In this community, in little village of what you are doing and what you and your husband, this mission that you're on gosh, you train, you educate, you feed the hungry, right? You Are going out there, helping people with gut health, right? Yes. And all this from your community, what drives you guys?

Rosie: 31:35

You know what, it's, it's a reward in itself. Mm. Um, yeah. Even with the culinary school, just seeing them and seeing them progress, right. Or, or get the opportunity that, No one has given them. Mm. I think that's what it is. Yeah. I think it's, um, helping others and, um, seeing them succeed. Yeah. I mean that's, it's a reward for me. It's a reward. Reward. I know my students and just see them like so happy. Like, because Yeah. They never had, um, like somebody give them that chance or opportunity. Yeah. That's my reward. Yeah. And

Ann: 32:17

it, it truly is rewarding, right? Doing something without expecting something in return that's rewarding and that truly is a blessing. What you all are doing, what you and your husband and your team of people are doing, to help the community. You guys, you also mentioned something that I thought was pretty powerful, that not only are you guys educating people, but. You're actually gonna go grocery shopping with people. Yeah. Um, right. And in our community, I think that it's the lack of knowledge. It's the lack of knowing that hinders us, right? Mm-hmm. From doing something As easy as knowing how to read labels, knowing how to, portion food, right? All these things that, one would think, oh, well, everybody knows how to do that, but no, not everybody knows how to do that. No. Especially coming from a, a culture where yes, everybody cooks in Oyas, like really big oyas and you use Manca and Yes. All that good stuff, right? But that's the kind of culture when you grow up in that. And that's what we've been seeing. We're, we're

Rosie: 33:23

in Lata, so this is Little Mexico. Yes. So this is even new to them because our little store, it's Uhhuh. Um, our product, like our, our produce, our vegetables are all from like, Urban growers, local farmers. So this is straight from the ranch, you know, straight from the farm. That's awesome. Yeah. And people have no idea. No. Like, they're like, what is this? Or Yeah. You know, we're, we're getting the eggs straight from the chicken at the farm. and we're using this in our own meals that, we make, and the meals that we give out to the community. So it's something new, but there. Interested, you know? Yeah. And, and especially, I think Covid changed a lot of things for everybody, like health wise, where you're more like health conscience. Oh, yes. To a certain extent. Yeah. You're right. Yeah. And, and they are, we get older, older people who are like, hopeless, you know, I'd rather have this than, yeah. Something that's processed or Yes. You know, they're more conscious of what they're eating. Mm. So they're, they're gravitating to it, they're interested, they're curious. Right but we also, we help them, so we have the chefs stare at the store, Uhhuh. So if they did, um, Picked some ingredients and had no idea what to make with them. Like they would help them and like, okay, you can make this, or, you know, and, and in all our meals we incorporate that Latin touch Latino because, I love that. Yeah, because you know what, like we noticed we're, I mean, nothing wrong with the Caesar salad, right? But it's like the same. Thing. So we, if you see our salad bowls, like they're mixed with all types of stuff. Ooh. And colors and, you know, and we incorporate stuff like from our, from our culture, like the nopales, you know, like stuff that you wouldn't normally see okay. In the salad, but you need it and it's, and it's so good. I had to bring you one. Yeah, please.

Ann: 35:24

So now you guys are, maintaining this business that you have, your daughters, are growing older. Do they help at times too? Do they get involved at all, or? Um, they do.

Rosie: 35:36

Well, the little ones still. Oh, she's still little.

Ann: 35:38

So when she goes, oh, do you, do you guys do

Rosie: 35:40

anything for little ones? We do. We do. Okay. Okay. Do, yeah. And we're actually gonna have more because of our little one. Oh, okay. So we wanna have classes She loves like, You know, doing stuff with her hands and um, that's great. So we won't have kids, kids classes. Oh wow. Um, but the older one does, she was actually, she's on, um, school break right now, Uhhuh. So she was there helping today. So she, once in a while, she goes and helps.

Ann: 36:03

That's Wow. And so if anyone wants to like, partner up, you know, somebody out there is saying, somebody who's listening is out there and saying, man, like this is, this is something I'd like to. Partner up with you guys, maybe not get in there and being able to physically do something, but even like just donate towards this cause and support what you guys are doing. How can they do that?

Rosie: 36:29

They could go to our Facebook page or our website. I think our website would be better cuz there's a link. Okay. Um, so it's through www dot fa uh, food Hero. Dot com. Okay. And on the main page, there's like a donate button button there. Okay. All

Ann: 36:45

right. Yeah, because I think that, when people hear that you all are doing something for the community I'm just amazed by how you're able to, you kinda oversee all of it, right? And how you're able to do that, but yet still have this joy, like still have this, heart, to wanna continue to see people know their worth. Right. And I think you, I think you need to do something with that worth it. I think that, I don't know what I've been getting. It's coming up

Rosie: 37:23

everywhere, but I'm like, dad, what you do? I'm

Ann: 37:27

serious. Cause you know, You caught onto your worth through Christ. People that God's sending to you are starting to catch that too, that, Hey, I'm worth it. Why? Because someone took the time to bless me with a meal or, open up their kitchen or open up this culinary school. You know, and I get to be a part of that. That speaks volumes. Yeah, that speaks volumes to people.

Rosie: 38:01

It truly does. It speaks volumes to me every day. Well, I'm on the verge, I'm in the process of writing my book. Maybe, maybe that's the title. Oh yeah. That's don't have the title. Yeah. That's. So

Ann: 38:11

that's awesome. I didn't know you were in the process of writing a book. Yeah. So, um, I can't wait to read it. Oh, thank you. Thank you. And you have to come back once Yes. Yes. Once you release it. Yes. So that we can let our listeners know. Um, I know, I know you mentioned this is just a part of my story and just a tiny bit. Yeah, just a tiny bit. But if, you can speak to, Our listeners and just speak to that person that may find themselves in a similar situation. In a similar background to yours, what would you say to them? How would you encourage them? Well,

Rosie: 38:56

it's a very hard situation and, um, We don't see a way out. Right. But there is a way out. Yeah. And trusting in God, like this, let go, let go and let God and, and trust in him. Um. If he put you there, he's gonna get you through it. Sometimes it's harder staying in a relationship than getting out of it you know, you're just, you're hurting yourself and there's so many blessings. Once you're out of that, there's, there's so many other opportunities. God has a purpose and, um, And you'll, you'll get out of it. You have to believe you have to talk to him. He chose you. He chose you. You're here for a reason. I would say that too, to the listeners and, for a very long time, I didn't believe, but yeah, once I did, Like my whole life changed completely. Changed completely. And it, it'll change for you too. If you believe you build your relationship with God and ask him, ask and you shall receive he will make it happen.

Ann: 40:02

And now that, the Lord has these wonderful plans for you, right? He's been. Just so gracious in, providing in supernatural ways for you, right? Because I know part of, this whole mission and vision that God has given you and your husband. Some of it at the beginning had to come from your own pockets. Right? Like you guys funded what, what you guys were doing. Um, and you mentioned that's a reward in itself.

Rosie: 40:34

Yeah. And they'll, there's obstacles. Nothing. Nothing comes easy. Right? Yeah. We go back to that, you know, and Jesus didn't say life was gonna be easy. It's gonna be worth it. Nothing comes easy, but it's worth it. Yeah. When we bought the building, um, where businesses. Everything you can imagine happened. Mm-hmm. I mean, there was a day the pipes burst inside. Mm. So you put everything into this, right? Yeah. Because you're like, I wanna get this business going. I wanna help people. Mm. And the pipes burst. It looked like Ice castle, right? Oh yeah. Like it was like frozen. This was like in January. So, you know, it's like the coldest time. And we were just like, God, if this is not for us, take it from us. Yeah. Because it, it was a lot. We, we did struggle. There was times where we were like, we're done. Like this is not gonna happen. But every time that something like that happened, He came through and helped us. We stayed in our faith, you know, we had friends come and bless the building. Prayed in the building. It's just been blessing after blessing. Like he's, he's provided we, we were down to nothing. Out of nowhere, like stuff got done.. Only got because. We were out of everything. But I think he wanted this, and he needed this for Yeah. You know, for people, for opportunities and for us to do, do his work.

Ann: 42:05

I bet you if we had some of those people here, they could testify. They could testify that. God's been in this and he's, he's continuing to be in this. We, we hear it. Yeah.

Rosie: 42:21

Just today. That's why I've been so emotional just today. Um, it was their last class for this cohort. And they did do videos of their testimonies. Wow. So all day I've been like, tears flowing, huh? Yeah. Yeah. So this has been an emotional day, but good. Yes. You know, because God has been so, Good. They're tears of joy. Yeah. Yeah. It's just the emotion that, yeah. You know, like my husband didn't have like a easy life either, and just to know from. Where we were to where we are and you know, how God has been our foundation, how he's been in our life, and all our blessings. Like, it's, it's, it's beautiful. It's just, you know, there's no better story than the story he writes for you.

Ann: 43:06

Yes. Oh, say that again. It's true.

Rosie: 43:10

No better story than the one you allow. Yeah.

Ann: 43:14

That's a right for you. Yes. Yes. And we need to know that. We need to know that, um, nowadays, so many people go to social media and you see all these different highlights of people's lives, but you don't know. You don't know. Where God bought me from and where he's still bringing me through. Right. Exactly. We don't know. and so, with that, I wanna encourage people to know that god is still writing your story. He is. The pen doesn't stop until it's time to be with him in glory. Right? Yeah. But in the meantime, he's still writing our stories. Yeah.

Rosie: 43:52

And even like with my life, like people don't know, you know, they see mm-hmm. The good stuff. But yeah. Unless you were like my family member or somebody close to me and knew where I came from Yeah. Then you'd know. But a lot of people, like I heard somebody at um, service day the other day, like. What you see today is glory, but you have no idea. You know my story. Yeah. My story. Yeah. So it's like, you know, so yeah.

Ann: 44:18

This is why. And it's so good that that's why, I have the opportunity here Yes. To share women's stories because a lot of times we see the now and now. Is only God now is only God. And it's, it's the grace and the love of God, right? And it's still God working in me, even in the now, right? Mm-hmm. But where he brought me from, like a lot of people don't know that. And so for women to be able women like you, Rosie, to be able to share. Look, this is where I came from. This is what I experienced. This is some of the trauma that was real in my life. This is some of the impact, the effect of the trauma on my life left me feeling like I was worthless. Like I didn't deserve to be loved. Like was love even a real thing, right? Mm-hmm. And now God comes into your life. Any changes, all that.

Rosie: 45:23

Yeah. And it's, it's, I'm still a work in progress. Of course, we are, we are daily, we are a work in progress and Yes. And it takes a lot. We have to do our part too. Yeah. You know, because Exactly. I, I thought like, if I would just say, God, do this for me, it's gonna happen. Like, no, you, you have to do your part and you have to want the change in your life. And, you know, I've, I've been to. Women's Bible study groups. Mm-hmm. I went to just, just women's groups. Yeah. Um, therapy, you know, because there's a lot of trauma mm-hmm. That you need to learn to let go of, heal with Yeah. And deal with, you know? Yeah. Because process it. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of people have been in, in very bad situations and they need to learn how to mm-hmm. Accept it and, and move on. You know, for a long time I was always like, I was a victim. Mm. Like, I felt sorry for myself, or I was like, poor, poor me. Yes. All this happened. But now I'm like, you know what, like I'm a survivor. Yeah. You know, it, it happened to me for a reason. I overcame it. And, and I want other women to know that as well. Yes. You know, like, you're, you're not a victim. No. You, you overcame this. Yeah. And you know, you're here, you have a purpose. Yeah. Um, So, yeah, it, it, it does take a lot of work. Mm. And, you know, being part of women's groups or ministries. Yeah. Um, retreats. Yes. Retreats have helped me so much. There's actually a retreat one of my friends is doing and it's coming up. Yeah. Know. Maybe you could

Ann: 47:03

share it on here. Yeah. Yep. You let me know and I can share

Rosie: 47:06

it. We can share the details. Um, retreats have helped me so much because you, yeah. You're around women. Like I think you need a community of like that support. Yes. Because sometimes when you're going through all of this, you isolate yourself. Yeah. And you kind of like, Don't have that support system or people to help you. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And, and retreats do

Ann: 47:31

that for you? Yes, they do. they encourage you. Mm-hmm. Right. I think when you know that, oh, it's not just me. Mm-hmm. Right. When you see, oh, you too, you know you're going through that too. Yes. Um, you just, you just know that the Lord is surrounding you with people that. Have wounds and scars like yours too. Maybe not the same exact ones, but they too have been through and they have their own story. Rosie, I just wanna thank you. I wanna thank you so much for being here today for, the courage to share your story, and, thank you for what you're doing for the Little Village community. You and your husband, you guys are definitely making an impact there. God's using you guys. It's like a ministry because that's what you guys are doing. You guys are equipping people, to be able to one day, God willing, open up their own business and because of what you guys have done, even instilling in them, like, how can we help our community? It's just not about us, but it's about them. Right. And that's beautiful.

Rosie: 48:44

Thank you. Thank you for having me and allowing me to share

Ann: 48:47

my story. You're, yeah. I love your story. And I hope that the listeners will be blessed through it. I wanna thank you all for tuning into this episode of Her Scars. Tell a

Rosie: 48:59

story.