“Another story,” I mumbled with heavy eyelids as Mum rocked me back and forth on her wicker chair.
Growing up, books and stories were very important. Due to the civil war that I experienced during my childhood, I grew up suffering from severe anxiety and panic disorder.
Books transported me to a calm world where I didn’t have to deal with the scars of trauma.
As I got older, I discovered the school library. I had never seen a room filled with so many options! By Grade 4, I was reading books like Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, The Narnia Chronicles and more.
During my high school years, I delved into books that weren’t very “Christian”. Stories of ghosts, haunted houses, spirits and murder mystery kept me enthralled.
Of course, I read my Bible and still prayed, but at night, under my covers, I was absorbed in a scary book.
Reading was no longer the only thing I was doing—I started writing stories in the same genre. I daydreamed of becoming a published author.
One afternoon, when I complained to Mum about another rejected manuscript, she told me the truth (in a loving way), that deeply impacted my mind. That night, the battle began.
I felt God gently whisper to me, telling me to write stories for His glory. On the other hand, the enemy yelled that I had no business writing for God.
For a whole week, I wrestled and fought. Finally, one Sabbath morning I fell on my knees uttering “I surrender”. Instantly, I felt an indescribable peace wash over me.
It wasn’t long before God gave my sisters and I 5 Sisters Ministry, which we co-founded in 2011. We published GIGI magazine, Forever Woman and Little Miss GIGI.
However, in 2015 we printed our last magazine and thought the ministry was over.
Still, I felt a real conviction that my writing was unfinished. I knew God was calling me to spread His Word.
In 2018, He impressed me to do a story podcast for kids. I was terrified! I didn’t know where to begin. The only thing I was certain about was that I wanted the stories to be Christian and have sound effects. I wanted children to be inspired and learn to love Jesus.
As I gathered everything I needed, I asked Steph, my younger sister, and my little niece to be my co-hosts.
On May 7, 2018, I launched the podcast “Car Ride Stories for GIGI Kids”.
It has been three years since we aired our first episode and God is blessing immensely.
We’ve had 70,000 downloads and we are reaching kids worldwide. We get emails from our little listeners from Canada, Austria, USA, Dominican Republic, Australia and more.
God has placed a mind-blowing dream in my heart that is almost impossible for me to accomplish. However, I believe if it’s in His plans, then it will become a reality.
You can listen to the kids’ podcast “Car Ride Stories for GIGI Kids” and teen girls’ podcast “GIGI teen radio” by searching them on any podcast platform.
Listeners’ testimonies:
“My son Liam loves your podcast. It is his favourite podcast. He is four years old.”
“My name is Emily, I am four years old and I live with my family in Austria, Europe. I love the stories and I listen to them while baking with mummy, while colouring and in the evenings.”
“Thanks so much for this great engaging podcast. My three-year-old is obsessed with it! So much so that today she is listening to it while eating her lunch and wanted to stay in the car to listen to more stories. Professionally put together with engaging sound effects. Just what we needed!”
