IF ONLY THEY KNEW!

MISS ALPHA’S STORY

“It was 2011 when we lost our dad, I was just 11. He was sick for almost three years. It was very tough for us. During those three years, we were living in constant fear. The thought of losing him was dreadful. Having to watch my grandma go through the stress of caring for her once healthy and strong son was something the 8-year-old me couldn’t understand. Although difficult and challenging, God used my dad’s condition to get our attention. It was during those times that we encountered Christ. In our quest for a solution we moved from one place to another and finally ended up in the church( we were Muslims before that)

the illness of my dad was my breaking point!but it was also God’s way of bringing me close to Him. Although I was broken, God was using it for my salvation.

Born on the 23^rd of December, Rosaline Heaven Alpha is a Sierra Leonean who was raised in The Gambia. She attended the SOS junior secondary school then moved to the Gambia Methodist Academy where she completed her High school education. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business at the Eastern Mediterranean University(EMU), North Cyprus.

I am basically me! A young lady following the Heart of God and doing my best to please Him with the help of the Holy Spirit. I am a lover of Christ and a servant of God

“When I was younger, I went through some traumatizing experience –one I didn’t talk about (not even to my grandma). It was off late I opened up to my sister. After the death of my dad, my grandma rendered help to a certain guy. The man he was living with was traveling and he had no place to stay. So we decided to accommodate him. Out of respect, we called this guy uncle. I was sexually harassed by him.  This uncle of mine made three attempts to rape me. In all those attempts I kept saying “no! stop it! I will tell grandma” and I would run. I really didn’t understand what was going on but somehow I knew it was wrong. This one time when I was doing the dishes he came around and started holding me inappropriately. He was trying to force me into his room, he dragged me and held my face. I don’t know how but these words kept coming “stop it, I will scream, I will tell grandma” and he would let me go. I started distancing myself from him and eventually, he stopped. I know you might be wondering why I didn’t tell anyone. As funny as it sounds, the young me was worried about my “uncle”. If we drove him out, he would have nowhere to stay. So I was risking my own safety. It was something that was difficult for me to process but to God be the glory I was able to rise above it. I use this experience to minister to someone when led to.”

After graduating from High School in 2016, Rose discovered something “new”. A whole new experience that would bring her exposure and put her in the limelight…but—it came with a price.

“I never really wanted to go into modeling. It was something that I liked and I was told that I had the height for it. But my concepts about it and the stories I heard prevented me from doing it. However, in 2017 I was asked to represent LG in the “queen of companies” beauty pageant. I was skeptical about it and I hesitated but later I participated. I had no plans on winning so I didn’t take it seriously. Although I didn’t win the crown, I got an offer. The manager of the event offered me a place to model with them. Of course, I said No but he said he sees great potentials in me. So I told my mum and she agreed. I literally threatened the manager because I wasn’t up for nonsense plus I made it clear to him that if I go into modeling am coming with my boundaries. I started going for rehearsals and I got a lot of opportunities but I turned them down. The conditions attached were not favorable. They included things I wouldn’t do so I kept saying No.At some point my manager got really pissed. He was like “if you are going to make it in this industry you have to sacrifice. You cant go on rejecting big offers, you might end up wasting time”. I told him that I would go on rehearsing, working on myself and God will bring me contracts that would suit my criteria, the ones that would please Him. To cut the long story short I got a contract for an event in Germany. The others started spreading rumors saying,” how did I just join and got such a contract, I was sleeping with the manager. The male models also spread rumors about me especially if I refuse to date them. This got to me and it was really affecting me. I kept saying,” God defend me, I can’t justify myself, you know me and I am not like that.” It got worst and I almost lost myself, At some point, I got fed up and wanted to do what pleased me because it seemed as if God didn’t care. I distanced myself from Him. Another reason why I distanced myself from God was what others were saying. Whenever I tried telling them about God they kept tagging me. They said I was acting all “goodish”.

At some point, I told myself that I just wanted to be like every other person–just a Christian in church and home! I wasn’t going to deny Christ but I won’t talk about him too.

I wasn’t myself, I was separating myself from God and I was in circles I didn’t want. I was compromising! There was this show (DAKAR FASHION WEEK) and the designer gave me something short to wear. It was a big issue because I was arguing with the designer and everyone was pissed. In the end I just wore it and walk the runway with it. Those were trying times, the more I tried to do it on my own the worst it became. To make matters worst the people in my church started judging me. They were looking at me as a sinner because I was in the model industry. Somehow they thought being a model meant I stopped praying and I was now a bad girl. I could literally feel their eyes on me, judging my every move and I could not worship freely.  If ONLY THEY KNEW the amounts of big contracts I had turned down and what was actually going on . I couldn’t bear it so I stopped going to church.

this was the place I called the house of God but I didn’t receive the love. I felt so not welcomed!

God in is mercy picked me up. His Grace spoke for me. He placed men of God like my pastor, Apostle Claude, and prophet Mimshach who impacted my life greatly. I knew I had a calling and I was always shying away from it.

There are two sides of a coin, despite the challenges she faced in the modeling industry, she also had some wins worth celebrating. I asked if there were any achievements.” Yes, there were, I walked on five international runways, I won the new female model of the year at the Gambia Fashion Award, I was Miss Entertainment at the Queen of company pageant. I won the first runner up for Miss Sierra Leona (Gambia). For the event in Germany, I won the best catwalk queen and got an opportunity to go to Switerzland for a photoshoot. I organized an event called “the Talk” and it was a success, I am also the brand ambassador for Chopshop Gambia.”

If you are asked to model again would you?”

“No, I don’t do runways again. I just coach. I have dreams to see more Christians in the fashion industry. Ones that would represent Christ on the runway.

“I ALWAYS LEARN FROM MY EXPERIENCES. I LOOK AT IT FROM A GOOD PERSPECTIVE. I DON’T LET THE DEVIL SAY HE WON WHEN THINGS GO WRONG. I SEE GOD TEACHING ME IN THE MIDST OF THE CHALLENGES. I KNOW HE IS PREPARING ME FOR MORE”

Apart from modeling, Rose worked at EFAF( Educating for Africas Future). She recalled the experience as one that was great.” EFAF was really loving. It was in line with my passion. I  someday want to run an NGO for kids but I don’t like the idea of calling it an orphanage. God is a father and mother for all.

The dictionary defines an entrepreneur as someone who sets up a business taking on financial risk in the hope of profit. This suits Rose as she is the owner of a makeup business called Rosa-Line-Belle.

“It’s so interesting how I developed a passion for makeup. I wasn’t really a makeup freak but somehow I learned it. I would do my make up at home. I never took it seriously because I thought I wasn’t good enough. When  I got to Cyprus I felt led to start my own business. I was scared and shy because I felt I wasn’t perfect. But God told me this “when you start I will keep perfecting you at it” and those words encouraged me. I created an IG page and had no customers. There were some days I cried and was questioning myself. God be the Glory Rose-Line is growing. People keep coming! Trusting God pays. No matter how things hurt, trust the process, and keep moving. keep growing! (I am still growing)

“THE PROBLEM WITH SOME OF US IS WE SETTLE. AS SOON AS WE GET TO A CERTAIN POINT WE FEEL WE HAVE ARRIVED. WE START ACTING LIKE WE KNOW MORE THAN GOD AND WE ASSUME THE POSITION. I DON’T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION SO I KEEP TRUSTING HIM”

The above picture is of a ministry founded by Rose. The women of Doxa( which I am also part of ) is  a whatsapp group consisting of girls who are ready to die of Christ

The story behind W.O.D

I had this vision a long time ago but I didn’t take it seriously.I attend a service at awake and prophet Mimshack was teaching on the Glory of God[ kavod, shekinah,& doxa]. The doxa part stuck to me. I kept saying “ I am a woman of Doxa, a woman with the Gloy that cannot be hidden. Nobody can dim my light” I was praying one day and  God instructed me to create a WhatsApp group and add women. Yooo!!! At first, I was like.” what If nobody joins, what if I post and no one comments, all these questions I had but God told me to just do it for its not my work but His. He told me not to force anyone to join. I created the page but I was shy to talk about it. I just kept on praying about it and finally, I got the boldness to invite ladies to join. There were days I would post something and no one would comment. This was so discouraging and I would cry. He kept telling me to push and keep going. And that’s what I am doing.

“The Holy Spirit is my driving force and inspiration. God Is my everything and I have learned not to put my trust in man”

Dealing with people’s judgments

Before I would cry but now I don’t., I just laugh at it. If someone judges me, I go to God and ask Him to teach me and help me work on myself. I am working for God to please Him. Trying to act in a certain way to fit into people’s boxes is not something I do. God came for the imperfect!

“IF ONLY WE KNEW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN PEOPLES LIVES, WE WILL JUDGE LESS AND LOVE MORE”

Handling discouragement

“know your source! This is the most important tip. The devil would try to shake you, you might cry and feel down but let your faith keep you going. If God says he has made a way(be it in your career, academics, business, family, or ministry) have faith that he would. Every path you take, every challenge you face, God has a plan! Keep moving even in the face of adversaries.

Final words

“All I would say is that these are days when the coming of Christ is nearer than before. This is not the time to waste your life jumping from one party to another.Do your best to walk with God,there is so much joy and excitement in him.No matter how hard it gets,trust God. Don’t let the devil have a win over you. Draw closer to God and seek his will for your life. Get personal with him,your personal relationship matters!