A ‘Meet Me’ Series
A few weeks back, a video appeared in my Instagram feed. It featured a woman backing a tractor trailer up to a docking bay.
As I watched the driver complete her task, I found myself reminiscing about the time I had hitchhiked from California to Michigan. I had ridden with a few truckers back then and began recalling the beautiful sights along the way.
I clicked the follow button and as quickly I had done that, she was following me back. Within days I had discovered she is much more than a trucker. And this is her story…
Meet:
Where are you from and what was your childhood like?
I am originally from Brazil. My childhood was very difficult. We were very poor, and my father struggled with drug addiction. My mother never gave up on him. She fought for him with all the love she had. Unfortunately, my father passed away from complications related to his addiction when I was seven years old.
After that, life became even harder. My mother raised five children by herself, and I am the middle child. When I was 14, my mother became very sick and passed away as well. At that point, my siblings and I became orphans. My grandmother did everything she could to take care of us. I will always be grateful to her for that.
What did you like to do as a child and as a teenager?
As a child and teenager, survival came before hobbies. I didn’t have many opportunities to do extracurricular activities or explore interests the way other children did. Still, I always liked learning, reading, and observing people and life around me. Even in difficult moments, I had a strong desire to understand the world and myself.
How was school? Favorite subjects?
I started school at the normal age, but because of family problems, poverty, and loss, I missed several years. I had to work much harder than others to keep going. I finally finished high school when I was 23 years old.
It was painful to see friends moving forward—learning English, studying technology, and living “normal” school lives—I felt left behind. Many times, I cried because I never had those same opportunities. But I did not give up. I continued studying and eventually graduated in Letters (Portuguese and Literature). Language and literature became my passion because they allowed me to express my thoughts, pain, and resilience.
Did you go to college/ degrees?
Yes, I did attend college. I studied in Brazil and earned a degree in Letters – Portuguese and Literature. Because of my life circumstances, my academic journey was delayed, but I never gave up. I completed my studies later than most people, but I completed them with pride.
Despite facing an abusive marriage that tried to stop my education, I was accepted into law, psychology, and dentistry programs. I never stopped believing in learning. Even when everything was delayed, blocked, or painful, I kept going.
I truly loved studying language and literature because words became my way of understanding life, pain, faith, and identity.
Special moments?
One of my most meaningful academic moments happened in my first year of college. I was unexpectedly placed in a large lecture about self-confidence with professors and academics from different fields. I spoke publicly about identity and faith, using…
Proverbs 23:7:
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
My theme was “I was born to be myself.” I used real-life examples from my own story, and that moment changed how I saw myself. It was the first time I truly believed in my voice.
That moment marked the beginning of my confidence and my belief that my voice mattered.
Family life, marriage and interests
I married very young, at 18 years old, to a Christian man. In the beginning, he was kind, but over time the relationship became abusive. I did not fully understand what abuse was at that time. Because of my faith background and theological teachings, I believed that a woman must pray, endure, and “save” the family.
I stayed in that marriage for 20 years. I prayed faithfully, but nothing was ever enough for him. Eventually, he chose to leave—and through that, God set me free. I now tell other women: do not be afraid to leave abusive situations.
Leaving saved my life. I left everything behind—literally everything—and started over in the United States.
As for personal interests, I enjoy content that inspires growth, faith, and resilience. I prefer Christian music, worship music, and songs with deep meaning. I enjoy shows and content that focus on real-life stories, strength, and transformation.
Coming to the United States
Coming to the United States was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I came after leaving my abusive marriage, during a time of deep depression. I could barely stand on my feet. All I did was sleep—sleep to escape the pain. Some people encouraged me by saying, “Move. You have a lot to say.” That encouragement helped save me.
The process and politics
The process was emotionally, financially, and mentally difficult. Starting over in a new country without stability or certainty takes courage. And yes, with today’s political climate, there are moments of fear and uncertainty about the future. But I trust God, and I continue to move forward with faith, responsibility, and hope.
Driving a truck
Driving a truck represents freedom, independence, and courage for me. After everything I had been through, I wanted a career where I could prove to myself that I was capable, strong, and not limited by fear – or stereotypes.
Training and other women
The training was very challenging, both physically and mentally. I had to earn proper qualifications and licensing. Study regulations, pass exams, and learn skills that many people believe women cannot do. There were not many women training when I did, which made it even more intimidating.
How long are your days?
My days are long, demanding, and tiring—but deeply rewarding.
Exciting Moments
Some of the most exciting moments are delivering loads to places I never imagined seeing—and knowing I got myself there.
Your connection with God, His Son Jesus and Church?
In Brazil, theology is often not used to protect women — it is used to imprison them. From an early age, I was taught that a “Godly Woman” endures, waits, and remains silent. That divorce is adultery. That leaving is sin. That staying — even while being destroyed — is faith. So many women spend their lives praying for men who never change. Men who promise transformation yet grow more violent with time. This theology does not save. It enslaves.
After my divorce, freedom did not come. Guilt did. I spent an entire year waiting for him to come back home. One year of fasting and prayer. I ate one meal a day, not because I was commanded to, but because I wanted to hear God. I wanted an answer. I wanted Him to speak beyond the way Scripture was being used against me. Because those words, as they had been taught to me, were breaking me.
Then everything collapsed. I was laid off. The salary disappeared. I began teaching again just to survive, but the money was barely enough. I was living in a massive mansion. A house built for wealth, yet I had no money even to buy bread. The garden kept growing. The pool grew dark, and I sank into depression. Some days, I could not stand. My body was heavy. My mind exhausted. My soul empty.
One afternoon, I craved a simple salad — there was no lettuce. I wanted milk with coffee — the milk was gone.
Alone in that oversized kitchen, I started cleaning the floor. That was when I collapsed. I cried until I fell to the ground. I cried with my whole body. And I spoke to God, “Look at this humiliation. I did everything right. I served You. I fought. I prayed. And now I am here, a beggar living in a mansion.” The echo of my sobs was the only sound in that enormous house.
That same day, a friend invited me to a small church gathering on a modest farm. I did not want to go. I was too tired to hope. Still, I went.
During the meeting, a woman stood and spoke directly to me as if she knew everything I was carrying: “Rise and march.” I didn’t want to. Not because I lacked faith but because I was afraid of the future. Afraid of walking alone. Afraid of not surviving.
When the gathering ended, the woman approached me holding two grocery bags. She looked at me gently and said, “Please don’t take this the wrong way. God told me to give this to you.” When I opened the bags, my legs trembled. In one, two bottles of milk. In the other, lettuce.
That day, God did not give me my husband back. He did not give me easy answers. He did not offer explanations. He gave me what I needed to stay alive. Perhaps that was the moment another kind of faith began. Not the faith that taught me to die in silence. But the faith that slowly began teaching me how to live.
My relationship with God and Jesus Christ is deeply personal and rooted in survival, not religion alone.
I am affiliated with the Christian faith, and my journey with Christ grew stronger through pain, loss, and endurance. I came to truly understand God not through comfort, but through suffering. Even when theology was misused to keep me in an abusive marriage, God Himself never abandoned me. He freed me.
Today, my faith is about truth, freedom, healing, and obedience to God—not fear. Jesus represents restoration, identity, and love for me.
If a movie were made about your life, who would you want to portray you?
As a child, I would want someone who could show vulnerability, innocence, and quiet strength.
As an adult, I would want an actress who represents resilience, faith, and courage. Someone who can show pain without losing dignity.
As our interview came to an end, there was one thing she asked to add before commenting on what she likes about my platform and why she follows me.
“Rick, the message is, I’d like to tell people is that their life is right now. We can’t lose life’s time worrying about our problems. We should enjoy life and thank God for it.”
What I like about your platform is your authenticity. You speak with honesty, courage, and conviction. Your content does not feel fake or performative—it feels real.
I follow you because your platform gives voice to people who have lived real lives, survived real pain, and still believe in growth, faith, and purpose. Your message aligns with resilience, truth, and encouragement—and that matters to me.
Writer’s Note
I leave you on this Christmas Day with greetings of peace, happiness and love along with Romans 5: 3-5
“3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Please be kind to one another and have a very Merry Christmas
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