Not The Same

*Warning: This episode does contain references to sexual assault and self-harm. Listener discretion is advised.* Lerato Khoza (formerly Mathews) was raised in a violent home, being the youngest of 13 children. A very blended family, spread over decades, created an environment for this quiet girl to be a bit overlooked. She chose to fight her battles on her own by whatever means necessary. This res...

Tim grew up as a young boy thinking his life was pretty normal, despite the fact his parents owned a funeral home. However, as time went on Tim soon discovered that he was the 'fat kid'. When faced with the reality of being different, Tim found himself doing what he could to fit in, no matter the cost. Tim was driven by the need to succeed and succeed he did by most standards. Unfortunat...

(Republished from July 2024) Whalied Ling grew up the youngest of five in a strict Muslim household. However, that didn't stop him from getting involved in drugs and gangs, which led to crime and heartache. Listen along as he shares his incredible journey of transformation, and the simple act that made all the difference. Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share th...

Yola was just a little girl born into a normal mid-century American family...until it wasn't. Raised by a father who traveled often and a mother who was self-consumed, this little girl was left to her own devices. Then at fifteen, her whole life turned upside down and everything she thought she knew, was a lie. The next few years brought heartache and one bad decision after another, until she...

*Warning: This episode contains references to sexual assault on a minor and should be listened to with caution.* Tumi is a Jozi girl, born and raised; to a single mom and lots of extended family who truly wanted the best for her. Unfortunately, the very thing that haunted her over and over again, went unseen and known by everyone. It wasn't until she followed her heart to a place of healing,...

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas from my family and I. May you be blessed beyond expectation in the coming year! Thank you for your support! Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony. Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life. notthesame.cfm@gmail.com

Prince was the fourth child of five, each one being shipped off to live with a grandmother who tried her best. When that didn't work, the siblings were left to fend for themselves. The result was chaos and heartache. Through his sheer determination to create a different path for himself, Prince set off to fulfill his dreams. What he found was only more emptiness and disappointment. It wasn&ap...

Melissa was raised in a stable home, with two parents that loved and provided for her. That didn't protect her from the rejection the world had in store. A doting father and distant mother, hiding their own secrets, did the best they knew how until they couldn't anymore. That's when she found the one person who truly accepted and loved her despite everything. Please send me a messag...

*Note: All affiliations have been redacted for safety purposes. Morgan wasn't who most people thought he was. He wasn't even who he wanted to be. Morgan was stronger, tougher, and angrier than others but he didn't like the life he was given. Pushed by an unknown force into drugs and caught in the middle of gang life, all he desired was to find peace and purpose. After more than one...

For all intents and purposes, Molly lived a very simple, safe life. The middle child of three with two parents who provided everything she needed, Molly should have felt fulfilled. However, what she felt instead was lost and out of place, searching for an identity. Life has a way of teaching its lessons and after many years of searching, this lost little girl learned that no matter how long you ru...

(Republished from Oct 2024) Nandi began life with two loving grandparents in a home full of love, despite not having her father present. However, as things often do, life changed suddenly and one thing led to another. Soon, this broken little girl found herself at odds with the world and enslaved by an addiction she didn't know how to break free from. Listen as she shares the one place and th...

*Warning: This episode does contain references to sexual abuse/assault. Discretion is advised for younger listeners. Tumi's life started out with promise; both parents, a clean home, and everything she could ever want or need. As it sometimes does, life changed. First one thing, then another and as a teenager, Tumi found herself living a life very different from the one she once had. Everythi...

Raised with two loving parents and even a doting grandmother, Sizwe was set to live a life of ease. Bad friends with  worse influences led him astray at a very young age and he found himself in the midst of a life of crime. Living as one person at school but another at home, this bright young man tried to fool everyone by making a name for himself on the streets. The only person he fooled was hims...

*Warning: This episode contains references to many subjects that could be disturbing to some listeners. Please listen with caution!* Cathleen was raised in a godly home by parents who loved her and did their best to be the example she needed. There's another side to every story and plagued by being seen as 'different', she became the object of constant bullying. This led to years of...

Michael's world was a roller coaster ride from a very young age. It only got worse from there. An alcoholic father and a home torn apart made him vulnerable and angry which manifested itself into drugs and alcohol as he grew older. The late nights and hard living left him broken with the biggest question running through his mind: what is it all for? Little did he know the route he'd take...

*Warning: This episode does include references to violence/sexual assault.* Growing up in the Eastern Cape, Mayson was born to a teen mom and raised by loving grandparents who tried their best. Looking different than most people in his community, he decided from a young age he was going to make a name for himself. The life of crime appealed to him and his ability to play the part of a good child,...

As a twin, life for Phumlani was always a comparison. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Raised in a poor family but one who knew how to work hard, Phumlani was raised with the desire to do something and be somebody. He was not one to shy away from a challenge and through dubious intentions found his way into a church. A whole new way of living was introduced and now he was forced to do his ow...

Raised in a godly home, Emily grew up feeling loved and protected. She learned to follow Christ at an early age, enjoying the adventures of her parents' ministry. Soon after relocating to the United States, Emily found that not everything goes as planned. Young heartbreak left her vulnerable to those with bad intentions. Jumping head first into sin created a dangerous situation that only God...

Edward Mphaga was born the second child of six. He was raised in a home full of culture and tradition. For most of his childhood, Ed suffered from one unexplainable ailment after another, which no amount of tradition could cure. This left him feeling left out and lacking. After three failed school years and a long stint in the hospital, he thought he was finally on his way to getting better. Howev...

From Zimbabwe to Cape Town, by way of Namibia, Tsitsi found herself in a life very different from what she had imagined. Born the only girl into a family that gained much through hard work and determination, Tsitsi knew her parents only wanted to best for her. However, with that came the fear of never quite being enough. Both she and her parents had dreams and plans for her future, but one questio...

Katlego was born a single child to a mother who aimed to provide her with everything she could want or need. Although not having a father around, she found herself surrounded by good people that showed her true love and guidance. Katlego loved Jesus from a young age and made it her mission to share it with everyone. Not every fairy tale goes as planned, however, and life can change course unexpect...

Wendel Jacobs never knew his mother. The youngest of his father's children, Wendel was shuffled around from place to place while his father worked. Although never really suffering as badly as some, this young boy grew into a teenager never quite feeling wanted by anyone. A series of events over a short period of time left him feeling desperate for a place to belong. The insistance of a friend...

Euston Rendell was born the eldest of four children. Raised with the pressure of that responsibility, he found himself full of anger. Big for his age, he quickly realized that could be an advantage for his criminal endeavors. However, one unhinged episode left him standing before a judge, facing a possible five year prison sentence at just 16. What happened over the next 15 years was a battle for...

Sheenn was a little girl raised by two loving parents in a situation that seemed normal until she realized it wasn't. Sheltered from most of the chaos of her notorious father and hard working mother, Sheenn had big dreams and big plans until life, as usual, intervened. One thing led to another and she found herself with an addicted husband, three kids, no job and no hope for the future. That&...

Just a few minutes to reflect and enjoy the last year and the blessings it brought through each and every guest and listener. Thank you. Have a Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony. Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life. notthesame.cfm@gmail.com