Originally published on A Sabbath Blog, Aug. 20, 2011
Remember those stories from way back in time about people who went through hard times but still chose to keep the Sabbath, and lived happily ever after? Does that even happen anymore?
Oh, yes it does.
A few days ago, a reality TV show contestant told the show’s host (and the world) that she couldn’t participate in the Saturday-scheduled challenges because she is a Seventh-day Adventist.
The host told the contestant that things would get complicated if she didn't participate in those challenges.
With tears in her eyes, and as cameras rolled, the young Adventist woman decided to drop out of the show.
And boom! She became an overnight celebrity ….but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Here's how it all began:
Reality Show
There is a TV show in Brazil called, Tudo é Possível (Everything is Possible), and they are wanting to hire a new female reporter. They decided to create a reality TV show and hire whoever is the winner of that show.
In this reality show, called A Casa da Ana Hickmann (The House of Ana Hickmann), 10 female contestants try to get the job by competing in different challenges and activities.
Adventist Contestant
Wasthi Lauers de Castro, a 25-year-old journalist, was one of those contestants.
In a show that constantly highlights the contestants’ bodies, Washti was the only contestant with journalistic experience (everyone else is a dancer or a model).
The young woman quickly found herself having to choose between breaking the show’s rules or breaking God’s rules.
Sabbath Problems
Friday night came, and host Ana Hickmann told the contestants to get ready for a dance party they were having that night.
Wasthi chose not to go.
On Saturday, the contestants had to do a swimming challenge. Again, Wasthi declined to participate.
The host asked Wasthi why she wasn’t willing to participate in the recent activities and challenges. Wasthi wouldn’t explain. The host then asked if she’d be willing to explain it to her in private. Wasthi agreed to do so.
The Moment of Truth
That Saturday evening, Hickmann called Wasthi to her office. She asked the contestant what was bothering her and why she wouldn’t participate.
Wasthi told her she was a Seventh-day Adventist and that she believes God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh. She said God told people to observe the seventh day as the Sabbath. She explained that she does different activities on Sabbath.
Wasthi began tearing up.
The host told Wasthi that she respected her faith and religion. However, the host also told her that there would be challenges everyday and that not participating in those challenges would make things complicated.
“What do you suggest?” asked Hickmann.
“If I have to participate,” Wasthi said, “and if I have to participate on Sabbath because that’s the criteria, then I can no longer participate in the program.”
Wasthi told Hickmann that she believes God must have other plans for her. She then said she believes in a quote she likes.
“For as great as your dreams may be, the dream of God is greater,” Wasthi said.
Happy Ending
At the end of the episode, the host had a surprise for Wasthi. Even though Wasthi chose to drop out of the competition, the host wanted Wasthi to stick around and put her skills to work.
The host hired Wasthi to be a reporter for the reality show and be in charge of reporting about the contestants.
Instant Celebrity
For Wasthi, sticking to her convictions was more important than getting her dream job —and people noticed. She became an overnight celebrity.
Twitter and Facebook lit up with people talking about what Wasthi had done. One person created a Facebook Page for people to write encouraging thoughts on how Wasthi’s actions have impacted them.
So many people tried friending Wasthi on Facebook, that Facebook displayed an error message.
Videos of Wasthi giving her testimony were posted on YouTube. People have been duplicating and reposted these videos over and over again.
News websites have also picked up on the story, sharing her testimony with even more people.