Ana Laura Interview

During our recent conversation I asked her about that unique path.

Her voice rings with excitement as she replies, "I don't think we go through things for no reason. When you've gone through something that seems senseless or meaningless, it always leads to a place better than you could have imagined. Everything that happened to me while I was growing up turned out to be very instrumental, even down to the tiniest detail. Things like learning Spanish or studying classical music when I was little now have opened a huge door for a different approach to ministry, an approach I'm very excited about."

This fascinating mix of backgrounds and interests spills beautifully into her music as well. "We wanted that to show up in the record, too. I'm a huuuuuuge Josh Groban fan," she giggles, "and I wanted some of that to come through. I wanted to integrate my love for classical, pop, and rock and see where it went. I didn't expect anything huge to come of it, other than an opportunity to go out and talk to young adults about Jesus and what He can do through you." Therein lies the heart behind this sparkling power-pop music.

Ana has a special place in that heart for young women. "Things have been so about how you look, how much you have, how famous you are. Your life mission can't be all about owning the next hot purse or being in the next big movie." She understands the truths she speaks of all too well. "I had a battle experience myself, one of those things I think we all go through, the defining moment when we decide to go one way or the other." Hers came at the tender age of 14, when she struggled with anorexia/bulimia after feeling deserted and confused by influential people she had thought dependable. "Instrumental people suddenly found me too much of this or not enough that, and I realized that my identity couldn't be wrapped around that kind of negativity, but had to be found in Christ. If I had to make changes to please Him then I would, but I would no longer damage my body or hurt my mind to measure up to the expectations of someone else. Christ gave Himself completely so that I would be good enough to go to heaven. There's nothing I can ever do to deserve that, but I can live my life according to His will, because I love Him, and that's that." Her voice rings quietly now with a solidity and strength.

This is the message that Ana shares now, without fear. "I was nervous and shy about it all until a Girls of Grace conference. The response to my testimony was so encouraging, from daughters and moms struggling with self-image issues." She laughs and says, "I realized I just needed to get over myself to help someone else go in a different direction. I want to do that now every day out on the road." The laughter is gone as she closes, but her joy shines through her final heart-felt remark. "I'm trying to make a difference, in Jesus." And that's pure gold.

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