(Updated May 25, 2013!)
All the crazy struggles and challenges that have been the past couple decades of my life make me realize how weak and powerless I am in this journey called life. However, “ … ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Here is a brief overview of His relentless pursuit of my heart.
I grew up in a Christian home with my Dad, Mom, brother, and sister. I was homeschooled while living in Missouri until the 5th grade but spent as much time as possible playing in the small creek and woods behind our cul-de-sac with my younger brother, Michael, and our neighbor friend, Sean.
My family had to move from Missouri to Allen, Texas when I was in the 4th grade for my Dad’s job. This was a turning point in my life where challenges started to surface, but my relationship with God wasn’t strong enough for me to lean on Him during times of hardship.
me, my bro, Michael, and my sis, Janell – Dec. 2012
During middle school, high school, and college, I focused mainly on being a “good kid,” doing well in school, and making good grades. Yup, I was the overachiever perfectionist whole idolized my grades. During that period in high school where you are forced to pick a major for college, I decided to choose pre-nursing at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock. I had always enjoyed studying health science, and I thought this profession might be a good fit.
I crunched two years of nursing school prerequisites into one in order to apply to nursing school during Christmas of my freshman year at TTU. The next 24 months were consumed by nursing school, and I didn’t make a huge effort to fit other extracurricular activities into the mix, except for football games and spending time with the “Dinner Club” (aka: my brother [also at TTU] and our mutual college friends)! Yup, still a perfectionist and Type A bookworm.
The “Dinner Club” on Mt. Wheeler in NM
My goal upon graduating from nursing school was to work at one of the best pediatric hospitals in Texas. I was blessed to get an offer as a pediatric hematology/oncology/stem cell transplant nurse at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. I was at Children’s for 2 1/2 years and grew so much in this very challenging but rewarding environment.
CMCD
(fkp.com)
However, I had been restless at work for quiet awhile because I knew I wanted to eventually expand my nursing career, but I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do. To compound that, I was the ultra-planner who liked having an answer for where I am going in my life. I had been dwelling on getting a PhD in nursing education, an MD, or a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice).
However, very abruptly, my world was rocked at the beginning of 2011. I was faced with some very emotional and difficult challenges at work, and I finally realized I had no control over my life. By God’s grace, He put some amazingly supportive people in my life, and I could not have gotten through it all without them. (Patti Smith, words cannot express my gratitude towards you). For almost a year, I began consistently praying for a deeper relationship with God and for Him to “open doors” in my life to serve others purposefully. I also prayed for community with others (i.e., opportunities to strengthen and build friendships) and opportunities to travel internationally.
me and Patti
I started attending a Bible study in 2010 and soon after, started regularly attending The Village Church. Finally!!!
Chandler … the dude is legit
During the Spring of 2011, God started dropping hints that I should enter the recovery ministry at The Village. I started attending Recovery (Support) in May and Recovery (Steps) in September; Recovery is a repentance and reconciliation ministry that allows people to openly profess their brokenness and glorify God. There was more baggage that had accumulated in my life that I needed freedom from than I realized.
And thus began my long journey of forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption, and healing.
The awesome Leah Lowry. She rocked my world in November 2010.
I took a out-of-the-blue hiatus to Costa Rica by myself in May 2011. It was a great time to de-stress from work and enjoy the gorgeous ocean and rainforests. Interestingly enough, God created a divine appointment with Alissa Rich before I even flew out of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport terminal. While sitting in the terminal waiting to board my layover flight, I overheard a twenty-something-year-old girl saying to the woman in between us that she had just gotten back from traveling the world for almost a year. Of course I couldn’t help but inquire about her “trip,” and we ended up talking about her travels for the next two hours (she was on the June 2010 Route of The World Race). At this point, I did not even toy with the idea of going on The World Race myself, but I definitely thought it was cool.
Alissa Rich
Oddly enough, off and on throughout my trip in Costa Rica, I thought about The World Race, and when I returned home from Costa Rica, I felt called. But, of course I was incredibly apprehensive about leaving everything in America behind and traveling the world for Jesus for a year.
Surfing in Costa Rica = AWESOME!
Six months later, after being fed lies by the enemy over and over about how inadequate I was to be doing international missions, I resigned from Children’s and launched on The Race in January 2012. The ensuing 11 months were some of the most difficult times of my life. I learned so much about God’s grace and love for me and His children. He humbled me over and over and over with ministry, my squad, and experiences … and then humbled me some more. I was incredibly broken and a mess on more than one occasion on The Race, but underwent some amazing heart and character transformations.
D Squad at Final Debrief, Dec. 2012
Towards the end of The Race, I was presented with an opportunity to join a launch team that is pioneering self-sustainable mobilization and discipleship centers in Guatemala (the first of five international centers supported by AIM). I initially said, “Ummmm, heck no” since I wanted to settle back in the States upon my return in Dec. 2012.
However, God always has different, and better, plans for us, and on top of that, He gave me a huge heart for this vision trip! So I accepted in early January 2013 and moved to Antigua on Feb. 13th!
I returned to the U.S. after a few months of mission work in Guatemala. The Lord called me back for a season of rest, recharging, and healing due to the multifactorial struggles of int’l missions. Updates to come about where He is going to take me next …
Some Random, Quick Facts:
I love music (e.g., symphony orchestras are quite lovely) and I thoroughly enjoy movie soundtracks
I love prophetic art journaling
I enjoy singing (although not musically talented)
I like awesome, epic movies (e.g., LOTR trilogy, Pride & Prejudice,
The Princess Bride … the classics!)
I enjoy reading and learning new things
I LOVE swing, Latin, and ballroom dance (West Coast Swing and Salsa are my favorites!!)
I love sports and outdoor activities (football, surfing, golf, volleyball, kickball, rock climbing, yoga, hiking, biking, walking, canyoning, white water rafting, etc.)
Competed at baseball, soccer, basketball,
golf, volleyball, and swim team
Lived in 12 countries, and The Race has a special place in my heart!
Never been on a mission trip prior to The Race
Definitely a nerd (I enjoy research articles about medicine and nursing)
A published author of a nursing review manuscript (“Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children”)
Huge passion for children (e.g., love AWANAs, pediatric nurse)
