About Me And My Call To The Mission Field

I grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a town of about 65,000: home to Warren Air Force Base and Cheyenne Frontier Days. I am fortunate to have grown up in a great Christian Family with a very faithful brother and sister. I accepted Jesus and was baptized at the age of 8 years old in my home church: First Baptist Church of Cheyenne. I was very active in youth group and was a counselor to American Baptist Church Youth conferences.   
Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the outdoors-camping, hiking, horseback riding, exploring, and enjoying God’s creation. I was involved in Boy Scouts where I advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout.  I continue to spend time in the outdoors-hiking in the Wyoming and Colorado Mountains.

Throughout my college and career life, I grew distant from God, going through the motions of going to church when I could. I did not have a personal relationship with God.   I believed I was in control of my life.  Boy was I wrong! Three years ago, my world was turned upside down when I lost everything through wrong choices and bad decisions. I discovered that I was bound in chains to sin and lived in a world of shame and guilt. All I had left was to surrender my life completely to God and seek his will for me. What an awesome journey-to actually spend time in scriptures, pray, meditate, be accountable to others,  and serve others.  I have experienced the love and forgiveness of God.  A verse that I hold on to is: 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Praise to the God and Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort  those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ” I have received comfort from God, now my mission is to comfort others.

In 2008, I traveled with my sister to Israel to tour the Holy Land. What a great experience to walk where Jesus walked. I felt the presence of Jesus especially at the Garden Tomb and Garden of Gethsemane.  My passion to know and serve God more grew though this experience and I know I want nothing more than to serve Him.    

Our team was able to build a house for a family with 3 children who were living in a “shack.” The house went up in 3 days despite the very hot, humid weather. We also helped with some building of another house for a gentleman with Muscle Dystrophy who has kidney failure, on dialysis, and needs wheelchair accessibility. 

Our God Squad Puppet Team ministered to approximately 600 children in schools in the various villages.  It was awesome to be able to pray, teach the Gospel, and sing Christian Praise Songs in public schools!  

On Wednesday evening, 3 of us share our testimonies and the struggles we have overcome though the amazing love and grace of God. Many men came forward for prayer and counsel.

My heart was really touched when a few of us went to a family’s home to pray over the mother who is very ill. Their “house” is made up of tarps for the walls, a make shift roof, dirt floors, and hammocks for beds. The family was content with living with what they had and work hard to make it work. What a very humbling experience. 

Since this experience in Belize, God has been tugging at my heart and calling me to something bigger. I am grateful to have this opportunity to be a participant on the World Race. My greatest desire is to share God’ Word, truth, love, and hope to anyone who does not know Jesus. I love sharing my testimony including my struggles and the things that kept me in bondage and how God has worked in my life to set me free from the chains.

I currently serve on our church council as Evangelism Team Leader and teach an adult Sunday school class. When I discovered the World Race Mission trip, my thoughts were this is awesome, however, I am comfortable serving where I am.   God kept nudging and encouraging me to get out of the boat, not settle for comfort or going through the motions and follow Him.  A verse kept coming back to me: Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16:15. I am stepping out of the boat and following God.