Hello!
I’m Saraya and I’m 24 years old. I grew up outside the small Indiana town of Bedford playing basketball (of course), making mud pies, and going to church. My church was small, my pastor was my great grandpa, and my youth group consisted of about five to ten people. I’m not even sure of the exact moment I accepted Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior, but I was baptized at the age of 8.
I have two older brothers who are awesome and a single mother who supports me in so many ways. My grandparents have also been wonderful. I also have a half sister on my father’s side that I have had the privilege of getting to spend time with throughout my life.
Once I got to high school I started to take more art classes and knew it was what I wanted to do. I also got the opportunity to go to Ireland, Scotland, and England with a few classmates. The travel bug had bit.
After I graduated from BNL high school in 2008, I decided to go to Arizona State University to study art. I had felt God leading me there. I joined Campus Crusade for Christ and went to Santa Monica on a two month long mission trip. I learned evangelism, outreach, fellowship, and surviving on a fixed (no) income. It really changed how I see life, the purpose of our existence, and the power of missions. I had the privilege of leading a woman to Christ that summer, and I will never forget it.
I became a leader in CRU, discipling girls and leading creatively. Then the next summer after my sophomore year I went to East Asia on a five week mission trip. I had always wanted to go there. I got to experience a different culture and see the thirst for the gospel like never before.
I graduated in may of 2012 with a BA in ART. The following July I got the amazing opportunity to work at Wind River Ranch in Colorado. It is a Christian family guest ranch on the edge of the Rocky Mountains. I worked with children and also did the photography and videography. I really enjoyed the staff fellowship and serving our guests and each other.
After I left in October I got a job at ASU as a materials handler (essentially a mailman). It was definitely a Godsend.
I applied to the world race in October of 2013 after much prayer and I got accepted on January 2nd of 2014. I’m so excited to go!
