Hi Everyone, I’m Christopher
There isn’t a whole lot to know about me. I was born in Plano, Texas and lived there till just before September 11, 2001 when I moved to Parker, Texas. I was just down the road from Southfork a ranch, which is best known for the TV show Dallas, and is now known for Celebrate Freedom one of the largest Christian concerts each year. The house that I lived in was close enough to hear the concerts from the backyard. In 2005 my family movedagain, leaving Texas behind us. Off to Monett, Missouri. I know almost everyone reading this is now asking where is Monett and there is a saying “Monett isn’t the end of the world but you can see it from here” well that’s not completely true but to a city boy moving to a small town where the most excitement is the dirt track on Sunday night it was a shock to me to say the least. I know, I know I still haven’t told you where on earth is Monett, it is in southwest Missouri, between Springfield and Joplin.
I have been in scouts since I was 6 years old. Having reached the pinnacle and receiving my Eagle rank I turned to leadership in scouts. The move to Missouri came at a time that was perfect for me in scouts. If I had not moved I probably would have dropped out. But instead I got more active in Scouting’s honor society, the OA, and started leadership in areas farther than I ever thought I would go. I went from leading a local Chapter to a Lodge and then a Section. The Chapter was 5 counties, Lodge 31 Counties and at Section I was the leader for scouts in 5 States. The opportunity that scouts gave me was more learning than anything but also an adventure. I’ve spent 2 weeks hiking with everything on my back even my food in the mountains of New Mexico. I canoed in the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada. Even sailing in the keys of Florida. I traveled all over the US with scouts.
It wasn’t till college that I went to another country. I got the chance to do a short study abroad in Germany and then on another occasion in Belgium studying food science and EU policy. Along the way, I also got the chance to go to England. They were incredible experiences but they were all in the 1st world. The hardest part was bottled water in Germany and Belgium is almost all sparkling water so that was different but other than that it was similar to the US.
I studied Animal Science at the University of Missouri or as it is known MIZZOU. I finished up my studies this spring. Before I went to Mizzou, I went to Crowder College in southwest Missouri, for two years including one while I was still in high school. I was able to do this because I was home schooled from the time I was in the forth grade. Many people ask why homeschooled? It was because I’m dyslexic and got into a program at the Texas ScottishRite Hospital that taught me ways to cope with my dyslexia.
In the spring of 2010 I ended up spending Easter in the hospital due to bacterial induced heart attack. At the time I was 19. After this the doctors have run more test on me than anyone else I know my age. I also was in and out of doctors in 2007 when I lost 40 pounds in two months and have over the last few years had other fluctuations in weight. It was these health issues that called into question my intrest in being a large animal vet.
And that brings us to the WorldRace. As early as age 12 I felt a call to missions, but wordly influences pushed that thought aside. And still, service to others, a hallmark of scouting, dominated much of my teenage years. …
And that’s Me…
Good ole Christopher
