Hey! My name is Dalton Hyko and I’m an 18-year-old homeschool senior. I live at Lake Cherokee near Longview, Texas with my mom and dad. I have two brothers and two sisters, who are grown and on their own. I was adopted at age 10 and have enjoyed a pretty good life since. My time in foster care is one of the many reasons why I picked this route. I love kids and really want the children I meet in Africa and Asia to know that they have this wonderful and caring Father in heaven. I didn’t have a father until I was ten and I was overjoyed to find out that I had a perfect one in heaven and a wonderful father here on earth as well.
Favorite pastimes are hanging out with friends at the local coffee shop, fixing up my truck, and doing bible studies with others. I have two dogs and love to play with both of them in the yard. Our yellow lab is Gracie and our labradoodle is Scout. I really enjoy fishing in our boat, especially with my dad. It doesn’t matter what we are fishing for because we always have the best time just trying.
So most people say that I’m an extrovert because I enjoy people so much. I like to joke around with my friends, but I also can be serious, encouraging and sharing with one another. I took the Myers-Briggs personality test and it resulted in EXFJ…whatever that means.
When I was 15, I was saved at a youth conference, but I still struggled with putting Jesus ahead of myself. My life changed forever in June 2018, when I suffered a major stroke while I was at swim practice. I was completely paralyzed on my right side. Also, I lost the ability to speak. I spent a long time in therapy trying to regain my movement and speech. I finally got most of it back but during this hard challenge, I really struggled with my faith. All the plans I’d made for the future were a big question mark. It was hard to remain hopeful, but God showed me how this part of my life can help others. Plus I think that God taught me a lesson here. I was really prideful before my stroke. I was a great athlete and loved the praise that came from it, but God humbled me to make me realize that all the praise and glory of what I do goes to Christ, not to me. Now I try to help others who are struggling and am working to be a leader within my youth group. I still struggle with completely trusting God and I want to learn how to always put my trust in the Lord.
The stroke wrecked MY future career plan of being a police officer, but GOD changed my story and has other plans for my life…plans that led me to the World Race. I’m not sure what He has in store for me after the Race, but I’m excited to find out. My greatest desire is to minister to and share the hope of Christ with kids in these countries.
I really would love it if y’all could pray for me as I fundraise.
In Christ,
Dalton Hyko
