My story really begins back in high school when I started to attend a church with a friend of mine. This same friend then introduced me to Hope College.
When I went to visit Hope on a junior visitation day I knew I just had to go there. At the time I didn’t really think much of it but I now know that it was God showing me that this is the place He had planned for me to grow in my faith. Throughout my four years at Hope I met many great people who pushed me and challenged me along the way. This is the place where I also fell in love with other cultures and languages. During my time there I studied Spanish education and had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain and Argentina. While studying abroad I knew I needed to make my way abroad again at some point.
Fast forward to graduation. After graduating from college I spent a year teaching in Ecuador. I saw so many incredible places and things during my time there. One specific thing that stuck with me was the children on the street with no home and selling things to make money for their families.
Fast forward again a year and it leads me to where I am now. Coming to Morocco was not easy like going to Ecuador. I really disliked it because I never gave it a chance. Again, I didn’t know it at the time but this is where God really started to push me in my faith. While being here I have been blessed with a great church community. I have had the opportunity to take a trip to the north of Africa and distribute clothing and other needs to refugees living in the mountains. This is when I started to think about doing more. Around this same time I got involved in volunteering at an orphanage here in Morocco. I fell in love with the little kids. Watching them grow up in a small room is very difficult to see but the joy on their faces when you get down and play with them is priceless. This is when I really knew I was being called to do more.
And here we are. I am very excited to do the World Race and see what God does in the world and within myself.
