I grew up in a “Christian” household. My parents believed in Jesus but didn’t really have a full relationship or intimacy with the Father. I went to church when I was younger, but as I got older my family didn’t attend church unless it was a holiday.
There were times in my parent’s marriage that they almost got divorced. I remember in Elementary school me, my mom, my brother, and sister all moved to Mitchell NE because my parents were “getting a divorce”, but never actually ended upgetting one. At this point, there was a lot going on, and things weren’t good at home.
My Dad was an alcoholic growing up and wasn’t the nicest man. I never looked up to him or ever wanted to have a father daughter relationship. He would was extremely degrading and dragged everyone down. At this time I hated my father. I would not let it look like it hurt me, so I started pushing away my emotions to be “stronger”.
In middle school, I hung out with the “popular crowd” to look cool. I cared so much of what others thought of me and I let that control my life.
My 7th-grade year I started going to Youth For Christ with my best friend. At this point, I knew about Jesus but didn’t really have a relationship with him. At the time I struggled with having a relationship with my heavenly father because I thought why would I want a heavenly father when I don’t even want an earthly one. I continued going to Youth For Christ all through my middle school and the beginning of my high school when I was invited to the church I go to now. I started going to the youth group there with some friends on Wednesday’s annually.
– I played volleyball, basketball, and soccer my first year of high school, I strived to always be the best because I thought sports and friends were my only identities. In high school, people started partying. I didn’t really care at first, or even wanted to be a part but eventually wanted to fit in with the crowd so I would go out with my friends to parties.
Some of my friends started getting into hard drugs and drinking and going out more.
I had the choice of going to church by myself or not going at all and falling into partying even more. For a little bit I wouldn’t go but eventually talked myself into going.
– From there I started building relationships within the church. A lady named Renee who became like my spiritual mentor encouraged and walked with me through my journey with the Lord. I began helping in the middle school ministry and trying to help as much as I could.
-Then my Junior year my Grandma passed away which was really hard.
There was a point that I always felt alone and never felt happy but I didn’t want anyone around me to know or think I was weak, so I would push my emotions deep down inside and try and hide them by putting on a smile .
I was so angry at God at this point but people still continue to pour into me and walk with me, sharing Jesus. Through this I began to grow closer in my faith and make it my own. I stopped helping in middle school ministry but after awhile Wendy the children’s pastor at my church asked me to help in children’s ministry and I really didn’t want to at first but I felt that the Lord was calling me to serve in a different ministry.
Then on April 30th, 2017 I got baptized and surrendered my life fully to God. The summer before my senior year I attended camp at Maranatha Bible camp. I had no idea what the Lord had to reveal to me at this time. At the camp, the speaker was talking about how we need to wake up and start living our lives out fully for the Lord and this got me thinking am I living my life out fully for Jesus? At this camp, I heard the Lord calling me to go. I had no idea what this meant or how I was going to do this but ended up talking to Wendy and Tiffany who were at camp with me about what I felt the Lord was calling me into. I went home and still felt like I needed to look into this.
-I was talking to a friend named Angie who was attending my church at this time and she told me about Adventures in Missions. So I decided to look them up and came to a page that said The World Race. I began looking into the race and prayerfully considering it. I decided to apply and eventually got excepted and I am currently on the World Race right now for 9 months and I am Continuing to grow in my faith and intimacy with Jesus daily. Throughout the Race so far it has pushed me into so much growth in not only myself but in my relationship with the Lord as well. It has opened me up to being vulnerable with others and just being flexible and open to anything when it comes to ministry. It has not only impacted my life but has changed my family as well. It has helped my family in growing deeper in intimacy with the Lord and has lead me into forgiveness within my family.
