Life has been like one big roller coaster ride for me.
As I think about my biography, this is how I feel about my life as I look at it. My name is Jackie Zuiderhof, and the way I usually tell people to pronounce it is more ciderhof.
It is a Dutch name, so the u is silent and the letter i is pronounced (I usually just tell my students to call me Ms. Z).
I grew up in a Christian home in
Arlington,
SD.
I accepted Christ into my life at an early age, but cannot remember when.
After graduating from high school, I went to the
University of
South Dakota in Vermillion, SD.
During my time at USD, I went on two different summer projects with Campus Crusade for Christ.
When I went to
Medora,
ND, I learned how to have a personal relationship with God.
When I went to
South Lake Tahoe,
CA, I learned who I was in Christ and some of my flaws that I needed to work on.
My story starts in a little town called
Arlington,
SD.
I was born and raised in this lovely little town.
I grew up with an older brother and an older sister.
We are all within three years, so I am very lucky.
My brother Wayne is married to Rhose,
a wonderful Pilipino lady and she is such a blessing to our family.
Wayne is in the military and is currently serving in
Alaska.
My sister Maria is married to Lyle and they have one daughter at the time, little Ms. Harriet.
Harriet will be two in August and is super spoiled.
I am super close with Maria and am sad that I will miss the birth of her second child in October.
My parents, Mike and Louise, live in
England as my mom teaches at
Lakenheath
Middle School.
I am very blessed by a very loving and supportive family.
My roller coaster ride really began for me during my time in college. I feel that at times I was at a very big high, but then at others in a low valley.
One of my hardest times was after I had come back from Tahoe after my summer project.
My parents had moved to
England since my mom got a teaching job on a military base.
It felt like my world was turned upside down.
I was used to going home when I wanted and having my parents there.
Now I could only talk to them about once a week and would not be able to see them except for every three months.
My parents were a huge support to me and that is one lesson I had to learn that year.
I had changed my major during my second year of school to math education.
After my parents left me, I realized that I could do anything I wanted.
I did not have to stay in my comfort zone of South Dakota.
I decided to go on an exchange program to
Wichita
State
University.
During my time at
Wichita, I feel like it was one of my lowest times because I was away from the support of my Christian friends.
I felt like I had hit a brick wall when I was done with the year. When I got back to USD the following fall for my final year, all of my friends had moved away.
One of my friends mentioned an exchange program with the military for student teaching.
I decided to apply and was accepted to teach in
Alconbury,
England.
The base ended up being about two hours from my parent’s home.
Luckily my parents found me a wonderful Christian family to live with near the base that I taught at. The couple was a blessing in disguise as they helped build up my faith.
After graduating from college, I had to find a job.
Before I got my job in
Baggs,
WY, I had applied to about 10 different schools.
I felt that I would not get a job, but God planned it so perfectly.
I got my job here in
Baggs,
WY at the beginning of August.
I didn’t know where Baggs was located or anything about
Wyoming before I moved.
My parents moved me in one day so they could make their flight back to
England.
I feel God brought me here to Baggs to build up my faith and give me the time to understand him fully.
I am able to spend regular time with Him and just relax.
I heard of the World Race when I was on support staff with
AIM in
Long Beach,
MS.
I didn’t think that there was any way for me to go because of the support and with paying my loans.
I feel God has provided for me every step of the way while applying for the World Race.
I received a call about a month and a half ago from Rob Harrell asking if I would go back on staff with
AIM for the summer.
I had previously decided to leave my job around November.
I told him that I had to find a job, and he told me that maybe if I go on staff, God would lead me in a different direction.
I just didn’t know it would be in this direction.
I am excited for this opportunity.
I know it will not be easy, but I know that through God anything can happen.
