Well what can I say… I’m just a small town girl >>living in a LONELY WORLDDD!!
Just kidding.
About the lonely world part—I really am a small town girl and I enjoy singing that glorious song at the top of my lungs. I hope you understand what I’m talking about otherwise this makes no sense to you and you already think I’m weird.
Which is quite accurate.
But I digress…
To really get to know me, it’s impossible without knowing who my Savior is. Yet, this has not always been true. For most of my life, faith in God was nothing more than a religion full of empty rituals and a list of things I could and could not do. I labeled myself a Christian, but lived as the world around me saw fit. This worked for a while until my life of sin led me down a road of destruction in trying to fill a void only Jesus could. The Gospel ruined everything in the best way possible. Before, I believed that I had it all. But I realized that without Jesus, I have nothing. It was time to surrender my entire life to the One who died to redeem it.
That was back in December of 2012 and it has been the hardest and most incredible journey! Now, I have a passion to reach the lost—just as I once was. And as God continues to guide me, I know that my past and my life can be used for His glory to shine a light in even the darkest of places.
Place where I grew up: Celina, Ohio
Family: My immediate family is Jim (dad), Terri (mom), and Ross & Marie (older brother and sister-in-law) – God has also blessed me with amazing step families as well: Susan (stepmom), Chandler (stepbrother), Carleen (stepsister) … Barry (stepdad), Amy, Molly, and Emily (stepsisters). My family means a whole lot to me. We are all weird in our own ways!
My temperament: I’m slightly more extroverted than introverted – like 60/40. I would say that I’m pretty laid back and have a type B personality. I adjust to change well and prefer to fly by the seat of my pants than have a rigid schedule. I’ve been blessed/cursed with a keen sense of self-awareness and know that I need type A people in my life to hold me down. Ha!
How I found out about the World Race: I was an intern for a church in Durham, NC during the summer of 2014. A co-worker of mine (Rowan Garmon), out of the blue one day tells me, “Josie, you would be perfect for the World Race!” Where I proceed to ask, “What in the heck is the World Race!?” And the rest was history!
My hopes for the World Race: God has given me an insatiable hunger and thirst for more of Him! On this race, I want to get to the very end of myself and deeper into His presence. Beyond that, I hope to see people cross over from death to life as they put their faith and hope in Jesus! I want to be about the Father’s business. My prayer is, “God, what are you doing in this place and how can I be apart of it?” I know God wants to use me to change the world – so my hope it so see more of this world that He’s created; encounter it’s brokenness and it’s beauty.
Dreams for my life: My dreams are scattered all over the place! I’m in a place in my life where the possibilities of what God wants/will do through me are seemingly endless. It’s exciting, but I’m engaging with the Lord to refine my dreams and He’s using my experience on the Race to do it! So I’ll keep you posted!
Is there a big “YES” in my spirit?: abso-freaking-lutely! My yes is already on the table. To what exactly? I don’t always know. Right now it’s to the World Race. God has been and is faithful to reveal what’s next when the time is right. But there is a big yes to go into uncharted territory, to be a pioneer, and to do things that aren’t possible on my own strength.
Other random facts about me…
> in March 2014 I drank the Crossfit kool-aid & never looked back
> adventure junkie – the more spontaneous, the better
> coffee is one of God’s magnificent blessings to mankind
> I love to read
> nature rocks (pun intended)
> I also like puns
> I like to consider myself a professional marshmallow roaster…they’re my favorite!!!
> graduate from Bowling Green State University – studied Human Development and Family Studies
> I think the end pieces of bread are a necessary evil
> Parks and Rec and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air are my favorite shows… and just about anything on the Food Network
