I was lucky to have a close family growing up. I had my parents an my sister supporting me the whole way. We went on many family trips and my parents taught me to love travel and seeing new places. I think as I’ve gotten older I’ve actually gotten closer with my parents more as friends. I’m glad we have such good relationships. My sister, CJ, and I are pretty much just typical sisters. We’re best friends even though we fight over stupid things. She’s been a great support for me and I hope I’ve been the same for her. I’ve also got a zoo at my home. 2 cats, a dog, 2 sugar gliders, and some fish. Oh, and I’ve got myself a fantastic person named Clay. He’s my best friend and (as of July 2014) my loving fiance.
I grew up going to Ginghamsburg Church, which I’m very thankful for, and school at Tipp City Schools. I graduated in 2013. At Ginghamsburg I was blessed to have been able to go on several short mission trips and this is where my love for missions started.
Now my life seems pretty great, but through high school I struggled with P.A.N.D.A.S. Syndrome. (Yes like the bear, but not related at all.) Basically, my antibodies attacked my brain, focused on the part controlling emotions. It caused a lot of psychiatric issues, mostly depression and anxiety.
When I was really sick I drifted away from my friends and from church and my faith. I just didn’t understand why such bad things were happening to me. Because I’d always tried my hardest to be a good person and to go to church. I regret drifting away from the Lord, I know now that this was when He had wanted me to seek Him out and to rely on Him. As a child I had always been faithful, I was baptized as a baby, then again in grade school when I could make the decision for myself, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I really consider myself to have accepted Christ and the Lord.
I was at the Alive Music Festival in Mineral City, Ohio, in 2013 (this was after I was a lot better) and I felt God working in ways that I had not experienced before. I felt like I could actually ‘See’ Him touching the lives of others, and He touched mine, too. It was there that I made the decision to be baptized again. And I now consider this the discovery of my unbroken wings.
I had recently been looking into mission trips I could go on because I was feeling that call from God that I once had. I started asking a girl, Alex, who had also grown up at Ginghamsburg church, questions about the mission she’s currently on. She is on the Gap Year trip that started September ’14 and I felt I was being called to it as well.
The application process took forever. And I prayed a lot. I know this will be a huge step in my faith and my life and I wanted to be sure this is where God was calling me. Then I got the call and I was told I was accepted to the Gap Year route 3 race.
I am so excited to be going on this trip. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for my squad and I. I hope I will be able to share my story with many and inspire the people who need it.
Joshua 1:9 says “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” He has called me to this mission and though I know it will be very hard, I’m just going to have to believe in the path He is leading me on.
