Mission work started for me in junior high as a member of my youth group at church. Our youth pastor always planned various mission opportunities for us locally, nationally, and internationally. My first international mission trip was to Juarez, Mexico as a freshman in high school (2002). This trip was absolutely amazing and just the beginning of my heart’s desire to serve those who are less fortunate than me in other countries.
In college I was actively involved with an on campus church, Campus Ministry (CM). Through CM I was able to go on spring break, Christmas and summer trips. During my sophomore year I had the privilege of student leading our spring break mission trip to Sarasota, FL. This was a stretching and learning experience as I handled logistics, planning, and coordinating of mission work for 72 college students. One place that I was able to travel to on a CM trip and fall madly in love with was New Orleans, LA. I went initially in May 2007, just two years following Hurricane Katrina, and couldn’t stop going back. From 2007 to now I have been there 9 times not including the summer that I lived down there both working and volunteering with relief efforts. While I loved New Orleans and the work I was able to do there, I still had the itching to get out and see the world while serving God and others at the same time.
For years the statistics of orphans, aids, unclean water, and malnutrition of Africa gripped my heart. My dream, for years, was to go to Africa. During summer of 2010 (June-August) that dream came true. Through my church I got connected with Dan and Regina Bumstead (Amazing, amazing people) who moved to Zambia in Dec 2010 and have pioneered Love’s Door for All Nations in Livingstone, Zambia. For two months I was able to work in and part-time live in a rural village along the Zambezi River. I learned so much about myself, God, and having a servant’s heart through this experience. Following my time in Zambia, the little flame that was initially burning in my heart for internal missions was now fully aflame.
From St. Joseph, MI
to Juarez, Mexico
to New Orleans, La
to Livingstone, Zambia
to THE WORLD!
My eyes have been opened,
my heart has been called,
and the Lord is now sending me out into THE WORLD.
[[and by the world I mean: Ukraine, Romania, India, Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and one other Asian country.]]
