I have been more than blessed.
I was born and raised near Columbus, Ohio. (Go Bucks!) My parents met and married late in life and they have been the best parents anyone could ask for. They are wonderful, God-fearing people and have brought me up in the church. I also have a younger brother, Matt, who is two years younger than I am. I am one of his biggest fans, and am incredibly proud of the man he has become.
My second home is my church here in Columbus. I have been attending Discover Christian Church since I was four days old and the people who congregate on Sunday mornings in that place are family to me. They have been with me and my family through every time of laughter and every tear and I am so thankful for their incredible support throughout my life and adventures.
In 6th grade I switched from the public school system to a small Christian school called Tree of Life. In 2005 I graduated from this incredible place with more members added to my family. And recently, God has called me back to Tree to substitute teach. I NEVER thought that I would do this, but God has consistently showed me that his plans are way more fun than mine.
After high school I went to college at Indiana Wesleyan University and majored in Intercultural Studies and Leadership. I met many wonderful people at IWU, friends that I will have forever and had many wonderful as well as hard experiences that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
God has put missions in my heart and traveling in my blood. The hard thing about this is leaving the people I love and the place I call home. But…
“‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.'” – Mark 10:29-30
God has been faithful and His Word is so true. The “in this present age” has been proven true in my life. I have brothers and sisters and friends and family now in many different places. Every time I leave “home” I find another one with added family members and now there are people I love that live all over the world. I am so excited about continuing in this during the World Race. Yes, it will be hard to leave Ohio and my mom and dad and brother and church and my many friends. But God is good – and there are new family members waiting for me in 11 different countries as well as incredible people that I will have the honor of traveling and living with for a year.
7 random things about me
– My eyes match my hair
– I have an amazing ability to remember birthdays and anniversaries
– I like sleeping in strange places – two of my favorites when I was a kid were my bedroom closet and the bathtub
– Chocolate and/or coffee can basically solve anything
– I LOVE to read and my most influential book list will never stop growing
– One word – Chipotle
– My heart is no longer mine.
