Hello!
This is my first time blogging so this should be interesting. My name is Matthew, but I mostly go by Matt (although there are various other nicknames I have been called i.e. Matty Ice, Mattster, etc). I just turned 23 this past June. I was born in Columbia, SC and grew up there as well. I just graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am a HUGE Clemson fan. GO TIGERS!!! I have an amazing family that is always there with me and loves me even when I do not choose the path they would want for me. I am very very thankful for them!
I grew up going to Windsor United Methodist Church in Columbia and understood a lot about who God was, but never had a personal relationship with Him. I knew Jesus was who I was supposed to believe in, but still never felt that connection. Little did I know or realize that God was working in me to bring me closer to Him. It took until I was 20 years old to realize that I needed to have a relationship with Christ. There was a need inside of me that could only be fulfilled by having a relationship with Him. I went to NewSpring Church that day in Anderson, SC where the pastor was talking about if we really knew if we were His. That was a question I had never pondered or asked myself and then I realized I wasn’t as close to Him as I thought. So on August 12, 2007 I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and haven’t looked back. I also had the amazing opportunity to be baptized a short while after, which was an awesome experience.
Even though I have only been a Christian for a short while, I feel my relationship with God has grown leaps and bounds over the rest of my college years. I have been so blessed that He placed the right people around me to help me grow closer to Him. I have always wanted to have a heart for missions, but never had one until a friend told me about the World Race and I started to see a passion burning in me for this mission trip. It is so awesome to see how God can totally change our hearts when we give EVERYTHING to Him and just fully surrender and let go. I feel so blessed to have the love and support around me for this mission trip.
A few random facts about me (since everyone likes these):
- I love stepping on crunchy leaves
- Backpacking/hiking/outdoors stuff are some of my favorite things
- I have a huge passion for people and making genuine relationships
- Deep down I am a nerd that loves anything technology
- I love to cook anything, but I’m not good at baking
- Green eyes are the best eye color by far
- I like to make awkward situations more awkward…I think
- I say “yeah?” a lot when I haven’t been paying attention to what someone is saying or someone just said something really awkward
- If I could publish a book with the thoughts in my head on a daily basis, I think it would be longer than the Bible
- I love sports, however I’m not the best at playing them
- I love to give blood every chance I get
- I am pretty outgoing from being an RA in college, but I am still a little shy sometimes though
- I love meeting new people…that means you too!
