It all started when I was born on September 30, 1985…
hahaha! My parents at the time lived in the north side of Chicago, near where
my Dad was born and raised (Go Cubs!). I don’t remember living in the city,
because when I was 4 we moved out to the suburbs and so I grew up in Crystal
Lake, IL.
I attended a Lutheran school from preschool until 8th
grade. This provided me with a safe environment to learn in and gave me a
strong Biblical foundation for my life. When I was 8 years old, I first heard
the gospel message presented at a Christian summer camp and it was there that I
first accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. The meaning and significance of
this decision has been continually changing for me since that time.
The summer before high school, I took my first official
mission trip to North Carolina to do hurricane relief work. Other than my time
overseas, this remains one of my favorite memories. Shortly thereafter, we
moved to Elgin, the town I have lived in now for 10 years. I began attending a
public high school much larger and more diverse than the private school I had previously
gone to. I came in knowing no one, and experienced my first taste of culture
shock as I adjusted to the new environment.
High school was marked by times of growing in my faith, such
as attending a spiritual “boot camp” where I first learned about having a
relationship with God through daily devotions and prayer. I also had times of
profound doubting as well, though, as I felt like the only Christian in the
entire school.
I attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and majored
in Early Childhood Education. During college, I became involved with Campus
Crusade for Christ as well as Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. . It was
during this time that I would say my faith became authentic, because it was
something I was actively seeking as an adult.
got a job at the school I student taught at a few months after graduating in
2008. I entered teaching with high hopes and expectations, and from the first
day of school, it was nothing of what I imagined it to be. I had a challenging
group of students, which was stressful, and the workload was exhausting. My
first year of initiation into adulthood was painful and disillusioning and at
the end of the year, I was jobless because I had taken a temporary position. I
ended up partway into the school year being offered a job again in the same
public school district, and my second year of teaching (kindergarten) was
better, but I was traveling between two schools, which was a challenge.
trip. I found an organization based in Nairobi online, raised some support, and
the next thing I know was in Africa! I spent a month there volunteering at a
school in the slums, and did some sightseeing as well. I fell in love with the
place and the people, especially the children. I was able to go back in 2009,
and my dad joined me for 3 weeks. We volunteered at an orphanage and after he left
I stayed on for another 2 weeks with a wonderful group of Christians at another
orphanage. During both of these times I learned let go of the guise of control
over my life and trust Jesus fully.
In June of this year I was jobless again due to district
budget cuts, and I did an extensive job search all summer long, willing to
relocate in order to continue to pursue my dream of being a teacher.
Ultimately, I was offered two preschool positions, but neither proved to be a
right fit for me. In the meantime, I had stumbled upon The World Race online
and though “huh, that would be cool” and applied. For a period of about a month,
I grappled with the dilemma of decision-making, but ultimately I know that if I
don’t do this now I will regret it for the rest of my life.
The entire process of this trip scares me to death. But when
the Michael Hindes, the director, talks about the whisper inside of me for
something more, my entire being ignites. And when I read about feeding the
hungry, helping the homeless, and loving on orphans I think “sign me up!” I
think this will be the most challenging thing I have ever done: living out of a
backpack, dwelling in close community (I’m an introvert!), but I also think I need
this. I have been longing for radical change, not just in the world but also in
myself. I can lay out my Christian credentials and pretend to be holy but the
truth is I am a mess. And I just want to see who God has made me to be and what
His purpose is for me.
Other things about me:
has 4 children ages 11, 9, 4, and 2. I love them all dearly and it’s fun to be “Auntie
RaeRae!” One of the hardest part of this trip will be missing out on being
around them for the next 11 months.
I love music, books, writing, photography, nature, animals, kids,
fruit, intelligent conversation, word games, and, the color blue!
I am excited for what this next chapter of my
life will bring and what God will do in me and through me!
