It was a hot muggy Monday evening in August of 1983 – the 8th to be exact. The family was gathered to celebrate the 2nd birthday of their firstborn son. The mother, extremely pregnant and ready to burst, realized she was going into labor in the midst of preparing for the party. A few hours later, big brother received a birthday gift no one ever expected! Two years to the date of their first birth, the family welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. She's continued to surprised them ever since…
Okay, okay I'm just kidding. No novel-esque life stories shall unfold here!!!! 😀 They tell me I'm to introduce myself to y'll… It's pretty hard to figure out where to start, how to proceed and when it's finished. Let's get the basics out of the way-
- 26 years old, youngest of 3, born and raised in West Philadelphia/surrounding suburbs.
- Completed 6th-12th grade at The Agnes Irwin School- an all girls, private wealthy suburban school. LOVED IT despite some tough times!
- Received my B.A. Sociology with a minor in African/African-American Studies from Washington University in St. Louis in 2005. While there, I had the pleasure of serving with 2 incredible organizations- Harambee Christian Ministries and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (joined 2003) I also participated in a service learning trip the summer of 2004 in Kenya.
- Post-grad, I worked 2 years as a Foster/Kinship Social Worker back home in Philly until I started to feel the academia itch (I'm a bonafide nerd- I LOVE school!) One night, in a dream and with the help of Google the next morning, I was directed to Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, NC. I applied and was accepted. Shortly before I was due to start, I found out about a guidance counseling program at West Chester University and it seemed like the next step at the time- not seminary. Graduated from there with my M.Ed Counseling & Educational Psychology in 2009.
- Halfway through this program, I realized that I did not want to serve/help without a spiritual foundation. Interventions, assessments, theories and the like are all wonderful, but there has to be more to it. My theoretical approach is God! I needed Jesus to be a part of whatever career I pursued. Soooo I accepted admission at Hood, started classes in fall 2009 and am L-O-V-ing it! I can't wait to take Hebrew!!!!
That's the meat and potatoes…
One thing I always say is that my life has left no choice but for me to believe in God in a very real way. I could spend this entire blog recounting all the incredible blessings He's hooked my family and me up with, but I'll just make it a highlight reel-
+ My brother was diagnosed with complete renal failure at the age of 4. After a while on dialysis, Daddy gave him a kidney and he lived sans problems for 17 years (when the prognosis was death).
+ I could have been paralyzed at the age of 11, but medical science had JUST developed a new surgical technique to address the condition I was diagnosed with (long fancy term for broken hips) that fixed both with a quick surgery and a few months of crutches.
+ My brother randomly started going to this church called Redeemed Learning (now Worship) Center and slowly all of us followed suit. I received salvation (as an aware and autonomous young adult able to make a conscious decision) on Jan 1, 1999. Life has never been the same since- for any of us!
+ I was molested by a cousin around the age of 10 and had extremely jacked up views on sex/sexuality for a looooong time until the momma made one comment to me when I was 22 or so. Her one statement changed it all around, helped me to heal and to become healthy in this area.
+ My parents split for 7 years and are now weeks away from celebrating their 30th anniversary. Their love is deeper now than it has ever been. The same church and Pastor my brother connected us to were instrumental in their reconciliation.
+ My brother died in 2003 and I watched my parents go from broken questioning their ability to carry on; to being healed, whole and happy solely as a result of them calling on Jesus (at times that's literally all they could do). Y'll, some of us sat in front of his casket previewing his body while laughing, cracking jokes and reminiscing. CRAZZZY!!!!
+ My Mommy went from morbidly obese to fly, fit and full of life.
+ Daddy was diagnosed with prostate cancer, had surgery, drove himself to radiation on his lunch breaks and is completely cancer free.
MY GOD IS GOOD!!!!! YOU CAN'T TELL ME MY GOD IS NOT AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!!! WHOOO
There's MUCH more I could write in that list, but I don't want to wear y'll out with my very first post!
So that brings us to today and me preparing for the journey of a lifetime. If you ask anyone who knows me they'll tell you world cultures (language, dance, food, traditions) and adventure, etc. are my passions. Social justice/service is my heart. If you ask those same people what reality show I've always wanted to go on they'd tell you The Real World (early years…ugh it's garbage now) and/or The Amazing Race. When I found this organization I was GEEEEEEKED! This mission trip is The Amazing Race on Jesus! What could be better? It combines 2 of my loves.
I know many of you share my same passions, interest, love of humanity, etc., but are unable/not called to take this sort of trip. I want to carry you all with me. I desire for you to partner with me in prayer, financial support, experience (vicariously and/or joining me for future trips), joy, challenges and success. I plan to keep a very detailed blog including pictures (and possibly videos) I cannot make this journey without you. I believe the encouraging words, reasons to smile/laugh, monetary donations, prayers, suggestions, etc. I get from each of you will make the difference in the outcome of this trip. Let's do this!
Quote of the Moment (QotM):
If you make an observation, you have an obligation ~M.K. Asante
Song of the Moment (SotM):
