My mom always tells me I was a strong willed child. I’m sure I gave my parents more grey hairs than they deserved by the time I was 12. But as I grew, that strong will turned in to strength and determination to follow the Lord with my life. My heart beats a million times a minute when I think about the opportunity to serve Him overseas and to get to be a part of what he is doing in the church around the world. I am compelled to minister to and observe people groups on all corners of the earth, and that is what brought me to the World Race!
I grew up in a not too big, not too small town in Wisconsin. I come from an amazing family of 6 with parents who love the Lord and love me unconditionally. When I was 14 years old, God spoke clearly to my heart to do missions work overseas. I especially felt a burden for India after seeing a slideshow of the slums in Calcutta. I went on my first missions trip to Vijayawada, India when I was 15 (boy, were my parents trusting!). And that is where my heart developed a love for the work God is doing overseas. Comitting my life to full time ministry, I went to Moody Bible Insitute to study Bible and Theology. With a degree in hand, I could think of nothing more I would rather do than go overseas again. So I packed my bags and headed to Kenya with Adventures in Missions. There, I got to live and minister in the slums of Nairobi. My experience there was unbelievable and forever changed my idea of missions. It also increased my desire to see the world even more! The day I got back from Kenya, I was on the internet looking for another opportunity to go abroad. Thats when I came across the World Race. Consequently, it was with the same organization I went to Kenya with! Ever since I shut down my computer that day, it has been on my heart and I am excited to finally get to do it!
A little bit more about me: Most of my friends would describe me as outgoing and goofy. I love to laugh and make other people laugh. I am a sucker for chocolate, traveling, rollerblading, The Office, water, roller coasters, orange chicken from Panda Express and underwater basket weaving :-). The best job I’ve ever had was working and living on a 150 foot gaff rigged schooner. You can’t beat getting paid to sail every day. On a Saturday afternoon, you will probably find me in jeans and a hoodie either hanging out with friends or watching a movie. I love being around people…they energize me. I am probably the only person in the world who doesn’t care for hot drinks: coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. I get most fired up when I think about traveling the world and doing ministry and have a special place in my heart for ministry with prostitutes. My passion runs deep but my love for the Lord even deeper. I am thrilled to be a part of such an amazing experience and pray that everything I do and see brings glory to Him!
