As a little girl growing up in Texas I had many ideas of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Around the time I was 8 or 9, moving on from my desire to be a ballerina, I began telling people that I wanted to be a missionary. I came to Christ when I was 8 and I had parents who taught the truths of the Bible and was surrounded by people who loved God. I loved to listen to missionaries when they would come and share at my church and I began to think that that was what I wanted to do with my life. I had no idea what that would look like but I was excited about all the possibilities. I moved to Tennessee with my family in 2001 and continued to grow in my relationship with the Lord and with others who walked closely with him.
I eventually graduated high school and was extremely blessed to be able to attend Bryan College in Dayton, Tn. While there I was mentored by many professors and staff and met many friends who encouraged me in my faith. During this time I continued looking for ways that I could eventually be in full-time missions. After years of wanting to go overseas I finally got to go to Zambia, a country in Southern Africa, during the summer after my junior year. Going with Operation Mobilization and working with various outreaches helped to fulfill some of my Missions minor and Communications major requirements. I also got a small taste of what it was like to live and work in a different country as I lived among other missionaries. A year later I graduated with a Communications degree. I still didn't know what I would be doing long-term but God abundantly provided the following year with several part time jobs at the college, rest, lots of growth, and a community that I will never forget.
Bryan College
In August 2014 I moved to Independence, Missouri and began a year-long internship at Shelterwood Academy which is a Christian therapeutic boarding school for at-risk teens. This was the hardest year of my life so far but it was very rich in many ways. I developed relationships with many faithful brothers and sisters who I lived and worked with every day. I was direct care staff but informally a "big sister" or one of the "bigs." During this year I had the privilege of speaking into the lives of many teenagers and also learning a lot from them. I spent many hours just hanging out with the girls, preparing and eating meals with them, going rock climbing, swinging on the front porch, taking walks, going to doctor appointments, doing chores, going out on room nights, going on a trip to Haiti, watching movies, going on birthday dinners, playing ultimate squid, and doing countless other things. During this time I developed a passion for this type of ministry. I was drawn to how believers worked so closely together with a common desire to see others know Christ and to be willing to stand in the struggle and to love when it is difficult. Although I will never be able to do it perfectly my desire is to reflect Christ's unconditional love to those placed in my life.
Shelterwood Academy
After completing my year at Shelterwood, I moved back to Tennessee without knowing what the following months had in store. God graciously provided a job at a small boarding school near Cleveland, Tn within the first few weeks of being back. He also provided me with the first car I've ever owned and friends and family who welcomed me into their homes. The school is called Bachman Academy and it serves middle and high schoolers with learning differences. This is where I have been working as a dorm parent for the girls dorm since October 2015. God has taught me a lot about relying on Him as I mentor these teens and see them grow in a lot of different areas.
Bachman Academy
That brings me to the reason I am writing this blog. I wanted to let you all know where God is directing me next! This will be shared in my first post on the Home page. If you want to hear more, I would love to share additional stories and info about what God has been doing in my life! Please contact me anytime, I would love to hear from you!
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