My life has recently taken a turn that I never expected. Having been born and raised in the good old Mitten (for you southerners, that’s Michigan), I grew up loving seasons, even if I wished that winter would find a way to excuse herself more quickly. My hometown is Saline, Michigan, right in the shadow of Ann Arbor, home of the Michigan Wolverines. From tennis to volleyball to marching band to academics, life was busy and filled with great memories as well.
The college years brought me to the west side of the state, Holland, to be specific, to a small liberal arts school: Hope College. In those four years, I was able to participate in crazy college traditions called The Pull and Nykerk, I served many roles on the Orientation staff, (my favorite of which was to fake cry during a skit we performed for the incoming freshman class), played varsity tennis, worked in a Chemistry lab, served on several executive boards, pursued my faith and busted out the other side with a degree in Chemistry and Psychology. Without a doubt, Hope was the place for me and I cherish those memories.
As with many recent graduates, the first year away from the Hope environment was challenging. I lived in a great house and worked in a job that I was grateful to have, but did not apply to my degree. It was challenging, but proved to be one of the best things for me. Some of the highlights of that year were that I was an Assistant Coach for the women’s tennis team, had applied and been accepted to an accelerated nursing program, and all was beginning to get back on track. Then…I found out about the World Race, a program through Adventures in Missions, and all was lost. After an agonizing decision-making process, I decided to embark on this crazy 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Swaziland, Botswana, and South Africa).
I should have known better.
What I thought was a mission trip, really proved to be a discipleship program where I had more things about myself brought to light, many of which were insecurities and areas ready for growth, than I could have possibly imagined. It brought such unspeakable joy and freedom. The other great thing? I fell so deeply in love with Jesus, in ways that I’d never experienced, that my life was wrecked…for the better.
Now, when I would have been finished with that accelerated nursing degree, I am instead serving as an apprentice at the very organization that served as a tool to turn my world upside down. I love that! I’ve been privileged to see so many people’s lives change because they find a place to walk in the true, genuine freedom that they’ve always longed for. It is this very thing that keeps me with Adventures in Missions. I want to be a vessel that God uses to help call His children home.
Which brings us to now. Freedom is what I’m passionate about and now that I’ve tasted it, I can’t ever go back. I’m in the midst of an unfolding love story where God uses my life to show His redemptive love, and I can’t get enough.
