Wisconsin...Welcome to Your Mission Field!

  • The Call to Christ
It amazes me as I look back through my life and see the hand of God preparing me for what He would one day call me to, even before I knew Him.  I was not raised in a Christian home however, and while I believed that there was a God, I didn't know Him...nor did I understand that He was a god that I could know.   I served in the Coast Guard for nine years, but it was my two years on board a ship that probably prepared my heart the most to receive the Gospel.  We were involved with Alien Migration Interdiction Operations (that's the military's way of saying that we rescued Haitians, most of whom were returned to Haiti).  Seeing the desperation of so many, and the conditions they were returning to, had me wondering what kind of a god would allow such things.

After I was transferred to California, I met some believers who shared with me about Jesus Christ.  I started to read the Bible, at first understanding very little.  But as I continued to read and ask questions, I started to understand who Jesus was, and what He had done for me.  When I was 25 years old, I heard God's call and surrendered my life to Christ.

  • The Call to Missions

I grew up in Baltimore City.  I loved the diversity...and am so thankful I had friends of so many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  While I was on board ship in the Coast Guard, I had numerous encounters with people from other countries, most of whom did not speak any English.  I had the privilege of helping to deliver a Haitian baby.  And the heart-wrenching experience of helping a Mexican woman through a miscarriage.  I'd experienced the frustration of wanting so badly to communicate, but being unable to do so with words.  I'm sure the many encounters I'd had then tendered my heart towards internationals here in the United States.  When I heard about English as a Second Language ministries, I knew that this was where God wanted me to serve.  I've worked with internationals since 2006, and for the past four years have worked to equip others to be involved with ESL ministries.  My role has expanded in the past year, as I now work to equip others to share Christ through all areas of literacy missions.