A little about myself…

I am from Colorado, right at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, one of the most beautiful places in the world… if you don’t believe me, just Google pictures of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak, you’ll see! I got my B.A. in International Studies from the University of Wyoming in 2009. As a high school kid, I was blessed to have many people who invested time and energy into my life, to teach me and encourage me towards what God had for my life. And as soon as the chance came, I wanted to reinvest into more youth. I volunteered with a youth ministry in Wyoming for almost 3 years and another in Colorado. These experiences have created a strong passion to see youth grow and be equipped and sent out with a fire and excitement for sharing Christ with others.

I’ve felt God’s call to ministry since I was young, a freshman in high school, when I went on my first mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, and He has been carefully guiding my steps since then. God has grown in me a passion for youth and also a deep love for Africa and its people. A friend recommended that I check out YouthHOPE and all it took was reading the vision and mission statements on the website. “We are committed to transforming the lives of global youth by equipping the church to meet their holistic needs.” God has placed a vision in my heart for global youth ministry, to train and raise up leaders in the church. Youth are the ones with the visions and dynamic passions, the ones who are ready to be movers and shakers, they have potential beyond what I can imagine… So, let’s go out and equip the youth of the world to shake up the world for Christ, to rock their communities, to live with the same kind of crazy, wild love that Jesus showed us on the cross. Who’s in?

So, I’m just under two weeks into my apprenticeship here at YouthHOPE now, and things are getting exciting. We finished up the 2011 internships with the Kenya team’s debrief earlier this week and now we are looking forward to 2012! It is great to get to start to dream and envision for the internships next summer. I am enjoying my time in the office so far, getting adjusted and building relationships with the rest of the team. I have the privilege of working with some amazing people who are pursuing hard after what God has called them to do and it is a wonderful place to be! In the coming weeks I will be working to start partnering with our GYWs (Global Youth Workers) in Africa to brainstorm for the 2012 internships as well as recruiting some more awesome interns to go, serve and bless. I’m excited for all that God is going to be teaching me throughout the next year and all that He is preparing to do in our team and with youth globally!