My Story

This past year has been an amazing year of growth, faith and confirmation. I am finishing up my third year teaching and have the most amazing group of students whom I truly love. I am also blessed to be part of such an amazing church where I am able to minister to my peers and youth by leading and building relationships, and to the congregation through music.

Eight years ago I had the opportunity to visit Ghana, Africa, and had my very first encounter with God. I knew there would be a time and place when I would return to Africa. The opportunity to go to Uganda came this past Christmas/New Years to visit and minister to children in the northern part of the country that has been hit by the 20 some year war with the LRA.

Prior to leaving I knew God was preparing me for fulltime mission work and it was confirmed once I was at Tegotatoo Internally Displaced Camp. The children, mostly orphaned because the LRA had murdered their parents or they had died from AIDS, were malnourished, sick, and surrounded by poverty and hopelessness. However, through all of that God was given MUCH glory through the simple songs of children praising and joy from toys and clothing they never thought they would have. They so desperately want to be loved yet do not know how to express it. I was able to experience it first hand—I was reading a book to a little girl in the first grade and put my arm around her. She leaned in so tight against me that when I was done and moved she fell right back into me. I could have just stayed there and given all the children hugs, smiles and laughter!!

My passion is to serve the forgotten, lost, and unloved children of the world. I feel called directly to the mission of Every Child Ministries and the work in Tegotatoo. God has been faithful in providing and I am extremely excited and humbled to be able to be His hands and feet in Gulu, Uganda. My heart is completely in Gulu—especially in Tegotatoo!

After much prayer and discussion with ECM, my objectives and goals are as follows:

Education for the orphaned children who cannot afford monthly school fees.
Counseling for the child mothers and ex-child soldiers who were abducted and escaped
the LRA.
Sponsorship coordination
Business education and start up for self-sufficiency.
Bible clubs, discipleship, small groups
Leadership training for the national staff
Agriculture assistance
Relocation assistance from camp back to their home villages.

This opportunity will help meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of a community devastated by a war that has affected three generations. More than anything, I would cherish your prayers for the team, the people of Uganda, the situations we will all face, for myself and especially for God’s will to be done. I believe God answers prayers and I am asking you to pray for safety, health, traveling and financial support.