This year my team and I are serving at Bemidji State University in Northern Minnesota. On this small campus, we are excited to foster a wholesome and life-giving community, building authentic friendships and encouraging deep spiritual growth in relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ!

I was born and raised Catholic and attended a small private Catholic elementary and middle school which laid the foundation for my love for Christ and His Church. I got to witness my teachers’ strong faith and build wholesome lasting friendships before going to a public high school. Here I witnessed the brokenness of humanity, but lacked the conviction and spirit of evangelism to share the joy and hope that I possessed with others.

After high school I briefly dated a guy who was not Catholic and he posed many questions to me about my Catholic faith. Many of his questions I did not know the answers to, but was determined to find them. I consulted priests, catechists, youth ministers, and many, many books. The relationship did not last, but a zeal ignited in me did. This searching for answers about my faith led me to understand more fully the whys behind what I believe, where the teachings come from in Scripture, and how much deeper and based the Catholic faith is than I had known. Praise the Lord!

I carried this zeal with me into college wanting to share with everyone the profound truths that I had come to know. I attended the University of Wisconsin – Stout and got heavily involved with the Newman Center. I got to walk with friends to know God through His Church and the sacraments. And with any leadership position leading Bible studies and planning events, I was called higher in my own devotion to our Lord. We got FOCUS missionaries at Stout my senior year who raised the standard for what I thought devotion to look like. Ironically, the first thing one missionary said to me when he met me was, “so you’re the future FOCUS missionary!” I laughed awkwardly and thought nothing of it, but here we are!

It is an honor that our Lord has called me to be an instrument to accompany others as they discover the hope, joy, and freedom that are found in Him and His Church, but I cannot do it alone. Students on campuses are searching for belonging; to be seen, known, and loved in a world that lacks compassion and generosity; a world where loneliness is abundant and purpose is lost. It is only because of spiritual and monetary support from mission partners like you that I can be radically available to these students on campus. Prayerfully consider investing to help send me on mission to encounter and gather souls one by one for the glory of the kingdom of God!