Varsity Catholic National Team through the Denver Support Center, remotely, out of St. Louis, MO, where I currently live with my husband of 5 years and our 2 children, Emeric (2 years old) and Genevieve (under 1).

My story is less about how I came to know Christ; I have loved Christ and attempted to be in relationship with Him for as long as I can remember. My story is more about deepening my relationship with Christ through finding true beauty in the Catholic church. Through dating a Catholic man, who recently became involved with FOCUS, I discovered that there were Catholics who had a deep understanding of what a true relationship with Jesus would look like.

This left me very intrigued and I wanted to learn what Catholics actually believed.  I told myself that if I was too scared to learn about another faith, then what validity does my faith hold for me.  Prayerfully, I started to meet with FOCUS missionaries, talk with other Catholics, and read books on the faith.  Jesus rocked my world during this time.

Three specific moments come to mind when thinking about my conversion.  One such moment was a conversation with Liz, a current FOCUS missionary, when we were talking about the Eucharist and where it can be found in scripture (John 6). I had always felt that there was something more with communion growing up and this was exactly what was missing.  The Eucharist was the true presence of Christ and communion was more than just a symbol.  Liz said that the Catholic Church is founded on the Eucharist, and if I believed in the Eucharist all other understanding would come.  I have found this to be true.  Another moment was my first time in the Basilica Cathedral in St. Louis.  I was taken back by the reverence and beauty the church contained.  After that day, the Basilica became my place of prayer, I would go to the church once a week or so at first and then eventually would be praying multiple hours a day.  The third moment was in adoration back home in Cape Girardeau, I had been going to RCIA and mass regularly for a few months at that point.  I was praying and just asked the Lord what He wanted.  Did He want me to become Catholic? I knew I couldn’t go back with some of the teachings of the Church I now held as my own, but did this mean I had to join the Catholic Church.  In that moment of prayer, the Lord responded with, “Trust and continue along the path I have you on.” So I did that, I became Catholic that next Easter.  It was the hardest thing I had done but it has led to a deeper faith, deeper than I could have ever imagined.

Since then, I have became a FOCUS missionary and have been serving as one for the past 8 years.

When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me through this mission. I’ve been blessed with the most amazing people who have journeyed with me as I serve on campus. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know of the best way to reach you and I will schedule an appointment. I’d be honored to share this mission with you.