The Lord has called me to serve as a first-year missionary at Nicholls State University!

I grew up in a non-denominational religious family, going to church most Sundays, while also going to Catholic school throughout my life. When I began my freshman year at Mississippi State University, I quickly became caught up in the typical rhythms of college life, and my faith was pushed into the background. Before my conversion, I often felt lost and unsure of who or what I could truly trust. I felt like I needed to create my own rules and figure out life on my own. There was a desire to grow my faith, but I did not know where to start. Spring of my freshman year, I attended an Ash Wednesday Mass at the local Catholic church, and something about that experience felt right. From then on, I continued attending Mass regularly. By my sophomore year, I was introduced to a FOCUS missionary and became involved in a Bible study. Even though I was attending Mass every Sunday and participating in Bible study, much of my faith still felt routine and lacked a deeper personal commitment.

That began to change during the spring of my sophomore year when I started taking my faith more seriously. I became more consistent in Bible study, built meaningful friendships with the women there, and began intentionally seeking to understand the Catholic faith. I was given a Catechism, started reading Catholic books, and frequently turned to the missionaries with questions or concerns. I also began attending daily Mass and developing a regular prayer life. The more time I spent around the Church, the more I was inspired by the joy, confidence, and love I saw in the students at the Catholic center. Over time, I realized I did not have to rely only on myself. I came to trust in God the Father and in the truth and guidance of the Catholic Church and her teachings. Through these experiences, my relationship with God deepened, and by the end of my sophomore year I knew I wanted to become Catholic. I completed OCIA during my junior year and was received into the Catholic Church at Easter. That same year, I had the opportunity to lead a women’s Bible study, where I was able to witness God working in the lives of others in a powerful way.

Throughout the rest of my time at MSU, the Lord continued to draw me closer to Himself while also inviting me to help others encounter Him. During my senior year, someone first suggested the possibility of becoming a FOCUS missionary. As a chemical engineering student, I had always envisioned myself pursuing a career in engineering, so missionary life initially seemed unrealistic. Yet over time, the desire on my heart continued to grow stronger. Despite my hesitations, God continued calling me closer to Him and made it clear that He was inviting me to evangelize and walk with others in their faith. Through His grace, I ultimately chose to say yes to that call and pursue serving as a FOCUS missionary.

When I answered the call to serve as a FOCUS missionary, I also embraced the opportunity to rely on the spiritual and financial partnership of others in carrying out this mission. Because of the generosity and prayers of my mission partners, I am able to share the Gospel on campus, invest deeply in students, and walk with them in their relationship with Christ. I am incredibly grateful for every person who chooses to accompany me in this journey. If you are interested in joining my mission or would like to hear more about my story, I would love to connect with you and set up a time to meet. It would truly be a privilege to share more about the mission God has called me to. I can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone at (918) 282-6664.