For my first year on staff, God has called me to serve at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)!! I am so excited to walk in friendship with these students as we experience together how the Lord is calling us into ever-deepening divine intimacy with Him. The Author of Life has written a beautifully wild adventure that led me to serve here I’m so excited to see what this next chapter in Dallas has in store! 

“But I tell you again that I love you not for what you have or haven’t done…I THIRST for you.”

The Lord has patiently pursued me all throughout my life, but it was not until I started college at Baylor University that I began to encounter Him more deeply. Moving half a country away from Missouri to Texas knowing no one, I ached to be seen, known, and loved. My perfectionist mindset pushed me to place my value in my grades, my worth in what I was involved in, and my dignity in how others saw me. I thought that if I worked endlessly, pushed harder, accomplished more, then I would receive the love that I longed for.

And then I met Payton. Payton radiated joyful freedom; she was living from a deep conviction of the Father’s Love for her and divine intimacy with Him. Through her sweet friendship with me and her encouragement, I slowly began to see that the Love I desired was given to me freely and completely. She helped me to recognize The Lord’s deep and aching desire for me, even and especially in my flaws and imperfections and messiness the deep Truth that He thirsts to love me even more than I was aching for Him. 

The Lord is tenderly and constantly reminding me of this Truth, and I will be eternally learning the depth of His Love. Every single uniquely-crafted heart deserves to know of The Lord’s rich Love and His desire for relationship with them. This is why I said YES to the Lord’s mission in FOCUS if I was willing to work as hard as I did for academics, how much more should I dedicate myself to sharing His Love to infinite souls who ache for Him? 

As a FOCUS missionary, I have the opportunity to invite those in my life to join in this mission with me, both spiritually and financially. Your prayers are the greatest gift you can give to this mission; my students, our campus, my team, and FOCUS at large thank you in advance for each one. Additionally, your financial gifts are how I can be fully present and able to give of myself to my students at UTD. I would love to take you on this campus with me! If you are interested in partnering with me, please send me an email at [email protected] and we can find a time to chat. I’d be honored to share this mission with you. 

St. Th r se of Lisieux, patroness of missions, please pray for us!