After two incredible years serving in the North, I’m excited to share that this fall I’ll be heading East to begin a new chapter as a FOCUS missionary at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia!

My faith journey began at St. Ann Parish in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where mission trips and service first sparked my desire to serve others. After high school, I attended Northern Michigan University, where I struggled with my faith during my freshman year.

My sophomore year, everything began to change. I met a FOCUS missionary named Alek, joined a Bible study, began discipleship, and went on a mission trip to Mexico City. For the first time, I began truly owning my faith for myself.

Through more mission trips, SEEK conferences, and the friendships and discipleship I experienced in college, my relationship with Christ continued to grow. During my junior year, I began to feel called to missionary work and eventually applied to FOCUS.

Becoming a FOCUS missionary gave me the opportunity to give others what Alek, Ben, and so many others had given me. These past two years serving on two different college campuses have opened my eyes to both the brokenness that exists in our world and the incredible hope that remains for the future of the Catholic Church in the United States and beyond.

More than anything, these two years have given me the space to grow in my relationship with Christ and to become the man He is calling me to be. I know I would not be where I am today if I had not said yes to FOCUS three years ago.

I’ve heard it said that every year we become a different version of ourselves, and I’ve found that to be especially true in mission. My first two years have been filled with growth, challenges, shortcomings, and countless moments that have revealed both my strengths and my need for Christ. They have taught me that missionary work is not simply about helping others grow—it is also about allowing God to continually transform me.

I am still learning who Jesus is, what it means to follow Him, and what it means to faithfully live out the mission He has given me. That is a big part of why I’m excited to continue this journey. As I begin my third year on staff at Virginia Tech, I’m looking forward to seeing how God continues to transform me, deepen my faith, and draw me closer to sainthood.

When I joined FOCUS, I made the decision to rely fully on the generosity of others—both in prayer and financial support—through a team of mission partners. It’s a step of faith, but one that allows others to be personally part of the mission with me.

As I head to campus this year, I’d love to invite you to come with me—through your support. If you feel called to join my mission team, please reach out! I’d love to share more about the vision of FOCUS and how, together, we can help change the world by reaching souls for Christ.