I serve at Oklahoma State University as a part time missionary! This is my alma mater, and I am staying there for the next year to fill the role of Campus Ministry Coordinator at St. John Catholic Student Center. I have a very unique role working in both Campus Ministry and as a FOCUS missionary, but I am so thankful for this opportunity!

Growing up, I had the gift of going to Mass every Sunday and praying before every meal because of my mother who was Catholic, though my dad was not at the time. These were important for most of my life, but I never knew God personally or that I could have a relationship with Him. I began to encounter Him in small ways in high school, but never in a way that I could maintain.

When entering college at Oklahoma State, I knew I wanted to make friends and spend time at my Catholic student center because of college leaders I had encountered in high school who I wanted to be like. I moved out of state for college and had no friends there, so I started meeting people at St. John and dove in head first. I said yes to as many things as I could and let myself be taken on the journey. That first year was a year of yes’s and realization that I could have and be so much more. The Lord was very gentle with me as He called me into deeper relationship with Him. He slowly showed me my weaknesses and wounds and that He not only wanted to heal me, but He wanted to enter into my suffering with me. I slowly learned what it meant to live a daily prayer life and truly center my life around Jesus Christ. This was done through attending Bible Study and Discipleship, leading others through it myself, and going on summer mission with Totus Tuus as both a parish and camp missionary. St. John was the greatest gift to me in college and I would not be the woman I am today both as a human and in my relationship with Christ if I had not gone there my first week of college.

It became very clear to me during this time that the Lord was calling me to mission, I was just not sure in what capacity. I began exploring a few avenues of working for the Church my senior year, and the Lord so clearly led me to this path. He paved the way for me to serve in this unique role with campus ministry and FOCUS. The Lord is continuously transforming my heart, drawing me closer to Him, and showing me ways in which I can grow. I am so excited to continue mission at Oklahoma State in a new role!