I’m a first-year missionary going to serve at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas! Roll Tiges!! 🐯

I was born and raised in a Catholic family and received a K-8 Catholic education, however, I’d only understood the faith as a culture rather than a relationship with God. I eventually had to leave my Catholic school bubble and quickly found myself enveloped in a life of success and pride in high school — I made daily life a competition and was so obsessed with trying to be the best at absolutely everything I did, whether that was academics, sports, or even having a “better” reputation than my peers. Succeeding at these activities and placing my full identity in them, it seemed like I had everything I needed for good life at the time.

After high school, I dropped my commitments to sports and went to Colorado School of Mines (‘Sko digs! 🧨🫏) to study chemical engineering. Surrounded by very gifted students, I quickly lost my identity and self-worth in both academics and sports, and I was left very confused with what the purpose of my life was if I couldn’t excel at either of those things. I didn’t know what I wanted for my life.

One random day on campus in the dining hall, I was approached by a FOCUS missionary named Maria R. who invited me to a weekly Bible study. Seeking to find purpose (and also because I thought Maria was super cool), I said yes! From then on, the Lord slowly began to reveal my true identity in Him and invited me back to His heart through the work of FOCUS missionaries and their ministry. I was eventually invited to campus retreats, the FOCUS SEEK conference, and multiple FOCUS mission trips (read about my mission trips here!). From these experiences, I had never felt so deeply seen and loved before, and I knew that this love must have been from God. Over the remainder of my time in college, I discovered my true purpose and desire for life: to love, serve, and encounter others just as the Lord had done and continues to do for me.

As seen in my story, my reconversion was not simply a momentary event, but rather a series of slow yes’s to invitations from both the Lord and from FOCUS missionaries and faithful college students. Without the FOCUS missionaries to encounter me on campus, I never would have found purpose in my life nor would I have had come to know the Lord. Hence, campus ministry is not something that can be done without support from mission partners like you!

I would absolutely love to have you join me on mission! With your support, you will be transforming the lives of college students just as mine had been transformed!