I currently serve as the Staff Care area representative for the East and South regions in FOCUS. My team exists to support missionaries, teams, leaders, and all staff by helping them thrive in their roles and get assistance when needed. Our conversations often include: finding counselors or spiritual directors, addressing burnout and strategies to overcome it, navigating role fit issues, significant team or personal struggles, minor mental health issues on campus, and other resource-focused conversations.

Before serving our missionaries in this way, I was a campus missionary myself at the University of Connecticut and also West Chester University in PA. These three years on campus are very beloved to me and have changed my life, and many others, for Christ and His Church.

Even before my time on campus, I was a college student at UMass Amherst whose life was changed because a FOCUS missionary encountered me, listened to me, instructed me, and supported me on my journey of discipleship.

Growing up catholic in name but not in practice, I had hundreds of questions, concerns and even disagreements with the church and her wisdom. Through the help and love of missionaries on my campus, I came to find answers to each question, and most importantly, meet Jesus Christ in prayer and Sacrament.

His Love has set me on a path to wholeness and transformation that cannot contain itself within. As Jeremiah says when he attempts to not share Christ in response to persecution, “I say I will not mention him, I will no longer speak in his name. But then it is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back, I cannot!” Jer. 20:9. It is an honor and privilege to be called to this work, and I need prayerful and financial partners to allow this work to continue.