This year, God brought me to the great state of South Dakota to serve as the Team Director at South Dakota School of Mines! Located in Rapid City, South Dakota Mines is nestled near the Black Hills and about 30 minutes from Mount Rushmore. This will be my fourth year with FOCUS and I am blessed to serve with my three teammates, Efrain (2nd year), Tanner (4th year), and Molly (1st year). Go Hardrockers! 

^ Our team! L to R: Tanner Hoerter, me, Efrain Gonzalez-Ballesteros Jr., Molly Schmitz

^ At NST 2022 in Bismarck, ND; all the North and South Dakota Schools on Placement Day: UMary, SDSU, USD, UND, Black Hills State University, NDSU, and SD Mines

“You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14)

The past year and a half, Jesus has continually brought these words to the forefront of my life and my prayer. As my walk in mission and growth continues, I have taken to heart more and more deeply what this means.

In an address to the youth of Berlin, Pope Benedict says, “A candle can only give light if it lets itself be consumed by the flame.” He exhorts them, “Allow Christ to burn in you….Do not be afraid.” Being a light for the world means to let ourselves be totally and utterly consumed by Jesus and letting His Magnificent Love fan the flame of unshakable faith.

As a missionary, I desire to be consumed by the love of Christ myself, but also that each students might burn brightly and strongly with the light, mercy, and love they find in Christ. Hopefully, by investing deeply in just a few of the students on campus, they can then invest deeply in others and “go set the world on fire!” (St. Catherine of Siena)

When I gave my “yes” to join FOCUS, The Lord provided me with an army of spiritual warriors who accompany me in prayer and financial support for mission on campus: YOU! I’ve been blessed to fight the good fight with you and have seen tremendous impact from your efforts! Through your prayers we’ve seen two students enter the Church in 2021, two more in 2022, four students apply to be FOCUS missionaries and (so far) two have accepted their offers, a student who we never thought would join Bible study become our most faithful member, several other students become more involved in the Newman community, and having the financial ability to sponsor students signing up for the SEEK conference! I am so excited to see the fruits still growing. Praise Him from Whom all blessings flow!

^ SD Mines Campus