For my first year on staff, God has called me to serve college students at San Jose State University— Go Spartans! This year will be the first year that SJSU has FOCUS missionaries on campus and I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us this upcoming year! As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel.

I grew up culturally Catholic and went to Mass every Sunday because my mom told me to do so, but it wasn’t until my time in college where I truly met Jesus.

My freshman year of college at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), I met FOCUS missionaries for the first time who cared enough to invite me to a weekly Bible study. In this Bible study, I grew in authentic friendship with some pretty amazing women who are still some of my best friends today. One of the missionaries invited me to go on a spring break mission trip with her. As I was preparing to go on this trip, I received an email that said all students had to move out of their dorms due to the impending COVID-19 pandemic. I was devastated, but still had hope of returning to campus in the Fall.

Little did I know, I would spend the next year and a half at home going to school online from my childhood bedroom. During this time, I struggled with my mental health and pushed everyone away, including God. When I returned to campus as a junior, I met another missionary who invited me to a FOCUS retreat where the Lord gently called me to return to Him.

I began building a consistent habit of prayer that led me to ask the big questions about life. Through this, I eventually realized I had a deep desire to walk with other college students so that they too might come to personally encounter Jesus in an environment where many find themselves grasping for love.

My senior year, a missionary encouraged me to lead a Bible study of my own and I began investing in freshman women. Getting to witness the transformations in these student’s lives as they grew in faith and friendship with one another was one of the most beautiful gifts of my time in college. As a missionary, I desire for college students to know that they are fully known and loved by the One who created them.

Bible study as a freshman at UCLA:

Bible study that I led my senior year at UCLA:              

“Some people give to the missions by going, others go to the missions by giving. Without both, there are no missions.” -St. John Paul the Great

I am not able to do this mission alone. When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me through this mission. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know of the best way to reach you and I will schedule an appointment. I’d be honored to share this mission with you! You can reach me via phone at 661-549-2416 or email ([email protected]).

Thank you!