I would like to start by telling you a little bit
about my story and how I have come to do this missionary work for the Episcopal
Young Adult Service Corp.
I am a cradle Episcopalian and 21 years ago I was
baptized as a baby in Mitchel Hall because my mom told me, apparently, the main
sanctuary was in the middle of renovation back in 1995. My immediate
family and extended family were also in attendance on that day.
Amazingly, my family has been members of Holy Communion since the late 1960s
and are still active members of this church family.
At around 3 years old my mom start making me go to Sunday
school EVERY Sunday, but little did she know that was not on my to do list.
Whenever she would take me to MY classroom, I would RELIGIOUSLY follow her back
to her class where she was teaching the older kids. After this happening over and over and me
following her back to her class, she finally let me stay and I had won that
battle! I may have gotten to color, BUT I was STILL listening to the
lesson too.
As I got older I knew I could no longer play that game so I
started to stay in my class and really enjoyed the lessons that were taught. Being older also came with the title of being
in the Youth Group, which I had always looked forward to being old enough to be
in! There were lock ins, flashlight tag,
hiding and seek in the church, field trips to places like the city museum and
lunch dates and pizza parties all with the youth group under the leadership of Karen
Sterbenz at the time. I always invited a
few school friends to be part of my church adventures. All of my friends,
co-cheerleaders, co-basketball, co field hockey players or neighborhood friends
knew that if they spent the night at my house, they were going to church on
Sunday. I guess I was an evangelist even back then!
Later came the mission trip to Bay St. Louis, New Orleans to
help people who were victims of hurricane Katrina and a trip to Memphis, under
the leadership of the now Rev. John Stratton and Rev. Rebecca Raglan. I
learned that giving of yourself is a lot more rewarding than receiving. I think the mission trips started
my hunger for traveling. Of course we traveled to different
places on family trips but a trip to do service seemed to be a little
different.
My service to Holy Communion was to help in the nursery
during church service, where I assisted Amela, the babysitter, and I looked
forward to the snacks just as much as the kids because Jerome made the
best popcorn ever! For as long as I can remember, I helped my family
serve a hot lunch for our guest at Trinity Episcopal Church in the Central
West End. I was always in charge of handing out the sack lunch for our
guest to take with them as they left. I thought it was all fun and games
as a youngster but later realized the reality was that some people’s nightmares
were during the day and I always felt good after serving them.
When I became senior at University City High School it got
harder and harder for me to go to church, BUT my mom was relentless and made me
go every Sunday. I really didn’t put up a fight, I just didn't want to
get up.....until she pulled the covers from over me and pulled me up. I
would drag out of bed and would wear whatever I had worn the night
before. Little did I know that the
foundation was being laid and I was learning even though I was half asleep
during the service.
Fast forward to my senior year at Missouri State University
where I received my degree in International Business
Administration. I remember telling my mom that I had no idea what I
wanted to do in life. She proceeded to tell me that it’s okay and not all
people have it figured out by graduation.
You get out of school, get a job and figure it out along the way.
Then one day a friend of mine from my business fraternity
told me about this program called YASC and how it was just like the Peace
Corps, which was something I was highly interested in. I went home that night and did my research
and found out it was through the Episcopal Church. I knew at that moment this sounded AWESOME.
So I called my mom and told her about it and that this was something I really
wanted to do and she was all for it. My
mom told Father Angell about it and by chance he had gone through this program
as well spending his time in Honduras!
BUT when I went to fill out the application I thought all was lost
because I had missed the deadline. But
by the grace of God Father Angell told my mom to tell me to submit it anyway
because they were still looking for young qualified people. After I submitted the application, about a
week or so later they told me I was selected to go to New York for an
interview.
While I was in New York I had a whole new awakening. In the interview process, about 18 others and
I gathered at The Holy Cross Monastery in Poughkeepsie, New York for a weeklong
discernment process. I had never been to
a monastery before and had no idea what to expect but I can say it was one of
the greatest experiences of my life.
While I was there I learned so much more about my self and who I am and
began to get and idea of what I actually want to do with my life. In this monastery I experienced a whole new
level of fullness and wholeness. When I
felt that, I knew that this opportunity was right for me and that this was my
calling. When I left that monastery
after the interview process I felt like a new person with a clearer direction
of my purpose in life.
After a week I was due to give them my decision if I really
wanted to do this, which was a YES and a week after that they gave me theirs
which was also a YES.
Once I was in, I began my long waiting period of finding out
my assignment. Although I was anxious, I
was willing to go wherever the lord saw fit.
My assignment finally came late May where I would be going to San
Miguelito, Panama to work at the Bella Vista Girls home for girls 0-18 years
old who are no longer safe in their own homes.
I know I will be tested and challenged everyday but with
Gods hands on my shoulders and my heart in his hands I will prevail.
