From as far back as my junior high school, I remember struggling to find happiness. I felt like I didn’t fit in and lost confidence in myself. School was difficult and friendships evaded me. I wondered if I would ever be happy. My high school years continued to be a challenge and I was looking for happiness in all the wrong places. My Mom tried everything, even sending me to Wilderness camps to help me find my footing. Eventually, I went to a private therapeutic school for my senior year. Unfortunately, my life continued to be shrouded in darkness.About three years ago, I hit rock bottom and had a brush with death. So, I chose to turn my life around. I surrendered my heart to God and began changing my life. While I dove deep into the Bible and worked on myself, I felt God reshaping my desires in life to help others⏤but how?
One day at church, hearing about YWAM sparked hope in me. Could this be the path I had been searching for? I took a leap of faith and moved from my home in California to YWAM Tyler to attend the Crossroads Discipleship Training School in January 2023. I soon realized I was right where God wanted me to be.
I prayed He would continue to reveal His will for my future. I had faith God was preparing me for something life-changing. Sure enough, when we traveled to Indonesia for the outreach I found my calling. My soul was finally content. My purpose in life is to serve, help others, and share the light of Jesus in the dark places of this world. I knew that God was calling me to be a YWAM missionary!
After our outreach, God called me to continue volunteering full-time as a missionary. So, I spent the rest of that year at YWAM Tyler. I offered my graphic design skills to inspire others to experience a DTS⏤so they too would want to go out into the world to share the love of Jesus.
As God continues to mold my life, He opened another door for me to continue as a missionary on staff at the Kona base in Hawaii. I will be doing graphic design work for YWAM Ships, the group that brings transformation to isolated communities which are only accessible by water. We will organize and send medical professionals and missionaries overseas to areas needing disaster relief. I can't wait to see how God will continue to use me.
I believe that God used the ministry of YWAM as a tool to save my life, set me free, and give me purpose. For the first time in my life, I can share the joy of the Lord and radiate true peace. I finally found the happiness I have been searching for!