How It All Began
The seed for mission work was planted in March 2025 during a mission trip to Comayagua, Honduras. It was my first time leaving the United States, and I had no idea how deeply that experience would shape my life. During the trip, I had the opportunity to visit an orphanage filled with children who had experienced things I could never image. Throughout the week, I played soccer with the kids, participated in manual labor projects, and built meaningful relationships with both my team and the people we served. In those moments, God revealed His incredible love to me and opened my eyes to the overwhelming needs that exist in the world. He removed the scales from my eyes, allowing me to see people with greater compassion and a renewed sense of purpose.When it was time to leave, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears filled my eyes as I said goodbye to the children and returned to the comfort of my life in the United States. That trip planted a deep desire in my heart to dedicate my life to mission work. Although I was still in college and that calling had to wait, the seed God planted in Honduras continued to grow, preparing me for what He had in store.
In the summer of 2025, I decided not to return to college because the cost had become too great. Instead, I began working in construction, uncertain of what my future would look like. The desire God had planted in my heart for mission work never completely faded. In August, God reignited that passion, and I began searching for construction focused mission opportunities. I spent hours looking online for trips that stood out, but I couldn't find anything. As time went on, I grew frustrated and began to question whether this was really where the Lord was leading me. One week, I prayed hard, asking God to clearly direct my steps and lead me wherever He wanted me to go. That very week, my boss's brother-in-law came to visit from out of state and joined us at work for the day. I knew he was involved in missions somehow, but I wasn't sure exactly what he did. During the workday, I asked him about his job, and he replied with something like, "I travel and help organize mission trips, usually construction focused ones."I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I immediately shared what God had been putting on my heart. By the end of that same day, he had connected me with a construction mission trip to Africa. It was the clearest answer to prayer I have ever experienced. In that moment, God reminded me that He hears our prayers, is faithful to guide us, and often works in ways we could never have planned ourselves.
My mission trip to Africa was a five-week trip scheduled to depart on February 3, 2026. But before leaving, I attended an incredible conference called SEEK. SEEK is a five-day Catholic conference that brings together around 17,000 college-aged students from across the country. Throughout the week, there were countless talks and breakout sessions to choose from. One day, I was scrolling through the list of breakout sessions, trying to decide which one to attend. One title immediately caught my attention: Honduras Mission Trip. I thought to myself, I like mission trips, and I like Honduras, so I'll go check it out. When I walked into the room, I picked up the information sheet outside the door and took my seat. As I started reading, it said:
Farm of the Child
27-month commitment
Looking for teachers and nurses
Must be fluent in Spanish
My first reaction was, nope, nope, and definitely not. Convinced the mission wasn't for me, I got up and walked out before it even began. As I rode down the escalator, looking for another session to attend, I felt an unexpected pull to go back. I couldn't explain it, but I knew I needed to listen to it. So, I turned around. As I sat and listened to former missionaries share their experiences serving at Farm of the Child, something inside me began to change. The more they spoke, the more I realized they were describing everything I had been longing for. After the talk, I spent hours at the Farm of the Child booth talking with those same former missionaries, asking questions, and hearing more about their experiences. I left the conference with one question echoing in my mind: What if I said yes? For the time being, though, that question was placed on the back burner. My mission trip to Africa was only a month away, and that was where I believed God was calling me next.
During my five weeks in Africa, God gave me a glimpse of what long-term mission work could look like. I was incredibly blessed to spend several weeks living alongside a small community in Kenya. Being able to learn from them, build relationships, and witness both their joy and the challenges they endure every day was a life-changing experience. When I arrived, I expected that my role would consist almost entirely of construction work. But God had different plans.
Two weeks into the trip, the larger group returned home, leaving me with a team of five women. At that point, I joined the discipleship team, a role that honestly intimidated me. Sharing my faith and stepping into a ministry-focused role forced me outside of my comfort zone in ways I had never expected. Over the next several weeks, God stretched me in incredible ways. I had the opportunity to share the message of Jesus, pray with people, and build meaningful relationships while confronting fears I had avoided for years. Through those experiences, God showed me that mission work is about far more than building structures. It is about building relationships, walking alongside others, and allowing Him to work through a willing heart.
By the end of the trip, I realized God had been preparing me for something much greater than I had imagined. What began as a construction mission had become a season of spiritual growth, deeper trust, and a clearer understanding of the kind of life He was calling me to live.
When I returned from Africa, I found myself thinking about the mission opportunity in Honduras once again. But this time, my excitement had faded. After experiencing how spiritually, emotionally, and mentally stretching Kenya had been, I wasn't sure I was capable of serving long-term. The thought of leaving home for over two years was overwhelming, and fear began to creep in.
Not long after returning, I attended a talk given by a religious sister who had served alongside Mother Teresa for 25 years. As she shared stories about Mother Teresa's life, one thing stood out above everything else: her complete surrender to Jesus. She didn't follow Him only when it was convenient or comfortable. She gave Him everything and never looked back.During the question-and-answer session, I asked her, "How do you discern God's voice from your own thoughts?" Her answer was simple but profound. She said that often God's call is something that has remained on your heart and continues to resurface over time.The moment she said those words, my mind immediately went back to Honduras.
Looking back now, I can see how God has been patiently leading me every step of the way, from Honduras, to construction, to the answered prayer that led me to Africa, and back to Honduras once again. Each experience has prepared my heart for the next. What once seemed like a series of unrelated events now feels like God's faithful guidance. I truly believe God is calling me to a life that is fully dependent on Him, not halfway committed, not giving Him my leftovers, but living with complete trust and full surrender. While stepping into this calling is both exciting and intimidating, I know that God is faithful, and I trust that He will provide everything I need.
I am incredibly excited to serve with Farm of the Child, and I would love to invite you to be part of this mission with me. Whether through prayer, financial support, or both, my hope is that you won't simply feel like someone supporting a missionary, I hope you'll feel like a partner in this mission. I want to share this journey with you, celebrate what God is doing together, and invite you to witness the incredible ways He is working in Honduras. I truly believe we will be serving side by side, even from different parts of the world.