I graduated from DePaul University in Chicago with my bachelor of arts in sociology, summa cum laude in March. A month later, I fulfilled my dream of backpacking through Europe. I took out the money in my bank account which I had saved working through school and traveled for six weeks by myself. I come from a wonderful family in Phoenix, Arizona that taught me the true nature of God’s love. Forever to them I will be grateful because they planted the seed in me that eventually led to my desire to serve others with the entirety of my life.
Three years ago I ran across a Heart’s Home pamphlet at a youth conference. I hung it up on my desk and prayed about it for many years. I knew that after I graduated from college, I would like to have the opportunity to serve God. I found that the times I felt most myself were when I was letting God work through me in helping those most in need. I guess I would say that since that moment, in what seems like ages ago, I knew that God was calling me to Heart’s Home. Yes, I have more student loans than I would like and yes, I feel pressure to succumb to the worldly ideals of finding a good job upon graduation, but the only way that my heart feels at peace is when I think of being a missionary with Heart’s Home. There is such a large desire in me to allow the large amount of love in my heart to overflow and to learn how to live a simple life of prayer and community.
I feel so blessed to have this opportunity in my life. God has really prepared me in these last few years to embark on this adventure. I look forward to the life lessons, or rather the love lessons, that I will encounter in the coming months.
I will be leaving for the Heart’s Home village outside of Salvador da Bahia called Fazenda do Natal (the Christmas Farm) in Brazil. I am absolutely thrilled with my location and cannot wait to be a part of the community. I will live in a house with one other missionary and children of the street and feel that God has prepared me for my whole life for this.
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