About Me

I am headed to Papua New Guinea for 3 months on Jan 10, 2009. It has been a long amazing journey to get me to this point in my life. There are many significant moments where I can see God's Hand on my life either steering me in the His direction or His Hand of protection.

My testimony is one of a child who had all the opportunities of a Christian family, but was too stubborn to realize what a blessing that is when I was a child. It wasn't that I didn't want to live for Jesus, I guess in my mind I just didn't think it was any one's business. I remember at the age of 15 that I finally walked down that scary aisle to tell everyone I loved Jesus and had accepted Him 4 years before and was ready to be baptised. I was shocked to hear how many people say they had been praying for me. Of course, the invitation was offered every Sunday and I gripped the pew tightly for years, but honestly I don't recall any one person ever asking me specifically if I had or wanted to accept Jesus as my Savior or telling me they were praying for my salvation.

From the time I accepted Christ to now, God has guided me in such a unique way...

In the 8th grade, I was challenged by my 8th grade health teacher, Coach Cox, to switch lunch tables and see the reaction. I sat at the "popular girls" table and took a "step down" to the "not so popular" girls table. I only had one girl who asked why I left the table. No other girls seemed to notice. God blessed me with some amazing girls who I hung out with for the next 4 years and have fond memories because of that move. Thanks Coach Cox!

I went to college and discovered missions wasn't quite the outdated thing I thought it was. My only knowledge of missions was for grey haired women who dressed poorly and went to Africa to purchase ceramic elephants and corn shuck dolls. In college I found that missions was an opportunity at any age to tell others about Jesus and it could be done in another country of down the hall in my dorm. What a lesson to learn!

After college, while working in Texarkana, I found out that one of my life long dreams was to finally be fulfilled. I was going to become a massage therapist. I have wanted to become one since I was 10 y/o. It took me 5 months and I even moved to Camden in the middle of it as well as totalling my car. I graduated on 911 (yes the day of the bombings). There were many trials, but I got through it and have been blessed to share the hands God has given me to relieve stress, encourage, and to relieve pain. It had been a great addition to my physical therapy career and later you will hear how it fits into God's Master Plan for my life.

I moved to Little Rock in summer of 2003. I was blessed with an amazing church, The Summit Church which is a huge advocate in sending its members on mission trips in/out of the country. I was able to go to the Dominican Republic twice and to Russia. It was quite a different thing for me and while there were many fond memories, I couldn't see how God was going to use these opportunities for me in the future and resided myself to the fact, I was to serve Him in the US.

The year before I went to Russia, I was in a caving accident and fell 30 feet where I had to take 7 weeks off from work. God used this accident to show me I had to change some things about my life and I was living my life without purpose. It was a difficult time in my life and I had my first experience with depression. I prayed so diligently for the Lord to free me from my suffering. I wanted to know what He was trying to teach me. I realized I had been living a life without knowing what the love of Christ was all about. My joy was not complete. My joy was not existent. Just as quickly as I asked, Jesus quickly overwhelmed me with His love. I experienced Him in a way I never thought possible, no longer would I question the passion others had for Jesus, for I couldn't help but be passionate about Him. Jesus had answered my prayers and I was able to truly rest in Him.

Of course, I am human and many times I have allowed Satan to come in and take away some of my joy. I was challenged in a relationship where I felt God was priority(I was wrong) and that same year the death of my mamaw, my confidant, lost to Alzheimer's 3 days before my 30th birthday. I learned what it was to grieve and the stages of grief. These particular circumstances were all new. While I clung to Jesus in these desperate moments, I struggled to understand my place. My best friend, Teyerra, who God provided 4 years prior, was the best of blessings and she gently put me in my place and told me to basically shape up and act like I am a child of the King. I was back on the narrow road and remembered the JOY of Jesus and haven't turned back since.