I was born in Chicago, grew up in Maryland, and went to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During high school and college I studied German because of my family heritage, but instead God used that time to show me the need for people in Europe to know about His love for them, and I began to feel a call to ministry in Europe. My parents also ran a Christian Ministry in Maryland, which gave me the confidence needed to take the of leap of faith into full-time service in Europe. Leaving all I had ever known and not speaking a word of Spanish I boarded a plane with a one way ticket to Spain in January of 2006 on my own to start this church planting journey. It was hard leaving my family, but I’m so thankful for how technology has evolved and that I can stay in touch with my family (especially my 5 nieces and nephews!).
Having never studied Spanish, it’s definitely a “God thing” that I ended up in Spain, but I absolutely love my life and community here as well as the Spanish people and their culture. In 2006 I started working with an international church plant in Madrid, Oasis Madrid, until the middle of 2013 when I made the transition to Valencia to lead a brand new church plant based in the neighborhood of Ruzafa called Poiema Colectiva.
In September of 2020, I stepped into a new role within Communitas, Chief Wellness Officer. Through my extensive experience on the field, my gifting as a shepherd, and my value for missionaries to function from a place of spiritual health and being well equipped, leading the teams that focus on Training and Staff Care and Development seems to be the perfect fit for this next season of ministry for me. I continue to lead Poiema Colectiva as well.
2020 brought another big change to my life, I met my now husband. While Oscar is not employed with Communitas, we enjoy doing ministry together as we host our community, serve, and disciple those around us. Oscar is from Colombia but fortunately a good part of his family lives here in Valencia as well. We enjoy hiking with our dog Kiko, traveling and exploring new places (especially in the North of Spain) and playing at the beach!
