So to understand how I ended up doing what I do now, I thought I would take you back to my upbringing. I will be sharing things that up until this point not many people know about me. I want to be transparent with you so you can see the power of God in my life. Don't worry, I won't drag it out and tell you every little detail. LOL.
I grew up in the small town of Plainfield, Massachusetts. Growing up I never had the aspirations to become a pastor or to do work in the inner city. I just loved people. I have learned to just be open to God for Him to use you how He wants to, and your life couldn't get any better.
I grew up in the church and was brought up by my mother in the faith. When I was 9 years old I realized that I couldn't live through my mother's faith and I had to make the decision for myself. I came to a breaking point because I was battling with OCD. I felt the need to do everything twice or something terrible would happen. This went into every aspect of my life. My mother took me to doctors and they said it would take years of therapy and I would struggle with it for a long time. I knew that the God of the Bible that I have heard about could heal me if He desired to and if I had the faith to ask. So one night I got down on my knees in my bedroom with no one else around and realized my need for God in my life and I have never been the same since. He healed me completely and instantly. I have come across people who are skeptical about me making that decision so young but you cannot deny the power of God once you turn your life over to Him. If you haven't ever made that decision then I can guarantee you don't understand it because you haven't opened yourself to Him. On 2 other occasions God has healed me clearly and instantly and doctors and people are not left without a way to explain it. I love it when God gives the smackdown! lol
When I was 10 years old my sister, Elizabeth went on her first missions trip to Haiti. I remember going to the airport with her and my mom and thinking that I would NEVER go and do that type of work. When I attended "Acquire the Fire" with Teen Mania Ministries my life went a whole new direction and I knew God wanted me to go and reach others with His love across the world. I saw a different way of thinking with getting out of my own mindset about my own needs and wants and give my time and heart to others.
Let me just pause for a moment to say that everyone should go out of the country if you can to see that the world is not just about you and America. That may sound harsh, but there are so many people in the world and it is so much bigger then how we view life. It opens up your eyes to see how others live and operate day to day.
So at the age of 13, I went on my first trip to Mexico. I got hooked and went twice a year since then and to today have been on over 24 trips and to 8 different countries. Thank you to all of my supporters through all of the years who have supported me with your prayers and the finances God has blessed you with. The mission trips are what sparked my interest to go to Bible College and pursue the type of work that I am doing now.
Now at this point, it is important to back up into another aspect of my life to know what choices I would soon be faced with.
When I was 4 years old, I developed a passion for dance that has lasted even until today with me now teaching dance year round. Because of this I wanted to go to Julliard in NYC and have dance be my career after I graduated from high school. Graduating from high school I had to make the choice to go to Julliard or Bible College. It was one of the most difficult choices I had to make up to this point in life.
I chose Bible College and I haven't regretted it since. I graduated Zion Bible College in 2009, then went to study in Jerusalem, Israel for the summer at Jerusalem University College. After that, I moved to Florida to work as the Administrative Assistant for a non profit against human trafficking in America. While I was there God taught me how to run a non profit organization and then transitioned me back up to Berkshire County. From there the miracle of the Berkshire Dream Center transpired that is a modern day miracle!! You can read about that at berkshiredreamcenter.blogspot.com and click on "History."
I will be sharing more of the miracles that have happened in my life and stories where God has taught me more about Him and His unconditional love. Thank you for allowing me to share part of my story with you.
Let me say that I am not any more special to God then you are. God doesn't have favorites. God loves you and wants you to experience the freedom, hope, joy and life that comes from knowing Him. Have you been living but not really LIVING?
God is able to use you and take your life to a whole new level beyond what you can even imagine. All that He wants is someone who is willing to be used by Him and loves Him with everything that they are.
I grew up in the small town of Plainfield, Massachusetts. Growing up I never had the aspirations to become a pastor or to do work in the inner city. I just loved people. I have learned to just be open to God for Him to use you how He wants to, and your life couldn't get any better.
I grew up in the church and was brought up by my mother in the faith. When I was 9 years old I realized that I couldn't live through my mother's faith and I had to make the decision for myself. I came to a breaking point because I was battling with OCD. I felt the need to do everything twice or something terrible would happen. This went into every aspect of my life. My mother took me to doctors and they said it would take years of therapy and I would struggle with it for a long time. I knew that the God of the Bible that I have heard about could heal me if He desired to and if I had the faith to ask. So one night I got down on my knees in my bedroom with no one else around and realized my need for God in my life and I have never been the same since. He healed me completely and instantly. I have come across people who are skeptical about me making that decision so young but you cannot deny the power of God once you turn your life over to Him. If you haven't ever made that decision then I can guarantee you don't understand it because you haven't opened yourself to Him. On 2 other occasions God has healed me clearly and instantly and doctors and people are not left without a way to explain it. I love it when God gives the smackdown! lol
When I was 10 years old my sister, Elizabeth went on her first missions trip to Haiti. I remember going to the airport with her and my mom and thinking that I would NEVER go and do that type of work. When I attended "Acquire the Fire" with Teen Mania Ministries my life went a whole new direction and I knew God wanted me to go and reach others with His love across the world. I saw a different way of thinking with getting out of my own mindset about my own needs and wants and give my time and heart to others.
Let me just pause for a moment to say that everyone should go out of the country if you can to see that the world is not just about you and America. That may sound harsh, but there are so many people in the world and it is so much bigger then how we view life. It opens up your eyes to see how others live and operate day to day.
So at the age of 13, I went on my first trip to Mexico. I got hooked and went twice a year since then and to today have been on over 24 trips and to 8 different countries. Thank you to all of my supporters through all of the years who have supported me with your prayers and the finances God has blessed you with. The mission trips are what sparked my interest to go to Bible College and pursue the type of work that I am doing now.
Now at this point, it is important to back up into another aspect of my life to know what choices I would soon be faced with.
When I was 4 years old, I developed a passion for dance that has lasted even until today with me now teaching dance year round. Because of this I wanted to go to Julliard in NYC and have dance be my career after I graduated from high school. Graduating from high school I had to make the choice to go to Julliard or Bible College. It was one of the most difficult choices I had to make up to this point in life.
I chose Bible College and I haven't regretted it since. I graduated Zion Bible College in 2009, then went to study in Jerusalem, Israel for the summer at Jerusalem University College. After that, I moved to Florida to work as the Administrative Assistant for a non profit against human trafficking in America. While I was there God taught me how to run a non profit organization and then transitioned me back up to Berkshire County. From there the miracle of the Berkshire Dream Center transpired that is a modern day miracle!! You can read about that at berkshiredreamcenter.blogspot.com and click on "History."
I will be sharing more of the miracles that have happened in my life and stories where God has taught me more about Him and His unconditional love. Thank you for allowing me to share part of my story with you.
Let me say that I am not any more special to God then you are. God doesn't have favorites. God loves you and wants you to experience the freedom, hope, joy and life that comes from knowing Him. Have you been living but not really LIVING?
God is able to use you and take your life to a whole new level beyond what you can even imagine. All that He wants is someone who is willing to be used by Him and loves Him with everything that they are.
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