I am so grateful that for 35 years I have been able to call West Africa my home. Loving and working with kids, particularly adolescents, has been my passion since my university years. It is relationships that I find most impactful and meaningful. I love young people! There have been different ways that God has enabled me to be involved with kids and their families.
After the privilege of growing up in a ministry family, I graduated with a degree in nursing from Biola University. Stateside work included home church youth ministry, camping, and school nursing. All were foundational building blocks in which I used my training as a nurse and nurturer. Six weeks after arriving in West Africa for a 2-year term, I realized that I wanted to put my roots down long-term in Africa. I worked for 12 years in a medical clinic connected to a residential international school. I loved it!
Twenty years ago, I moved to a neighboring country after a civil war closed the school where I worked. Although the French language was used in my new adopted country and community, I worked on learning the local language. Not an easy task!
I interacted with young people and adults in rural communities. I lived in a mud hut half of each week. It was really challenging to train village health workers. Living in a town with a large university numbering over 15,000 students plus numerous professional schools meant there are many students in the area. After a few years of village community health work, I decided to focus my energy on health education with students in town. For several years I had a hostel in my home for university young women. I enjoyed having 3-5 women share my home with me. We studied the Bible and prayed together each day. There were many opportunities to learn from one another and grow into the people God desires us to be. Our Creator is amazing, and each person is created unique and in the image of God. Their university years of study ended but the relationships continue.
In conjunction with national co-workers, I have been able to teach and equip kids in wholistic health measures to improve their well-being and that of their families. I discuss topics like hand washing hygiene, how to make rehydration solutions, first aid skills, and when to go to the hospital rather than treat at home. This happens in schools, seminars, and churches in a community where most people are of the majority religion.
I am mentoring two women from different parts of the country on how to teach gals to know their worth, identity, belonging, and reason for being alive. I was trained as a facilitator thru Dignity Campaign, an African based organization. In addition, we talk about development and care for the female body. I look forward to seeing what I have been teaching touch other communities with God’s love!
In 2025, I came back to my passport country for a longer season. Yearly, some time will be spent in Guinea, but my base will be in San Francisco Bay Area. Though I no longer see patients each morning from my front porch clinic nor have open house where young people can be heard and fed, I continue to build community in my passport country. I spend time weekly with international students from around the world in fun activities, weekly discovery Bible studies, and helping with practical assimilation into my passport culture. I pray that many embrace life in Christ and continue to walk with him when they become the future leaders back in their home countries after they finish their studies in the USA.
Like I am in West Africa, I am also involved stateside in a wholistic outreach to inner city youth and their families as they walk through their adolescent years. I know they are made in the image of God. May they know him as their personal Savior and Lord as well as their Creator. As they are nurtured and grow into young adults, I pray and work against unhealthy cycles which have entrapped many of their families. May the transformative work of God touch a kid, a family, and their community.
God loves young people and their families! It is my privilege to be his hands and feet. Although my passport country is the USA, I continue to call West Africa home. I am reaching out to young people with God’s love no matter where I am, and it is my prayer that God draw kids, families and communities to himself.
Projects:
– Compassion Needs – Click to learn more!
