My Story

God has had me on quite the amazing adventure for the last several years of my life.

Here's just a taste of my story.

To start, I've grown up knowing that God was there.  But it wasn't until I was in Jr High School that God became more than just something to talk about on a Sunday morning.  I became very involved with the youth group at my church.  It was during those 8 years that the foundations for my life and faith and relationship with God were laid.

From there, I felt a little nudge in my heart to go somewhere, not knowing why or where.  So I made the incredibly difficult decision to leave everything behind and move to California.  As much as I struggled with it, if I hadn't done that, my adventure would never have begun across the pond.

I was first introduced to YWAM through doing a DTS (Discipleship Training School) in January 2011 in Harpenden, England.  I spent the first 3 months on the beautiful Highfield Oval then went out on outreach to South Africa then back to the UK in Newcastle.  It was there that my relationship with God deepened in incredible ways and I felt God calling me to something bigger, and farther away from home.

A DTS is a 6 month program which consists of a 3 month lecture phase covering a variety of topics.  It is during these 3 months that one's relationship with God deepens in incredible ways as well as receiving ongoing discipleship through one on one relationships, small groups and living in community.  Then there is a 3 month outreach phase where all that has been learned gets put into practice at another location.

I knew that I wanted to go back to Harpenden after my DTS ended.  So I applied to come back as DTS staff on the Oval for 2 years.  I have seen the investment people have made in my life over the years and this was another chance at giving back in some way and making that investment in others.  So I staffed the Impact UK DTS which was 8 months long with a focus on the 2012 London Olympics.

I didn't know what I wanted to do after that school when I first came but halfway through, an amazing door opened up for me to staff another DTS on a sailing yacht called Next Wave.  Crazy, I know.

I went and it was an experience to remember.  It was where I jumped into learning to be a worship leader and discovering more of the gifts that God has given me along with the heart of hospitality.  I decided to join the crew long term and there has never been a dull day since.

I have travelled from the north to the very south of England then on from there through the entire length of the Mediterranean Sea.

I am leading the 14'-'15 Bluewater DTS on board Next Wave to finish out my commitment to the ship.

My life has had many twists and turns that were never expected nor planned or even imagined.