In a quiet kitchen on December 21, 1995, with a broken heart I knelt on the floor and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. It wasn’t the beginning of my story, but it was the turning point. Brought up in a Christian home, surrounded by Scripture and prayer, I had walked the aisle as a child—but my heart hadn’t truly yielded. I wanted my way.
Having an arranged marriage brought new challenges and revealed my sinful nature. I had always believed that accepting Jesus would fix everything, but I learned that faith doesn’t guarantee ease—however, the presence of God is guaranteed and that changes everything!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).1
Josh and I separated for two years. It was a season of pain, but also one of transformation. In my brokenness, I discovered the sovereignty of God. I didn’t need anyone else to guide my path because Jesus Christ was enough. That same pain brought Josh to his knees, and he too surrendered to Christ. We reconciled, were baptized together, and made a promise to walk with the Lord as a family. God didn’t just restore our marriage; He redefined our purpose.
At 14, I fell in love with the idea of nursing after a school trip to a local hospital. But cultural expectations and family pressures pushed me in another direction. I earned a degree in English and supported my family financially. After marriage, I asked Josh if I could pursue nursing. He said yes.
During our separation, I completed my LPN training. God carried me through every test and every class. I passed with all As. At a missions conference later someone laid hands on both of us and said, “The Lord will call you to missions.” I believed it.
We moved to Greenville to attend Bob Jones University, hoping to prepare for missions. We had a plan to study for four years and go to Pakistan. But God had other plans. He blessed us with two more daughters. Our oldest, Felicia, was 13 years old at the time Abigail was born, and then Hannah joined us after years of waiting. School paused. Work and caregiving took precedence. Yet, through every delay God was shaping something deeper in me: patience, endurance, forgiveness. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
For years, Josh and I worked opposite shifts, homeschooling, caring for elderly parents, and serving in our local church. I learned to meditate on God’s Word like never before. My anchor became 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” and Romans 8:28, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Abigail, our miracle after 13 years of waiting, became my ministry partner. From cooking for Friday night teen clubs to serving in Frontline, her heart for the Lord was evident. When she went to Zambia in 2024, she encouraged me to join her. I hesitated because I wasn’t a registered nurse, but God opened the door.
In July 2025 we became the first mother-daughter team to serve with GFA in Zambia. Watching Abigail loving and serving the local children was one of the greatest joys of my life. It was a reminder that God’s timing is perfect. His plans are better than ours. He wanted me to learn the important lesson of serving joyfully and wholeheartedly wherever I am placed in my season of life.
I once thought I had missed my chance to serve in missions. But God reminded me, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in Him, and He will do it” (Psalm 37:5).
My story isn’t one of perfect faith; it’s one of persistent grace. Through trials, delays, and unexpected turns, God has never left me. He is the promise keeper and it’s never too late to serve Him.
1 Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB® New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.