After graduating from high school, I felt called toward taking a gap year to engage in service rather than attending college right away. After prayer, and God’s direction in opening the right doors, I decided to serve with Mennonite Mission Network in their CASAS program located in Guatemala. During the three months I will be there starting this September, I plan to work with an environmental sustainability nonprofit they are connected with—benefitting God’s beautiful earth. They additionally provide language schooling so that I can become proficient in Spanish and communicate well with those I work with.

Following my time in Guatemala I plan to spend five months in Ecuador, beginning in January. I will be working with the Dunamis Foundation that has a safe house for girls who are victims of human trafficking or abuse—an issue I have long been passionate about helping. I will be helping with the long term care, education, and ministry they are provided there and I hope to build restorative relationships with the girls.