I grew up in Concord, California not too far from San Francisco.  I began working with my peers who had disabilities when I was in the first grade, and it stuck!  Outside of school I was like any other kid, but I began to spend my recesses, breaks, and even before and after school hanging out with these friends, taking them to therapy and assisting in the classroom, on the playground, and on special trips.  

By middle school I was working with a teacher who allowed me to integrate a few students with disabilities into a classroom, modifying their assignments and working closely with parents & teachers.  I was sure I would teach Special Education for the rest of my life!  In high school, my youth pastor allowed me to begin an outreach to kids with disabilities, and I found my true passion.  I worked as the student government representative in high school for my friends with disabilities and learned all about advocacy, inclusion, and how disability affects kids and families. 

After high school, I spent a couple more years establishing the ministry at my home church and teaching a Sunday School class full of friends with disabilities aging from 4 to 64 while going to junior college and working in the school system in Special Education.  I transferred to Fresno State in Central California to finish a degree, but not in Special Education!  I had been overseas several times to Peru and Mexico with churches and then with Joni Eareckson Tada's minsitry "Wheels for the World" and I loved therapy!  I graduated with a degree in Recreational Therapy and dropped my plans to go on to Occupational Therapy when the Young Life Capernaum minsitry my roommate and I had begun grew and I was asked to come on Young Life staff.

For five years I have served in Fresno as the Capernaum Director, loving kids, volunteers, and the community.  Its been a blast and a unique fit for me since about 75% of our ministry in Fresno is to Spanish Speaking students.  In February 2005 I began to explore beginning a Capernaum minstry in Lima, Peru, and in June 2005 we took a team and helped Peruvian staff begin the first club!  Currently, I am preparing for a transition out of Fresno, serving as a coordinator for Capernaum in Latin America... currently in the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Costa Rica... and soon in several other countries!  I cannot think of anything more fitting or exciting for my life!  As a seven year old I told my mom that when I grew up I wanted to be a missionary to kids with disabiltiies in a country where they speak Spanish! Ha! God seemed to have planted that seed when I was very young and my passion has not changed!