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The items featured on this website are visual reminders of individuals who had the most significant influence on my faith. Their meanings will let you know me more personally, just as your contact information will help me understand more about you.
My grandparents set the foundation for my faith. Who influenced yours?
The Foundation of My Faith
The antique suitcase
The antique suitcase belonged to my Granny G. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father committed suicide because he didn’t know how to raise five children without a wife. At 15, my grandmother packed this suitcase with all her earthly possessions and traveled from Oklahoma to California to pick grapes during the Great Depression. She taught me we rise above our circumstances with God’s help.
Granny G. found her favorite Bible verse in Deuteronomy 31:6: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.
The Underwood Typewriter
The Underwood typewriter is what Granny’s husband, Albert used to write all of his Custer County, Oklahoma sheriff reports. As a child, I rode all over Western Oklahoma in his cruiser with him during the summers. On our drives, he taught me the importance of service and how to love a community.
I can still hear him quote the Bible verse that guided his life. Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Even though my grandparents set the foundation, my parents did not attend church, and eventually, my dad fell away from his faith. However, I continually looked for a place to belong, somewhere to stay connected to Jesus. I searched all through high school and college. I was in and out of church but never really felt I was where I belonged.
Then I met my husband, Michael. He guided me to a relationship with my Heavenly Father. Our shared Christian beliefs are the basis for our marriage, family, business, and mission work.
The book “Learn Zulu”
The book “Learn Zulu,” belongs to Michael. Together, we devoted the last 20 years to the education and training of pastors in South Africa. In the year 2000, we funded the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria. We had full accreditation from the University of Pretoria, educating 80 students from over 17 different countries a year. Our legacy is sharing our faith in our relationships, our communities, and our worldwide travels.
His most loved Bible verse is the King James version of Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.”
The Sunflowers are for you
I selected the sunflowers for you. They are a reminder of the joy that is ours because we know Christ. I feel that my years of searching gave me an understanding of what it feels like to want to be tethered to the Christian faith and hoping to belong. God continues to challenge me in new ways. My reliance and trust in Him are personal. My life changed when I was able to take God off the pages of my Bible and find Him in my heart. Others are waiting for someone to guide them too. God chose you to walk with them. You will find joy in your journey, but remember the sunflowers if the road is ever rocky. They always face the sun, but on dark and cloudy days, they turn to each other.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11