Even though I was a FOCUS missionary, worked professionally in ministry for over 14+ years, and was trained as a spiritual director, I still I carried DEEP psychological wounds.

I grew up in poverty as a first-generation American, in a high-conflict, dysfunctional home. My father left three times before I turned 10, and then my parents divorced. By middle school, I had took on responsibilities, like cooking family meals and waking up my mom so she would take us to school. I began financially supporting our household starting in high school. At one point, I was working four jobs to provide for a five-person family.

With a parent who has been homeless twice, I spent most of my life believing that loving my family meant doing whatever I could to make them feel better, no matter what it cost me.

As I looked for guidance and healing in my life, weekly therapy and monthly spiritual direction weren’t enough. Then mentorship came along. I needed the daily accompaniment. I needed to be re-parented and experience emotionally corrective experiences with someone safe in order to heal my psychology. 

Through mentorship, God set me free. He wants to set the captives free, and I want to be available to help Him do it. That’s why I’m a mentor.