Why I Chose to be a FOCUS Missionary

So many people have asked me why I would leave a salary paying job to become a missionary for a Catholic Organization when I will have to raise my own financial support. From an outside perspective this raises a good point. The comment I get most is, “Do it while you’re young!” The reply I do not give, but think is, “Actually I would it would be awesome if I could do this for life!”

Wait a minute…raise my own support for life? Crazy right? God only knows…

While studying at Colorado State University, I joined a Bible Study led by a FOCUS missionary, and my life began to change. I entered a mentorship, or discipleship, under Adam Ybarra and began to have my own disciples as well. I was being formed and forming others in their lives of how to better live out the Gospel of Jesus. My habits began to change. My desires began to change. My hobbies began to change. My entire life, all that I knew, changed dramatically. The hard question was not “How long will this last?” or “When will this be over?”, rather it was “What do I do with this new change?”

Ali and I got engaged on a beautiful snowy Christmas Eve in 2006. We moved out to Atchison, KS and began working for Benedictine College. “One of the best Catholic colleges in America!” We loved it there. We loved our jobs, our friends and our perfect 3 bedroom and 2 bath house that we rented for a mere $600/month! Our lives were set for success. What else could we want?

The answer to the previously stated question, “What do I do with this?” began to repeat itself in my mind. Is there more to do for Christ and for the faith? FOCUS has been changing lives for years now and has been stated to be the biggest thing to hit the Catholic Church in America in years and possibly ever! I wanted to be a part of something bigger, something like FOCUS!

Since freshman year of high school I have been on a total of 8 mission trips or pilgrimages including: San Antonio, San Francisco, San Diego, Washington DC, Juarez-Mexico for 7 months, Rome, Fatima-Portugal and The Camino de Santiago in Spain. I have always had a desire to serve the poor and needy or to grow in my faith by experiencing historical sites. For almost 3 years now, FOCUS has been sending missionaries and students from across the country, to places all over the world.

I did the Camino de Santiago with FOCUS in the summer of 2006. Now, FOCUS is going to six different countries including: Canada, Spain, France, Mexico, India and Costa Rica. After experiencing a FOCUS pilgrimage, I knew this was precisely the avenue that I wanted to get involved in.

I am now one of two in charge of coordinating, planning and leading all missions/pilgrimages through FOCUS. This really is a dream job! I know that this job is where my heart is. Missions and pilgrimages have been a part of my life for the last 10 years. I know that the Lord has amazing plans to use this program to change the hearts and lives of many college students to come.