I graduated from the University of Michigan in 2002 and decided to take a year off before “diving in” to whatever it was I was supposed to dive in to. I had finished all my pre-requisites for the field of medicine, but for some reason I still wasn’t thoroughly convinced this was my path – that this was the direction I was supposed to move forward in. I knew I wanted to help people, and becoming a doctor sounded like a good idea. Not only would I be helping people, but I would have the prestige and the great salary to go along with it.

That summer of 2002, after my graduation, I had committed to going on a missions trip with HMCC and was off to Kenya, Africa for roughly six weeks. In preparation for the trip, our team would take turns looking up current events concerning the country, share the news with the rest of the team, and then pray for those things together. I remember the issues of HIV/AIDS hitting me really hard: millions of people dying, millions more children being orphaned, darkness, hopelessness, and despair. I was burdened.

When we got to the field, I had a phenomenal experience. It was a joy to learn—albeit it challenging at times—a new culture, and to experience how life was lived so differently from what I was used to in the comfort of the States. I learned that summer just how privileged I was. And I became ashamed of myself. I complained so much (and I still catch myself at times today!) about life’s circumstances. I discovered more and more the ambition and drive behind all my hard work in school; it basically came down to self-glorification. I had wanted to achieve the high status in society so I could be approved, applauded, and admired.

But God broke me that summer and spoke to me clearly. My future, my work, my life was not in my own hands. Nor was it mine for the taking either. We had walked through the slums of Nairobi, and had visited an HIV/AIDS clinic as well. After the quick snapshot I had seen that summer, God had burdened my heart for those who have been hit hard by poverty and sickness, and who were unable to help themselves. When we got back to the States, I felt like I finally had a clear purpose and drive behind my going into the health field.

I now know that I want to use my passion for the health field to help God’s people. For me, God changed my plans from medicine to the field of public health. I received my Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in 2005 and currently work for the University of Michigan Health System doing clinical research in diabetes. As I continue to be trained here in the work that I do, and as God continues to grow me in learning how to serve the local church wholeheartedly, I pray that He will open doors in using my degree and my passions in helping His people across the world.