We grew up in central California and met in junior high at a youth group. At first, we couldn't stand each other. He thought I was mean and I thought he was cocky. Within a year however, we were super close friends. Robert began to get in a lot of trouble around junior high. Because of this he was in and out of juvenile hall and boot camp. The whole time we wrote letters back and forth (we still have most of them). I was the only friend that continued to write. For the first couple of years of high school I would challenge and encourage him. Calling out his potential and letting him know there was a friend that was in it for more than the fun moments. I swore we were "just good friends", but my heart was gone... hook, line and sinker.
High school was a challenge for me. My identity was so broken and I was desperately trying to figure out what I wanted and who I was. I was great at calling identity out in others, but I was lost. I struggled with eating disorders and eventually began partying and using drugs recreationally. Before I knew it I was in a really dark place. The same year, only months a part, Robert and I both hit rock bottom. Robert was facing a prison sentence and lost his best friend in a tragic accident; at this same time I was waking to the reality that my drug dealer was grooming me to traffic me. Both of us in desperate and lonely places; Robert was given grace by the courts and sent to Teen Challenge. With the help of supportive friends and family I found myself crying out to God and heading to YWAM.
Robert and I were both away from home and encountering God in transformational ways. We both fully gave our lives to God. During this time we began writing each other letters again and quickly both felt something shifting in our friendship. After receiving one of my first letters and a picture from me, Robert looked at his best friend and said: 'I'm going to marry this girl'. I spent 2 months in Africa and upon returning home to YWAM I found a Valentines Day card on my bed. I looked at my roommate and said: 'Do you think he likes me?'. I returned home, began visiting Robert as he finished his time in Teen Challenge and we started dating.
Robert came home and we were married shortly after at the age of 19. Both of us had been through so much and still really had no idea who we were. The first couple years of marriage were so incredibly hard. Both of us had no idea what it meant to have a healthy, God-centered marriage and we were both strong-willed and selfish. During the first year of marriage we also lost two babies early in the pregnancies. Broken and desperate for change in our marriage and our lives we moved to northern California. God began to move in and stretch our marriage and our characters. We attended college for a couple years and then felt God calling us to YWAM.
As we prepared to leave for YWAM we found out we were pregnant with our first daughter; a true miracle baby as the doctors had told us we would never have children. We left for YWAM in 2010 where God continued to grow our characters, our marriage and our new little family. He spoke to us about redemption, his call for us to do and model family right for a broken world, and our call to ministry. We never moved back home. We went straight into full time missions serving with YWAM Los Angeles where we were invited to pioneer a justice focused ministry and Discipleship Training School. We struggled a lot in our first year of missions. Learning to build a financial support team, balance family and ministry, and losing another baby before the birth of our second miraculous baby.
Today, we are expecting our third little girl, have become people who speak on family, missions, identity, passion and servanthood. We are leaders on our YWAM campus and have established our Human Trafficking ministry. We have big dreams for our marriage, our family and our ministry. We have learned to walk in love and obedience to God. Knowing that he brings hope, builds faith, and fulfills his promises. Our three daughters are named for the gifts God was giving us in different seasons of our lives. We have: Lillian Hope Lindsay, Ariella Sophia Faith, and Promise Charlotte Grace.
We are truly thankful to all of you who continue to support our family, our vision and our dreams. Thank you for being a part of our story.