Home Court Advantage

Veneta, Oregon has doubled in population since I moved here with my mom and brother in 1991. I'm so blessed to have grown up in the Fern Ridge Area. The small community has been through a lot in the last couple decades and has been like a big family in times of need. Growing up in all of the schools (Veneta Elementary, Fern Ridge Middle School, and Elmira High School) I had MANY wonderful teachers and made friends that I still care very much about to this day.

I've been the kind of person to try to be involved in everything. From the time I was young, I have participated in many extracurricular activities: Girls Scouts, sports, church/youth group, outdoor school, choir, student government, Tolerance and Diversity, Honor Society, and more. Working with youth and children has always been a calling on my life and something that I really enjoy doing. Over the years I have been blessed to be a part of so many students' lives in the Fern Ridge area. And with Campus Life that just continues on.

I went to Northwest Christian University and got my degrees in Education. When I was getting ready to do my practica and student teaching I knew that I wanted to be nowhere but in the Fern Ridge School District. I even got to spend most of my time in my own elementary school! All of the kids that I worked with I've been able to touch base with even more because of Campus Life and their participation in all nighters and other events. It's been so amazing to see them all grow up, and super cool that they still talk to me and accept me around campus. Through growing up in the community, being involved, and staying around I have a connection with the students that I don't think many get to have. I'm also thankful that the school staff and administration have been so gracious in allowing me to be on campus and continue to be a part of the students' lives. Man, I'm blessed.

All around, I'm a Venetian and proud of it.
God has me serving here for a reason.
Through me. Using a Venetian to reach Venetians.

#ministrylifeprobs

Hey Y'all this is my first post on this blog!
For this one I copy/pasted from my personal blog, but it's about Campus Life so I figured it relevant here, too. 


Late night theological talks.
Early morning rides to school.
Hanging out with young teens and all their silliness.
Funny inside jokes and fun memories.
Trips and camps.
Weekly connecting with students and showing them love.
Behavior problems and discipline.
Slang and strange sayings.
Paperwork, planning, and preparation.
Fundraising.

There are so many things that come with being in youth minsitry. It really is a whole different world, a whole different life than most know or experience. I have definitely had a call on my life to be in youth ministry, and I am SO blessed to be!

Lately, though, there have been aspects that I've needed to really step up my game in. Working with Lane County Youth for Christ I am esentially a local missionary. My paycheck is from the donations of generous people who support what God is doing in the Fern Ridge area through the ministry of Campus Life. I have been challenged (and I know it's needed) to get more people supporting me financially so that I don't have the stress of worrying about bills. Asking for money is NEVER easy, but I have to remember that if I don't even try then I could be stealing from others the blessing of giving. It's about correcting and directing my mindset.

If you are reading this and want to be a part of what God is doing by supporting financially, please feel fee to click here and do so. If you have any questions about the ministry or want to know more you can go to the Lane County YFC website. It takes all of us doing our part, but I know that ultimately it is God who works through each of us in what we can do. Together we can reach the youth for Christ.

And for your viewing pleasure, this is the goofy pic that we took for the office and that is on the website.

God bless you all,
Mandy