Heidi's point of view

Sometimes it's hard for people to see Nick and I both as full-time missionaries. There are obvious reasons for this, like men's and women's roles in the church. Then there's the fact that Nick has a degree in ministry while I have a business degree and have worked in the corporate world for a few years now. It seems as though many people refer to only Nick in the missionary setting and I just wanted to clear up any misconceptions already out there by describing what my role will be in the church. Also, I want people to know that this is a dream come true for me in several ways. I have been looking for a job where I can directly impact peoples' lives and after my mission trip to Kayenta in 2006, it has been my dream to become a full-time missionary.

So, what will I do? Our main goal is to build up adult leaders in the church and strong Christian members of the community. With that being said, my first focus will be to have Bible studies with the women of the church and the community. In addition to this, I have several ideas for ladies programs and classes. While setting up different programs and classes, the goal is always to teach other faithful women to do the same. For example, while I prepare for a class, I have another woman working beside me who will teach the class the next week. Our overall goal is always to teach the people how to be leaders in hopes that one day they don't need us.

I would also like to tackle some of the administrative pieces within the church. When looking at a small church just getting off the ground, it might seem insignificant. However, I believe that the more opportunities we can create for people to get involved, the stronger the church will become. I would like to teach a couple members how to create and sustain their own bulletin.

I am getting my Masters in Counseling and when you look at some of the cultural issues in Kayenta, I look at this as an internship for my career as a Counselor. I hope to become a mentor to women who feel hopeless in any area of their lives whether it is their spiritual life, home life, career, or social life. The Bible and the Church can certainly be an answer to a lot of womens' needs. Pray for me as I lead people to these answers.

The last role will of course be to support my husband in everything he does. He will be studying with a lot of men. But in addition, he will be working with the members to build a youth and family program. I will assist him in these activities. Together, we make a great team!