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In March of 2016, we were sent on a vision trip to allow God to help confirm our calling to Slovenia. We were able to stay with Joan and Randy Bell, and learn more about their ministry and how we could partner with them. We also met many locals and other missionaries who gave us great insight and advice. Upon returning from this trip, we began the process of moving from candidacy to officially becoming cross-cultural workers so that we could begin the process of fundraising.

In June of 2015, we officially became candidates with First Baptist Church Arlington to be sent as cross-cultural workers. We were so blessed by the opportunity to be sent and supported by a local church body. We decided that God was opening the door for us to go to Slovenia and team up with IMB missionaries Randy and Joan Bell. We began working through the Panorama training studies that our church provides and meeting all the requirements of candidacy. Ryan also worked through the Perspectives course, while Sarah worked on her Master's of Global Leadership from DBU.

On Good Friday, Sarah and I were married. We were able to celebrate with friends and family our love for each other. We knew this was an important part of our journey, as God had brought us together to serve Him and make Him known!

In the fall of 2013, I went to serve in Slovenia for three months. It was on this trip that I met and lived with Randy and Joan Bell. It was a great time for me to grow as an individual and understand what life really looked like for a missionary living in Slovenia. Ryan also surprised me on October 4th and proposed!! Thus, solidifying Slovenia into our story. I came out of this experience more excited and ready to serve God in Slovenia.

In the Summer of 2012, we embarked on a mission trip called Global Journey. Throughout this trip, we were able to experience many different cultures and ministries. We did campus ministry in East Asia, orphan care in India, manual labor at a Children's Home in Uganda, mountain biking and evangelism in Slovenia, and church ministry in Nicaragua. God worked in both of our hearts both separately and as a dating couple and gave us a heart for Slovenia and the Slovene people. At the end of the trip, we both felt God leading us to pray about ways that we could continue to engage in ministry among the Slovene people.

After surrendering my life to the Lord, I always felt a call to serve God with my life. However, when it was time to choose what college I would attend I was torn. Many of my friends were going to bible college to become pastors, but I never felt a call to be a pastor. Other friends were going to state universities. So, I decided to stay at home and attend Tarrant County College until I could figure out what I wanted to do with my life. After two years, I decided to go to Dallas Baptist University and pursue a degree in math. One of the first classes I took was a foundation course for teaching. In this class, the professor really emphasized having a calling to be a teacher. I realized that God had given me a heart for teaching, and that this career would allow me to serve him during my summers on short-term mission trips. The following semester (Spring of 2011), I met Sarah. When we first started dating, she made it very clear that she was called to missions and to live overseas for the rest of her life. God used our relationship and her passion for missions to help me see that He was calling me not just to serve Him on mission during my summers. He was calling me to surrender to full-time international missions.

Ryan and I both began attending DBU during the fall of 2010. It was through Dallas Baptist that we would meet and hear our calling to Slovenia.

God had been working in my life tremendously before he gave me a call to ministry. During 2005-2006 I began reading my Bible and attending the youth group at Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview, Texas. It was during the summer of 2006 that I went on my first mission trip to Sheridan, Wyoming. This trip instilled in my heart a desire to serve God through missions even before I realized it. Fast-forward to the summer of 2008 at youth camp. On the second night of camp, the gospel was presented. The Spirit was moving such, that the girl next to me was crying. I felt the Lord tell me to place my hand on her back to comfort her. In that same moment, the camp pastor called for those of us who felt that God was calling us into full time ministry to surrender! God spoke so clearly to me in that moment, "Sarah, just as you are doing now, I want you to take care of my people." I didn't even hesitate! I went forward that very moment and surrendered my life to the ministry--and it all came together with a desire to express that through international missions. After counseling from our Youth Pastor (Paul Coleman), Senior Pastor (Dr. Glynn Stone), and other adult leaders I felt confirmed in my calling to pursue vocational ministry through international missions.