My Story
I have lived and served in Clarkston for over eight years, I moved to the most diverse square mile in the Country to serve the refugee community. Clarkston is known as a small town with a big heart. We serve refugees from 60 countries with more than 100 languages. We have over 150 ethnic groups. Clarkston has been a refugee settlement since the 1990s, attracting people from war-torn or unstable regions.
I moved to Clarkston with my own trauma, I had been married for 25 years and had six amazing children. Over the last few years of my marriage my husband, who I had known since the age of 11, was fighting a strong desire to leave and transition to a woman. This wrecked me, I never imagined a life without him. It turned my world upside down as well as my precious children, a family once very connected fought to understand what was happening.
After fighting to save my marriage I knew it was time to let go. So how did I end up in Clarkston? Simply put, the Lord opened a door and I said “Yes” I had no idea what I was walking into! You never know what's on the other side of your Yes! I was lost myself, having been a housewife and Mother for so long I struggled to understand what my purpose was.
My Life in Clarkston
Looking back I admire my boldness! For a middle age white woman who had no official missions training I was pretty bold. I decided to move into the apartments with the refugees! If I was going to get to know them I felt I needed to live with them! After 8 months I was begging the Lord to get me out! I had lived a fairly affluent life with my husband, The cock roaches , smells, rats etc were a hard one for me to overcome! The Lord moved me into the sweetest yellow house right in the center of Clarkston. It became my refuge and a place of gathering for my new community.
I made so many mistakes during that first year, understanding different cultures and religions was very new for me. More importantly God used that time to start healing me. I have always believed in the power of gathering and how important invitation was, unfortunately although I was well known in my community before I moved, my family and I received few invites to gather. So God used Muslim refugees to start healing my heart. Those first few years I spent on the floor sharing meals and stories, this started to give me back my purpose and heal the brokenness inside of me. I got to really love these families and still do to this very day. Their Children have become so precious to me.
My Mission
During my eight years in Clarkston I have been involved in several different mission organizations, I have worked with refugee women, delivered food during covid, been present at births, run summer camps and helped new residents with transitions to the USA. Four years ago I was asked if I would consider helping with the refugee youth community. I said No!! Before I moved to the US I was a social worker in the UK working hard to place teens into foster care. I raised my own six kids. I was a high school small group leader in a church for six years. I was done, also I was turning 60!! But God! They persuaded me to help with food for a while and now I run a non profit called Friday Night Light. We have over 100 students in attendance every other Friday. We feed them, create a fun environment, worship and share the gospel.
Not only have I been given the honor of leading this organization, my biggest joy has come from the many relationships with the students I have formed. I believe I was a good Mother, not perfect. I made mistakes but I loved being a Mom. So many of my students have parents that are doing all they can to survive, to keep a roof over their heads and to put food on the table. I get to walk alongside these kids, helping them to know they are loved and seen. I helped a teen navigate having a baby recently, a teen who was being abused in her home, and have provided a safe place for them to share their hardships and traumas from before they left their countries. I have had the opportunity to help them find jobs, know how to mix in college, and most importantly give them opportunities to find Jesus. I get to demonstrate how much they are loved by God and to help nurture that relationship when life is so hard.
Over my eight years in Clarkston I have grown so much, the Lord has healed me, sanctified me, and given me purpose. I get to say now that I don't regret a day of the struggles because of what he has done in me. Pure Joy!
I have been exposed to struggles of families that are unimaginable to me, I've heard stories that have turned my stomach. But the absolute joy I have experienced has been so incredibly fulfilling.