I’ve spent over 42 years working as a Dental Hygienist, but the things that truly fill my life are much more than my profession.  My faith is central to all I do, mothering, being a grandmother, and of course my mission work. In my spare time I like to garden, read, laugh and cook. 

One of the greatest joys in my life, though, has been demonstrating my faith through participating in mission work. Since 1993, serving in the mission field has been important to my life. Over the past three decades, I’ve had the privilege of coming alongside other ministries in Guatemala, Romania, The Philippines, Peru, and most recently,  Arrowhead Ministries serving the Satire- Maue Tribe that live on tributaries off the Amazon River in Northern Brazil. I wish I had started doing mission work earlier in life as it has been so rewarding. I've lost count of how many trips I've taken part.

My journey began in Guatemala in 1992 when I took the opportunity to join a  two week medical/dental mission trip with People for Missions to the orphanage of Casa De Esperanza and to the mountain villages surrounding the city of Zacapa. I then went either once or twice a year from 1992 to 2006. After that first trip I formed my own ministry and called it Vessels of Gold. I began putting together teams to join other teams in support.  In 2001 my husband began joining me on these trips. In 2006, he  joined with another missionary  in Guatemala to hand dig a well in a remote village. They spent a month completing it. Both of my daughters have accompanied me on a few trips to Guatemala. I started learning the Spanish language from the beginning and jokingly now say I am a chronic Intermediate Spanish speaker. Currently I am learning the Portuguese language.  I can usually figure out what I want to say, it's when they talk back that I'm lost. The challenge is when we get into remote areas and we need not only one translator but sometimes two or three to interpret into their different dialects, even a translator app won't help you there.

After going to Guatemala for years we found an opportunity to support a government orphanage and a children's summer camp in Bucharest, Romania. From there we went to The Philippines to a half way house for sexually abused girls called Nehemiah House. We went for 10 years there every spring. After that we went to Peru and joined a team bringing medical and dental care to the villages in the Andes up as high as 14,000 feet.  In 2012 we went for the first time to Brazil and brought eye glasses and dental care to the Munduruku tribe and the Satire- Maue tribes.  Our second and third trips to Brazil were in 2023, 2024.  Those trips focused on bringing food, clothes as well as providing medical and dental care to the villages. We also did some childrens ministry and prayer stations. Throuhout it all the Lord has shown me how blessed we are and how important it is to help at every opportunity.

I'm lucky in life to have a partner who shares my faith and my passions. My husband Don has joined me in most of my mission work from early on. 

As we grew in this ministry, we felt called not only to participate but also to lead. Organizing and leading teams has taught us the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who are dependable, trustworthy, willing to sacrifice and who share the same passion for serving others through Christ. We are deeply committed to creating teams that are not just skilled but also united in purpose of serving Christ through serving others first.

Don is a business owner, father and grandfather, a Montana history buff, a fur trapper/buyer by trade, and one heck of a fisherman. He taught me everything I know about fishing. I can occasionally out fish him! We own and operate a house painting business, which keeps us busy, but we try to get away to the lake for fishing and camping, and with our grand kids whenever we can.