
Originally from Midland, Stephanie has been a Texas girl her entire life. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Texas Tech and spent the first several years of her career working in the non-profit industry focusing on recruitment, donor and volunteer relations. She transitioned out of non-profit and has been working as a residential realtor for the last eight years, but is very excited to step back into the non-profit world again! She is passionate about building strong relationships and connecting with others, something she was fortunate to do in her previous non-profit roles as well as in real estate. Stephanie and her husband Jason have been married for ten years and are proud parents of two children. They are diehard Red Raiders and you'll find them attending as many Texas Tech sporting events as possible, as well as spending time at the lake with family and friends.
We are so happy to have Stephanie join the MITS team as the new Administrative Coordinator!
Let's get to know her a bit, shall we?
Enneagram: STRONG 7 with wings split between 6 and 8. As a friend, wife, and mother my 6 wing comes out more, but at work my 8 wing shines.
Favorite Book: I love historical fiction and Lilac Girls was the first book that got me hooked on that genre, so it’s definitely a top contender. For non-fiction books, I really enjoyed Bob Goff’s Love Does and Jennie Allen’s Find Your People.
Interesting Fact: I met my best friend on the playground on the first day of first grade. She is still one of my very best friends and we have little girls who are 6 weeks apart in age.
First job: Summer daycare teacher
A dream you have: I want to take my kids to 18 countries before they turn 18. And on that note, a dream of mine is to rent a house in Tuscany and spend the summer there with my family and our best friends!
What brought you to MITS?
I first visited Kenya in the summer of 2009. After that first trip, as they say, "it got in my blood" and I have been back multiple times since then. I have visited many parts of Kenya, but at least a portion of each trip was spent in Kamulu at MADE IN THE STREETS. I helped teach literacy classes, painted the buildings at the skills training center, did Bible studies at the Eastleigh center, and just built relationships with the students through day-to-day interactions, church, games, and playing soccer! I have remained involved with MADE IN THE STREETS over the years from back home in the United States. My love for Kenya and the work God was doing in the lives of those at MADE IN THE STREETS is something I have carried with me and remained passionate about over the last fifteen years. I knew I would always be involved with the ministry of MITS in one way or another, but now having the opportunity to come on staff with the US team is something I am so grateful God has allowed me to do.
What are some words you live by?
"Be where you are" - this is something my mom always told me growing up and something I think about almost daily. I think it is somewhat her version of "stop and smell the roses." This world is such a busy, overwhelming place and it's important to look up and simply be present.
Another one, which I attribute to my dad is "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right." Having a strong work ethic and integrity is so important to me and whether it's something seemingly small like putting away laundry or something of huge importance like planning a capital campaign to raise funds for the most vulnerable, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.
My favorite verse is Isaiah 26:3 which says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
What is your ideal weekend?
Being at the lake with my family and closest friends spending our evenings around the dinner table with good food and good conversation and/or any Texas Tech sporting event with my family!
What excites you most about working for MITS?
Getting to experience somewhat of a full-circle moment by first visiting MITS as a high schooler, getting to see the incredible things God was doing in the first three decades of the ministry, and now coming back to work for MITS on the US team and being part of what God is going to do over the next three decades and beyond! It's an exciting time to be involved with MADE IN THE STREETS and we can't wait to share the joy that we have with all of you! God's global Church is at work and I am humbled and grateful to play even a small part in it.
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