Sophia’s journey of faith and calling has been marked by many unexpected turns and transitions. At just 22 years old, she has moved across the country, changed her career path, and stepped into roles she never imagined for herself. Yet through it all, her passions have not changed: discipling young girls, pursuing authentic community, and experiencing God’s love through different cultures.
Sophia grew up in California in a Christian home, but her faith truly became her own during middle school. As her relationship with the Lord deepened, so did her heart for middle school girls. She longed for them to encounter the love of Christ in the same personal and life-changing way she had.
After high school, the Lord led Sophia from California to Knoxville, Tennessee, where she attended the University of Tennessee. What initially felt like stepping into an entirely new world soon became a season shaped by meaningful community. Through sorority life, Campus Outreach, and involvement in a local church, Sophia found people who encouraged her and helped deepen her faith. And when nursing no longer felt like the right path, it was that same community that encouraged her to consider a calling to ministry.
Over time, it became clear that God was leading Sophia into cross-cultural ministry, but discerning where to serve was less certain. As she explored different opportunities and sought the Lord's direction, a coach encouraged her to look for a place where she sensed genuine excitement and joy in God's calling.
Not long afterward, Sophia was introduced to New Life Skills Center in Uganda, a ministry led by Mesa Global workers Matt and Shelley Actis. It was an unexpected opportunity—she had never even been to Africa—but as she learned more about the ministry, she found herself filled with excitement. The Center's mission to empower young girls through life skills development aligned closely with the burdens God had been cultivating in her heart for years: investing in young women, building deep relationships in community, and experiencing a new culture through the eyes of Christ.
Now, just months after graduation, Sophia is preparing to step into her next chapter: serving for two years with Mesa Global alongside Matt, Shelly, and the New Life Ministries in Uganda. She will leave in October, and while her exact role is still unfolding, she moves forward with confidence in the One who has guided every unexpected turn along the way. The road ahead may still hold surprises, but Sophia knows the same faithful God who called her will continue to lead her—one step at a time.
Stories from the Field
