Hey y’all! I am so excited that you are diving into my page! My name is Jack and as of 3/31/2021, I’m a senior in high school and living in a sort of small town called Murphy just outside of Dallas, Texas.
God has worked in such amazing ways in my life over the past few years and I have grown so much in identity in Christ! Through some amazing friends, some awesome leaders, worship leading, mission trips, and some of the hardest times in my life, God has really shown me his love. He is working in my hometown every single day, day in and day out, but what I truly love about God the most is how he is working everywhere all of the time. Through my mission trips to Mexico he has really shown me that he is a God of all people and that his love is everlasting. I am so excited that God has called me to go out onto the mission field to spread the love and the compassion that he has shown me.
Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Jack I ain’t got a clue who you are”
Well… let’s change that! Here are a few of my favorite things that I love with all my heart and soul!
||1|| Music. Music. Music.
Music is actually my favorite thing out of all of them whether that be going to concerts, listening to music, blasting it in the car with my friends, or playing musical instruments. I just love everything about it and it has helped me to get through some of the hardest times in my life. It is a way for me to express myself to the world in a way that isn’t verbal. Words are DEFINITELY not my thing but to me, music says what a thousand words cannot.
I’ve been playing music literally my whole life. I first picked up a guitar in 1st grade and started into classical music to begin with. From there my music talents led me far down the road. I started playing percussion in 6th grade and ever since then my life has changed. Band has been such an integral part of my high school career and it wouldn’t trade the hard work, sweat, blood, and really bad sunburns, from not wearing any sunscreen in the Texas sun, for anything! Band has taught me more than just music, it has taught me so many life lessons that I will be able to use in my time on the mission field doing God’s work.
I have been given so many opportunities to lead worship at my church whether that was behind the drum kit, at the front of the stage playing guitar and singing, or up on stage playing keys. I have grown so much since 6th grade when I got up on stage for the first time. I vividly remember getting up there my first week. I had never touched a drum set before, our worship pastor at the time was leading, and I had only been playing drums for about 3 months. I went up there and was utterly terrible. And when I say terrible… I mean terrible! But God loves all worship so it’s okay! It’s amazing to think how far I have come because that memory is forever ingrained in my mind! Worship is my place where I connect with God and I am so grateful for the opportunities I have been given!
||2|| Photography
This has been another huge thing in my life so far. I am a very creative person and to me photography is my second creative outlet behind music. It allows me a space to show visually to the world what I see in the world and to portray the creation of God in a way that brings him glory. I have been taking pictures for my church, on trips that I have gone on, with my friends, and I have made a little business taking senior and family pictures. I have had so much fun growing in this craft and improving my skills over the years.
||3|| A small coffee shop in my hometown called 1418
I don’t know how to say this strongly enough, but this place is literally my home and second school building. The coffee is great but the vibe is greater. This place is amazing. It’s actually the place where I can realize and felt God calling me to apply for this trip and take this step out in my faith. I am at this shop probably 4 times a week on average. It’s where I do my school work, my journaling, my devos, and just where I hang out with my friends. I am going to miss this place once I leave but it will forever be a part of my story. And trust me. I’ll definitely be going back once the trip is over!
||4|| DOGGOS
Dogs… I don’t think any more explanation is necessary
Those are just a few things about me and my life. Thank you so much for reading! I am so very excited to see where God takes me on this trip and my time to come after!
So glad to hear you confirm your love of music. As I learned during our church choir and orchestra trip to Latvia in 2000, I was not able to verbally communicate with many of the Latvian volunteers that helped fill in the missing instrumentalists in our orchestra while we presented our music for 10 days. But – when the conductor’s baton began moving, we began communicating. As you have heard your Nana and Papa say many times – “Music is the UNIVERSAL language.” Love ya.