“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”  – Frederick Buechner.

“Labor of Love”… is a phrase that was an answer to a quick childlike prayer shortly after I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I was a single mom and my son Brian was 2. I was just beginning to do portraits and desired to work from home to  be with him. I casually asked God, “If I ever had a business what would I call it?” Immediately in my spirit I heard “Labor of Love”. I had never heard that phrase before and I never knew that God could speak an answer to me like that. That was in 1991. Since then I have learned so much more about what love truly is. It is my desire to share this love through my life, work and art.

In late 2004/early2005 God added a new and exciting element to this “Labor of Love”. He began stirring my heart to travel to Mozambique, Africa to serve Iris Ministries on a mission trip. Those who knew me then know how impossible that was! My feet first touched Mozambican soil in June of 2005 and life has never been the same. Living in and loving the people of Mozambique is definitely something I was made for and Jesus continues to ask me to follow Him in the seemingly impossible, but all things are possible in Him!

It was my honor to  travel with a team from Encounters Network led by Michal Ann Goll, who has now gone on to her heavenly home, my first and second time to Mozambique. I then attended Iris’ “Holy Given” Missions Training School from June – Aug 2006. I returned with another team led by Michal Ann Jan 29th 2007 and stayed on for 2 months. I was formally accepted as a long-term missionary with Iris Ministries as of April 2007 and served in that capacity through October of 2008. In 2009 I was blessed to have the opportunity to focus fully on my art, both in class and creating. I went to a new location, Dondo, Mozambique for three months in 2010 and then again for 7 1/2 months in 2011.

In 2012 I will be entering into a new season in my missions work. I will return to link arms with Lee Trueblood, the founder of a orphanage called “House of Blessing” in Manga, Mozambique.

http:/hobmoz.org/

http://www.hobmoz.blogspot.com/