Portrait of an Advocate – In Memory of Brian Winger: Board Director, Agape International Missions

By Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, J.D.

Founder/Chair, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice; Board Director, Agape International Missions

Some advocates speak for their cause in presentations, protests, or marches. Some battle on the frontlines rescuing the abused. Some provide services and support to survivors. Some fight for justice in classrooms, jails, court rooms, and legislative chambers. And some quietly, diligently, and with dedication make it possible for all these others to advocate for those in need.

BrianWingerwasthekindofadvocatethatmadethingspossible. Hewasahumble,passionate, and deeply devoted man who loved God, his family, his work, and his cause -- ending sexual slavery in Cambodia. As a financial professional, he served for many years as Board Director and Board Treasurer for Agape International Missions (AIM). Brian provided years of countless hours of accounting services, financial advice, and fiscal oversight to ensure that AIM could do what it is here to do -- prevent, rescue, restore, & reintegrate survivors of sex trafficking. He was instrumental in helping AIM grow to more than 300 staff with numerous amazing projects that serve their mission.

I had the honor of working with Brian on the AIM Board since 2007. In all the years of meetings, planning, challenges, and tough decisions for AIM, Brian was always an encouragement to me personally and to everyone at AIM. He was steadfast in all that he

did. And he and his family were always willing to be of support, even opening their home for a place of rest and relaxation.

Brian was a friend and an athlete -- dedicated to biking, running, and other outdoor sports. I have fond memories of running three years in a row with Brian in the Run for Courage in Folsom, California -- an event to bring awareness and support for anti-human trafficking advocacy. He was always easy to talk to and fun to run with. I enjoyed those times with my friend.

Sadly, on Sunday July 7, while he was enjoying time with his family in the outdoors -- Brian suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. I and everyone that is part of the AIM family are devastated by this loss. It hurts to think that this humble, passionate, devoted man and steadfast advocate is no longer with us. But it is a testimony to his life and legacy that I can write these words: an advocate is someone who gently and intentionally makes others better, improves situations that are difficult, and makes the seemingly impossible to be possible. That was Brian Winger, my friend, fellow AIM Board Director, and a true advocate. May God bless Brian for his tremendous life of faith, service, and advocacy.

Minority Kids’ Spelling Bee Dominance Proves Racism Is Far Less Important Than Work Ethic

By Helen Raleigh, G.L.O.B.A.L. Commentator & Board Director; CFA, DTM (Colorado), Immigration Policy Fellow; Centennial Institute, Colorado Christian University

Life is unpredictable, but there are a few seemingly sure bets: the New England Patriots play in the Super Bowl and Indian-American kids win the National Spelling Bee. In the last two decades, the Patriots have had nine Super Bowl appearances and six titles. During the same time period, Indian-American kids have won all but four Scripps National Spelling Bee championships.

This year is no exception: on May 31, the Scripps National Bee Championship competition ended in an eight-way tie with seven out of the eight champions Indian Americans. The final round lasted to midnight, and all eight kids spelled 47 consecutive words correctly.

It was the adults in the room who called quits. Dr. Jacques A. Bailly, the official pronouncer of the Bee, told the kids, “We do have plenty of words remaining on our list. But we will soon run out of words that will possibly challenge you, the most phenomenal collection of super spellers in the history of this competition.” Even Merriam Webster, whose Webster’s Third New International Dictionary serves as the official dictionary of the Bee, accepted its defeat on Twitter.

How did kids from South Asia—including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and especially India—become so dominant in the National Spelling Bee competition? Personal dedication, family commitment, cultural acceptance, and community support.

A Not-So-Secret Formula

There is no question that these kids work hard. Rishik Gandhasri, one of the eight co-champions, said in an interview that he spent between one and four hours each day on learning new words, in addition to his homework and various after-school activities such as swimming and piano lessons. Akash Vukoti, who qualified for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2016 when he was only six years old, spent between one and five hours each day on learning new words.

These kids work so hard because adults in their families foster a culture of learning and are leading by example. Indian-Americans have one of the highest rates of educational attainment in the United Stats. About a third of them have college degrees, and more than 40 percent of them have postgraduate degrees, according to Pew Research. The majority of their degrees are in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

“South Asian-Americans’ spelling bee achievement exemplifies our country’s strengths. We are a meritocratic society where all people can be successful if they put their minds to it.”

Academic achievement is highly valued among Indian parents. Not surprisingly, parents who have higher education attainment and value education tend to raise kids who strive to be high achievers.

Education isn’t just a means to an economic end, although highly educated Indian-Americans are doing very well economically—the average household annual income of Indian families was around $100,000 in 2015. My friend Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, an Indian immigrant with three children and a law degree, told me that besides economic benefits, “Education is considered a noble pursuit—expanding the mind and capacities. The fact that many Indian students are excelling in school, and particularly on the spelling bee, is a reflection of that educational value.”

Family Sacrifice Is Part of Their Successful Culture

The emphasis on education means spelling bee competitions are usually a family commitment. Akash’s mom gave up her job to homeschool him when he was two years old. Like any other sports, parents sometimes have to drive for hours and even take time off to take their kids to regional and national competitions. Siblings help too. Rishik’s older brother, Rutvick, who competed in spelling competitions too, drilled Rishik on new words and provided feedback about his younger brother’s presentation style.

In addition to hard work and a culture that values education and family commitment, one unique factor of these kids’ success is community support. Their dominance today makes it hard to believe that Indian-American kids hadn’t always been good at spelling. Once upon a time, they consistently outperformed in every subject except English.

After Balu Natarajan became the first Indian American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1985, Indian-Americans like Ratnam Chitturi, who founded the North South Foundation (NSF) in 1989, believed that getting kids excited about spelling bee competitions would be a good way to improve their English language skills. NSF organized its first spelling bee competition in 1993.

Today, NSF has more than 90 chapters in the United States. These chapters organize annual Regional Education Contests in spelling, vocabulary, math, essay writing, public speaking, and geography. Winners of these contests are invited to the NSF’s National Finals, where champions receive scholarshipsto college.

The 2002 documentary, “Spellbound,” which follows eight competitors in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee, really fired up Indian-Americans’ enthusiasm because one of the competitors—Nupur Lala, an Indian American girl—beat David Lewandowski and won the 1999 national title. Lala became a household name among Indian-Americans, and inspired many kids to follow in her footsteps.

Enthusiasm for Achievement Sparks New Institutions

To meet the growing demand, Rahul Walia launched the South Asian Spelling Bee in 2008, a platform focusing on spelling bee training and organizing annual competitions in the United States for children of South Asian descent. Its regional and national competitions are covered by South Asian-focused news media.

Adults in the community have also set up tutoring centers, summer camps, software, and study materials to train young spellers to get better and raise the bar of the competition. Each year, many kids of South Asian descent who qualified for the National Scripps Spelling Bee finals are alumni of NSF and South Asian Spelling Bee competitions.

These community-level competitions (nicknamed “minor league”) and the media coverage have turned spelling bees into a popular sport within South Asian American communities. Kids who win national titles are celebrities. Just about no one in the community laughs at them being nerds. Instead, they are respected and admired, like Olympic gold medalists or Nobel laureates. Their performances have been recorded and watched over and over again like popular TV shows. Their success becomes a magnet for more kids to get into the spelling bee competitions.

Based on this year’s outcome, kids of South Asian descent, especially those with Indian heritage, will continue to dominate the spelling bee in the foreseeable future. Their accomplishment and dominance have attracted some ugly attacks from social media: “The kids in the spelling bee should only be AMERICAN”; “No American sounding names who won the spelling B. #sad#fail”; “We need an american to win this spelling bee #tiredofindians.”

These attacks are really stupid, to say the least. These kids are either born here or became naturalized citizens with their parents. They are Americans. Spelling bees are some of the fairest competitions because each participant competes against a dictionary. The same opportunity is open to anyone of any race and ethnicity. No “supremacy” or “privilege” of any kind will ensure success. You either know how to spell a word or you don’t — there is no grey area.

These Indian-American kids deserve to win because they earn it, and their achievement exemplifies what’s best about our country—we are a largely meritocratic society where any individual and any community can be successful if they put their minds and efforts to it.

Politicians, educators, social engineers, and leaders from other communities should draw inspiration from Indian-Americans. Whenever we talk about how to improve public education and close the achievement gaps among different racial groups in the United States, the left’s standard answers tend to involve blaming white privilege, historical racism, and lack of spending. Very little time is spent on looking inward and discussing how to create a culture that fosters learning, values education, and involves adult and community support.

While individual prejudice and discrimination do exist, Indian-American kids’ progress from underperforming in English to dominating in spelling bee competitions in two decades shows that it’s dishonest to blame institutional bias or privilege for the dismal education outcomes in certain racial and ethnic communities in the United States. Any individual and any community in the United States can thrive if they follow Indian-Americans’ time-tested formula: success equals personal dedication, family commitment, cultural acceptance, and community support.

Family Sacrifice Is Part of Their Successful Culture

The emphasis on education means spelling bee competitions are usually a family commitment. Akash’s mom gave up her job to homeschool him when he was two years old. Like any other sports, parents sometimes have to drive for hours and even take time off to take their kids to regional and national competitions. Siblings help too. Rishik’s older brother, Rutvick, who competed in spelling competitions too, drilled Rishik on new words and provided feedback about his younger brother’s presentation style.

In addition to hard work and a culture that values education and family commitment, one unique factor of these kids’ success is community support. Their dominance today makes it hard to believe that Indian-American kids hadn’t always been good at spelling. Once upon a time, they consistently outperformed in every subject except English.

After Balu Natarajan became the first Indian American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1985, Indian-Americans like Ratnam Chitturi, who founded the North South Foundation (NSF) in 1989, believed that getting kids excited about spelling bee competitions would be a good way to improve their English language skills. NSF organized its first spelling bee competition in 1993.

Today, NSF has more than 90 chapters in the United States. These chapters organize annual Regional Education Contests in spelling, vocabulary, math, essay writing, public speaking, and geography. Winners of these contests are invited to the NSF’s National Finals, where champions receive scholarshipsto college.

The 2002 documentary, “Spellbound,” which follows eight competitors in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee, really fired up Indian-Americans’ enthusiasm because one of the competitors—Nupur Lala, an Indian American girl—beat David Lewandowski and won the 1999 national title. Lala became a household name among Indian-Americans, and inspired many kids to follow in her footsteps.

Enthusiasm for Achievement Sparks New Institutions

To meet the growing demand, Rahul Walia launched the South Asian Spelling Bee in 2008, a platform focusing on spelling bee training and organizing annual competitions in the United States for children of South Asian descent. Its regional and national competitions are covered by South Asian-focused news media.

Adults in the community have also set up tutoring centers, summer camps, software, and study materials to train young spellers to get better and raise the bar of the competition. Each year, many kids of South Asian descent who qualified for the National Scripps Spelling Bee finals are alumni of NSF and South Asian Spelling Bee competitions.

These community-level competitions (nicknamed “minor league”) and the media coverage have turned spelling bees into a popular sport within South Asian American communities. Kids who win national titles are celebrities. Just about no one in the community laughs at them being nerds. Instead, they are respected and admired, like Olympic gold medalists or Nobel laureates. Their performances have been recorded and watched over and over again like popular TV shows. Their success becomes a magnet for more kids to get into the spelling bee competitions.

Based on this year’s outcome, kids of South Asian descent, especially those with Indian heritage, will continue to dominate the spelling bee in the foreseeable future. Their accomplishment and dominance have attracted some ugly attacks from social media: “The kids in the spelling bee should only be AMERICAN”; “No American sounding names who won the spelling B. #sad#fail”; “We need an american to win this spelling bee #tiredofindians.”

These attacks are really stupid, to say the least. These kids are either born here or became naturalized citizens with their parents. They are Americans. Spelling bees are some of the fairest competitions because each participant competes against a dictionary. The same opportunity is open to anyone of any race and ethnicity. No “supremacy” or “privilege” of any kind will ensure success. You either know how to spell a word or you don’t — there is no grey area.

These Indian-American kids deserve to win because they earn it, and their achievement exemplifies what’s best about our country—we are a largely meritocratic society where any individual and any community can be successful if they put their minds and efforts to it.

Politicians, educators, social engineers, and leaders from other communities should draw inspiration from Indian-Americans. Whenever we talk about how to improve public education and close the achievement gaps among different racial groups in the United States, the left’s standard answers tend to involve blaming white privilege, historical racism, and lack of spending. Very little time is spent on looking inward and discussing how to create a culture that fosters learning, values education, and involves adult and community support.

While individual prejudice and discrimination do exist, Indian-American kids’ progress from underperforming in English to dominating in spelling bee competitions in two decades shows that it’s dishonest to blame institutional bias or privilege for the dismal education outcomes in certain racial and ethnic communities in the United States. Any individual and any community in the United States can thrive if they follow Indian-Americans’ time-tested formula: success equals personal dedication, family commitment, cultural acceptance, and community support.

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The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice. We are a faith-based, nonpartisan organization that seeks to extend the conversation about justice with a posture of dignity and respect. 

50 Years and a Million Dreams

By Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, J.D.
Founder/President, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice

On May 22, 1969, I was born in Karipuzha, Kerala, India to two remarkable people with humble beginnings, T.K. Samuel and Ammukutty Simon. My Mom was just 18 years old and my Dad 25 and they had been married less than a year when I was born. My father was a wonderful dreamer and my Mom a woman of great faith – the perfect combination for a remarkable world and future ahead. Two months later, in July 1969, the U.S. put a man on the moon – and that was inspiration for my Dad to embark on his lifelong dream to journey from India to the United States.  

Two years later, my Dad arrived in Ohio to do his master's studies. It was a difficult time with three heavy jobs and a heavy course load to finish two master's degrees in electrical and industrial engineering in just two years.  He was away from our family the whole time.

When I was four years old, my Mom made the trek from India to New York with me and my two year old brother, Koshy, to meet my Dad. From there we went to Ontario, Canada where my Dad had his first job and would start our new life together. As a project manager he moved around the country to do his work. That meant that our family moved about every six months and I attended 12 different schools before I was in 6th grade. With all the moving, our family built a strong bond with each other. My brother was my first and closest childhood friend. A few years later, my sister, Mary (Annie) was born — I felt like a second mom to her and we have maintained a strong and special bond through the years. But we also met many other friends in many locations along the way.

When I was nine years old, we moved to Mound, Minnesota on beautiful Lake Minnetonka – a fulfillment of my Dad’s lifelong dream to live in America. We started a new and wonderful life there and finally had a place to truly call home.  We began attending a wonderful church, Mound Evangelical Free Church. Pastor Tom Jensen has been a key figure for our family and is the one who baptized me when I was 21. 

Our friendships in MN grew to be more like extended family – with many of my dearest friends still from my grade school years in Mound. With wonderful teachers and early leadership opportunities, I had many great experiences such as the Mentor Connection, a program that allowed me at just 16 years old to write a play on juvenile delinquency and have it presented at the Playwright Center. I served as the Captain of the cross-country and track teams, and Student Senate President.  I graduated as my Senior Class President and had the blessing of sharing a baccalaureate address to my classmates as well as welcome remarks at graduation.  I am grateful for my educational foundation in Minnesota -- especially at Hilltop Elementary, Grandview Middle School, and Mound Westonka High School. 

But my heart was always in the international, and that led me after high school to college at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service drew so many amazing students, faculty, and global leaders.  I served as Chair of the GU Student Association and of the Student Activities Commission and so appreciated my mentor Dr. Penny Rue. It was a great training ground not only for my future work, but for my life and relationships that would follow. My Georgetown friends remain among my dearest and some of the most accomplished people I know.

Following college, I took a summer backpack adventure through Europe with a college housemate, Anna. We explored Spain, France, & Italy — especially the art and culture of each. I would return to these places years later with fond memories of these earlier adventures.

I returned from these travel experiences to working for three years -- in public affairs in Washington, DC, at a law firm in San Francisco, and in public relations and media in Minneapolis. I gained many great professional experiences and more wonderful friends.  My first job after college was at Public Affairs Group in D.C. – such a great place for a “trial by fire.”  I’ll forever be grateful to Edie Fraser for preparing me professionally.  I had many highlights including preparing remarks for President Boris Yeltsin to present to the Federal Reserve Board. 

Later I continued my career in San Francisco working with a large law firm. I lived with two remarkably talented, musical friends, Josh and Marty, who were like brothers to me. It was one of the happiest years of my life with tremendous friends, experiences, and fond memories.

A year later I was in Minneapolis working with a law firm and later in public relations for Star Tribune/ Cowles Media. During that time I had the distinct opportunity of helping to coordinate a visit with President Bill Clinton at Cowles Media – quite a moment for a 20-something.

Thereafter, I started law school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis while living in St. Paul. My law school years were challenging and significant – preparing me for my future and the goals that I had to serve and make an impact on the world. Prof. David Weissbrodt and Prof. john powell were among my key mentors for human rights and civil rights. I was blessed to work with john at the Institute on Race & Poverty and with David at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland where I served as a Human Rights Fellow.  It was a tremendous opportunity to see the world and world changers in action. 

I continued to work with David and other human rights leaders after law school while directing and developing programs for Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis. I conducted the Mexico Project addressing poverty, health, and police brutality; served as a lead researcher for a three country study on child survival; and addressed concerns of the death penalty and other key human rights issues. 

But my career and my life took an abrupt turn, when in February 1999, my father suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. He was just 54. As the most visionary person that I had known, and the center and leader of our family, my father's passing left an incredible mark on my family. While we endured, persevered, and accomplished much after his passing -- he has been missed each and every day while we strive to realize his dreams through our own. 

The years that followed, I focused on pursuing human rights as my goal and calling.  I worked in Washington, DC with the International Human Rights Law Group addressing racial discrimination in the United States. We took a first ever delegation of experts -- including Charles Ogletree, George Kendall, and William Moffett -- to the U.N. to present on racial discrimination in the criminal justice system and related concerns. 

But in the midst of my human rights work, God presented something totally unexpected – a chance meeting during a visit to Lake Minnetonka with a California Air Force Captain, based in Mississippi, named Zack Burnett. Little did I know that just six months later, Zack would propose while we stood at the top of a mountain in Garmisch, Austria. Then six months more and almost to the day of when we met, Zack would marry me on Lake Minnetonka (with Pastor Jensen officiating). The years that followed with Zack were among the most amazing of my life with experiences, friendships, and achievements across the country from Mississippi to California to Colorado. 

After our wedding, I moved to Mississippi in 2000. It was an opportunity to meet my new family including Zack’s Mom, Ada, and brother Jonathan. Zack was an instructor pilot at Columbus Air Force Base.  We met so many wonderful Air Force friends there. And we reunited with many of them years later in Colorado.  I worked with Waide & Associates, an employment law firm, in Tupelo, MS. I was grateful for the remarkable experience that Jim Waide gave me in helping lead and defend farmers in a class action law suit against a major corporation.

In 2001, we moved to Sacramento, California when Zack had an opportunity to become a U-2 pilot at Beale Air Force Base. We began a great and momentous life in that region. We again met so many wonderful Air Force friends that remain dear to us though scattered throughout the country and world now.  

But in September 2001, our life changed in a dramatic way, when 9/11 happened. Zack immediately became operational and was overseas for more than 280 days of the year.   We attended Adventure Christian Church in Roseville and that community was a great support to us. It was there in November 2001 that I was able to join with Pastor Don Brewster to baptize Zack. 

During our early years in California, I first worked in Oakland for the Institute for Food & Development Policy.  Thereafter, I directed the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice. But in the post 9/11 era, I began to do some deep reflection. Zack and I desired to start a family when the world was right again. So I shifted my career and work to focus on that goal of starting family.

In the 10 additional years of life that followed in California, I stepped away from my "regular" work and began serving our church Adventure-Roseville and later n Sacramento at Adventure-North Natomas. We developed great friendships with Pastor Rick Stedman and Pastor Scott Mathews.  I especially helped ACCNN to build a missions program that served in India, Haiti, & Zimbabwe.  I served as the Chair of the Missions Program for a number of years and their work continue to flourish.

I also had the opportunity to serve on an advisory committee for William Jessup University, a Christian liberal arts institution that was moving to the region from San Jose. I could not have imagined where that opportunity would lead me in the years ahead. I proposed and developed the Public Policy Degree Program for WJU and then served on a search committee for the Chair of the Department. in the midst of the search, with the prompting of President Bryce Jessup, I took that role and served for nearly10 years as the Founder and Chair of the Public Policy Department and Public Policy Institute -- teaching and developing courses, advising and preparing students, supporting policy leaders, presenting in the media on key topics, and conducting numerous events with high level leaders to encourage community engagement. I was recognized with the Chairman award for my work with the Rocklin Chamber and with other organizations. I began serving as Board Director/Chair for Agape International Missions, under the leadership of our former pastor Don Brewster, as well as with a number of other advocacy and policy organizations. 

“Truly these 50 years have been a million dreams come true. ”

— Sosamma Samuel-Burnett

In the midst of our intensely active years in California, I had the blessing of having three remarkable children.  In 2005 after 58 hours of labor, my incredible first child Teddy arrived. Marianna & Anila were my wonderful surprise twin babies who arrived in 2010 by c-section -- not only doubling our family but our blessings. The children paralleled my experiences at WJU -- Teddy in tandem with the Public Policy Department and my girls with its twin Public Policy Institute. In the midst of the demands of children and work, Zack, now a Major in the Air Force, made a a tough decision to shift from military to the airlines. He joined Southwest Airlines in 2006.  He was based out of Oakland as we continued life in Sacramento and Rocklin, CA.  That shift prompted my years at WJU.

But in 2013, our family had another unexpected but incredible opportunity to move to Colorado. Zack had a short but important window to shift his Southwest Airlines base to Denver. In just one week, our fully settled life in Rocklin/Sacramento, CA was uprooted and we were on our way to Loveland, Colorado, another week later. The whirlwind move was unbelievable and challenging.  But very quickly we realized its significance.  

Just two weeks after arriving in Loveland, Zack was diagnosed with State 4 metasticized melanoma. We were shocked that this remarkably active and otherwise healthy man would then required a year of treatment and a year away from flying. Amazingly everything Zack needed was in Loveland and Denver.  It was a dramatic first year, but one that was so meaningful for our family and our faith. We are grateful to God that Zack returned to full health and flying at the end of that year, and remains strong. 

During that time, I prayed and thought about our life and the future. When I knew that Zack was going to be well again, I also prayed about the next steps in my career. I began putting together the foundations for something new.  Then in September 2014, I launched G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice – a culmination of my many professional experiences in advocacy, education, and policy for human rights and global concerns. 

G.L.O.B.A.L was intended to be a resource to the community to inform, impact, and inspire the generations to learn, lead, and do justice together. For nearly five years now, G.L.O.B.A.L. has been the focus of my professional purpose and calling. G.L.O.B.A.L. has grown through the years with remarkable Board, Staff, Experts, and Collaborators. I have appreciated many opportunities to teach and present at venues, events, and schools around the country -- especially at Northwest Christian University and Trinity Law School.  It has also been a privilege to serve as a Fellow at the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University as well as being involved with the Christian Legal Society and Christians in Political Science to be present my research at conferences.

I have enjoyed serving the Thompson School District and my children’s schools, Carrie Martin Elementary and Walt Clark Middle School.  I have also enjoyed being a part of Colorado based associations such as Colorado Women of Influence, Zonta Club of Fort Collins, and Northern Colorado Community, and collaborating with a range of organizations working around the world, including Life for the Innocent and Think Humanity. My family has been especially blessed to be a part of a great church, Grace Place, in Berthoud.

I was so grateful to receive the Dr. Joan B. King International Woman of Vision award from the Colorado Women of Influence in July 2018 and to be nominated for the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award in January 2019.  I am so looking forward to celebrating G.L.O.B.A.L.’s fifth anniversary in September 2019.  

In these years in Colorado, our family and especially our children have grown. Teddy is a gifted, smart, and caring 14 year old who has such tremendous abilities in so many arenas. We were overjoyed that he was baptized this May.  Anila is a devoted, diligent, and intelligent 9 year old who has great focus and aspirations.  Marianna is a wonderfully brilliant and talented 9 year old who is artistic and kind hearted. In 2015, we gained another brother when my sister married Saiful. In 2016, we had our first niece with the arrival of Evelyn on Zack’s birthday. And in 2017, we had the blessing of hosting our family reunion in Colorado with more than 60 loved ones from my Dad’s side from around the U.S. and Canada. Zack and I are so grateful for all the ways that God has brought faith, family, friends, and community together in our lives.

And now on May 22 2019, we are gathering with so many of our family and friends to celebrate my 50th birthday! I am so grateful for this special day -- a half century milestone! -- but even more grateful for all the wonderful experiences, memories, and people who have been a part of my life, my work, and my story for the past 50 years. Thanks to each of them for their love and support. Truly these 50 years have been a million dreams come true. 

 To God be the Honor and the Glory!