Listening to the Voice of Faith

Most of Amanda’s life has involved visiting doctors’ offices, getting tested, and going to therapy. As an infant, she suffered from reduced kidney function and a digestive disorder called Hirschsprung’s disease. As she grew older, she began showing signs of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects multiple areas of the body.

Amanda always struggled in school. While her severe vision, speech, and learning impairment caused Amanda to struggle academically, her clumsiness and slowness to adapt made her subject to teasing. “I often felt upset, confused and misunderstood,” Amanda recalled. When her peers were getting their driver licenses, she couldn’t join them. Her health challenges made it impossible to drive.

“I get frustrated, anxious, and overwhelmed easily when plans change too often,” Amanda said. Because of her neurological makeup, she favors simplicity, routine, and structure.

Despite all that she deals with, Amanda chose to be hopeful instead of falling into despair. A turning point came five years ago, when her vision improved with contact lenses. She was able to be participate in more-normal teenage experiences. At Saddleback Church, she joined a small group for the first time and was able to attend student retreats and camps. Her faith began to grow as she experienced new ways to connect with God.

Her conversations with God changed from, “Why me?” to, “What are your plans for me?” She wasn’t afraid to step out in faith, even with her health challenges. Her desire to find purpose led her to seek advice from her family, small group, and church leaders. They encouraged her to get more connected and involved. There were so many new things she could experience now.

One year, the holiday season was coming up, and Amanda knew that more help would be needed at Saddleback’s Food Pantry. In spite of the constant reminders of her limitations, Amanda wanted to find ways to use the areas of her life where she excelled — her friendly, outgoing personality, her strong organization skills, and her eye for detail — skills she was told would be useful at the Food Pantry.

At the beginning of her senior year in high school, Amanda decided that she wasn’t going away to college, and her friends at school were pursuing their own paths. “I wanted more in my life,” she said. “I wanted to be involved somewhere. I love being around people.” In daily prayer, she not only asked God for direction, but she prayed with confidence that God was working on her behalf. The answer didn’t come immediately, but when it did, she realized, “The Food Pantry was the perfect fit. They were looking for outgoing people with good organizational skills and an eye for detail. That’s me!”

After that first holiday season helping in the Food Pantry, she began serving once a week after school. More opportunities followed. Her Food Pantry team encouraged her to not hold back and keep moving forward — to learn and grow every day.

Because of her confidence and abilities, within a year Amanda worked her way up to the position of volunteer leader. Now, in addition to leading team meetings and writing weekly devotionals, she helps set up the store and run the kitchen, supervises the deck, does inventory, and performs quality checks on food and presentation.

With her outgoing and energetic personality, as well as her unique perspective on life, Amanda is a ray of sunshine and message of hope to families living in pain and hardship. “I’ve had so many challenges in life with my health and disability,” she said. “The Food Pantry is an amazing place to share the hope that I know I have.”

Amanda is using her experiences to care for people in the local community. “I have served several families where health is one of their main concerns,” Amanda said. “I tell them about God and hope in Jesus.” One family has a child with a severe disability.  At every opportunity, Amanda shares with them how God has been faithful to her in her own journey. And with others who are going through serious medical issues, she offers understanding of their pain and suffering while encouraging them to trust God.

With the help of medical professionals, Amanda manages or has overcome most of her symptoms. Mentors, leaders, and peers compliment her on her sense of peace and maturity. In the past two years, she’s dealt with her health challenges while continually stepping up as a volunteer leader in the Food Pantry. She has learned to trust God even more. “One day at a time; and he will work it out. These were big challenges that I got through,” Amanda recalled.

Recently, Amanda completed a state-administered vocational rehabilitation-training program. She has begun working part time at a local retail store, but she still makes time to serve her local community through the Food Pantry. She is committed to serving the families that God sends her way.

Life can be hard, but Amanda never gives up; she always turns to God. “For me, my prayer conversations with God happen throughout the day, even if it’s only a few minutes at a time,” she said. “I always pray before I go to sleep at night; I thank him for the day and for the next one in advance. He gives me strength, courage, and love. I truly trust God with all my heart, all day every day.”

Click HERE to find out more about the Food Pantry and how you can get involved.