East Coast Pioneers

Savannah Sully graduated from Oregon State University in 2017 with a degree in Health Management and Policy. She was formerly a Volunteer Missionary at the OSU Newman Center for the 2018-2019 school year.

If my Volunteer missionary year with the OSU Newman Center has taught me one thing (it has taught me many, many things) it is how to trust God’s plan. So, when I was invited in February to renew my volunteer missionary status for 1 more year with American University and travel to Washington DC, I experienced peace and confidence in my ‘Yes’, despite the countless unknowns.

Back in September, the beginning of my volunteer year, I quickly saw all the areas I needed to grow in: prayer, evangelism, trust, charity…the list was long. But once I really accepted my shortcomings and allowed Jesus to break me down and build me up, the year became transformative. I can honestly say this year has been the best year of my life so far. I experienced God using me in ways I never imagined, honing charisms I didn’t’ know I had, and giving me gifts I didn’t know I needed. I was able to do His will through grace.

Casey and I will be the first Volunteer Missionaries to pioneer to the East Coast, a reverse Oregon Trail if you will. As I anticipate moving to a new place, a new culture, far from home, family, and this Newman Community that I’ve known and grown with for the last 4 years, I can see more clearly how God has been preparing me this year for the next. We will be doing much of the same work- mentoring students, outreaching on campus, helping to lead and develop the student programs, but I’m sure there will be many changes in store that pull us out of our comfort zone. The trust I’ve grown in this year has brought me peace about next year, and a conviction that God will continue to use me in his plan.

~ Savannah Sully