Introducing Intake 2024, Part 2

Leeann Graff

From St. Louis, MO

Her story
What called me to be a missionary was seeing a great need and being moved to compassion for the broken and lonely. Even after I had the “perfect job” and “perfect catholic community,” and great friendships, I felt the Lord calling me to more.

What excites you most about missions?
A chance to enter into a new culture, learn about individuals, and be able to share the joy of the Gospel.

Is there a particular message you cannot wait to share with those you will serve?
Jesus Christ desires to have an intimate, personal relationship with you, no matter where you are, or your past. He is searching for you.

Is there a missionary who has had a particular impact on your life? What about them inspired you?
Two FOCUS missionaries: Tori and Kaitlin. They were great witnesses to meeting people (i.e. me), exactly where the person is at. They were gentle and spoke truth into my life about Jesus and His desire to have a personal relationship with me.

Is there a book, podcast, or hobby that you’ve been excited about recently?
Well, I just read “GO, You are Sent,” (by one of the co-founders of FMC) so that was pretty amazing. But I always have a puzzle going. It is definitely a big part of my leisure time.

Before being a missionary with FMC, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I find it interesting because I’m a nerd, but I was working with donated umbilical cords and placentas (from C-sections), to create stem cell-based products for the rejuvenation and healing of chronic illnesses and diseases.

Favorite saint(s)?
St.Catherine of Siena is my patron saint and is a beautiful example of speaking truth even when it’s difficult. But also St. Gianna Molla. She was particularly interesting to me while I was working and trying to live a faith-filled life as a lay Catholic woman.

Read more about Leeann on her bio page.

The Caldwell Family

Collin and Jen are from Texas (and many other places) along with their ten children.

Their story
We met the Martin family in early 2016 at our parish parking lot…it was a God-ordained encounter for sure. Erik and Bridget Martin handed us one of their FMC business cards and that turned out to be our “missionary seed.” A few years later, another family (the Brautigam’s) gave us a SERVE Magazine and told us about their very good friends, the Oakes family, and how they were becoming missionaries. This led us to eventually read Genie and Frank Summers’ books, “Go! You Are Sent” and “Our Family’s Book of Acts.” God has done the rest…leading us along the path to Big Woods!

What excites you most about being a missionary?
What excites us the most is having the opportunity to bring the Gospel to those who may have never heard the name of Jesus. Also, we know that God has given us a tremendous gift in our kids, and we want to share our joy (and their joy) with those who need a physical witness to the goodness of the Lord!

Is there a particular message you cannot wait to share with those you will serve?
It’s simple yet sometimes hard to truly believe… “You are a child of God and He loves you! Follow Him and find true peace and joy!”

How has a relationship with Jesus and/or the Church radically changed your life?
During these first two weeks of Intake, we have entered into a deeper relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Mother Mary. Using Lectio Divina, we have really been able to enter into the gospels feeling all the things…the smells, the emotions, the sights…the Lord wants us to be here. He wants us to enter into this life with Him. We are worthy of Him, we are worthy of the graces we ask for. We are called to be friends with the God of the Universe!

Is there a missionary who has had a particular impact on your life? What about them inspired you?
The Martins have been a tremendous influence on our lives and despite our brief encounter in 2016, that point has crescendoed into a trusting and lasting friendship.

Your personal motto to live by
Our family motto, especially as it pertains to our missionary calling, is Psalm 34:2-3, “We will bless the Lord at all times; praise shall always be in our mouth! Our souls will glory in the Lord that the poor may hear and be glad!”

Is there a book, podcast, or hobby that you’ve been excited about recently?
We truly enjoy a three-book series called “Through the Eyes of Jesus.” It is almost like reading through a script from The Chosen. It is about the life of Jesus (through His perspective/internal narrative) during His years on earth, especially during His ministry. The lessons taught are so inspiring and have brought us closer to the Lord.

Before being a missionary with FMC, what was the most unusual or interesting job you ever had?
Both Jen and I studied meteorology in college. This allowed us to be storm spotters/chasers in various locations throughout Tornado Alley (Oklahoma and Texas) as well as in Western Tennessee.

Do you have a favorite saint?
Collin — Hero: My father; Saint: St. Michael the Archangel and St. Joseph
Jen — Hero: Mother Mary; Saint: St. Anne (Mary’s Mother)
James — St. Francis of Assisi
Kadi — St. Joan of Arc and St. Josephine Bahkita
Zachary — St. Augustine
Mariatu — St. Monica and St. Therese
Isaac — St. Anthony of Padua
Maria — Our Lady of Fatima
Emma — St. Clare
Ben — St. Michael the Archangel
Kateri — St. Kateri
Joseph — St. Joseph

Read more about the Caldwells on their bio page.

Lisa Acosta and Family

I have lived in Springfield, Missouri for the past 24 years (but grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and the Chicago suburbs).

Her story
I remember, specifically, being on a family trip to the Florida Keys. I had brought a recommended book with me, “Don’t Waste Your Life,” and ended up spending most of the time devouring it. Simultaneously, I drove an hour out to attend daily Mass one day, and I learned that the church had been destroyed by the recent hurricane and that the priest had stayed behind in his car to help people (instead of evacuating). This turned out to be a vacation like no other, and it became the catalyst that led me to Family Missions Company.

What excites you most about being a missionary?
What excites me most about the missionary vocation is being able to take our experiences and trials as a family, and pour them into others—especially those who don’t have the resources we have in the U.S.

Is there a particular message you cannot wait to share with those you will serve?
I want to share the message of love and hope and an identity in Christ.

How has a relationship with Jesus and/or the Church radically changed your life?
Throughout my life, God was leading me from ignorance and pride…to obedience…to discovering, and wholeheartedly embracing the truth, beauty, and richness of the Catholic Church. As an adult, when I found myself experiencing a reprise of the trauma, loss, and grief of my childhood, the lives of the saints, the Sacraments, Scripture, and Church teaching, all pointed me to Jesus. I was radically changed when I began to understand God’s love and mercy for me (and for everyone!), my identity in Christ (especially as a new creation), and when—though it was through my own helplessness initially—I finally made Jesus the number one man in my life.

Is there a missionary who has had a particular impact on your life? What about them inspired you?
Frank and Genie Summers’ conversion story (in the book “Go You Are Sent“) provides so much hope. What God can do with a man (and, ultimately, a marriage and family), no matter how far he’s gone astray, just shows that the Lord’s love and mercy are waiting for all of us. He will leave the ninety-nine to go after the one lost sheep—we only have to give Him our “Yes!” He is the Good Shepherd who will lead us from there.

Your personal motto to live by
The scripture on our FMC bio page (Isaiah 43:19) was first given to me by my domestic violence case manager at a time when I was overcome with grief that my family would never again be the same. Immediately upon leaving her office, I got into my car, started the engine, and recognized the TobyMac song, “Edge of My Seat” on the radio. After the somewhat repetitive chorus, I heard for the first time the words (in a voice-distorted echo), “Behold, I am doing a new thing in the land. It’s springing forth. Do you perceive it?” (For a minute I was worried this was some kind of playing-the album-backward-kind-of-thing, but then I remembered it was no longer the 1980’s). No, but really, I was overcome with emotion, and went home and shared it with my kids, and the verse has continued to come up since then in other places. Scripture has a way of doing that—the real-life application is amazing. If you haven’t experienced it, I highly recommend starting (or re-starting) a habit of 15 minutes a day of reading the Bible. I don’t know how I got along for so many years without it!

Is there a book, podcast, or hobby that you’ve been excited about recently?
We like to listen to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in A Year” podcast periodically when we don’t have our bibles with us, especially if we’re driving and have a busy day and want to make sure we get Scripture in. We also want to do the same with Fr. Mike’s “Catechism in a Year.” I hear it’s amazing! On longer road trips, we have really enjoyed listening to audiobooks like the “Narnia” and “Wingfeather” series—they really come to life with dramatic reading and voices (like a movie, but with more imagination and without having to stare at a screen). Right now, for our nightly read-aloud, we are re-reading the Ralph Moody “Little Britches” series—it’s a lesser-known classic that’s a favorite for all ages.

Before being a missionary with FMC, what was the most unusual or interesting job you ever had?
Being a director of a kid’s nature day camp one summer while I was in college was probably the most unusual and/or interesting job I’ve ever had. We had our own lake, boat house, and a fleet of canoes. I was given two awesome assistants and had a super cool boss who said “yes” to everything I wanted to do with our little explorers (which eventually led to a weekend camping “field trip” in southern Illinois). She even gave me outdoor gear as a thank-you gift at the end of the summer!

Do you have a favorite saint?
The first saint I discovered was St. Francis of Assisi, who captured my attention by his radical conversion, denouncing his wealth for a life of poverty and simplicity, his love of nature, and his charisma and zeal. Just a few (of the many other) heroes who have greatly impacted my life and captured my heart with their lives poured out in love and sacrifice are: St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Pope St. John Paul II, Pope St. Pius X (Beppi!), and all those who were martyred for their faith including St. Issac Jogues, St. Maxmillian Kolbe, St. Thomas More, St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, Blessed Miguel Pro, St. Oscar de Romero, Blessed Stanley Rother, and the five missionaries killed in Ecuador by the Waorani warriors in 1956 (as well as their widows and family members—especially those who remained, and converted the killers!)

Read more about Lisa and her family on their bio page.