Ministry
Sharon works at the San Andres Annex School that serves the poor in a rugged shanty-town. She is the Bible teacher, resource teacher, librarian, as well as student and family counselor there. The principal at the school requested a Bible teacher to bring the children to the Lord and the Lord to the children as many of these children are from abusive and dysfunctional situations. Sharon has a heart for these children and their families. In addition to her work through the school, Sharon also participates in outreach ministries at the local mental hospital, leads a bible study in the neighborhood, and spreads the Gospel through street evangelism.

Call
Sharon has desired to serve the Lord since childhood, but, in her own words, "the path to reaching the fulfillment of that dream took almost a lifetime". In 1988, Sharon was struggling as a divorced single parent with relational problems with her daughter. She learned of a missionary opportunity in Colombia just as her daughter was about to leave for college. It didn't seem possible that all the details would fall into place for her to go, but Sharon put all of her concerns before God and He worked it all out, including healing in her relationship with her daughter! After serving four years in Colombia through Wycliffe Bible Translators, Sharon suffered a stroke while back in the U.S. She felt that her days of missionary service were over, but a friend from Paraguay assured her that God was calling her to serve in Paraguay. After much prayer, Sharon accepted God's call to serve again and God has strengthened and renewed her for her work each day.

Prayer Challenges
Sharon's challenges include overcoming a language barrier as many of her students speak primarily Guarani, being on duty long hours, being able to help the students with the variety of lessons they are having trouble with, and being able to communicate sufficiently with the families. However, she welcomes the opportunity to bring the light of the Gospel into a dark place. Her ongoing prayer request is "that God would keep on making [her] what [she] ought to be and equip [her] with everything good that [she] may carry out his will; while He works in [her] and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ so He can receive greater and greater glory" (Hebrews 13:21).