Teen wants to change the world

By Lauren Radomski (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, March 22, 2008

Rose Whitlock is not your typical 17-year-old. Her goal in life is modest, she says: She just wants to change the world.

“I’ve been studying Spanish for three years and I’ve wanted to be a missionary my whole life,” Whitlock said. “When I see myself as a missionary, I see myself going to the small countries, the hard ones, the places where Christians are persecuted.”

Whitlock will begin her missions work this summer, spending about three months organizing vacation Bible school and other events for youth throughout Mexico. For Whitlock, the trip is about showing other people the kind of acceptance, encouragement and support she found in one Fergus Falls couple.

Whitlock says she attended several churches growing up, but didn’t feel rooted in any of them. It wasn’t until she met Jayson and Tammy Mueller, pastors at Christ Outreach Center, that she found what had been missing all along.

“Tammy just saw me for who I was and brought me to where I could be,” she said.

Whitlock, who earned her GED last summer, has lived at the Christ Outreach Center since July. There she runs the dance team and helps lead worship services.

When Whitlock leaves for two weeks of training in Oklahoma in May, she’ll join a group of young people at a church where her pastors served.

“We were down there for seven years, so she’ll be with family, she’ll be in good hands,” Mueller said.

“My church family here is really excited for me,” Whitlock said.

Still, the trip has its challenges. The true test of Spanish fluency is communicating with native speakers, and Whitlock said she still needs to learn some Bible-specific vocabulary.

Then there’s simply homesickness.

“It’s scary to think that for four months I’m going to be leaving the place where I’ve spent my whole life,” Whitlock said.

Before she goes, Whitlock will need to finish raising the $2,300 needed to finance the trip. She’s already sent letters to family, friends and missionary supporters, but she’s also planning a benefit concert for April 12 featuring A Bridge from Normal, a band out of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will include a $5 cover and freewill offering.

When all is said and done, Whitlock hopes this summer’s trip will be the first of many around the world.

“I never saw myself in a nine-to-five office job,” she said. “There’s a difference between talking about making a difference and going out and doing it.”

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