Kristin Iyescas

   In 2005, Kristin felt a message urging her to become a Catholic. She believes it was the Holy Spirit who entered her heart. The next year, she was baptized and confirmed into the Holy Catholic Church. Her journey as a new Catholic began prior to graduating from nursing school; her first nursing job happened to be at a Catholic hospital. She worked a full night shift, then attended morning Mass in the church’s chapel. As a nurse, she enjoyed caring for others, promoting their recovery, health, and wellness; it was humbling to provide care for others in such a vulnerable state.
   She gained experience while serving as a United States Peace Corps health volunteer in rural Mongolia for two years. Kristin and her husband served together where they lived in a multi-generation old Mongolian ger or “yurt.” They lived as rural Mongolian’s lived: without running water, had to make ger stove fires to keep warm, and they used an outhouse. This was yet, another, humbling and challenging time, as Kristin learned to truly appreciate all the necessities of life. She learned how to integrate herself into a new culture (both Mongolian culture and nursing culture) and way of living. She worked with her Mongolian counterparts to improve on the health disparities of the Mongolian people.
   In most recent years, she endured, along with everyone else in the world, the COVID pandemic. It was the most challenging and humbling part of her nursing career. Watching patients suffer alone and family leaving pieces of hand-sketched artwork (hearts, I love you, stay strong!) on the outside of patients’ room windows was heartbreaking. She never wants to endure that again, and she prayed for all of those who suffered and lost beloved family and friends. She prays you always feel the love of God and His presence.
   After much prayer, she is now in a new role, one that is a way for God to pull her (and her family) closer to Him and to feel His great love. She is honored to be a part of the children’s and youth ministries. She longs to share her faith and love of God with the future leaders of our church and world. She brings her past experiences and knowledge to collaborate with our awesome team to help promote our programs and ministries. She prays that these ministries will elevate to amazing growth! She is grateful to the parish for entrusting its children into the team’s care. And it is her prayer the families of our parish be nourished through faith and prayer.