Sarah Diehl (2007)

Sarah graduated in May 2007 with a B.A. in Missions and a minor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of other languages). She wanted to be prepared “so that if the Lord called me to work in a creative access country where traditional missionaries cannot go, I would have the skills to enter.” Her desire was to serve the Lord in Africa. Her senior paper was on the Maninka People group of Guinea, West Africa; and immediately following graduation, she began earning and saving money to support her dream. She is currently serving a two-year apprenticeship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa, with other Christian and Missionary Alliance missionaries, some of whom are TFC graduates. Once this assignment is complete, she will be considered a career status missionary.

Sarah’s prayer is: “Pray for me that I will be able to serve the African people in such a practical way that my perspective will be broader, my understanding greater, my commitment deeper, and the things that touch the heart of God, would touch my heart.”

Most of the world is aware of the devastating floods plaguing Burkina Faso. Sarah has been working alongside the relief aid workers and has posted many photos on Facebook. She wrote these words just recently: “It's been two weeks since the flood. Many relief aid organizations have been brought in to meet the needs of the people. Ten days after the flooding, I had the opportunity to spend a day with ACCEDES (relief arm of the C&MA in Burkina run by the National Church) distributing blankets, mats, rice, potties, clothing, etc. to people who had lost their homes.”

Sarah came to Toccoa Falls College from Bedford, Pennsylvania, a small Western Pennsylvania town tucked in among other coal mining towns. Her father owned a construction business and before Sarah could finish college, he was injured at work, leaving him unemployed for many months which put a financial strain on the entire family. God was in control, however. While Sarah was a student, she worked four part-time jobs and relied heavily upon God’s grace and sufficiency to carry her through.

During her senior year, when family finances were stretched, God provided a full scholarship through very faithful alumni donors. This enabled her to not only finish her educational program but also allowed her to graduate debt free. Being debt free was a stipulation with the C&MA Mission Board that they required prior to granting credentials to go overseas as a missionary. This was huge for Sarah and her family, and they are quick to give God the credit for that gift. Today, Sarah continues to recognize God as “Jehovah-Jireh, the Provider, as she has seen Him faithful in that area time and time again.