Susan Borst

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Hometown: I’m a native Washingtonian. I was born in Washington, D.C., and lived in Bethesda and Potomac, Maryland. I attended Cabin John Middle School, Churchill High School, Montgomery College, and the University of Maryland, College Park. I have lived in Olney since 1987.

  

My Story: I have always felt blessed by God. I was raised in a loving home with a family that I knew would always be there to cheer me on, grew up on 40 acres of beautiful land, and was encouraged to reach for the stars! When I was younger, my parents always made sure we attended mass, participated in CCD classes, and had opportunities for Christian fellowship with friends from our church. I’ll be honest … as a teen I didn’t always value the ritual of early morning Sunday mass or monthly teen breakfast (6:30 a.m. ... before school started in high school), yet they were the very things I looked for when I attended college. It was the familiar ritual that I needed and the start toward choosing to live a more Christ-centered life. Over the years, I have tried to know, love, and serve the Lord with an open mind and heart. I have traveled down many different roads, not always certain where I was going or why I was on the roadtrip, but I do know that by trusting God and with His grace and guidance everything will be great. God has taught me so much about patience, strength, about love and hope, and about serving others. I am in constant awe of His goodness. 

  

Ministry Area: I have served as Director of The Ark Children’s Center since 2001. It has been a pleasure working with such a dynamic staff, meeting so many great “little friends,” and serving wonderful families from our community. My favorite part of The Ark ministry is watching the children grow more confident as they develop friends, learn to use words, and accomplish new tasks. Year after year, I am amazed at how willing children are to share jobs and help solve problems. It has brought me great joy watching the children serve others in our community by “using their hands and opening their hearts” to help others. Their enthusiasm in play, eagerness to learn, and love of the Lord is demonstrated each and every day as the children sing Bible verses, learn new Bible stories, and give praise to God for the beauty in our world. 

  

Family: I am married to Karl and we have three children. Our children attend MCPS public schools. We are members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and frequent attendees at Oakdale Emory UMC.

 

Passion: I love people, especially children! I love learning about their life experiences, finding connections, and sharing interests. I have been blessed to serve in missions with children in South Africa and hope to continue sharing mission service with my family and others!

  

Favorite Pastime Activities: I love the outdoors! I love escaping to the beach, boating as the sun sets, gardening early in the morning, and skiing on fresh-fallen snow! I also enjoy playing tennis and field hockey.

  

Little-Known Fact: I really enjoy alone time… I like reading on my deck, stamping cards 'til the early hours, and creating new recipes in the kitchen!