Ted and Nikki met at Pacific Union College (PUC) in the spring of 2006 and married in the summer of 2009. They have two precious daughters, Sophia, age 12, and Anastasia, age 5 1/2, who both love the outdoors, animals and playing with friends.

Nikki never imagined their family would be a missionary family. She believed their mission field was at home, wherever they were planted. Teddy, on the other hand, who had been on short-term mission projects and had grandparents who were missionaries, always thought it would be a good experience one day. In May of 2023, they clearly heard God call them to “Sell everything and be missionaries.” Their desire to obey superseded everything else. Unsure of how to move forward, they searched until finally stumbling upon AFM in December of 2023.

In August of that same year, the family began hosting an exchange student for the first time — a high-school-aged girl from Europe. They had almost opted not to host her because of their call to be missionaries but decided to listen to the Holy Spirit and His leading. Little did they know how pivotal this young lady would be in the trajectory of their mission. Through various conversations and experiences with their student, the family felt the Lord leading them to Croatia.

In their nearly 15 years of marriage, they now know they are nothing without Christ. Looking around them, they have seen selfishness abound, marriages fall apart, and children turn from the Lord, and they have learned that the only life worth living is one fully surrendered to God. Ted and Nikki take these next steps of fundraising and training in complete faith, knowing that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)