Meet Mrs. North Dakota International 2017
Welcome to my first blog post as your Mrs. North Dakota
International! I have had this title for a couple weeks now, but it is still
surreal every time I say it out loud. If you would have told me a couple years
ago that I would be here, doing this, I might not have not taken you
seriously. But as I sit here writing to you, I am filled with gratefulness for
this blessing! I am humbled and honored by this opportunity. Now, I don't want
to be that random pageant queen you follow on Facebook or Instagram, I want you
to really get to know me. So allow me
to introduce myself:
My name is Angelina Elizabeth Yarbrough and I am 24 years old. I live in Wahpeton, North
Dakota with my husband, Jake, and our 1-year old Dalmatian, Koda. Jake and I
recently celebrated our 3-year anniversary in December. We have no kids, yet!
In due time my friends, in due time.
I am not your typical North Dakotan. I was born and raised
in Las Vegas, Nevada. I went to college there, got married there - I spent 22
years of my life in a place that some have described as the “exact opposite” of
Wahpeton, ND. So how did I end up here? Well, there are some things in life
that only God can orchestrate.
My husband got a job offer to be the youth and associate
pastor for a church in Wahpeton - a place neither of us had ever been before.
So, we decided to visit North Dakota on a February weekend. Although the
temperatures were colder than we had ever experienced, the people and the
community had a way of warming our hearts. When we got here, we knew that this
was where we were meant to be. In June of 2014, we packed our things, said
goodbye to our friends and family, and headed over 1800 miles to our new
adventure!
Jake and I now serve as the associate and youth pastors at
our local church, and I work part time as an administrative assistant at ComDel
Innovation. I also teach dance from time to time and volunteer for the local
Richland-Wilkin Kinship organization. Jake and I enjoy finding unique ways to
connect with the youth in our church and community.
Through our position as youth pastors, Jake and I got
connected with North Dakota Youth Ministries, an organization that invests in
the lives of junior high and high school students throughout the state. Through
the pastors, leaders and volunteers of NDYM, youth all around the state are
being poured into on a daily basis. NDYM hosts several events throughout the
year with the purpose of positioning students to discover their God-given
purpose. Their mission is “Turning Moments into Movements” because they believe
a single moment of positive impact can change lives for the better.
NDYM is my platform because I believe in the value of
investing in the next generation. I believe every, single person has a
responsibility to be a positive influence to our youth. Young people are not
the generation of tomorrow, they matter today and are worth investing in. When
we take those moments to invest in
our youth, they become movements that
will impact generations to come.
So, here I am, living in North Dakota, not for a job, but
for a calling. I believe I was called here to serve my church and community
however I can. Becoming Mrs. North Dakota International is now one more way for
me to make a difference. Now that you’ve gotten to know a little more about me,
let’s journey together and see where this year takes us!
Until next time,
Angelina Yarbrough
Mrs. North Dakota International 2017
Turning Moments Into
Movements
