Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Bekke.
Hi Bianca , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story started about 28 years ago. I was a freshman at Central Michigan University attempting to discern my major and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I knew one thing, I was tired of being in school. I wanted to earn my degree as soon as possible and get on with living my life.
I enjoyed learning about marketing and advertising, and I was fascinated with how the internet, radio, television, and print ads could influence our buying decisions. Now a days, with the development of new technologies, there are many more avenues in which corporations and organizations can influence a consumers spending habits.
While discerning, I also felt a very strong call to help others. Especially, children and youth who had been neglected or hadn’t experienced unconditional love in their lives. I wanted to some how bring comfort and support to the forgotten and abused. I felt drawn to social work, specifically within the foster care system, but wasn’t sure how I would be able to navigate that profession being such an empathetic soul.
My parents were very much against that line of work. I remember my father simply saying, “You will be a poor social worker”. I didn’t fault him, he wanted the best for his children. He didn’t want them to struggle financially.
In the end, I decided to major in French at Central Michigan University with a minor in advertising. Why French and what did I think I could do with it? French because I went into college with almost a semesters worth of credits between my French placement scores and advanced placement English credits. So, basically I could earn degree in 4 years if I stayed the course with French. I opted for an advertising minor because the field intrigued me and I was naturally talented at it. My parents were satisfied as they thought I could build a good career for myself.
So, I graduated from Central Michigan University in 2002 with my degree and went to work for EDS in Troy, Michigan immediately after graduation. At that time, EDS was looking for those fluent in French to assist OnStar(R) customers in the French-speaking territories of Canada. The job seemed to me to have potential, so I accepted. However, after a few weeks I knew that this job wouldn’t be a great fit for me. The Onstar(R) technology was fairly new at that time in Canada so a lot of my time at work was waiting for a customer inquiry to come in. I am an ambitious, highly motivated person. Sitting in a call center 10 hours a day, waiting for a call to come in was torture. I left that job within a few months.
After that, I wasn’t sure what it is I wanted to do. So, I took a month or two off and then started working as holiday help at a clothing store and a cosmetic store in Novi, Michigan. I just needed to keep earning money to pay my bills. As much as I enjoyed those jobs, the money just wasn’t cutting it. So, I ended up signing on with a temp agency to help me find more permanent job placement.
That led me to a marketing position at a medical device company. I enjoyed that job and I was good at it. I stayed with that company for about two years, but eventually left because my heart was longing for something more.
After two years at the medical device company I embarked on a journey of discovery. It didn’t feel like a journey of self-discovery, as I very much knew who I was even at the tender age of 25. Rather, it was more of a voyage to unearth the meaning of life.
My first stop, Los Angeles, California. Having a marketing background, I can honestly say the imagery conveyed to me through various media outlets here in Michigan painted a very attractive lifestyle on the west coast.
Initially, I was a personal assistant to a president of an entertainment technology company. It went well at first, but surviving on a personal assistant income in La La Land is quite difficult. Eventually, I found myself back in marketing for a medium size firm in Woodland Hills. It was great. I enjoyed the work, I was good at it, but my heart longed for an opportunity to serve. To serve those who were in the greatest need. So, while simultaneously juggling my marketing career I took a positoin as an executive director for a local chapter of a national non-profit assisting homeless youth in Greater Los Angeles. The work was meaningful. We would conduct street outreach efforts in Hollywood and Venice Beach once a week supplying basic needs to homeless youth. At that time, about 90% of the youth we encountered were displaced from the foster care system. I heard it time and time again from the youth we met, “It is safer on the streets than in our home.” It was heartbreaking. But, there was a lot of love among the youth. They formed community and they looked out for one another. They taught me many things.
Working fulltime at my marketing career and pouring myself into the non-profit work proved to be difficult. I couldn’t just quit my fulltime marketing gig, it was paying the bills. So, I decided to end my work with the non-profit in order to recoop some energy and continue living in Los Angeles. But, eventually, my heart needed more. I ended up leaving my marketing job and while working odd personal assistant jobs for 3 months in an effort to stay in L.A., I eventually moved back to Michigan.
While in Michigan I did a lot of soul seraching. I wasn’t sure where I was being called to serve. I spent a lot of time at church, praying, and discerning where God was leading me to next. It came to be that the Catholic church I was attending would need a parish secretary as the current secretary was retiriing. I only had to wait 12 months for the full-time position. Thankfully, I was able to wait. And I spent 8 years there serving God’s people through that parish which ultimately led me to serve the wider Catholic community through the Bishop’s office at the Diocese of Lansing.
After 4 years with the diocese, I felt drawn to serve God and neighbor in a more concrete way. While working at the diocese I became aware of Mother Teresa House. A small end-of-life care home that provides those in the greatest need with compassionate, personalized hospice care. We take a holistic approach in our care in order to meet our guests physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.
I initially began providing hands on caregiving at Mother Teresa House as a care coordinator, but after a few months the founder and current director encouraged me to apply for her position as she was planning on moving into retirement. Eight months later, I took over as executive director of Mother Teresa House. This was a dream come true. I finally felt home and was elated to be able to use my past non-profit management experience and marketing knowledge to further the mission of Mother Teresa House.
Since taking over as executive director two years ago, we have been able to open a second home in Williamston, MI. We cared for several guests at that home for five months prior to closing to make much needed renovations thanks to a grant funding we received.
Once we reopen our second location this fall we will be able to care for six guests, three at each location. This may seem small, but that is intentional. Because we are small, we are able to provide a loving home enviroment with personalized attention to our guests in their final days. We know each of them by name. We aren’t just staff members, we are family. Family loving, praying, and accompanying them on their final walk on their earthly journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No. Anything worthwile in life will demand work and sacrifice. It’s about starting every day anew. Taking each challenge and set back one at a time. Perservering through the trials. And, ultimately, staying rooted in prayer and following where the Good Lord wants to lead you and help you grow at each turn.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are a non-profit organization that provides end-of-life care to those who are in the greatest need be it financially or familialy. We operate solely on private donations and grant funding. Our home is able to care for the terminally ill in their final days due to the generosity of our donors and volunteers. Everyone who comes through our doors knows that they are loved and that they will be well cared for throughout their stay.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Find a support group! I meet with executive directors from other local non-profits. We gather to share our struggles, best practices, and support each other in our work throughout the community. It is wonderful to have a group of counterparts you can connect with to help you gain different perspectives on the challenges and triumphs we encounter in our work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://motherteresahouse.org/
