A Mother’s Influence
Liz Hill's experience with BYU-Pathway Connect was life-changing, specifically for her son Gabriel.
Change people's lives at home and around the world
January 2020
Elizabeth “Liz” Hill, a mother of six children between the ages of 5 and 17, is currently living in Istanbul, Turkey, where her husband works for the U.S. Department of State. “Before Istanbul, we were in Beijing, China, for 27 months,” says Liz. “BYU-Pathway has been perfect for that lifestyle.”
Liz had postponed her plans for more education while her children were young. “When we came to Istanbul, I felt prompted to enroll in BYU-Pathway,” says Liz. “All my kids were now in school.” Liz is now working to get a bachelor’s degree in applied management after having completed PathwayConnect.
Members of Liz’s gathering group were from Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, Albania, Turkey, and the Czech Republic. Despite the distance, Liz’s fears about feeling the Spirit in a virtual group quickly left. “Right away you could feel the Spirit,” says Liz. “It was amazing to gather online and still have the Spirit touch us powerfully. It’s been amazing.”
Another unexpected blessing for Liz was the lesson in gratitude. “I quickly realized how fortunate we are. We have a warm home with warm water, electricity, internet, and even food and clothing. For some of these students, these basic things are a struggle, and that’s why they’re in Pathway,” says Liz. “Many of them are new converts who served missions. I was just in awe of their faithfulness and diligence.”
Liz Hill's experience with BYU-Pathway Connect was life-changing, specifically for her son Gabriel.
Upon graduating from high school, Gabriel was ready to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Due to some challenges Gabriel had with anxiety, it was advised that he wait 9 to 12 months to submit his papers and serve.
As Tenille Diel sat in her ward in Alaska and listened to senior missionaries present about BYU-Pathway Worldwide and what it offered, she was captivated.