Episode #41 – It’s Never Too Late to Follow Your Dreams with Yolanda Zimmerman
Retirement was right around the corner for Yolanda Zimmerman, but instead of staying put and working out the remainder of her corporate career, she resigned. Letting go of her limiting belief that she was too old to follow her dreams, she moved to Niger Africa to do the mission work, work that she’s felt called to do for a very long time.
Her story is truly inspiring!
Bio
Yolanda Zimmerman is an Information Technology professional whose 40-year career included various roles: programmer, systems trainer, technical writer, information systems engineer, and business systems analyst. After raising her children and relocating from Pennsylvania to Virginia, expecting to retire in a few years, she had the opportunity to participate in a short-term mission trip to Africa, which changed the direction of her life.
She returned to Niger, Africa as a volunteer consultant to the Vie Abondante Primary School in the capital city of Niamey where she has been working to provide educational resources, obtain student scholarships, and improve administrative processes. She has just opened a children’s residence in Niamey called Joseph’s Place, so that children of pastors serving in remote villages will have access to educational opportunities. The children will stay at Joseph’s Place during the school year while attending the Vie Abondante Primary School. They will receive nurturing by house parents, academic tutoring, and spiritual training. The goal of Joseph’s Place is to raise Christian leaders who will be a transformational influence, and a blessing to their families, villages and nation.
Ms. Zimmerman’s professional and ministry work have brought her in contact with people from many countries, cultures and backgrounds. She finds interacting with people different than herself intriguing and enriching. Her most rewarding experiences have been as a mother of two sons and guardian of a Mexican American teen (all grown now); leader of a refugee resettlement ministry which sponsored a family of 8 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Sunday School teacher for children, teens and adults; small group leader for the Alpha Course; lay preacher; church council member; praise singer; and tutor of math and English.
Yolanda’s desire to be faithful to God’s calling on her life, experience in problem solving, love of children, passion for providing educational opportunities, gift for teaching, and affinity for African people and culture are all combined in her new roles as Consultant to Vie Abondante school and Director of Joseph’s Place.
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