Niko’s Story
Niko (on the left) with two friends from Vagabond in Wichita
Niko grew up in a Catholic family. Attending Catholic school her whole life, she loves how it provided opportunities for her to grow in her faith, help others through service activities, and participate in educational field trips.
She was wondering how to infuse faith into her everyday life. She knew the basics of her faith, but did not have a roadmap to live it out.
The answer would come her eighth grade year. Jeanna, a new Vagabond missionary who formerly taught at her school, was her volleyball coach. Niko, who would attend the 11am Mass with her grandma, would spy Jeanna and a small army of young people and missionaries on the right side of the church. It stirred something in Niko, and she wanted to be a part of it, but was scared because everyone was a bit older than her peers. Jeanna talked about Vagabond to her grandma, who gave her the thumbs up to go and visit the youth center. Her first time attending an event was breakfast and Jesus Class before Mass. From the moment she walked into the building, she was impressed with what she saw: numerous games, a groovy wall of DVDs, and missionaries joyfully interacting with the other teens. The breakfast was tasty, and she made some new friends with ease. It was not a question if she should go back or not—she’d be returning again, time after time.
Niko has found that alongside her Catholic education, the Underground has been a vital complement. “I wanted to grow in faith... I now have a bigger picture of why God died for our sins.”
The experiences Vagabond has provided her has really helped her. She loved 2025’s Steubenville conference. She’d seen that Fr. Mike Schmitz was involved and people at school had been chattering about it, and she was glad she finally enjoyed the experience. A close second would be Wichita’s Revival in the City nights at St. Peter Claver. In the under 1,000 sq foot candlelit room with a spotlight on the monstrance, Niko and the group were enveloped in this mesmerizing experience together, adoring our Creator.
One evening, the missionaries called each young person to a room and asked what they specifically needed help with in their faith journey and how they could pray for them. Knowing someone was there to help her with her faith gave Niko a sense of immense comfort and heightened her connection with God; He became real to her that day.
Niko is an avid sports lover, and is involved in basketball, softball, track, and wrestling. Her newfound love for God is infused into her athletic life. On the court or field she knows that God is looking over her while she plays. Inside of each of the soles of her shoes she inscribed Matthew 19:26: “With man this is impossible but with GOD all things are possible.” In addition, Niko recites Joshua 1:9, the Saint Michael Prayer, and Psalms 18:32-33 to herself. She also offers her athletic moments up, especially when times get hard. With God as her rock, she is able to give it her all in her games.
In the remaining high school years and beyond, Niko hopes to live out her faith more by attending more retreats with Vagabond, the parish and prayer groups at school. She also desires to bring people closer to God by preaching the word more and asking people if they need to be prayed over. She even dreams of one day becoming a missionary for Vagabond.
We are grateful for Niko’s faith. Please pray for her and her faith journey!
