Biography

Psalm 68:11-12 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

¹¹ The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host. ¹² The kings of the enemies’ armies, they flee, they flee! She who tarries at home divides the spoil [left behind].

              

Circumstances of my birth:  I was born in November 1958 in Southern California.  My family was on the road.  No, my parents were not gypsies.  Rather, my father, a Staff Sargein the United States Air Force, along with other men in his unit, had received transfer orders to move their families from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas to Travis Air Force Base, near Fairfield, California.  That is about a 1,600-mile journey.  Still over 250 miles from our destination, it was clear that my mom, Beulah, who was eight months pregnant, needed to stop. 

               In 1958 America, a strong religious prejudice existed between some Catholics and Protestants.  (Often this was associated with political biases.)  My parents were Protestants, Church of the Nazarene persuasion.  Believing that anyone who taught Christ was a Christian, regardless of church affiliation, my parents had both Catholic and Protestant friends. 

The other family with whom my parents were traveling were Catholic.  They had family in Kern County.  With their help, Mom was admitted to a Catholic Hospital.  Today that may seem inconsequential.  But in 1958, if nothing else, it was ironic.

I was due to arrive in December.  After careful consideration, and being given the option, a decision was made to induce labor; I entered the world about two weeks early, at 5:19 pm. 

How I came by my name:   When I introduce myself, there is a common remark: “That’s an unusual name, very pretty.  Where did it come from?” 

As mentioned above, my father’s first name is Dallas.  Joetta was the name of one of my mother’s good friends.  While my mom was still pregnant with me, the Holy Spirit told her she was going to have a daughter.  Mom decided to name me after my father and her friend: “Dall” from Dallas and “Etta” from Joetta became “Dalletta”. 

My mother’s middle name is Olena.  Her aunt, (on her father’s side) was named Daisy Olena.  When my mother was born, she was gifted her aunt’s middle name, “Olena”.  When I was gifted my mother’s middle name, “Olena” became third generation.

My Education:  The years have flown since 1976, when I graduated from Martinsville High School, in Martinsville, Indiana.  After attending a year at School of the Ozarks, (as it was called in 1977) , in Point Lookout, Missouri,  I realized that I was clueless about what I wanted to study—let alone get a degree in.  Dad’s advice was to join the military.  The military’s stringent adherence to height and weight charts didn’t make allowances for my body type.  Had I achieved the 110-pound recommendation of the insurance charts, I would have become anorexic.  Therefore, I had to figure out what I should do. 

        In 1978 through a series of divinely-ordered steps, I enrolled in National Barber College, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  I completed the course in 1979 and took the test to obtain an Apprentice Barber license.  Then in 1980, I sat the Masters’ Barber board, and earned my Master Barber License. 

        During the years between 1984 and 1996 I’d taken several college night classes.  I was 42 in January 2000 when I returned to Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.    The original plan was to earn a teachers’ license.  After two education classes, it became clear to me that operating within the formal educational system/structure was not for me.  To my delight, I graduated Summa Com Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts. 

Missions:  My earliest memory in terms of Christian missions was probably in 1966 or 1967.  In 1963, my father spent a year with the Air Force in Vietnam.  While he was there, he was introduced to a Christian Mission for Vietnamese orphans.  After he returned, my parents prayerfully and financially supported that orphanage.  One day, we received a newsletter and photographs of the children.  I couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about those kids.  It wasn’t fair that I had two parents who loved me, and those Vietnamese orphans didn’t have any.  My mother advised me then, that since I was only eight/nine years old, I wasn’t in a position to do anything practical.   But I could pray for them.  Plus, being mindful of them, I could plan to do something for orphans when I became an adult.  Unfortunately, when the Vietnamese war ended, the orphanage was closed.  I have no idea what happened to those particular little ones.

               In my early 20’s I read a book entitled, “Is that Really You God” by Loren Cunningham with Janice Cunningham.  Life changer, this book.  The first two times I read this book, I was in tears.  I read about Loren Cunningham’s total surrender to God and his passion for hearing God’s voice.  My heart ached to know God in this intimate way.  I wanted to follow Jesus’ voice, and find my call. 

               In 1988 I began my relationship with Youth With A Mission. Their core training program is Called A Discipleship Training School, which I attended at Holmstead Manor, West Sussex, England.

               In 1994, I had the wonderful and life-changing experience of attending the three-month School of Writing, gaining a Certificate of Completion for the School of Writing, through University of the Nations, in Lindale, Texas

Collectively, I was involved with that organization for about five years.

               Now my husband and I support other missionaries and organizations that care for orphans.  I also serve as the Missions Coordinator for our Church of England parish.  Missionaries and missions are never far from my mind.

My Calling:  One November night, 1993, as I lay in bed I said to God: “Lord, I have no money to attend college.  I am no longer involved with missions, as that seems like a closed door.  My engagement to be married has ended.  I have no opportunity for promotion in my job.  I’m listening.  What do you want me to do?” 

Very clearly, I heard the Lord say, “I didn’t call you to be a missionary.  I called you to be a writer.” 

               Since that time, I have attended writers training, written blog entries, and written articles for friends.  In 2016, I felt the Lord say: “You’ve come to your season.  It’s time to focus on the career.”

Family:  This verse is significant to me: 

“Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1

Born and raised in Indiana, my parents took us back to Indiana when Dad retired from the USAF in 1969.  Now they have joined the “great cloud of witnesses”, Dad in 1996 and Mom in 2013.  I also have a half-brother, David, who also passed on in 2014. 

My sister, Diane, moved to Florida in 2003, the same year I got married and moved to England.  She lives near the Gulf coast with three cats and a chihuahua. 

My husband, John Reed, was born and raised in South Africa.  I met John through a Christian website, and we have quite a love story.  We married 18^th January 2003.  I went from completely single to married with four step-children and several grandchildren—yes instant family in one day! 

Dog/Fur-baby/Boss:        Maisy (G-for gorgeous!)  was born 10^th June 2014.  She came home to me when she was eight weeks old.  This 2.5 kilo/5-pound fur-baby lets us pretend that we are the boss.  She is sweet, clever, amusing, stubborn and Loud!  Her only fault—she barks, a lot.  But she makes us laugh.