Narrative Summary
Interview with Sandra House by Chelsea Range
Sandra House is a successful woman, seasoned with travel, vast experiences, and an
immense love for the Lord. I had the great pleasure of interviewing this inspiring woman whose
view of life and Christianity is both honorable and refreshing. Each day, she spends her time
“trying to make the world a better place” by living out her Christian faith.
As a child, Dr. House grew up loving and learning about Jesus. Two of the most
influential persons in her life were her mother and grandmother. She recalls her grandmother
reading the Bible, and remembers several times when she was given advice about praying
sincerely. It was clear from the start that she loves her family very much, and has many good
memories about them.
Dr. House is a professor at Missouri State University in the Department of Speech and
Theater, where she has been teaching for 11 years. She has taught in the public school system for
a total of 23 years. As a student studying to become a teacher, I could tell that I had a lot to learn
from Dr. House and her ethical teaching skills. When I spoke to her about how she lives her life
according to her faith, she spoke greatly about two things: her students and her husband. Every
day, she works with her students to build them up and help them to progress in their studies, as
well as their ethics. The morals and respect of ethics ties in perfectly with Christianity, according
to Dr. House. She loves people and wants to see them become successful—she has a giving
heart, and she works to help those around her.
Her husband has a large place in her heart; I could tell by the way she lit up when she
spoke of their relationship. They have been together for 45 years, and they still act as if they
were dating. Not only are they both Christians, but they are also strong leaders. Dr. House told
me a story of when they were young and took a test over their possible compatibility as a married
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Spring 2011
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couple. The results told them not to marry because they were too smart, too determined, and too
emotional—but they were in love. They have two amazing children and five lovely
grandchildren. Dr. House spoke so lovingly of them that it was hard not to get a sense of who
they are.
Not only does Dr. House love her family, but she also loves to travel. Having visited 23
countries, she knows a thing or two about the world. She has been to Europe, the Orient, and
many U.S. states. I was not surprised when we discussed other religions that she encountered
during her travels. Before we started the interview, Dr. House told me about a gold Buddha
statue that she encountered while visiting the Orient. Apparently, this ancient Buddha was
covered in plaster around the time of an invasion—and just as it was about to be discarded as
“just another statue,” part of the plaster chipped away, revealing a pure gold Buddha. Dr. House
and I also had a discussion about other religions in relation to Christianity. Much like the game
“telephone,” she believes that the stories of God, Adam, and Eve were changed as they dispersed
through the world, but that we all have similar morals and beliefs. Knowing this strengthens Dr.
House’s faith. Her faith is strong and admirable; she told me that she is reading the Bible all the
way through for the fourth time. Even I, as a Christian, must applaud her for her dedication to the
Scripture. She was simply inspiring; her enthusiasm and passion for the teachings of Jesus and
the Ten Commandments lifted my own heart.
It was such an honor to interview Dr. House and to listen to her wonderful stories. She
has inspired me to live my life as she did, with adventure, family, and God as her compass.
Missouri State University
Spring 2011
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women