Sarah was born to missionaries in the Belgian Congo (now Congo DRC). Growing up, Sarah attended a mission boarding school in Congo and came to the U.S. to attend college.

For 27 years, Sarah worked for the Texas Department of Human Services, programming the software for policies and rules, which determine the eligibility of clients to receive Food Stamps, AFDC, and Medicaid. It was near the beginning of that time that she met and married Buddy Stranahan. She is a longtime member of Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder and actively working on Mission projects.

In 2006, Sarah returned to Congo with six of her childhood friends and was able to reunite with lifelong friends and visit the places she lived. Since this trip, Sarah and a friend return to Congo annually taking church mission groups through Rivers of the World, Congo-Kasai to experience, learn, and work there.

Sarah met Meg Erskine, Johnson Doe, and Paul Tiah at a start-up meeting for African Society of Austin and became one of the co-founders of MRC. She is currently serving as the Office Manager.

"MRC , to me, is where refugees can come to find community with other refugees as they begin to make a new life in this great city. I love being a part of that process and seeing the transformation from when they arrive, frightened and confused, until they walk through the doors smiling and laughing and feeling "at home" in this foreign land."