Michelle Wengrzynek becomes emotional as she reflects on living out her American dream in Northeastern PA. Her journey began over 8,500 miles away on the small island of Visayas in the Philippines, where she was born. Growing up with her five siblings, she split her time between the city and her family’s rural farm. Moving to America was never part of the plan, but her path to the United States was set in motion by her grandfather, a World War II veteran. After immigrating to the U.S. and gaining citizenship, he petitioned for her family to join him – a process that took over 20 years.

Michelle arrived in the U.S. just before her 21st birthday but continued to travel between the Philippines and America while finishing her nursing degree – a dying wish from her beloved mother, who passed away from breast cancer when Michelle was only 18. After graduating in 2009, she settled in Union, New Jersey, before finally moving to East Stroudsburg, where her family sought a quieter, more peaceful life surrounded by nature – with plenty of room for archery.

In 2016, Michelle met her husband, Chris, and they settled in Drums, where they live with their one-year-old daughter, Sadie. Michelle, a registered nurse at Hershey Medical Center, is also passionate about her small business, Mojo Sews, which she started during the pandemic by sewing masks. It has since grown into a successful online business selling bag-making supplies. This July, she expanded her brand to include an art space for crafting and sewing, which also serves as a warehouse and her embroidery studio.

We met with Michelle at Mojo Sews to learn more about her inspiring journey from the Philippines to America. We also asked, Why NEPA?

How long have you lived in NEPA?

Since 2014, so 10 years.

What do you love about your town?

It’s just that being in a small town, you know, it’s laid back. When I step out of my house, everything is green, and we have some space from our neighbors, which I love. I really, really love that because I can do archery in my backyard. I can just go to the deck and enjoy the view without having to go anywhere. That’s what I like about my town. And the small businesses around here are what I love, too.

What’s your favorite NEPA restaurant?

The Greek Shack – Demitry is my favorite. The whole family is great. The food, though, is reasonably priced, and you get so much for what you order. The atmosphere there, whether it’s Dimitri, Eli, or whoever’s in charge, it’s different. His wife too – oh my goodness, she’s so nice. Even though it’s a food truck, it is such a unique experience. That’s what I look for in restaurants. The second one is Vesuvio’s. They have the best pasta.

What’s your favorite thing to do in NEPA?

My favorite thing to do is anything outdoors, mostly archery. I love it. You know, if you need a breather, you can go for a short walk by the lakes nearby. What I love about Northeastern PA is we have mountains, and when the foliage changes, it’s just beautiful. Actually, that’s my favorite thing – the changing of the leaves.

I have a favorite lake – Hidden Lake. I don’t know if a lot of people know about it, but it’s in East Stroudsburg, just before Bushkill. It looks small, and it’s called Hidden Lake because when you pass by driving, you won’t see it. But when you go up the steps, you’ll see it. It’s beautiful. I borrow my dad’s kayak, and sometimes I fish there because it’s so quiet. It’s really nice.

People ask me why I stay in such a cold area, and I say it’s because there’s hope; there’s change all the time. You know, there’s change in your environment, and then you’re like, ‘Ah, winter, it’s such a bummer.’ But then spring comes, and you’re like, ‘Oh, we’re alive again!’ And then summer arrives, and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, it’s so hot!’ And then fall comes, and it gets better, you know? It’s like every year, you don’t stay in one mood. I came from a tropical country, and I’m never going back. I love it here so much. It’s the nature for me.

What’s next for you?

What’s next for me is focusing on helping moms who are experiencing postpartum depression. I went through that, and I’m still in therapy, so this is something I really want to offer. I want to create a safe space where moms can bring their kids if they’re feeling overwhelmed. Let the kids color. I have free drinks and coffee for moms. If they want to talk, I’m here. That’s my next step.

Looking further ahead, I want a space where moms can work from home and have a place for their kids beside them if their job permits that. When I returned from maternity leave, it was so hard for me because the workplace doesn’t always accommodate that. With the technology we have now, we have the opportunity to work from home, and I think this is especially important for single moms. It’s so hard for them. I have my husband and support, but it was still hard. How about those single moms whose babies are so tiny and they have to leave them in daycare?

So, I’m thinking along those lines. Someday, I want a space where even just two or three moms can come, have a safe area for their little ones, and work for a few hours. That’s my plan. I don’t know when it will happen, but that’s my plan.

Where do you see NEPA heading in the future?

I think right now I’m seeing more industry starting here. From when I first moved to Pennsylvania, especially in East Stroudsburg, I’ve noticed a change. There weren’t a lot of businesses there, but now it’s packed with them. We’re going up against New Jersey and New York, but in a good way. It’s good that we have these businesses because if you want to relax, we still have the greenery. And if you need something, you can go to town and get what you need.

I think the next step is becoming more of a tourist spot. That is already happening in the tri-state area. People are visiting for a vacation. So, I think that’s where we’re headed – tourism in this area will grow in the future, and it will create more jobs for people too.

Why NEPA?

Because, like I said, it feels like home. Your mental state can actually prosper because you get out of your house. There’s greenery, and you can relax – it’s not the hustle and bustle. You don’t hear the New York-style noise, like cars and stuff like that. That’s what I like about it.

And it’s diverse too. There are a lot of cultures in NEPA. It’s not like you go to one place and say, ‘Oh, this is how they do things.’ You go to another, and it’s different.

So, why NEPA? It’s because of the culture and the way of life we have here. It’s perfect for me. This is like the American dream for me. I didn’t picture America as New York, like a city life, because I came from a city. This is what I imagined – greenery, hiking, and those kinds of things. That’s why NEPA is wonderful. I love it.