meet the 2016 team
We are thrilled to go and serve, play, and work with the kids and community of Sendafa, Ethiopia along with the 2016 team. God has brought together teachers, students, pharmacists, painters, business people, pastors and an engineer. What a diverse team! We thought might like to meet them.
BEN KEHL
First up - Ben Kehl... I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy who loves God, my family and serving the people of Ethiopia. This will be my third trip over to Ethiopia but the first with my entire family, and this will be the largest trip in terms of the number of team members. When I am not on the plains of Africa, I love to play in the water or the snow with my family in Minnesota. Donuts are kind of a big thing for me on Saturdays.
DEMELASH OUMER
My name is Demelash. I was born and raised in Ethiopia. I was a pastor in Ethiopia and now am a pastor for Oromo speaking Christians in the Twin Cities and a coordinator for Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Society in North America which has 12 Churches in different 12 States. I am married and have three boys and one daughter.
KYLIE FISCHBACH
Hi, my name is Kylie and I’m very excited to be going on a mission trip to Ethiopia. I’ve been on a mission trip before to Kake, Alaska. It was a great experience, and I am blessed to be able to go on a another trip with my mom. I have always loved traveling. Art is my passion. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and serving others.
KATHY SEARLES
Hi, my name is Kathy Searles. I recently moved to Woodbury from a small town up north. I am a widow with three grown up children. I am also a retired Kindergarten teacher. Some of the things I like to do are: spending time with family and friends, going to Bible Studies, reading, putting puzzles together, taking walks in the park, riding my bike, and singing (even though it is often off key). I used to be able to do cartwheels, flips, back-bends, back walk-overs, and stand on my head. Unfortunately, I fear those days are gone forever. A few of my favorite Bible verses are: Zephaniah 3:17, Jeremiah 15:16, Revelation 3:20, and Psalm 139. And I strive for Colossians 3:12-14, “So as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience;bearing with one another, and forgiving each other. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
JOYCE KEHL
My name is Joyce Kehl. My husband , Greg, and I live in Denison, Iowa. We were blessed with three children, Ben, Meghan, and Emily. They have in turn blessed us even more with wonderful spouses and seven awesome grandchildren. For the past five years I have led the children's education ministry at our church. I have a class of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders on Wednesday nights that has a lot of fun exploring the Bible. Sunday mornings will find me leading Psalm 118:24 at the beginning of Cup of Joy and introducing the lesson of the day, before I teach the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. I am fondly known as Miss Joyce and I LOVE hugs. I also have the unique ministry of directing our two pageants at the church each year and making costumes. God is so good to me. I have seen the children's faces of Africa since I was little, and God has placed a longing in my heart. He is calling me to step out in faith and to spread His love to the children of Ethiopia for a second time. I am excited for the new friendships I will make with our sponsored children, with the children of the school, and with each of the team members.
GREG KEHL
Hi, my name is Greg. I am a pharmacist, and I live in Denison, Iowa with my wife, Joyce. I am excited to be traveling to Ethiopia with my wife (Joyce), son (Ben), daughter-in-law (Regina), granddaughters (Hannah, Grace, Ryan). This is my first mission trip so I am looking forward to seeing God’s work in another part of the world without the comforts of home.
HANNAH KEHL
My name is Hannah Kehl, and I am currently a senior in high school at Trinity School at River Ridge. I am a music enthusiast, an Irish fanatic, and photography obsessed. Although I am very sociable and love to talk with people, I am very much an introvert, in other words, I am filled up by my quiet time. I am very blessed to be an oldest child of three girls, which allows me all sorts of privileges, however, being the oldest has its fair share of difficulties. But I am so excited to be working with all different ages and personalities on this next trip! One of the best parts of mission trips like this is getting to know the people you are about to spend over a week with. It's both a blessing and an adventure.
HEIDI HOVE
Hi, my name is Heidi! My family and I live in Stillwater, MN. We love traveling and discovering while things may look, sound and taste different, people are really very similar everywhere you go. I have been on mission trips before to Alaska, but that is very different than Ethiopia. I look forward to being able to share this experience with my daughter, Kylie. We can’t wait to go!
TOM PFOTENHAUER
My name is Tom and I love Jesus, my wife Steph and daughter Peyten and of course the Minnesota Vikings (American Football). I was in Africa back in 2000 when I visited Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. It was an amazing opportunity to use soccer to share the love of Jesus! I really enjoy meeting people from all over the world and learning about new traditions, food and ways of doing things. I have traveled a whole bunch and one of the things that I have learned is that people are people wherever they are from or whatever they look like, so I am super excited to meet and make new friends!
PATRICK BREWER
Hi I'm Patrick Brewer! I love being outdoors, watching Kansas City sports teams, and hanging with my wife and two kids! I'm also the high school youth minister at Woodbury Lutheran and I am really excited to go on this trip. Honestly I'm a little nervous to be so far away from home, and my family, but I'm really looking forward to experiencing a culture that is so different from my everyday life! I am also hoping to get a better picture of the global church, and meeting brothers and sisters in Christ on the other side of the globe!
DANIEL QUIROS DELGADO & JOYCE BIAGINI
Hi! I'm Joyce from Maplewood. I am a retired teacher/administrator who loves music, books, the outdoors, and traveling. I am very excited about this trip - seeing a new part of the world, having this special experience with my husband Daniel, and sharing my love of Jesus with the people in Sendafa.
Hola! I am Daniel. I am from Costa Rica, but now I live in Maplewood with my wife, Joyce. I work as an Industrial Engineer. I grew up close to nature, and have always appreciated seeing God's presence in the beauty around me. I love to travel and I am looking forward to seeing the beauty of Ethiopia, meeting the special people there, and sharing my faith with them.
GRACE KEHL
Hi! I'm Grace! This will be my second trip to Ethiopia. I’m so thrilled to be going back to see the kids of Ekklesia and my sponsored boy. I am excited to see the staff members as well. I love that I am able to go to Ethiopia with my family. A couple of things about me: I love to read and sometime in my life, I would like to learn the language of Amharic.
RYAN KEHL
Hi, I am Ryan. As a seventh grader I enjoy baking and doing crafts. This is a picture of the little girl I sponsor and me from my first trip. I love children and cannot wait to return to Ethiopia to spend time at the CarePoint!
RON MUELLER
My name is Ron Mueller, I live in Oakdale, Mn. I have three children and five grandchildren.I go to Eaglebrook Church in Woodbury. I'm semi retired and have thought of going on a mission trip before but never have. I'm excited to get to know the other people going and I have a feeling this trip will change me forever.
REGINA KEHL
See that crazy clan to the right, that's my (Regina’s) family - order: Ben, Regina, Ryan, Hannah, Grace! My favorite job in the world has to do with those four surrounding me - I absolutely love being a wife and mom - even on the challenging days! ;) I am especially excited about this trip because although each of us has been to Ethiopia before, this will be the first time the five of us will travel together. What a joy and blessing to continue building relationships and sharing Christ’s love with the people we consider family in Ethiopia!