meet the team - october 2017

Drum roll please...

I am excited to introduce you to the October 2017 team. We may be small, but I am pretty sure we will be mighty - spending lots of quality time with the children and staff!

First up, meet...

ABBY WIESE

Hi, my name is Abby Wiese and I'm 26 years old. I'm originally from Indianola, Iowa and now live just outside of downtown Des Moines. I went to college at Iowa State University where I was an active member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, involved in St. Jude based organizations, worked for the Men's Basketball team, and majored in Marketing and Management. 

Currently I work at Wells Fargo as a Business Systems Consultant within the IT Department. I love my job because it is very technical and challenging at times but the reward of figuring it out and constantly learning makes it all worth it.  

Through my church, I've been on two mission trips - one to inner city Los Angeles and Northern Mexico and one to inner city New York City. Both were great experiences, but I'm excited to take the love of God that's in my heart and share it with those who might not get the chance to learn about it otherwise. I'm a Christian, I go to church, and I pray often but that's about it. Now, I want to do my part for God by actively spreading his word and love to others. 

PATTI RYAN

My name is Patti Ryan and I am a middle school principal from Denison, Iowa. I love to run, read, teach, and travel to visit my children and grandchildren. As I have grown in my faith, I am excited about combining my gift of teaching and love of travel to serve and influence others for Christ. I am humbled at the thought of being able to encourage and bless both the kids and staff of Ekklesia School in Ethiopia.”

JOYCE KEHL

My name is Joyce Kehl and it is my privilege to be making my third trip to Ethiopia with my favorite daughter-in-law, Regina. Last October I was greatly disappointed that our trip was cancelled and am very excited to go back this year. I have three grown children, a son Benjamin and his wife Regina, a daughter Meghan and her husband  Shane, and a daughter Emily and her husband Jay.  They have blessed us with 7 wonderful grandchildren-- four girls and three boys.  My husband Greg is a pharmacist. I love to sew, garden, and teach little children about Jesus. Can't wait to experience Ethiopia with all of you.

This is a picture of one of the staff, Wolela, at Ekklesia school and me on our last trip.

REGINA KEHL

I want to live in a world filled with people who love Jesus and each other, where chocolate and cheetos can be eaten with no repercussions, and at the snap of my fingers, my home would be spotless. I retired from teaching in 1999 to accept the Chief Operating Officer position at Kehl Home. I have since homeschooled three daughters for 15 years, cleaned toilets at least 2,392 times in the last 17 years, driven well over 150,000 miles, started a non-profit with my husband, Ben, and am currently working on a class for Missional Living. When I am not acting as COO, I enjoy being an extroverted introvert - spending time with family and friends (extrovert) or enjoying quiet time with a good book and a cup of coffee (introvert).

JOCELYN DOERFLER
Hi!  My name is Jocelyn Doerfler, I am 26 years old and live in Des Moines, IA.  I am a financial analyst for a public finance firm in downtown Des Moines, where I have worked for the past three and a half years.  I was born and raised in Mason City, IA and then moved to Ames, IA where I studied mathematics at Iowa State University.  In my free time I like doing any type of hands on activity, from walking my puppy to painting signs for friends and family!  I was raised in a Catholic family which provided me the foundation for the faith I have today. I am excited to share this with the children of Sendafa, Ethiopia!