Making an Impact
ABOUT REACH OUT HONDURASOur Vision
We compassionately feed the mind, body and spirit through whole-hearted investment in the people of the La Mosquitia region of Honduras by lovingly providing education, meeting physical needs and encouraging spiritual formation.
Our Team
In-Country Leadership
Director, ALI
Eustaquio Jimenez is the Director of the Institute of Abundant Life. Eustaquio has 14 years of experience as a Director in the Honduran education system. He received his Bachelors in Education with an emphasis in Social Studies in 2017. Eustaquio is currently pursuing his Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis in Education.
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Assistant Director
Kenny Montenegro is the Assistant Director of the Institute of Abundant Life. Kenny has 7 years of experience in the Honduran education system, 5 at the Abundant Life Institute. He received his Bachelors in Education with an emphasis in Social Studies in 2017. Kenny is pursuing his Masters Degree in Psychological Intervention in the area of Education.
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Facilities Manager
Melvin Garcia is the Facilities Manager of the Institute of Abundant Life. As Facilities Manager, Melvin leads the cooks, watchmen and cleaning staff. He coordinates our feeding program and the maintenance of the school facilities. Melvin is a passionate, faithful leader who offers daily encouragement and love to our students and staff.
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US Leadership
Executive Director
Katie brings innovation, creativity, and a love for the La Mosquitia region that began 10 years ago through the House of Hope ministry. After receiving her B.A. in Global Business, Katie joined our team as Social Media Manager and support for strategic projects and is now stepping into the role of Executive Director and pursuing her Masters in Social Work. She is excited to continue serving and working alongside the staff and students of Abundant Life Institute in this new capacity with ROH and to continue learning and growing with the ministry, our partners, and our ROH community.
Board of Directors
Chairman and Golf Tournament Director
From the first time Russell was introduced to Reach Out Honduras, he felt a great admiration for the Waits family. They have a tremendous heart for the people they serve and this is not just Alex and Laura but the kids as well. After learning about the organization Russell, along with his wife, Krystal, immediately jumped in and got involved. They worked with the golf tournament as well as the dinner until he was approached about serving on the board. Russell considers it an honor to serve alongside a great group of friends that all have a shared heart for the people of Puerta Lempira, Honduras. He looks forward to pouring his heart and everything else they have into this organization.
Read MoreTreasurer
James was introduced to Reach Out Honduras in 2014 when he, along with his son and father, participated in a short term mission trip with a team from Riverside Church of Christ. James was drawn in by the way he saw the Lord at work through the Waits, the school, and the students to spread His love throughout the region. He has been back each summer since bringing family and friends along. James, who is a CPA, joined the Board of ROH in early 2017 in the role as Treasurer. James and his wife Ellen live in Flower Mound, TX along with their son and two daughters and are members of Riverside Church of Christ in Coppell, TX.
Read MoreSpiritual Advisor
Gary has earned two masters degrees, in Biblical studies and clinical psychology. He also is a Licensed Professional Counselor and provides counseling in various areas for singles, the church and community, drawing from his experience with adolescents, families, college students, singles, single-parent families, abused, and disadvantaged children/youth. Gary has devoted his life to minister to others and firmly believes in the power of ONE LIFE that is fully committed to follow the ONE LIFE that revolutionized the world 2,000 years ago. He brings to the board an ability to advise and keep the focus Christ-centered in all that is accomplished.
Read MoreSecretary
Kristin, along with her husband Bret and daughter Grace, became involved with Reach Out Honduras in 2015 through student sponsorship and prayer. Then, in 2017 the Kidd family joined the spring break mission trip from Riverside Church of Christ. Traveling to Honduras and seeing the teachers, students and Waits family in action deepened the family’s commitment to the people of Puerta Lempira. Kristin joined the board in 2018, and is excited to see what God has in store for IVA. Kristin works as an Assistant District Attorney for the Denton County District Attorney’s Office.
Read MoreMission Care/Volunteer Coordinator
Bethany and her husband, Kevin, have developed a heart for the ministry of ROH in the past few years and spend their summers working in Honduras with IVA. Bethany is a stay-at-home, homeschooling mama to their 6 kids and spends her “free” time painting wooden signs to raise money for their trips to Honduras. They live in Huntsville, Alabama and are actively involved in church leadership at Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship, where they teach and are part of the worship team.
Read MoreJeff Gould
Jeff Gould, and his wife, Lisa, have been deeply involved with Reach Out Honduras since 2012, leading teams from North Texas to Puerto Lempira, sponsoring students, and being involved in fundraising activities for ROH. He has a true passion for the mission and vision of ROH and is dedicated to helping define clear goals and nurturing a team of equals, where every heart leans into God’s vision through prayer and every voice matters.
Glenda Collins
My name is Glenda Collins. I was raised in Honduras and immigrated to the U.S. as an adult with my children. My Husband, Jack, and I have a blended family of 7 children, 14 Grandchildren and 1 Great grandson. We live on my husband’s family farm in rural Woodstock, Connecticut. We have been interested in missions since we met and have had many trips to Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and of course Honduras. On our second trip to Honduras we met the Waits when both our churches decided to visit the same place at the same time.
Heidi Lawrence
Heidi and her husband Tommy were introduced to Reach Out Honduras in 2016 after a presentation by Laura and Arlee at a church luncheon. Their hearts were moved by the mission to minister to the people of the La Mosquitia region and immediately became involved through student sponsorship and prayer, as well as the golf tournament and the dinner fundraisers. In the fall of 2018, Heidi and Tommy participated in a vision trip to Puerta Lempira where they were able to witness first hand the love that is IVA. Their commitment was deepened upon seeing the dedication of the teachers, the students and the entire Waits family. Heidi joined the board in 2020 and looks forward to supporting and furthering God’s work at IVA.
Natalie Salazar
God led Natalie to Reach Out Honduras in 2013 when she made her first "blind date" trip to Puerto Lempira to help inventory library books and translate government documents for a "school" that was merely a storage shed with no students. But God had put on her heart the same mission that He had given the Waits family, and so it was a match made in heaven! Natalie has since been on repeated trips to Puerto Lempira to serve as translator, counselor, singing princess, clown, Tambako dance party coordinator, and a variety of other roles. But her favorite role is to be a witness to the transformation of IVA from a mere vision into a beautiful reality! She considers it her divine purpose in life to serve God's kingdom in Honduras and is beyond honored to be doing that with ROH! She is a single mother to three strapping young men, with whom she especially loves camping and cooking. She is on the worship team at her church in Dallas and wishes every night could be karaoke night!
Founders of ROH
In 2010, Alex and Laura moved from Dallas, Texas to Puerto Lempira, Honduras to live life with the Miskito people of the La Mosquitia region. God began to place the vision of Instituto Vida Abundante on their hearts in 2011 and the rest is God’s work in action. The Waits have 5 children who serve alongside them, Aidan, Arlee, Adam, Aaron & Cumi Joy.
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