Meet Our Team!

Honduran Team US Team

Honduran Team

Executive Team

ABUNDANT LIFE INSTITUTE DIRECTOR

Eustaquio Casildo Jimenez

Assistant Director

Francisco Pavon

Abundant Life Legal Secretary & IT Coordinator

Cristian Talavera

7th Grade Coordinator and Social Studies Teacher

Jose Lopez Pich

8th Grade Coordinator, Math and Art teacher

Eduardo Padilla

Math Teacher

Omar Williams

Spanish Teacher

Laura Waldan

Finance Teacher and IVA Band Co-Director

Juan Charles Lopez

Math and Science Teacher

Rene Cadir Padilla

Technology and Finance Teacher

Marjorie Cruz Zelaya

11th Grade Coordinator and Social Studies Teacher

Alberto Cortes

8th Grade Math Teacher and Math Olympics Coordinator

Jesus Aguilar Galindo

11th Grade Tourism Teacher

Lilia Jarquin

Lead Agro Industrial Teacher and IVA Garden Coordinator

Erick David Leiva Iden

Art Teacher

Jonatan Moncada

7th-9th Grade English Teacher

Cesia Lilibeth Cambell Alastero

11th Grade Humanities Coordinator and Natural Sciences Teacher

Haydoli Presbi Ferweda

10th Grade Coordinator and Natural Science Teacher

Lesbia Vanessa Bodden Lopez

Physical Education Teacher and Sports Department Head

Glinsman Wept Lopez

Bible Class Coordinator and Math and Spanish Teacher

Jairo Romelio Washington

Spanish and Biblía Teacher

Mainor Rivas

Agro Industrial Teacher

Ane Buckly

Administrative Staff

IVA Grounds Manager and Feeding Program Coordinator

Melvin Garcia

IVA Administrative Coordinator

Lorin Pasta

IVA Administrative Support

Elanda Becam Mamy

Snack Shop Coordinator

Alejandra Garcia

Assistant Groundskeeper and Watchman

Orbelito Beneth Manister

Cooks

Feeding Program Cook

Ovendilla Michael

Feeding Program Cook

Sandra Lopez

Feeding Program Cook

Sara Jacobe

Feeding Program Cook

Aida Dixon

Feeding Program Cook

Lydia Dixon

Feeding Program Cook

Farah Garcia

US Team

US Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Katie Volosen

Katie brings innovation, creativity, and a love for the La Mosquitia region that began 13+ years ago through her summer mission trips as a teenager with one of our partner ministries, Send Hope. After receiving her B.A. in Global Business, Katie joined our team in 2020 as Social Media Manager and support for strategic projects. She stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2021 and is loving getting to work alongside our staff and students of Abundant Life Institute and continuing to learn and grow with the ministry, our partners, and ROH community.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Amanda Feller

Amanda has a big heart for people of all cultures and is passionate about combining the heart of ministry with the mind of business. She graduated with her B.S. in Global Business with a Minor in Finance and we are beyond grateful for the organization and structure she is helping bring to our growing operations! Amanda believes that when you empower an individual with access to education, you are investing in the future of the community, the nation, and the world as well. She is excited to learn and dream alongside the ROH community and is honored to play a minor part in equipping the next generation of innovators and world changers.

CO-FOUNDERS OF ROH

The Waits Family

In 2010, Alex and Laura moved their family from Dallas, Texas to Puerto Lempira, Honduras to live life with the Miskito people. When they saw a need in the community for safe and accessible Secondary Education, the dream for Abundant Life Institute was born.

12 years later we have a growing and thriving Institution and are proud to be one of the largest private employers in the region, all thanks to Laura and Alex’s commitment to partner with local leaders for long-term, sustainable transformation.

Today the Waits live in Charlotte, North Carolina with their 5 children Aidan, Arlee, Adam, Aaron & Cumi Joy, where they continue to actively support and champion our team leading the way forward.

Bethany Gray

Bethany and her husband, Kevin, have spent several summers over the years working in Honduras at Abundant Life Institute as a family and have huge hearts for our staff and students. Bethany is a stay-at-home, homeschooling mama to their growing family and provides critical support to the whole team. They live in Huntsville, Alabama, and are actively involved in church leadership at Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship Our Eli Gray Memorial Feeding Program was named in memory of Bethany and Kevin’s son Eli, who had a deep passion for making sure all ALI students received adequate nutrition. We celebrate his heart every year through #LovelikeEli to raise funds for this program.

CHAIR ADVISOR AND GOLF TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

Russell Hall

From the first time Russell was introduced to Reach Out Honduras, he felt a great admiration for The Waits family, our Co-founders, especially their hearts for the people of La Mosquitia. 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.

TREASURER

James Templer

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.

SPIRITUAL ADVISOR

Gary Cochran

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.

BOARD MEMBER

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.

BOARD MEMBER

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.

BOARD MEMBER

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 ALI 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 and especially loves camping and cooking with her sons. She is on the worship team at her church in Dallas and wishes every night could be karaoke night!

Meet Our Team!

Executive Team

Eustaquio Casildo Jimenez

Francisco Pavon

Cristian Talavera

Teachers

Jose Lopez Pich

Eduardo Padilla

Omar Williams

Laura Waldan

Juan Charles Lopez

Rene Cadir Padilla

Marjorie Cruz Zelaya

Alberto Cortes

Jesus Aguilar Galindo

Lilia Jarquin

Erick David Leiva Iden

Jonatan Moncada

Cesia Lilibeth Cambell Alastero

Haydoli Presbi Ferweda

Lesbia Vanessa Bodden Lopez

Glinsman Wept Lopez

Jairo Romelio Washington

Mainor Rivas

Ane Buckly

Administrative Staff

Melvin Garcia

Lorin Pasta

Elanda Becam Mamy

Alejandra Garcia

Orbelito Beneth Manister

Cooks

Ovendilla Michael

Sandra Lopez

Sara Jacobe

Aida Dixon

Lydia Dixon

Farah Garcia

Katie Volosen

Amanda Feller

The Waits Family

Bethany Gray

Russell Hall

James Templer

Gary Cochran

Glenda Collins

Heidi Lawrence

Natalie Salazar

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