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 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

10th Grade Coordinator and Natural Science Teacher

Lesbia Vanessa Bodden Lopez

Bible Class Coordinator and Math and Spanish Teacher

Jairo Romelio Washington

IVA Garden Coordinator

Erick David Leiva Iden

11th Grade Humanities Coordinator and Natural Sciences Teacher

Haydoli Presbi Ferweda

IVA Grounds Manager and Feeding Program Coordinator

Melvin Garcia

IVA Administrative Coordinator

Lorin Pasta

IVA Administrative Support

Elanda Becam Mamy

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

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.

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 4 children Aidan, Arlee, Adam, Aaron, where they continue to actively support and champion our team leading the way forward.

Bethany Gray

Bethany and her husband, Kevin, have spent many many 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 mom and provides critical support for our 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.

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.

TREASURER

Bethany Cassity

With 20 years of experience in nonprofit finance and administration, Bethany has been an invaluable asset in helping to oversee our budgeting and financial strategy, prioritizing transparency, fiscal responsibility, and sustainability for years to come.

After getting more involved after attending one of our first galas, Bethany began volunteering to help with ROH’s accounting needs. She has loved connecting with our staff and students on the ground over the past few summers, and is dedicated to supporting the organization’s mission to create lasting social and economic change in the La Moskitia region. She is passionate about partnering with communities collaboratively to create opportunities for growth and flourishing that honor the dignity of all people.

Bethany lives in Coppell with her husband Jason and her two kids, Cora and William. She attends Riverside Church of Christ in Coppell, volunteers with Bible Study Fellowship, and way back in 2006 she graduated from University of Wisconsin – Madison with an MBA in Arts Administration. She loves traveling, puzzles, games, food, and learning new things.

BOARD CHAIR

Ryan Richardson

Ryan has been part of our Reach Out Honduras community since 2015, serving both on the ground in Honduras and from the U.S. He lives in Dallas with his wife Michelle and their two children, Piper and Stone. We are so blessed to have him!

“Supporting and serving with ROH has been one of my greatest joys. Over the years, I have had the privilege of sponsoring multiple students and witnessing their incredible growth as they pursue their dreams and step into adulthood. Michelle, Piper, and I have witnessed this first hand while serving alongside missionary teams and watching IVA grow over the years. Seeing the impact of education and faith in their lives has deepened my commitment to this mission.

As a board member and chairman , I am honored to help guide the vision of ROH, ensuring that we continue to provide opportunities, resources, and hope to the students and families we serve. I believe deeply in the transformative power of education and community, and I am excited to bring my experience, leadership, and heart for service to this role.

I look forward to working alongside fellow board members, supporters, and volunteers to further the mission of Reach Out Honduras and make a lasting impact for years to come.”

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40

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.

Meet Our Team!

Executive Team

Eustaquio Casildo Jimenez

Francisco Pavon

Cristian Talavera

Teachers

Jose Lopez Pich

Eduardo Padilla

Rene Cadir Padilla

Marjorie Cruz Zelaya

Alberto Cortes

Jesus Aguilar Galindo

Lesbia Vanessa Bodden Lopez

Jairo Romelio Washington

Erick David Leiva Iden

Haydoli Presbi Ferweda

Administrative Staff

Melvin Garcia

Lorin Pasta

Elanda Becam Mamy

Orbelito Beneth Manister

Cooks

Ovendilla Michael

Sandra Lopez

Sara Jacobe

Lydia Dixon

Farah Garcia

Katie Volosen

The Waits Family

Bethany Gray

Gary Cochran

Bethany Cassity

Ryan Richardson

Glenda Collins

Heidi Lawrence

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