Mike Soderling (Chair)
Dr Mike Soderling and his family moved to Guatemala in 2001 after leaving his OB/GYN practice of ten years. Mike has worked with different ministries that are involved in healthcare initiatives in Guatemala. Four years ago, Mike and some associates founded a Christian Hospital and Clinic association. This is a legally established Guatemalan association whose purpose is to network Christians working in the area of healthcare. They also host healthcare workshops and are presently working with a large local university to start a School of HealthCare Development.
Mike is also the Chairman of the EHI/PWM board of directors and in this capacity works closely with the PWM Executive Director. Mike has also been involved in helping a small Christian school in a remote mountainous area of northwest Guatemala. He has served on the school board of the Christian Academy of Guatemala and is presently the Chairman of the Union Church Elder board. The past two years Mike has been working towards obtaining an MBA degree in International Development and will complete this degree in Dec of 2008.
Kim Agrellas (Vice Chair)
Kim Agrellas and her family have been missionaries in Guatemala since 2005. Her husband, Mark, is the principal at Christian Academy of Guatemala, a K-12 school for missionary children. They have 3 children of their own, including a son adopted from Guatemala. Kim and Mark managed the original Emmanuel's Heart property from 2005 to 2007, working with a variety of families in crisis. Kim now serves as the EHI/PWM vice-president, continuing to work closely with families in crisis in Guatemala.
Jessie Larimer (Secretary)
Jessie Larimer and her husband Eric have been missionaries in Guatemala since 2005, where Eric teaches science and math at the Christian Academy of Guatemala. Jessie is a graduate of Wheaton College and has a degree in Christian Education with an emphasis in Cross Cultural Studies. Jessie has previously worked in youth ministry, and for the past 8 years has stayed home with her young children. Jessie has a heart for bringing the hope and strength found through Jesus Christ to the women in Guatemala who are crushed and suffering under the weight of abuse or abandonment.
Patty Turnbow (Treasurer)
Patty Turnbow, her husband Al, and their three children served as missionaries in Guatemala until June 2007 when they returned to Washington State where they are both currently middle school teachers. Patty and Al served as teachers to missionary children at the Christian Academy of Guatemala here in Guatemala City and also worked with women and families in a number of villages. Upon returning to the states Patty greatly desired to continue helping the women of Guatemala and joined Emmanuel's Heart to serve as treasurer.
Chris Soderling (Assistant Treasurer)
Chris moved to Guatemala in August of 2001 with her husband, Mike, and two sons. Initially her role was as a wife and mother of their two boys while supporting her husband in the medical work he was doing. Five months after arriving in Guatemala they met and began adopting their Guatemalan daughter, Leah. In 2003 they formed Weaving Hope Ministries which you can read about at their website: weavinghopeministry.org. At this time Chris serves on the EHI board and works regularly with the staff and clients at El Rufugio (the abuse shelter).
Mandy Osborn (Member)
July of 2003 Amanda (Mandy) and David Osborn came with their three boys to Guatemala to serve in an orphanage for a year. While there, they fell in love with a little girl who has since become their adopted daughter. God kept them in Guatemala to complete this adoption, but has made clear His will for them to remain permanent residents in Guatemala and to serve there for the foreseeable future.
Since the early days of their 20 year (thus far) marriage, David and Mandy have had a heart and ministry for women in crises. It is no wonder that God has led them to participate in the work that God is doing with widowed, abandoned and abused women through Emmanuel's Heart and Partnership in Women's Ministies. Mandy is one of the founders of this ministry and serves on the board of Emmanuel's Heart International. David is a full-time missionary teacher at the Christian academy of Guatemala, where their four children attend school.
Nancy Ediger (Member)
Nancy Ediger moved to Guatemala from Nebraska in August 2003. She and her husband, Ivan, teach at the Christian Academy of Guatemala, a school for missionary children. Nancy joined Emmanuel's Heart International two years ago after becoming aware of the large number of women in Guatemala who suffer the effects of poverty and abuse. Ivan and Nancy have four grown daughters, two of whom work with refugees who have been allowed to settle in the United States.