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FOBF Staff |
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| The Friends of Barnabas Foundation is the culmination of many dreams - especially those of the father/son team of Linwood and Matthew Cook. Linwood is an ordained United Methodist Minister, educated at Averette College and Duke Seminary. He was in the pastorate for 25 years before his love for missions evolved into the birth of FOBF. Throughout his ministry, he preached that missions are key to the life and growth of the church, and his efforts have been recognized by the church and numerous civic and service organizations. |
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Matthew is a graduate of Randolph-Macon College, with a degree in Religious Studies and Philosophy. The coming of age ceremony in the Cook family is the tradition of going on a mission. Like his brother and sister before him, Matt took this step and traveled to Honduras soon after finishing college. That was six years ago, and the mission has no end in sight. |
| Lori Cordova RN, BSN is The Friends of Barnabas Foundation's Medical Coordinator. As a graduate of The Medical College of Virginia and with a career as a Pediatric Intensive Care nurse, Lori has put her extensive knowledge of childhood illnesses and diseases to work coordinating FOBF's Extended Care Program. At any given time, up to 50 children are being actively cared for by this program in Honduras. Lori manages FOBF's med inventory, keeping a stock of needed meds in the US - ready to travel with teams to replenish the supply in Honduras. |
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Erin and Besy |
A graduate of Mary Washington College with a degree in International Affairs, Erin Caldwell concentrated on Third World Development and Latin America, subjects that have been close to her heart since a mission trip to Mexico at age 15 left her with a desire to help the poor. In the past, she has traveled, lived and worked throughout Central and South America. She served as an Evaluation Specialist in Bolivia helping farmers improve income. Erin is the Program Assistant for FOBF, handling fundraising, grant-writing and office management tasks. |
| Grazyna Bojakowski is the newest
addition to the Friends of Barnabas family. From the Chesterfield
office, Grazyna coordinates all of the travel needs of FOBF's medical and
surgical teams to Honduras. After putting hundreds of volunteers on planes to Honduras, Grazyna was able to travel there herself in January of 2008. |
Grazyna at work in Honduras |
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In 2003, The Friends of Barnabas Foundation was blessed to build a staff in Honduras - this staff not only eases the logistic problems of working between two countries, but also has been a vital part to the growth and success of FOBF. |
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| José Lopes works with FOBF as a
translator, English tutor, caretaker and will help coordinate the clinic
at the Barnabas House. A former patient in FOBF's Extended Care
program, José traveled to the US, where he had a large tumor removed from
his leg at The Medical College of Virginia.
After two years of healing in the home of Lori and Andrew Cordova, José is healthy and a member of the family. Upon returning to Honduras, José assumed his varied duties and is always there for a needed morale boost! |
José |
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Dalila |
Dalila Navarro Serrano is a nurse with 8 years experience in obstetrics and the newest employee of the Barnabas House/Clinic. She gradated from the Health Education and Development School in 1997. She came with high recommendations in July of 2005 and her obstetrics training will be vital as one of her job responsibilities will be to travel and work with the midwives in the mountain communities.
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Elmer Mejía is the Coordinator of Community Health and Transportation. Elmer drives the Mission Bus when teams are in country and works as part of the Extended Care Program by bringing children in the bus or truck from their remote communities to hospitals in the cities for doctor's appointments. |
Elmer |
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Pascuala |
Pascuala Martinez is a Nurse aid who graduated from
the school of nursing of Hospital Evangelico in 1987. Pascuala initiated
her professional work with the Central American church within indigenous
population in the countries of Guatemala and Costa Rica. In Honduras
she worked with the Lenca tribes in the Western part of Honduras by
bringing physical and spiritual health. Many families and many villages
never had had a nurse and Pascuala was able to witness from the holistic
approach of health care. Working with Lori, Pascuala manages the Extended Care Program in Honduras as well as maintaining our medication inventory. |
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Denia del Cid gruaduated from
Hospital Evangelico in 1997 and from 1998 to 2003 she worked as a
nurse in this hospital. Since she was a
girl she wanted to become a nurse to help the poor people of her
community. The nurse that was appointed in her community when she was
small made an impact and example in her life so later on she decided to
go into nursing. Denia is the nurse on staff at the Barnabas House and
also travels with mission teams.
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Denia |
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Esmerelda |
Esmeralda Ramos is the cook at the Barnabas House and makes sure that all
the kids get their vegetables.
She also helps to teach proper nutrition and hygiene to the mothers who have accompanied children to the center. |
| Danilo Muñoz is the gardener and caretaker of the Barnabas House. A friend for many years, Danilo is truly 'the master of all trades' and is a keeps the center open to do its good work. |
Danilo |
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Melvin and Mary Flores |
The husband/wife team of Melvin and Mary Flores are The
Friends of Barnabas Foundation's Administrators in Honduras. Melvin
is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia
with a degree in International Development. Before joining FOBF,
Melvin was the director of Habitat for Humanity in Honduras for eight
years. Currently, Melvin is finishing his Master's in Total Quality
Management at the Catholic University in San Pedro Sula. Mary has previously been employed by the Mennonite Social Action Commission. She is experienced in secretarial and accounting work, and acts as FOBF's Secretary and Accountant in Honduras. |
| The Friends of Barnabas Foundation has truly been blessed with a dedicated and able staff. Together with our volunteers, supporters, and God, we have done some amazing things - and this is just the beginning... | |
| Alfredo Vasquez was The Friends of Barnabas' first
employee in Honduras. He was our Coordinator of Community Health and
Transportation.
Alfredo had to start working when he was ten years old to support his mother. Because of his background, he could understand the situation of many families in the mountains of Honduras. Alfredo was truly the face of The Friends of Barnabas Foundation to hundreds of American volunteers and the people of many small communities in the mountains of Honduras. In 2004,
Alfredo was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma - a form of lymphoma. He
passed away on December 17th 2004. Please watch this
slideshow of our memories and take a moment to
thank God for Alfredo and all that he accomplished to improve the lives of
so many children. |
Alfredo at work
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"When I stand before
God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit
of talent left and could say, 'I used everything You gave me.'" |
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