Who
to view all the images on a page and controls 
to start and stop a slideshow.Team Members
-
Shannon Baines, who has worked on the Habitat for Humanity Guatemala staff since 2005, is the in-country coordinator for the entire mission, and will accompany us for most of the trip. Read more about this fascinating and kind-hearted woman by hovering your mouse over her picture.
A little about Shannon
Warmest greetings from Guatemala!
It is with great pleasure and much enthusiasm that I introduce myself to you. I will be one of the Fearless leaders and coordinators involved in preparing you for what is going to be an amazing adventure in Guatemala! You will be in constant and continuous communication with us throughout the whole process.
Since we have asked you to tell us a little about yourselves, I think it is only fair I share a little about me. My name is Shannon Baines and I am from Canada. Since I was a little girl I have been enamored with Latin American culture – always asking my Mom if I could go to “Mexico”, (At 4 it was the only Latin country I knew existed). Finally, two years ago, after planning many trips with friends and family that never panned out, I bought myself a plane ticket and did my own little tour of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. That trip that I boldly took on my own - against the good intentioned advice of family and friends - changed my life forever. Instead of finding the scary dangerous place I had heard about, I found what felt like my home. I found people that are warm and caring, and almost always eager to help a lost and sometimes lonely, woman that could hardly speak any Spanish.
So there I was stuck between my two worlds, with a life changing decision to make. I felt I had something to offer Guatemala and wanted to share my life with this new land and people I had discovered. I had a good job and of course all of my friends and family live in Canada. So I followed my heart and did what I felt was right for me. I returned to Canada, worked for one more year, sold my home and belongings, and returned to Guatemala January 2005 to share my life with the people and land that I love!
I came to Guatemala with an idea that I wanted to be of service. I had no job lined up and I did not speak Spanish. After spending a month in a Spanish school I traveled the rest of Central America. When I returned I was told about a volunteer position with Habitat. I have now worked for Habitat Guatemala since May 2005. My position to begin with, Coordinator of profiles, involved working directly with the families. That was an amazing experience and I got to travel most of Guatemala, see true living condition here, and meet “the people”. I am really excited to be part of an organization that I feel is being of service. I have seen first hand the changes that Habitat makes in lives. Habitat empowers people by offering them a hand up not a hand out.
Now that you know a little about me, I look forward to hearing about you! Your job, clubs, churches, previous Habitat experience and interests. It would be great to know you a little before you come so we can better serve you here in Guatemala. Please feel free to communicate any needs or expectations you have so we can ensure you have the best experience possible. I look forward to meeting you all!
-
Dave Bezaire,
53, has been the house leader on seven builds in Columbus, three of which were blitz builds during the Ohio State Fair, and he has participated in Global Village missions trips to Ghana and Mexico. He is in his second term on the HFH—GC Board and he also helps out on the construction committee. Since retiring 5 years ago, Dave finds Habitat a great way to live his faith while playing with great toys... err…umm… tools.
-
John Chambers has been active in his community and church on issues of hunger and affordable housing. His passions are: building community; working in community to end hunger, homelessness, and poverty; caring for the earth; classical guitar; cycling. He was very fortunate to have traveled to Cuba with a group to build and experience community with his brothers and sisters at the Reformed Presbyterian Church of San Nicolas de Bari, a truly transforming experience. He is very excited about the opportunity to work with the Guatemala team and the people of Livingston as we share experiences and work together to make a difference in people’s lives.
-
Nikki Dyer is currently a Sophomore at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA. working toward a degree in Biology. She is also a defender on her school’s field hockey team. When not at school, she lives with her parents in a suburb of Chicago. This is Nikki's second Global Village trip, having spent three weeks last summer with Habitat in Franca, Brazil. Nikki loves to travel and says that she is thrilled to have this opportunity in Guatemala!
-
Ally Fotheringham is a high school student who will be participating in her first Habitat for Humanity trip. She has traveled to France, England, Germany, the USA, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands. Ally has a passion for soccer, cheerleading, and piano and is eagerly awaiting her opportunity to help others this summer in Guatemala.
-
Ruth Fotheringham is the mother to two wonderful daughters, one of whom is also on this team! Ruth is excited to be going on her first Habitat for Humanity trip, and feels very honored to be a part of this team to Livingston, Guatemala. She has spent the last 30 years travelling the world, working as as a flight attendant, but this is the first time that she has been on this kind of adventure. Ruth has recently gotten involved in charity work at home and found it to be extremely rewarding.
-
Regina Goetz, says that she "had a great time" on her first Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip to Ghana in 2005, and is excited about this second opportunity to Guatemala. She is an 18 year employee of the Ohio State University, where she currently works at the OSU Hospital. She enjoys traveling, hiking, camping and taking care of her animals. Regina tells us that she wants to go on Habitat for Humanity vacations because she enjoys helping people and because she is always looking for safe, adventurous trips. "Going on this mission trip will make my dream come true!"
-
Susi Havens-Bezaire,
54, began volunteering for HFH—GC in 1989 to help plan the 15th Anniversary celebration of HFHI, held in Columbus. Following that wonderful event where she met President Jimmy Carter and Milliard Fuller, she directed her volunteer efforts to fund raising for the local affiliate. She has served two terms as a Board member (7 years), filled in as Interim Executive Director for 8 months, and continued to focus on resource development. In 2004, at the request of the Executive Director of HFH—GC, she organized the first Global Village trip from Columbus, Ohio, which she led to
Ghana, Africa in January 2005. This year she led another team to
Amecameca, Mexico in January 2006.
-
Heather Jankowski,
22, is a studying English and History at the university with hopes to go to grad school or teachers college. She is particularly interested in learning about and experiencing other cultures and hopes to gain more insight as a result of this experience. Some of her keen interests include the outdoors, photography, reading and dancing. Her travels have taken her to Paris and London so far, and she hopes this volunteering trip will be the first of many more to come.
-
Katie Merchant,
21, is going into her fourth year in the honors English program at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She hopes to continue on into grad school for journalism. She is eager to jump into a new cultural experience, and to gain insight and a broader perspective on life as a result. Katie enjoys reading, listening to music, writing, gardening, and spending time outdoors. She is looking forward to her first Habitat for Humanity trip, and hopes it opens the doors for many great travel opportunities in the future!!
-
Jennifer Pawlack, 32, is excited for her first Habitat for Humanity Global Village Trip to Guatemala. She has a passion for travel, dance, photography and the outdoors.
Jennifer is in the teaching credential program at California State University, Long Beach. -
Michael Stacy, 51, first began volunteering for Habitat for Humanity - Greater Columbus in 1991. He served as the Construction Coordinator for Habitat Week 1993, the Eastside Partnership Chair for 5 years, and House Lead on numerous homes. In addition, Michael helped to sponsor one house, and continues to serve on the Construction Committee and the House Plans Subcommittee. Michael is an architect who specializes in residential building code examination, and he has donated the designs and plans for many of the Habitat for Humanity houses that have been constructed in Columbus, Ohio.
-
Laura Thomas is a high school Spanish teacher who is fascinated by languages, and whose special contribution to our team will be interpreting Spanish for the group. Her greatest reason for participating on this mission is to fulfill verses Matthew 28:19-20 of her favorite book - the Holy Bible. She looks forward to serving our Lord Jesus Christ through service to others, and anticipates learning very much as well.
Laura is the wife of a wonderful husband and the mother of a beautiful son, David Samuel. She is an avid traveler, having previously served as a the Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras. In the few moments left after her active dedication to family, church, and work, she relaxes with many hobbies including hiking, painting, writing, photography, and her latest love, gardening.