Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti
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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - Tish Meek, R.N.

7/9/2019

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Medical Missionary Tish Meek, R.N., in Haiti.
Patricia (Tish) Meek, R.N., Medical Missionary
I am a Registered Nurse and during my nursing career specialized in Pediatric and Post-Operative Care.  I have worked in both Canada and Jamaica as a nurse.  I have lived in Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic and Chile. I lived outside of North America for 28 years.  During my time living in different countries I had the opportunity to do different types of volunteer work.  In Peru and El Salvador I was involved in Un Techo Para Mi Paris- a roof for my country.  This was a project in which we helped build homes for those in need.  In El Salvador, I also volunteered at a Centre for abused children.  I have also helped with volunteer medical work in the Dominican Republic working with Haitian people living and working in Bateys.
 In 2010 I had the good fortune to start volunteer Medical Missionary Work with Terry and Mary Schultz at orphanages in Haiti as well as volunteering with the Branch schools in Haiti.
 My work in Haiti has been one of my most rewarding experiences and I pray for the safety of our dear friends in Haiti.
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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - John & Marta Kramer

7/9/2019

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  John Kramer, Board Member, and Marta Kramer
I'm John and my wife's name is Marta. We've been married 42 years. One daughter, Leslie. She is 38. She is married to Richard Tallant with a daughter, Ella, 6 years old, John 5 years old and Jack 2 years old. I'm currently called as a Staff Minister with World Missions in Latin America. My duties include trips to Paraguay and other locations, sharing the Gospel personally, teaching on-line Bible courses and flying humanitarian goods into Haiti and other locations. Not part of my call,  but I also continue working as a volunteer with Mission to the Children in Sonora, Mexico where I’ve volunteered for 12 years conducting Bible classes and church services in small towns. MttC also provides humanitarian aid in Sonora to people in need.
 
My involvement in Haiti has, up until now, only been to fly humanitarian goods to the Island. Perhaps as a member of the Board for Branch Lutheran Schools more opportunities will become available. That’s something to look forward to; opportunities to share God’s message of love with people in need.
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Meet our Board Members and Volunteers - Tom & Judy Kuster

7/9/2019

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Dr. Tom Kuster, Board Member
Tom attended Northwestern College, Indiana University, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, and the University of Wisconsin. After pastoral positions in Madison, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan, he spent his career teaching Communication courses in college, for 20 years at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, and 25 more at Bethany Lutheran Seminary and College, Mankato, Minnesota, where he helped develop a strong Communication major, helped design Bethany's first media production studio, and in 2009 founded the Christ in Media Institute. Currently members at Peace Lutheran Church (ELS) in North Mankato, Minnesota, he and wife Judy have nine children.
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Judy Kuster, Branch Volunteer
Judy Kuster grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, and attended Bethany Lutheran High School and College, the University of Wisconsin, and Minnesota State University, Mankato, earning an MS in Communication Disorders at the former and an MS in Counseling at the latter. She is a member of Peace Lutheran Church, North Mankato, Minnesota (ELS), and a professor emerita at Minnesota State University, Mankato where she taught for many years in the Department of Communication Disorders and Rehabilitation Counseling. Judy is on the Christ in Media Institute board of directors, and on advisory boards for several public agencies. She and her husband Tom raised a large family, now all grown up.

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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - Mike Klebig & Jas Lonnquist Klebig

7/9/2019

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Mike and Jas with Yvette and children  in Smyrne, Haiti.
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Michael Klebig, Board Member
 & Jas Lonnquist Klebig, Branch Volunteer
Mike and Janis (known as Jas) first met at Luther High School in Onalaska, WI.  They now live in San Jose, CA where Mike is a Silicon Valley Field Sales Engineer specializing in thermal applications for the semiconductor industry and Jas is a screenwriter with more than 200 credits in TV, video, print, and film including the WELS films My Son My Savior and To the Ends of the Earth. At their home church, Apostles, Mike is Media Outreach Elder and plays guitar in the band and Jas coordinates the video studio.  They have two sons, a daughter, and five granddaughters.  The family shares a passion for using media to reach underserved populations.  Together, as volunteers, they’ve supported several outreach efforts including the video ministry to the Hmong people, building projects in Rajahmundry, India, and video support for Multi-Language Publications, the Red Cross, LWMS, and more.  In 2013, Mike devised a portable, solar-powered projector system for use in education and humanitarian aid in lesser-developed countries including Tanzania, Nepal, and Haiti.  Mike and Jas are two of the founding volunteers of Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti, Inc. and consider the opportunity a blessing and joyful labor of love.  In addition to work and ministry, they enjoy skiing, camping, and kayaking in northern California.


Mike demonstrates the solar-powered
projection system in Haiti.
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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - Jane Hayden

7/9/2019

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​Jane Hayden, Board Member
Hello my name is Jane Hayden and currently live in Peculiar, Missouri with my husband Mark.  I love serving the Lord at our home congregation in Harrisonville, MIssouri as an organist, Sunday School teacher and LWMS Reporter.  During my free time I enjoy working out, walking our dog and taking care of two grandsons.  Volunteering on the Branch Schools in Haiti has formed many friendships and love for the Haitian children.
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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - Terry & Mary Schultz

7/9/2019

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Pastor Terry with orphanage directors and Pastor Rona
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Mary with Medical Missionary, Tish Meeks, R.N. and Branch student
 Rev. Terry L. Schultz, Missionary, Spiritual Advisor 
Terry received a Bachelor of Music Degree [Percussion] from Eastern Illinois University, a Master of Science in Education in Guidance and Counselling from EIU, a Master of Divinity from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (ELS) and a Doctor of Ministry in Missions and Evangelism [including studies in Ethnomusicology] from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  From Bethany Seminary Terry was called directly to the foreign field. Terry and Mary served in Peru for 15 years, where Terry taught at the Lima seminary, served as Field Coordinator, and began the work among the indigenous Shawi tribe of the Peruvian Amazon. By the grace and power of God, numerous village congregations, three grade schools and a Lutheran high school were opened in the Amazon.  (Terry also graduated from the Peruvian Air Force’s Jungle Survival School!)
 Terry and Mary then served for 6 years with the WELS in the Dominican Republic where they began new outreach efforts in Haiti. Three Lutheran elementary schools were also established in Haiti. Terry served for 9 years with Latin America Missions as Haiti Coordinator and Latin America Music Coordinator.  Terry has written 6 books and published numerous journal and magazine articles on music and percussion. He is currently involved in worship music projects and in creating pastoral education resources (particularly for low literacy populations) for numerous WELS foreign fields, in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Working with nationals, Terry has helped arrange musical settings of the historic Lutheran liturgy in Latin folkloric, Middle Eastern, American Traditional, Mariachi, and New Orleans Traditional styles.  Terry and Mary currently reside in Chicago, the Blues capital of the world.
Mary Lillian Schultz, Missionary
Mary is the wife of Missionary, Dr. Terry L. Schultz.  She has a business degree in fashion merchandising from the Minnesota School of Business (a program through the University of Minnesota), with an emphasis on human relations and the arts. She also completed a sales and travel agent certificate program through Travel Leaders Network in the Twin Cities and completed courses in jewelry design and sales through Finlay Inc. 
 
In the church where she grew up, she worked for five summers as a counselor for a summer day camp program and led a girls’ group for four years. After marrying Terry, she taught Sunday school and VBS and created and co-lead a youth program called Terrific Tuesdays, with a focus on outreach, for Mt. Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, MN.
 
In 1995 Mary moved with Terry to Lima, Peru, where she studied Spanish, counseling, art, coaching, and teaching EFL, among other things. Her ministries varied through their 15 years in Peru. She created 15 art projects to go along with Bible stories for VBS each year, taught VBS teacher training for 50 plus Peruvian teachers yearly, and taught art therapy for two years at a residential drug rehab center for men. She also worked with a women's group in the ANCASH region of Peru. Mary was asked to start beginner EFL classes at the seminary in Lima for the incoming students, and led an advanced conversation class on Sunday afternoons for anyone connected to the Mission. 
 
Mary was the Short-Term Volunteer Coordinator for the Peruvian mission. This included organizing all the details of the trip and working with individuals/ teams once they were on the Peru mission field. Throughout their 15 years in Peru, Mary traveled the country, getting to know the different cultures and customs in each province, most times driving herself and a car full of friends. She took many trips on horseback to remote Andean villages two days out from public transportation in the Peruvian Andes. She also accompanied her husband on 12 jungle trips deep to the Amazon. 
 
One of her central ministries in her last years in Lima was a ministry with foreign women in Peruvian prisons. Over 99 percent of the ladies she ministered to in the prisons were caught at the Lima airport with cocaine. Her work involved leading an international group of ladies in Bible studies, counseling, organizing parent visits, writing and responding to emails, shopping, and developing partnerships with foreign embassies. She entered the prison three times a week and mentored the ladies who were on parole. 
 
Another role Mary had in Lima, Peru, was being a part of the General Federation of Women in Lima (GFW).  The General Federation of Women's Club was founded in 1890, and its headquarters are in Washington DC. It is an organization whose members are dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service. Their objective is to unite women's clubs and like organizations throughout the world for mutual benefit and the promotion of their shared interest in education, moral values, civics, and fine arts. Mary held various positions from 2001 to 2009, such as year book contributor, program liaison on the advisory committee and the executive board, member-at-large, vice president, and, in 2007 and 2008, president of the Club for a two-year limited term. The Lima membership is around 200, and the majority of the group members are North American.
 
In 2011, Mary and Terry moved to the Dominican Republic, where Terry was quickly assigned to work in Haiti due to the 2010 earthquake. Once arriving in the DR, Mary took on the role of Terry's administrative assistant, in charge of accounting, travel arrangements, PowerPoints, and other duties.  She also started going on medical mission trips to Haiti, assisting our mission nurse and seeing between 200 and 700 children per trip. Those trips continued with two trips a year until 2018, when the risk management group of the mission no longer approved visiting due to the danger levels for foreigners. 
 
Since moving to Chicago in 2016, Mary has worked in various ministries at their church, including designing a children's art project weekly for a kids’ club, leading a team of 14 church members in a refugee ministry for two years, leading a women's fellowship group and a ladies Bible study, and being the Sunday school teacher sub in a team of three. She also is active with her local LWMS (Lutheran Women's Missionary Society) and recently has had speaking engagements for women's groups, doing presentations on foreign missions from a woman's perspective. 
 
Currently, Mary is pursuing a lifelong dream to go to photography school and continues to assist Terry. She is also a board member of Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti.

 
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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - Kathleen Menke

7/9/2019

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Kathleen Menke, CPA, Treasurer
Kathleen has been a member of our board since 2015. It was truly God's hand in how she became a part of the organization. She has loved every minute of it - from helping to start and grow the organization to her first trip to Haiti in December 2017 to even filing our tax returns. She attended the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. She works at Ernst & Young LLP in Minneapolis as a senior manager in the Assurance practice. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Minnesota and a member of the AICPA and the MN Society of CPAs. In her free time, she likes to garden and run and is currently training for the Twin Cities marathon in October. 
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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - Darryl & Pam Folkens

7/9/2019

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Darryl Folkens, Secretary, Board Member
Darryl Folkens has served on the board of directors of Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti, Inc. since its beginning in 2015.
He received a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Math and Economics from the University of Minnesota, Morris. He also attended Control Data Institute and University of Minnesota.
Darryl served four and one half years in the US Air Force as an officer with the Strategic Air Command B-52 Flight Line Maintenance and Aircraft Maintenance Plans and Scheduling units.  He retired from the State of Minnesota with 43 years of experience in the Information Technology field.  Majority of the work was with the Management and Budget Agency as a Systems/Data analyst working with the Statewide Accounting, HR, Payroll, and Procurement systems.  Darryl and his wife Pamela have two children and five grandchildren.  He has been an active member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN since 1979.  He has served in various church council positions and volunteered on many committees.
 
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Pamela Folkens, Volunteer
Pam is married to Darryl, Secretary to Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti, and they have 2 adult children and 5 grandchildren.  She worked at the University of Minnesota for almost 30 years and is currently retired.  She enjoys spending time at the lake, sewing and crafts of many types.
Pam has been involved in several organizations at church including altar guild, Sunday school teacher, Lutheran Girl Pioneer leader, and has assisted with many fundraising events for church and BLSH.  She also volunteers at Christian Life Ministries New Day Thrift Store.  She has had the blessed opportunity to travel to Haiti 5 times aiding in the delivery of school supplies, clothing, and Christmas gifts to the students, staff and directors.   Pam and Darryl have also had the privilege to travel to Peru, Dominican Republic, Mexico-Costa Maya Mission, Greece and Turks & Caicos.


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Meet our Board of Directors and Volunteers - Lee & Linda Petersen

7/9/2019

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​Lee Petersen, Chairman of the Branch Schools Board of Directors.  
Lee is a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, MN, where he recently finished a five-year term as congregational president. He is married to Linda (Special Projects Coordinator for Branch Schools), has two grown children and two grandchildren. Professionally, Lee is a Principal Engineer at Itasca Consulting, has a Ph.D. in geoengineering, is a registered professional engineer in five states, and has 40-years experience in the design and construction of civil and mining projects. 

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Linda Petersen, Special Projects Coordinator.
Linda Harmel Petersen grew up in Baraboo, WI and attended St. John’s Lutheran Elementary School in Baraboo from K-8th grade.  She was baptized, confirmed, and married there.  She now is a nearly full-time volunteer for both Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti, Inc. (Branch), The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, New Life Thrift Store in Little Canada, MN, and serves her current church, Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran in St. Paul on Altar Guild, as well as planning, preparing, and serving special dinners at the church.  She is currently Special Projects Coordinator for Branch, has headed up several fundraisers, as well as numerous sewing and craft projects for the orphans and students in Haiti. She has visited Haiti five times to take much needed supplies to the children, and she is anxious to return as soon as possible. She also travels to OWLS groups, LWMS rallies, churches and schools to spread the word about Branch.
 
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Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti, Inc. is a Federal tax-exempt corporation under IRC 501 (c)(3). Your donation is tax deductible. Copyright © 2015
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