Guatemala Team Reports

I received an anxious WhatsApp message tonight from my friend Maria, a native Guatemalan who was introduced to her husband Paul a few decades ago as a direct result of Paul’s going to Guatemala with a Marine View team. Long story short, they met, married and are now living happily ever after in Federal Way.

Every year we go Maria asks how many and who are on the team so she and Paul can pray for each and every one of us by name. Yesterday’s post mentioned only the 13 of our team members who were able to attend Saturday’s packing event, so Maria challenged me on the number as I had told her 17.

Well, yes, Maria, there are indeed 17, and it is my honor to now present them to you. I will begin with the four who could not make the packing party due to distance – they certainly received the pass card. (I asked everyone to submit their own bios so these are in their own words, with perhaps some light embellishment/editing from yours truly as I see fit).

Brian and Karen Ecarius

Brian and Karen Ecarius are joining the Hands for Peacemaking Foundation – Marine View Guatemala Mission trip from south Florida. This is their first mission trip; albeit, not the first time they have done service work. After both completed a career in military service, they have become more active in their church, conducted trips abroad to strengthen their faith, and continued their service to others. Karen has continued working as a nurse with the Florida Department of Health, and Brian enjoys the outdoors and helping those in need. Brian has also shown interest in learning how to lead a mission trip in the future.

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Nancy Voorhees

Nancy Voorhees is 61 years old and a retired writer who is originally from the Detroit area.  After graduating from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, she spent the early years of her career as a newspaper reporter and editor in West Virginia, Montana, and Idaho.  She went on to freelance for some national and international magazines. The latter part of her career was spent as a proposal writer, responding to commercial and government Requests for Proposals in the Information Technology space. 

Nancy is married to Gary Voorhees and they live in Liberty Lake, Washington, in the Spokane Valley area.  She has never had children of her own but has two nieces and a nephew, all of whom she adores. She also has several other special “kids” who have been a part of her life.  Nancy was raised Presbyterian and has been a follower of Jesus since finding a personal relationship with Him during her college years. Between her high school graduation and first year of college, Nancy took a gap year and went on a Rotary scholarship to Sweden.  While there, her class of 29 students took pharmaceuticals (such as vitamin drops for infants) and other humanitarian items to distribute while on a trip to the drought-torn country of The Gambia.  After that experience, she long dreamed of going on missions and over the past two years, this Guatemala trip with the Marine View Presbyterian Church has been right in line with that dream. She is very excited to be part of the team again this year and sees this mission work in Guatemala as a calling.

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Craig and Christie Lindstrand

Craig and Christie Lindstrand are making their third trip to Guatemala this year with Hands for Peacemaking.

Each trip has been a memorable adventure; hey look forward to getting to know the new team, and the new experiences ahead in Guatemala. They have served as board members for Hands for Peacemaking since 2018. They live in Snohomish County, and spend their time enjoying all different types of outdoor activities.

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Curt Stahlecker

It is a rewarding privilege to go to Guatemala and help the people and improve their lives. This will be my second trip, and I am very much looking forward to the journey

A little bit about me. I grew up in Butte Montana and moved to Washington in the mid-80s. I met my wife Pam in 2011 while participating in activities through the Mountaineers. We were married at Marine View Presbyterian Church and have three adult children and two grandchildren. I retired from the Port of Seattle in 2024 as a capital project manager. Prior to my employment at the Port, I worked for an environmental engineering firm and a heavy civil.

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Lynn Cruz

This will be my third trip to Guatemala this April. I truly love it- especially the kids.

I have been retired for three years and spend my time with my husband and family. And of course with  my two wonderful dogs. 

I also enjoy going to the gym and volunteering at several nonprofits.

Looking forward to another great trip!

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Lola Cohen

Lola Cohen has called Bellevue home for almost ten years after relocating from Honolulu. Now retired, Lola enjoys volunteering, tennis, pickleball, yoga, hiking and travel including exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Lola joined the Marine View team in Guatemala last year with her sister, Lynn Cruz, after going on a similar mission five years ago. Lola describes the last mission as “one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my life” and is looking forward to working with the Marine View team on this mission.

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Ken Schiewetz

My mission trip to Guatemala is almost 40 years overdue.  In 1988, while serving as chairman of the Mission Committee at Marine View, I saw an article in the paper about Dr. Leon and Viginia Aller and their work in a remote area of Guatemala.  I invited them to speak at our church, and that led to Marine View’s first mission trips to Guatemala, starting in 1989. Over the years many mission trips have taken place with the main task of installing stoves in various remote Guatemalan villages.  It has been very exciting for me to see that  people from Marine View in partnership with Hands for Peacemaking have continued to make life better for people in that country.

On a personal level, my wife Kim and I very much enjoy international travel and its adventure, but our greatest love is being grandparents to Lark who’s now two, and Piper at two months.  Prior to my retirement in 2022 in my professional life I was a financial advisor helping people achieve financial goals like saving for college and retirement. It has been a lifetime goal of mine to help change the world for better, whether it is where I live or work, or where an investment of time or funds would help others. That is why I am involved with Hands for Peacemaking and am looking forward to this trip to Guatemala.

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Clarence Higuera

I’m Clarence Higuera and I’ve recently retired from my Seattle-based residential construction company. I’ve lived in the Seattle area for 26 years, after growing up on the Central California coast. My wife and I have three kids, all in their early 20s. I now live on Vashon Island. I love a good project, whether it’s landscaping, working with horses or building things. I especially like working with groups of people to accomplish things, so I am looking forward to being a part of this effort. 

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Rico Miravalles

Hi, my name is Rico. I grew up in the Tacoma area before moving up to Everett where I now live with my wife and daughter. I currently work in the healthcare field as a caregiver, but most of my career has been in technology. I have always been a believer in helping others, and when I heard about the Heart of Guatemala missions from family friends, it called to me as a way that I could help out. This is my first mission, so I’m looking forward to building fellowship, making memories and serving others.

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Lisa Ruppel

Lisa has worked for her Husband’s Auburn-based home improvement company for the past 31 years.  She has three daughters: two who live and work in Seattle and New York City  Her youngest is finishing her senior year at WWU in Bellingham. 

This will be Lisa’s fourth trip to Guatemala with the Marine View team.  After seeing firsthand the difference the stoves make in the lives of Guatemalan families, she feels blessed to be able to support Hands For Peacemaking and join Marine View again on this trip!

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Suzanne Palmer

Hi, my name is Suzanne, and I am so excited and blessed to return to Guatemala again with the team from Marine View.  (This is Suzanne’s fifth time). I grew up in North Carolina and transplanted to Washington State in 1997. I am a mom of four and grandma of nine!  I have previously served in the mission field in Mexico with my children to build homes. I have a heart for service and more specifically “labor” missions, where you can build something that helps improve someone else’s life.  May we be Christ’s hands and feet!

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Tom Dirks

This will be my eighth trip down to the villages above Santa Cruz Barillas. I go because I want to give back and increase the opportunities for villagers by getting the smoke out of their homes, reducing risks of burns, and cutting the use of wood.  I was born and raised in West Seattle, where I live with my wife Suzy. Both of my sons, Andy and Oliver, and Suzy had the opportunity to go down with me on previous missions.  My favorite part of the trip is seeing the smiles, and the welcoming hearts of the people of Guatemala. That’s what will keep me coming back for many years to come.

(Tom is also on the board of the Hands for Peacemaking Foundation, currently serving as its secretary).

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Brian Dirks

This will be my 11th trip to Guatemala through Marine View Presbyterian Church, where my wife Dee and I have attended since 2009. I am gratified for the support Marine View mission teams have received through the congregation and others over the years. It is my honor to again serve as team coordinator and I look forward to another mission with a great group!

I am retired from a professional life of working in the field of communications and other roles for a number of agencies within Washington state and tribal government, and prior to that as a print journalist. Until recently I was active on the Hands for Peacemaking Foundation board, serving as board president for nearly 10 years until handing over the reins to Christie Lindstrand (above) in March. I also serve on the board of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma. I am happy that my mission work in Guatemala is contagious through my family! Three of my four brothers have also been to Guatemala on Hands for Peacemaking mission trips. In fact my twin Greg formed his own West Seattle-based team after joining the Marine View team twice and will be returning with that group to do a water project in May. Brother John joined Greg’s team last year. Our other brother Steve has been a loyal supporter and contributor but has not yet gone.

When not engaged in mission work I enjoy hanging out with our three adult children, their spouses and four grandkids. I also enjoy a number of outdoor pursuits, like skiing, fishing, cycling and hiking.

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Jeff and his wife Kelly live in Everett. We are happy to have Jeff along!   

 

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Now Maria, you have not only the names but also the photos of everyone to keep in your prayers. We much appreciate that! (And the prayers and well-wishes of the rest of you too).

Some of the team (including myself) are heading south early, but the majority will line up at SeaTac on Thursday then we will all meet at the airport in Guatemala City early Friday morning before hopping on another aircraft to the municipality of Huehuetenango, saving us our traditional long first-day’s drive.

I will try to blog as I can during the trip, or at least write brief posts and share photos.

Until then,

Brian