Dominican Republic

Bill and Juliana Hansen

Bill and Juliana Hansen serve as the Directors of the Harmony Home in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.  They have over 20 years of experience in children’s ministry.  Bill is a former director of the ANIJA program, and was instrumental in establishing Kids Alive International in the Dominican Republic.  In 2002 they started the Constanza Children’s Home for children who had lost at least one parent.  The name was changed to Harmony Home when the ministry moved from Constanza to Jarabacoa in 2005. Bill was born in New Jersey, and Juliana is a native of Jarabacoa.  The Hansen’s two adult daughters – Carolina and Sally – make their homes in the U.S.

“We want what we do to last for eternity.  We hope that we can provide love, security and hope for the children in our care so that they will have a better life.  Our prayer is that each child would become a Christian and grow up to raise their own Christian family.”                         Bill and Juliana Hansen

Jan Burkey

Jan Burkey first came to the Dominican Republic as a missionary, serving as Assistant Director/Teacher at the Ark Children’s Home from 1989-1993, before that ministry joined Kids Alive® International in 1993.  She is presently Director of the Palo Blanco Care Center with a goal to reach hurting children-in-crisis for Christ.

Jan comes from Albany, Oregon, where her dad is a retired educator and pastor and her mother is a retired radiologist.  She holds a joint Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from George Fox University and Western Oregon State College, taught elementary school in Christian schools for six years and Bible school during the summer at the Deer Lake (Ontario) Canadian Indian Reservation.  Jan also served as Dean of Girls at Western Mennonite High School, the school from which she graduated.
She has a brother, two sisters, and 15 nieces and nephews. Time permitting; Jan enjoys cross-stitch, making photo memory albums and a good book.

“My desire is to bring hope and change - not to just one child in a family - but to the entire family and community. The preschool is also is an avenue of support to the local church and its programs.”                             Jan Burkey

Rebekah Holbrook

Rebekah hails from southern California where she taught 4th grade and was a full time Aunt to her 13 nieces and nephews.

Her work with Kids Alive actually began in 2003 when God brought her to Monte Plata as a summer intern.   In 2007 she began serving in a long-term capacity teaching English and tutoring after school at the orphanage.

"It is undeniable that children are precious to God, but too often the kids we work with have been 'thrown away' by the world.  They have no reference for what it would mean to be cherished and loved, and thus have a hard time believing that God loves them.  What an joy to be part of God's work in bringing a message of hope and salvation to the children in Monte Plata!"

Vanessa Chavez

Vanessa Chavez first worked as a Kids Alive intern in the Dominican Republic during the summer of 2005, and she has recently joined us as a short-term missionary, where she is working as a teacher in Monte Plata.

Originally from Hayward, California, Vanessa graduated in 2005 from St. Mary's College of California with a Bachelors of Science and Economics in Accounting.  While in college, Vanessa had an opportunity to participate on a Kids Alive Service Team to the Dominican Republic, where she felt the Lord calling her to return and serve with the ministry in Monte Plata..

"It's important for me to continue working in this ministry because I have already built relationships with the children in Monte Plata, and if I leave them now, I wouldn't be able to bear with the fact that I know I could have done much more to help them. In addition, I believe God gave me a mission, not only for myself but for those children in the Dominican Republic, as well, and it is important for me to complete it."  Vanessa Chavez

Ramon and Juana Prenza

Ramon and Juana Prenza are intimately linked with the needs of children in Monte Plata. Both were born and raised in "very poor Catholic" families. Ramon accepted the Lord at age 16 through the ministry and mentoring of Canadian missionary Eva M. Russell. Juana soon followed, and the couple were married in 1971. Soon after, with two small children, the couple dedicated themselves to full time missionary service.

From the beginning, Ramon and Juana had a great desire to begin a home for orphans, but the scope of the project was beyond their reach. In 1986 they opened the Eva Russell school, where they could at least teach children to read and write. In 1992, through affiliation with Kids Alive® International, the project was able to buy property and build a permanent facility. Today, the school serves 170 orphan and vulnerable children in Monte Plata. Additionally, in 2004 Ramon, Juana and their staff opened Casa Monte Plata, a children’s home that will eventually become home for 40 of the Dominican Republic's most needy children.

Erica Francis

Erica provides oversight for the sponsorship department in the Dominican Republic.

Kami West

Kami West first came to Kids Alive International – Dominican Republic for two consecutive summer internships in 2002/2003.  After graduating from Moody Bible Institute with a degree in elementary Christian education (during which time she also worked with Sunshine Gospel Ministries for children in inner-city Chicago), Kami returned to the DR and began work full-time with Kids Alive International. 

Originally from Merrillville, Indiana, Kami is continuing her education with Masters degree work in Curriculum Development, which she is confident will help in her work with Kids Alive.

"Kids Alive is an incredible mission to serve with. They have given me the opportunity to realize the life-long dream of working with children at risk. At a very young age God gave me a heart for orphans, and through Kids Alive I have been able to see God's heart for these special children."         Kami West

Kerry and Milagros Dougan

Kerry and Milagros Dougan met at the Kids Alive Life Education Center in Jarabacoa in 1993, when Milagros was teaching there and Kerry came on a two week mission trip. They were married one year later and returned to the DR a year after that with their newborn daughter Sarah. Kerry originally taught English and now directs the school curriculum, while he and Milagros have successfully begun AWANA Bible club ministries in Anija and and elsewhere around the country.

Kerry hails from a Christian family in Madison, Indiana. He studied chemical engineering at Purdue University and has worked for Bethlehem Steel, as well as being involved with Prison Fellowship and various other ministries. Milagros was born in San Juan de la Maguana, DR. She became a Christian at the age of 12 and, upon finishing high school, studied three years in the seminary Instituto Bíblico el Caribe. She also studied education in la Universidad Cathólico Santo Domingo, and was the first teacher for Kids Alive´s newly-opened Life Education Center, now Anija Education Center. Kerry and Milagros have three children: Sarah, Oliver and Alina.

Vic and Leslie Trautwein

Vic and Leslie Trautwein came to Kids Alive International from Wheaton, Illinois, in February 2002.  Vic served as Director of Operations, while Leslie was Director of Preventative and Clinical Health Care and assisted in communications.  Vic and Leslie both graduated from Dartmouth College with degrees in Engineering (Vic) and Biochemistry (Leslie). Vic received his MBA from Stanford Business School and worked as General Manager at Weyerhaeuser company, while Leslie continued her medical schooling at Cornell University Medical College and Oakland Children's Hospital and worked at the University of Washington Department of Emergency Medicine.   The Trautweins have four young children: Samuel, Micah, Luke and Hannah.

 “Working in this ministry is important to me because I believe the rescue and transformation of children’s lives is important to God.  I believe He cares about each child's life and that the work of serving children is pleasing to Him. I am grateful for how God has blessed me and my family, and that He wants to use the abilities and experiences that He has given me to help in His work.”                         Vic Trautwein

Jeff and Ann VanDerMolen

Jeff and Ann VanDerMolen joined the Kids Alive staff in 1997, originally to assist with construction of the Ark Children’s Home.  Jeff is currently serving as Regional Director overseeing the work in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, and Peru.  In the DR Jeff also serves as Co-Director of Kids Alive Dominican Republic with Vic Trautwein and Ramon Prenza, while Ann helps with interns, service teams, teacher training, and curriculum development (along with being a busy mom, wife, and home-school teacher).  Jeff and Ann both have degrees from Bethel University in Minnesota in Cross Cultural Studies and Anthropology, respectively.  Ann received her teaching certificate from Spearfish College and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from National Lewis in Illinois.  The VanDerMolens have four children: Mariana, Nicolas, Lucas, and Natalie.

“ I get to touch people's lives every day and see the changes that occur in a child's life when they are able to live in a safe, loving place.  It allows me to use my skills in various ways every day. I can share my love for Christ, work with children, work with staff and teams, and be involved in the expansion of new ministry sites.”                                                   Jeff VanDerMolen

Jessi Dixon de Veras

Jessi Dixon de Veras first learned about Kids Alive after meeting the DR co-directors in Guatemala in 2002.  This led to her arrival in the Dominican Republic in September, 2006, and her current service as registered nurse in the Kids Alive Park Care Center in Caraballo.  In this role she provides health education, medical and dental care, immunizations, as well as nutrition and health monitoring.  Jessi and her husband, Ariel, live in a nearby town, Montellano, where they hope to live indefinitely.

Originally from Gresham, Oregon, Jessi lived in Arizona while attending college, then in Virginia where she worked as a Labor & Delivery nurse.  She also trained in the local health department in VA, including experience in early childhood growth/development, immunizations, STD/HIV care, and TB, all of which have been useful for service in the Dominican Republic.

Julie-Anne Bailey

Julie-Anne Bailey grew up in Tempe, Arizona and moved to San Diego, California for college in 2004. She ran cross country and track at Point Loma Nazarene University and graduated in May 2008 with a BA in Liberal Studies with a math concentration and a credential to teach K-8.

She went to the Dominican Republic with her church when she was a senior in high school for two weeks. After that trip she knew that she wanted to serve God for a longer period of time overseas. God led her to Kids Alive as she searched the web for places to serve and recognized some pictures and names from their website.  She loves the people of the DR, sharing Jesus with them, and letting them know they are valued and needed.  She will be teaching PE and helping as a computer aid and math tutor in Jarabacoa for 9 months

Emily Jamison

Emily Jamison serves with Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic.  From the Philadelphia area, Emily majored in music (piano) with a minor in international relations at Wheaton College (IL).  Emily discovered Kids Alive when she served as a Summer Intern at the Park Care Center in 2007.  She has a passion for the children of the Dominican Republic and felt called to return there as a short-term missionary. Emily is excited to be a part of God’s work in the DR through Kids Alive.

Kyle Bradley

Kyle Bradley is originally from Wheaton, Illinois and is a graduate of Wheaton College.  At Wheaton he majored in Business Economics with a minor in Bible.  Kyle played both Football and Baseball while attending Wheaton.  He has felt a strong calling to missions and especially the Dominican Republic after life-changing trips to the DR as well as spending 3 spring breaks in college serving in Africa with members of the Wheaton College football team. He will be starting a 2 year commitment in the fall of 2009 and is looking forward to seeing how God uses him through being a short-term service team host and also through tutoring and responsibilities with the kids at the Ark in Constanza.

Craig and Libby Rowley

Craig and Libby Rowley, along with their three boys, Carter, Gabe and Isaiah, join the Kids Alive International family as short-term missionaries to the Dominican Republic. They are sent from Lakeview Church in Stoughton, WI.

Both Craig and Libby graduated from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire; Craig graduated with a degree in Art, and Libby with a degree in Elementary Education. Craig has over 10 years of experience as a contractor/builder through his own business, and Libby has worked as a fourth grade teacher, and most recently as a full time mom.

The Rowley family has had the opportunity to serve on multiple short term missions trips to Mexico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, and it was through one of these trips to the Dominican that they felt the Lord calling them to serve in a full time capacity with Kids Alive. The Rowley's began their work in the Dominican in 2007. Craig works as the Construction Project Manager for the ARK II in Constanza, and Libby home schools their children.

When asked why working with this ministry is important to them, they shared the following. "Our service in Constanza is a direct result of clear calling by God and we want to be obedient to that call. We believe in Kids Alive's mission of rescuing children-at-risk and look forward to being a part of the good work God is already doing in Constanza, Dominican Republic."

John and Sally Breul

Sally and John Breul, along with their 3 boys: Jake, Riley, Lucas, came to Kids Alive from Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church in California’s Bay Area. They were led to Kids Alive after participating on short term work teams from their church. John is currently the Director of Advanced Education Initiatives and is developing programs for and working with the high school and college-aged students in, and  across the ministry sites in the DR. He also teaches math, computers and coaches soccer. Sally is a Registered Nurse and is the School Nurse at Kids Alive’s school Anija in Jarabacoa.  The boys attend school at Anija and at home with their mom as teacher. They have happily immersed themselves in Spanish and life in the DR.

John received a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Colorado. Sally holds a BS in Biology from San Diego State and BSN from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Before coming to Kids Alive, John worked for years in software sales and business development. Sally was working part time as a nurse in the ICU.

The Breuls feel incredibly blessed to be able to share the grace-filled love of Christ with the children and young adults of the DR by helping enable them to become all that they were created to be-spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Brian Veen

Brian is from Grand Rapids, Michigan.  As a high school student at Thornapple Covenant Church, he participated in his first mission trip to Mexico and has had a passion for missions ever since.  During college at Taylor University, he was able to spend a summer as a missionary intern in Bolivia, and a semester in Spain.  In 2003, he graduated from Taylor University with a Spanish and International Studies Major, and a Christian Missions Minor.  After graduating, he worked at Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp for 3 years, and then moved back to Grand Rapids in order to work in the family business and to volunteer with the high school youth group that he grew up in.  Brian has been to Constanza each February for the past 3 years, and it's through these experiences that he has felt God's call to return to the Dominican Republic long-term.  He will be starting his 2 year commitment in late fall of 2009, living in Jarabacoa and serving primarily as a  short-term team host.

Katie Green

Katie grew up in Baraboo, Wisconsin where she returned after finishing school. She received her psychology degree from Judson College and her Masters in Counseling from Asbury Seminary in ’07. Katie has worked with at-risk youth since college with the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as clinical settings. Katie is excited to join the Kids Alive team in Jarabacoa in the spring of 2010.

Derrick and Katie Allen

Derrick and Katie Allen have served in the Dominican Republic as teachers and feel the Lord is calling them to return to the same town to serve with Kids Alive. God has really given them a burden to work with the students.  They are thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate God's love to the children on a daily bases.  

Mike and Mary Margaret Celosse

Mike and Mary Margaret Celosse and their four children; Jared, Katelyn, Evan and Leah, come to us from Stoughton, Wisconsin where Mike was Pastor of Children’s Ministries for 7 years at LakeView Church. Mike is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mike will be serving a 3-year term as the Child Sponsorship Coordinator for the Dominican Republic. Mary Margaret will be continuing her role and ministry as a full-time mom as she home schools their kids. Mike was first introduced to the ministries of Kids Alive on his first short-term mission trip to Constanza, DR in 2005. That experience made a big impact on him, and so he has returned with teams every year since then. In looking back, it was on that first trip that God began growing a passion in his heart for the DR and helping children there.

Mike and Mary Margaret are stepping out in faith and obedience to serve God wherever he leads. They are excited to be part of a ministry that helps children.