The Team

On this page you can meet each of the members of our mission team. We have quite a diverse group of people on this mission including students from all over the US, four full time FOCUS missionaries, and a priest that will serve as the chaplain of the trip.

Trip Director and FOCUS Missionary

Tyler

Tyler is Manager of Technology Services for FOCUS.  He and his wife of almost five years, Lynelle, have both served as FOCUS missionaries at different universities. Tyler spend two years serving the US Naval Academy ('06-'08). He and Lynelle call Littleton, CO home and enjoy spending time with their three girls.  Mission trips are close to Tyler’s heart and he has led groups on mission to New Orleans, Alaska, and Russia.

FOCUS Missionaries:

Our fearless leaders, the FOCUS missionaries: (left to right) Rachael, Brian, Tyler,  and Missy. Somehow in this picture they got sort of color coordinated so it was a nice shot. 

Rachael

Rachael is a 2nd year FOCUS missionary who served last year at the Uni of Florida (with Chris and Emily!) and will be serving the upcoming year at University of Vermont. Two extremes--but Rachael lives for changing it up! Rachael loves to travel--and has backpacked Europe thrice by herself. She also loves living overseas-- i.e Czech Republic and a secluded retreat house in Scotland (Craig Lodge, woot woot) Rachael has loved all things Russia since she was a wee girl--and hopes to look like a Russian babushka when she is elderly. 

Missy

Missy was a FOCUS missionary at Univeristy of Illinois last school year. This year she has been assigned to Ave Maria University in Florida. She is also the Game Master for the trip, supplying an endless number of "get to know you" games and fun activities for the kids at camp and the orphanage.

Brian

Brain is from Nebraska. He has just finished his 2 year commitment with FOCUS and this trip is his last HURRAH with FOCUS before entering the corporate workforce in Agronomy.

Chaplain: Father Steve

Father Steve likes tigers. While serving the team in all of the typical priestly ways, Father Steve is also advising the team on how to survive a unlikely Siberian Tiger attack.

Students:

Amanda

Amanda will be a Junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall. She is majoring in Agriculture and Consumer Economics and she is working towards a minor in Natural Resource and Environmental Science. Amanda is an international student from Singapore. Amanda converted to the Catholic faith in 2008 and continues to experience conversion in her daily life. She is very passionate about the Universality of the Catholic Church and believes that we should live the call to "make disciples of all nations" very seriously. She hopes that this mission will open her eyes and her heart to the face and heart of Jesus and as missionaries, they may bring the face of Jesus to all they meet. In her spare time, Amanda plays the ukulele and writes poetry.

Chris

Chris was born and raised in sunny (rainy) South Florida and went to high school in Ft. Lauderdale. He is currently a student at the University of Florida majoring in civil engineering and joined FOCUS as a student leader in October of 2012. Feeling called to dedicate his life to service work, Chris is excited to be going to Russia on his second mission trip ever and his first mission outside the US. Chris also runs this blog for the team, so direct all complaints to him.

Emily

Emily will be a junior at the University of Central Florida; she just finished her English degree and will be working on her Political Science degree this year. She loves theology and writing, and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She's a recent convert, having just been Confirmed in march, and is beyond excited at the opportunity to serve the Lord in Russia. Sadly, she is afraid of planes, and would appreciate your prayers that she (and the rest of the team) arrive safely. 

Katie

Katie is from Pittsburg, KS and is going be a senior this year at the University of Kansas. She is majoring in journalism with an emphasis on strategic communication. Katie loves taking pictures, and is bringing her good camera on the mission trip, so she will be providing lots of pictures for the blog.

Matt

Matt just finished his freshmen year at Benedictine College studying Theology and Theatre Arts. Matt comes from the small town Fairmont in southeren Minnesota. Matt believes that Fairmont has a climate very similar to Vladivostok. Matt is an interesting person. He has wanted to travel to Russia since he was 15 after reading "With God in Russia" and now his dream is coming alive. Matt loves pretty much everything about life. Especially Theatre, People, Sports, and Languages. Oh and most importantly Jesus. Matt is the oldest cousin in his family, however he will be one of the youngest students on this trip.

Pat

Patrick is the youngest member of the team. He ate some of the Dunkin Donuts Munchinks. As he embarks to Russia, Patrick will continue to seek out more opportunities to eat donuts, and has even gone as far to claim he will fight a siberian tiger for a single bite of the doughy deliciousness that is a a donut.

TJ

TJ is a personal trainer in Missouri. During this trip he will get the entire team and the children in shape for the unlikely event of a tiger attack.

Zoey

Zoey is a junior at the University of Central Missouri. She is studying Elementary Education and Special Education. Zoey grew up in St. Charles, Missouri. She is very actively involved at UCM's Newman Center and was a resident staff member this past school year. Zoey recently won the "Most Likely to Steal a Baby" award from her Newman friends. Russia will be Zoey's first FOCUS mission trip and she is extremely excited to use her talents to serve others. Zoey enjoys spending time with her little sisters, reading, baking, and of course babies