Our missionaries are an important part of our team and vision.
OUR MISSIONARIES
Our missionaries have left family, friends, work, and their home country to serve God and help us transform Guatemala through Christ-centred education. Whether for a few months, a year, several years, or a lifetime, your partnership with their ministry is a blessing; their work is your work. Thank you for joining them in ministry.
Lexi Putman de Pelaez serves as the bridge between our Canadian donors and Guatemalan staff & students. She spends her time translating letters, throwing birthday parties and building community. Initially joining us as a participant in the Summer Program in 2014, Lexi moved to Guatemala in 2016 and married Jimmy, the youth pastor at our partner church; they have two daughters together. Lexi is energetic and loves people, and we are so happy to have her on the GSO team!
Amy Hughes de Pelaez grew up in the Montreal/Laval area. She first came to Guatemala in 2016, making a permanent move in 2017. In June of that year, she married Danny, one of the pastors of our local partner church. She has occupied different roles on the TEFL team over the years, but she is teaching our high school students this year. She likes to go out with her family and take her two kids to the playground in her free time.
Max Funk grew up in Abbotsford, BC, where he studied Spanish in high school and went on two short-term mission trips to Latin America. He graduated with a degree in Communication Design from Emily Carr University in 2016. In 2017, while visiting Global Shore, God called him to join the TEFL team, which he did the following January. He married Guatemalan staff member Erica in 2021, and they have one son, Asher. Since 2022, he has served as the Communications and Media Specialist, ensuring all GSO content is fearfully and wonderfully made.
Ella Schinkel grew up in Essex, Ontario, where she attended Maranatha Christian Academy. She visited GSO with her grade twelve class in 2017 and fell in love with Guatemala and the school’s ministry. Over the following years, Ella made two more trips to Guatemala but felt God’s strong calling to join the TEFL team as an assistant in 2022. She has now become a TEFL teacher and is excited to see God’s plans and share the gifts he has given her!
Tanya and Tristan Sloan have wanted to serve abroad as a family for several years. They got connected to GSO through some friends and learned about the good things God is doing in Guatemala. Both Tanya and Tristan have had the privilege of travelling and living abroad. Tanya is a nurse, Tristan is an engineer, and they have two young daughters, Alina (8) and Esmae (6). The family has been heavily involved with their church’s school, with Tristan serving on the board. They hope to impact the community with God’s love and experience the same.
Blake Langbroek hails from Niagara On The Lake, Ontario, where he works as a mason and volunteer firefighter. He has had the opportunity to do missions in multiple countries, including a trip to Guatemala with Global Shore in 2023. Witnessing the Christ-centered leadership and kingdom culture inspired him to return, and he is eager to walk with and learn from the leaders and believers in this community. His prayer is that the Spirit would bring a fresh outpouring to the region and lead him in serving this community.
Samantha Pelaez is a home-grown missionary! She was hesitant when God first called her, but she knew “serving God was worth it.” After graduating from our Graphic Design Program in 2023, Samantha got her TEFL certification, moved to Poptún, and is now teaching English at our growing new school. Samantha loves design, swimming, reading good books, and recently learned to play the guitar!
Ysabela Babaran was born in the Philippines but grew up in Vancouver, Canada. She is working on her English Literature degree to become a teacher. Two childhood dreams of hers were to become a teacher and a missionary, and when she visited GSO last summer, she saw God open the door to fulfill both dreams simultaneously. The outpour of God’s love, joy and presence through the students, teachers and staff made her want to return, and God’s calling gave her the faith to make the leap and join the team!