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.
Summer Sawyer grew up right outside of Philadelphia, PA. She enjoys volunteering in her community and has served various communities across Kenya. Any free time she has, you can find her outdoors and in the sunshine! She first visited GSO with friends in the summer of 2023 and knew her time was not finished in Guatemala. Having previously worked in project management, she’s making a big jump to join the TEFL team for the 2024 school year and is beyond excited about what God has in store!
Alison Nirula grew up in Oakville, Ontario and recently completed her undergraduate degree at Redeemer University, where she studied International Relations and History. Ali has always wanted to serve God through missions and got involved in GSO through some family friends. Alison will join the team for four months before returning to Canada to pursue additional education. She is excited to see how God works this year!
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.