SPEAKER

Barb has been married for 44 years and has 4 adult children, 4 children-in-law, and 11 grandchildren. She and her husband, Ron, lived and served in the countries of Bermuda, Cote d’Ivoire, and France for nearly 15 years. She served as the Director of Women’s Ministries at Ridgeline Community Church in Castle Rock, CO, for 20 years, and is currently the Director of Staff & Associate Care for Reclaim, a global community of Christian professionals leveraging their skills to restore hope. She loves coffee, chocolate, and hearing stories from women around the world. 

WORSHIP LEADER

Valonda and her husband live in the beautiful Willamette Valley, OR, and have two children. Her passion for seeing people in wholeness and healing rises out of the Lord's work in her own life. She has served as a worship ministry director also loves to help facilitate prayer and worship locally and overseas. Valonda currently serves on a healing prayer ministry team as well as with Alliance Peacemaking, as a conflict coach, mediator, and teacher. She loves walking alongside others toward the One who heals, restores, and renews. 

RETREAT SPECIALIST

Patti is a retired Registered Nurse and lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Corvallis, Oregon with her wonderful husband, Ed. Together they have 7 children and 9 grand children. She has been on many Azmera Haven retreats so she is excited to be able to support and encourage the women who will come for this time of refreshment. Patti loves cooking and trying new foods, spending time with her family and friends, and being outdoors in God's amazing creation. 

Sheryl is a Registered Nurse who lives in Greeley, Colorado with her husband, Chris. They have 3 sons, 2 daughters-in-love, and 5 grandchildren. She and her family spent 20 years serving in Haiti, and they are still involved in ministry there. She works at a Pregnancy Resource Center, loves counseling young women in difficult situations, with global workers at her church, and is involved with small-group bible study. Sheryl loves hiking in the Rocky Mountains, spending time with family, reading, and doing puzzles. 

Vicki is British but lives in Oregon with her husband, William. They have two adult daughters and one son-in-law. Vicki and her husband served in Chad for 19 years in Bible translation. She loves to encourage women. Vicki enjoys running, soaking up the beauty of God's creation, and spending time with friends and family. 

Tary recently relocated from Annapolis, Maryland to Dallas, Texas with her husband, Tom, to be closer to her two granddaughters. She and Tom have three grown kids and the two grands. Tary serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Metro Maryland Youth for Christ and heads the Board Development committee. She loves encouraging women to take their next step of faith and using her gifts of hospitality and creativity to make people feel seen and loved. She also enjoys championing stories of how God is working all over the world. 

Wendy is a retired Director of Care Ministries on the pastoral staff of her local church and former marriage and family therapist who has spent her life caring for others with compassion and faith. Married to her husband Lee for 50 years, she is a proud mother of three sons, grandmother of four, and enjoys reading and painting. Active in women’s Bible study at her church, she now feels called to walk alongside and uplift the women on the mission field. 

Robbi is a spiritual formation and member care minister living in Austin, Texas. She has lived in India and China and traveled to many nations caring for global workers and mentoring students. She loves finding the Sacred in the Ordinary such as swimming at dawn, birdwatching, and blogging. Her heart name, Robbi James, reflects 30 years of living in Adventurous Obedience with her husband Pancho James. 

Ericka has been serving in cross-cultural ministries since 1992, mostly in Central America. Serving with Oasis Rest International since 2010, she & her family strengthen global workers by providing coaching and caregiving retreats. She also facilitates virtual grief workshops & cohorts to provide support to those serving overseas. Ericka enjoys creating physical, emotional, and spiritual space for global workers to connect with God. 

Cindy and her husband Wick are from SC and have four grown daughters and three grandchildren (with one more on the way) She is the founder of Burn Care International where she teaches basic burn rehabilitation in low-income hospitals and clinics around the world. Cindy is also actively involved as a training facilitator as part of the Trauma Healing Institute. She and her husband have been involved in global work for the past 30 years in Africa, South America, and the Middle East. 

Gwen has recently retired from nearly 20 years of homeschooling and has moved into the “empty-nest” chapter of life. She resides in the Willamette Valley in Oregon with her husband of 28 years, Cory. Together they have five children (two in-laws), a dog, and a cat. Before moving to Ireland, where she and her family lived for six years, she worked as a licensed hairstylist. Gwen is also passionate about prayer and worship. When not traveling with Cory or to see her kids, she relishes time in her kitchen. 

Mary lives in Brenham, Texas, where she loves to work with native plants, historic homes, and search for antiques. She is a retired social studies teacher and has a grown daughter and 2 granddaughters who live nearby. Mary has been active in children’s and homeless ministries in Austin, women’s ministry in Mexico, Lebanon, Spain, and Uganda, and has also worked with several churches who serve migrant families. She feels that her purpose in life is to be the hands and feet of Jesus.