Meet the 2017 Enrich Missions Team!

Ready To Go!

In a few short weeks, we will be boarding a plane from LaGuardia to Managua, Nicaragua and will end up in Matagalpa to spend a week working and worshiping  with the team at Enrich Missions.   Here is the BLC 2017 team.  We ask that you pray for us as we travel and for our spiritual journey.

Amy Vogel

Hello my name is Amy Vogel and this will be my second time to take this trip, what makes it even more special is that I have been able to share this trip with my wonderful husband Todd Vogel. We will be married a year this June. We have three girls and two boys. I'm a nurse in the NICU at Albany Medical Center for 13 years and I love my job. I feel I am able to do some of gods work through my job. Well with work and family that takes up most of my time it just leaves room for some prayer to thank god for all I have. 

Barb Collins

I’m Barb Collins.  Bill and I joined BLC in 1983. Our children James and Leigh grew up at BLC and within the past two years have both been married in BLC. Being a member of this strong Christian community has been a very important part of my life and has had tremendous impact on the way I live.

I was blessed to have a fulfilling career teaching music and arts to a variety of audiences and abilities- especially children with special needs and adults with dementia.  I retired from the Albany Institute of History & Art a year ago.  This now allows me much more time to devote to my special interests –

traveling, knitting/felting, quilting, volunteering and becoming a master gardener.

It is an honor to be part of this years’ Nicaragua Goers, and it is especially meaningful that I will be working for Jesus alongside my husband and daughter.

Bill Collins

Hi, my name is Bill Collins and this will be my third mission trip in support of the Tingles in Nicaragua. Each one has been an exciting and different chance to serve Jesus and the children of Nicaragua. This one is different because I’ll be sharing the experience with both my wife, Barbara, and our daughter, Leigh.  Fortunately my love for the Lord and desire to serve wherever He needs me to be is MUCH stronger than the pitiful results of my somewhat-diligent efforts to learn Spanish. I will, again, smile and nod A LOT. Please know that the smiles will be sincere; I have thoroughly enjoyed our collective work and Christ-sharing in Nicaragua and I am SURE I will again.

About me – Barbara and I are very happily retired which gives us a lot more time to travel and spend with family  and friends. Retirement gives me a lot more time for volunteer firefighting, tennis, other community volunteer activities, singing in our choir, and, soon I hope, more scuba-diving. Our family is really looking forward to working, witnessing, and laughing with the great group that our intrepid leader, SallyJo, has assembled this year. 

Caitlin Schultz

Hi, I'm Caitlin! I am 17 years old and will be a senior at Bethlehem Central High School in the fall. I have had the privilege of serving BLC in the praise band for the past 7 years; I am passionate about sharing Jesus' love with others, especially through music. This opportunity has been long-anticipated, and I am thrilled to be attending my first mission trip to Nicaragua! I can't wait to learn from the people of Matagalpa, to share Christ's love with them, and to grow stronger in my faith. 

Donna Spellman

My name is Donna Spellman.  I am happily married to my husband Gary. Together we have 3 children.  Our family has attended BLC for many years. I'm blessed beyond measure to have the opportunity to go a second time to Nicaragua. I am so very grateful to be able to share this experience with my daughter Kaleigh. I can't wait to see what God has in mind for our 2017 team. 

Doug Ophardt

My name is Doug Ophardt and I have been a Capital Budget Analyst for 17 years. I was on a previous trips to Nicaragua in 2014 and 2016 and found the experience very exciting. First, because I was helping the Tingles' resource center, surrounded by the most cheerful children who were excited each day; overcoming the challenges faced in their daily environment. 

It was great being immersed in a totally different culture and stimulating to meet people with so much to share, and who allowed me to be part of their lives for a few days. It was great fun to just "go with the flow." I look forward again to working with the children, helping them with their school work, getting to know them, having them teach me some Spanish, and learning more about the Nicaraguan people and their culture.    And if possible, I'd love to spend time with a great group of volunteer firefighters at the nearby Matagalpa Fire Department. 

Elaine Copper

I'm Elaine Cooper, retired from the NYS Senate. I have 2 grown children and 4 beautiful grands. I have belonged to Bethany Lutheran Church in Central Bridge for 71 years! Served as Sunday School pianist, teacher and superintendent, council, choir, ladies auxiliary. I love children and look forward to playing with those in Matagalpa. I am so grateful for this opportunity. 

Jen Wilson

My name is Jennifer Wilson and this is my first mission trip.  I have been married to Jessy for almost 22 years and we have two wonderful children - Ian and Logan.  Jessy and both our boys have already traveled to Nicaragua on missions trips and after listening to them talk about the amazing experiences I felt it was time for me to go.  This will be Logan’s 2nd trip so I am excited to be sharing this experience with him. I hope to be able to spread God’s love and to grow in my faith.

Kaleigh Spellman

My name is Kaleigh Spellman, I am 15 years old, and I will soon be a junior at Bethlehem Central High School. Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to help others. I was so blessed to have been given such a loving family, good friends, and a strong faith that I couldn’t just walk away from the plans God had in store for me. Other than church and serving others, I love sports, music, the outdoors, and learning new things. I currently play field hockey and lacrosse as school sports, but I also enjoy skiing and swimming. I also play the clarinet and have been singing in the BLC Praise Band since 7th grade. I am super excited to be on this year’s mission team along with my mom and two of my closest friends, Caitlin and Logan.

Leigh McCormick

I have been a member of BLC for as long as I can remember, along with my loving parents Barb and Bill, who I am very happy to be sharing this trip with! My husband Joe and I have been married for 2 years come October. I have a brother, James, and sister-in-law Stephenie who live in Washington State, where my brother is stationed for the Navy. I graduated with a theater degree and was fortunate to travel the world a bit with it, but currently work in life insurance. I am also going to school for School Counseling. I am excited for this trip so that I can share my talents and help others enrich their lives. I have previously taken a mission trip with my father, and am really looking forward to sharing this trip with both of my parents.

Logan Wilson

My name is Logan Wilson, I am 16 years old, and this will be my second time going to Nicaragua. My first time I went with my dad and this time I will be going with my mom. I go to Ravena High School and I have been playing in the BLC praise band for 6 years. Since I started going to BLC I have thoroughly enjoyed making such close relationships with many different people through the church and having such a supportive church family has been a blessing in my life. I’m so excited to go on this trip and to extend our hands out to the people of Matagalpa through God, and come to strengthen our faith in him.

Rebecca Cooper

What is most important to me is living a meaningful an active life surrounded by people who inspire and motivate me. Having the chance to serve in Nicaragua is another opportunity to give and receive what matters most. I am especially looking forward to sharing this experience with three generations of women in my family; my daughter, my mom and myself. I have been a member of BLC for 18 years and live in Delmar with my partner Luke and my two children, Cooper and Lydia. I am a social worker who works at the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and a private practice. In my free time, I enjoy being active to keep my body and mind healthy, reading, volunteering, traveling and being engaged with my family and friends

Sally Jo Geiser

May I start where I left off last year?  “God is so good to allow me the health and strength to continue to serve Him and His people” – at church, in our community and Nicaragua.  I appreciate the encouragement and love from my husband, my children and my grandchildren to follow God’s call to go on this, my seventh, trip.   Every BLC mission team is unique and as we train together, read God’s word together, pray together and as we work together in Nicaragua, we grow as individuals and develop closeness as brothers and sisters in Christ.  To God be the Glory – great things He has done!

Todd Vogel

Hola ..It's wonderful to be able to go on another short term mission trip with BLC. It's also a blessing to be able to experience this trip with my wife, Amy. I have experienced and learned so much preparing for and going on these trips over the past that several years that I'd say it's a "game changer" in my life.  I've been or am still a part of many different ministry groups at BLC and through them and the many experiences at church have grown in my faith.  Some day I hope to be able to experience a mission trip with my daughters.  If you ever get the slightest urge to go on a mission trip I would suggest that you follow that feeling...that's how I ended up going on my first trip and have enjoyed the faith growing experiences ever since.

Please pray for all those going on this trip and all those that will be touched by God's Hands during this trip. IT WILL BE A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL!