Team Member Bios - Erin Kofoed and Michelle Marquez

I am the Youth Program Specialist at DHQ. I enjoy drawing, painting, sewing, playing sports, making/editing movies, making new friends, decorating and working on my house, exercise, making anything beautiful, singing, playing my cornet, loving on my precious son, horseback riding and spending time with my family. Six people live in my house. Me, my husband Aliex, my 6 year old son Zachary (who turns 7 while I'm in Africa), - I also have my little sister Alyssa living with me (in my basement - they take my two lower rooms), her husband Chris and their baby Aiden (who is now 4 months old). I own two dogs (Chihuahuas) and 1 cat - and my sister owns two big dogs who are also great house guests.

This will be my first mission trip and I'm a little more scared than excited. People keep asking me if I'm excited - but I see this mission trip as a chance to be pushed into uncomfortable situations - to face fears. It's terrifying - and I'm looking forward to being stretched and used by God.

I hope to experience something on this trip that will change me forever. I want to come back transformed and with a fresh new perspective on life. Although we are going to help - I believe that I have something valuable to learn. In preparing for the trip two verses came to mind - Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength”, and Psalm 105:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done”.

I currently work at DHQ as the Administrative Assistant for the Social Services, Emergency Disaster Services, and Service Extension Departments. I am a soldier at the Centennial Corps. I enjoy scrapbooking, card-making, movies & music, reading, baking, long-walks, and most of all spending time with my 9 month old baby, Isaias, and my wonderful husband Mateo.

I have been privileged to go to Estonia, New Zealand, Switzerland, England and Mexico on various ministry trips with The Salvation Army. I’m looking forward to this trip for many reasons – the chance to travel to a new place, the opportunity to meet new people and build relationships, and the ability we’ll have to share the great love of Jesus with the people we encounter. I hope to be an encouragement for those we meet. I believe this trip is going to stretch me and help me to be a more compassionate individual. A verse that I have been challenged by recently is 2 Peter 1:5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

I feel very blessed to be going on this trip and ask that you would pray for our team as we travel – that we would be God’s hands and feet.