Jim Monroe - President

In 2006, my wife Sue and I led our first team to Maua, Kenya.  To say it was life changing is such an understatement.  Once you visit Maua, it is with you forever!  In 2012, we retired from active ministry and moved to Maua full time to volunteer at the hospital.  During our time there, I became the CEO of the hospital and my wife worked with mission teams.  Those years embedded in us a profound appreciation of the commitment, the dedication, the wisdom, and the skills of the staff of MMH.  We moved back to the states mid-2015.  I came to realize that there needed to be a stateside network of supporters of MMH, that would allow supporters to share information, coordinate projects, celebrate our common vision and love of MMH, and organize our efforts for the maximum benefit of the hospital.  Thus, was birthed our first gathering of the Friends of Maua Methodist Hospital.  I look forward to seeing you at our gatherings or staying in touch with you through our newsletters and emails.

Dr. Frank Briggs - Vice President

Lead Pastor at Lighthouse Fellowship in Fort Worth. I am in my 33rd year of pastoring at Lighthouse, with 40 years of ministry as an ordained leader within the church. My first trip to Kenya was in 2017 and was life-changing for me. I am so excited to be a part of the continuing efforts to serve the beautiful people of Kenya, and in particular of Maua and the amazing hospital there. I am married to Krissie and we have 2 grown boys and 4 grandchildren. I love the outdoors, especially the mountains, and time with my bride and kids/grandkids.

Jordie Chalupnik - Treasurer, Volunteer/Teams

Jordie first traveled  on a mission journey to Kenya in 2003 and has been returning every other year since then.  She loves to take teams so that each person can have the face-to-face experience that makes them want to go back.  She and her husband love to travel, and she makes jams, marmalades, and pies from her berries and fruits.  She has a definite passion for the friendly Kenyan people.

Cathey Miller- Secretary

Cathey Miller is from Greensboro, NC and attends Guilford College UMC. She has been co-leading and leading teams to Maua since 2010. In real life she is a clinical pharmacist practitioner specializing in diabetes care and education. She also serves as an AAssistant Professorof Clinical Education in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!)

Kathie Mann - GBGM Missionary Representative

Kathie has worked with MMH since 1997, organizing teams, projects and raising money. Prior to her work with MMH, Kathie served in the Peace Corps, worked in Tanzania and raised 3 children in Texas. She currently splits her time between Kenya and her ranch in Colorado. Kathie says she “always knew there would come a time in my life when I could move back and work with my friends in Kenya and with the Methodist Church” and that she is blessed to have this opportunity.

Rev. Lisa Neslony

Dr. Richard Culbert - Fundraising/Medical

Richard is a vitreoretinal surgeon in Midland, Texas. His connection with Maua Methodist Hospital started at St. Luke’s UMC ,which has sent several mission teams to MMH and supported the Savutos in their mission work in Maua.

After a mission trip to MMH with St Luke’s he became enamored with Kenya and the people of Maua. He spearheaded a fundraising effort for a new outpatient clinic and returned to work in the Eye Clinic. Moving forward he would like to see improved surgical access for patients at MMH.

Richard can’t wait to return to Kenya.

Jon Hockenberry - Projects Team

Jon Hockenberry worked for 38 and 1/2 years in many roles and in various divisions of Shell Oil Company. Nine out of 11 years were overseas working on different international oil projects. A new found passion after retirement was the ability to take the skills learned at Shell in project and program management and strategic planning into mission work for Maua Methodist Hospital. Serving for several years as the chief planner on the Advance Team Jon is now the Team Lead. The Advance Project Team working on strategic infrastructure projects at the hospital including upgrading existing facilities, water system improvement, and electrical infrastructure improvement.

Vicki Freeman - Medical

Vicki is a Professor in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Associate Dean for the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She holds degrees in medical technology and adult education. She has participated in many mission trips, both as team member and team leader, to Kenya including ones with health profession students, as well as trips to Tanzania and Alaska. She has participated in the PEPFAR project developing curriculum and continuing education programs for laboratorians, traveling to Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. She has also provided consultations to help qualify programs in medical technology at universities in China, Saudi Arabia, and Guyana. She is a life-long Methodist.

Dr. Carol Parker

Dr. Parker is Associate Professor for the College of Education at Texas Southern University. She is a licensed professional counselor-supervisor and certified school counselor. Dr Parker is a member of St Paul United Methodist Church. She is also a member of the Texas Annual Conference Missions Committee. She has made 5 trips to Africa, 4 to MMH with Memorial Drive UMC. The mission experiences to Africa, while started as service to others, have essentially transformed her perspective to a deeper dedicated service to continue giving in order to help those without basic human needs.

Bobby Cullen

Louise Kienzle

From the very first trip I took with Sue Owen and Jim Monroe in 2009, I knew that Kenya and Maua Methodist Hospital would always hold a very special place in my heart. Six trips later, that has not changed. Since retiring as a music teacher I have found multiple ways to volunteer and stay busy: as the Oregon-Idaho Conference UMVIM Coordinator, Program Division Chair and site team member for OR-ID Camp and Retreat Ministries, board member OR-ID Chapter MFSA (Methodist Federation for Social Action) with multiple responsibilities, in various work in my local church and community, and as Volunteer Coordinator for a Long-term recovery group in north-eastern Oregon and Washington with more work to come in wildfire recovery. But, I will be ready to return to Kenya when the time is right.