Our Teachers
AFE is a holistic ministry to the children and families of the garbage dump. For this reason, AFE's teachers serve as more than simply teachers in their students' lives. They serve as positive mentors and friends and are involved in complete success of the child, in and out of the classroom. Please pray for our teachers as they minister to AFE's children.
Jenny Odoñez has been with AFE for five years.
She came from AFE’s sending church, “Amor y Vida”
in the Bosque neighborhood. She teaches kindergarten 
and the children in her class love to hear her tell stories in different voices.
Roger Figueroa has been with AFE for four years and also serves in a ministry to reach street children called “The Micah Project.” Before coming to AFE he served with Micah for ten years and now serves as AFE’s assistant director. He makes his students
laugh every day, is a talented soccer player, and helps with
adult education in the garbage dump.
Wendy Figueroa has served with AFE for three years and is licensed in special education and studying social work. Wendy's job is to reach
out to families and discern the students' living
situation so that AFE can help children to develop 
holistically.
Iris Ponce has been with AFE for two years and teaches the first grade. She excells at the difficult job of teaching children to write.
Kellin Valladares began as a volunteer at AFE. She grew up in the same neighborhood as many of the AFE children. When she graduated with a specialty in working with children, she desired to use her skills to benefit the people of her community. She is studying psychology at a university.
Suyapa Garcia lives in the nearby community of Linda Miller and is a member off the “Amor y Vida” church. She passes on her love for crocheting to the children. Look for her students
crocheted masterpieces in AFE’s store!
German Odoñez began as a volunteer art teacher at AFE. He studied art at “Bellas Artes” in Tegucigalpa. He now teaches junior high classes and coaches AFE's soccer team.
Milagro Umanzaor Bonilla is a new teacher at AFE, also from the Linda Miller community and Amor y Vida church. She has two children of her own at home and is teaching the fifth grade.
Melissa Bargas Maridiaga is AFE's
new accountant and also teaches junior high classes.
Melissa graduated from a technical program in
acccountingand is furthering her education,
studying how to teach children with special needs
at the university level. She lives in the Linda Miller community and is a youth leader at Amor y Vida.
Joanna Torres is a member of the Linda
Miller community and Amor y Vida church.
She has a four-year old son and enjoys caring
for the babies at AFE.
Claudia Matute is a fiesty young womanfrom the Linda Miller community who is deeply involved in the Amor y Vida church and works at AFE's nursery. It is an excellent match for her because in addition to babies, she also love Winnie the Pooh.
Missionary/Volunteer Staff
To apply for a missionary or volunteer position with AFE, please contact reyangeldiaz@gmail.com.
Rey Diaz and Elise White Diaz served as staff pastors at Washington Cathedral and oversaw the mission and youth programs before the church sent them to work directly with AFE and pave the way for more international involvement in the project. Now Rey helps AFE with networking and donor relations, leads the spiritual formation program at the school, and teaches classes to its junior high students. Elise works in marketing for AFE and also teaches classes at the junior high level. Rey and Elise have continued their involvement with Washington Cathedral, leading its international outreach effort: “Together for Transformation.” They live in the Linda Miller community with their son, Elijah (2). Read Rey's thoughts on service in Honduras on his blog: a diary of foolishness and Elise's at: a family's pilgrimage.
Mark and Melanie Milller are missionary disciples with World Gospel Mission and originally from Indiana. Before coming to Honduras, Mark and Melanie worked on the Texas-Mexico border in construction, work team coordination, child evangelism, taught at Taylor Christian school and served as field treasurer. While Mark and Melanie were content to serve God in this ministry, they had always felt an impetus to work among garbage dump communities and are delighted to finally fulfill their dream at AFE. Mark is using his background in mechanical engineering to oversee ground and facility maintnenance and beautification at AFE, and to help with visiting construction teams. Melanie serves as the school nurse at AFE and also plays an integral role in leading the medical teams which come to serve the community. You can share in the adventures of Mark, Melanie, and there three children (Madeline - 9, Maria - 7, and Braelin - 4) in their blog: miller impressions.
Greg and Nancy Gibson are members of 
Washington Cathedral in the Seattle area and are fulfilling their life-long dream to teach and live in Central America. Before moving to Tegucigalpa, Greg worked as an engineer and manager at Microsoft. Now he is excited to pass on his love of math and science to many of the young, would-be engineers and scientists at AFE. He also will be helping to advance AFE’s computer classes and programs. Nancy formally worked for Agros International leading work teams to Central America. She continued to lead short-term teams from Washington Cathedral and also has experience and advanced degrees in ESL education. Nancy will bring ESL learning to the younger students of AFE and also assist the work teams which visit AFE. Nancy and Greg plan to stay here three years with their two children, Kaitlyn (8) and Trevor (5). Check out their blog: gibtronix
Laura Stafford is a recent graduate from Eastern University near Philadelphia, who developed a love for the Spanish language, teaching are, and social justice issues while at school and through various travel experiences abroad. The Mennonite Central Committee has made her year-long stay with AFE possible. She will be taking over the 4th grade classroom from Susan Ramirez, who is attending medical school full time this next year. Laura is excited to learn and grow during her year in Tegucigalpa and to work alongside like-minded people who are passionate about helping the poor.