Biographies

John and Dixie Bickel

Founders, John and Dixie Bickel, along with their children, came to Haiti in 1991. The Bickels are originally from Illinois, USA. In 1995, the Bickels adopted Steeve and Markenson, two of the babies from their nursery.

Before serving in Haiti, John worked for the GTE phone company. Today, John serves as Field Director for the mission. With his knowledge in electronics and maintenance, he also performs the much needed task of equipment maintenance and repair.

Dixie is a registered nurse and has 30 years of experience in pediatrics and intensive care nursing. She serves as the Orphanage Director.

The Bickels have 5 children (4 live with them in Haiti) and 6 grandchildren.

Laurie Bickel

Laurie went to the States to study Massage Therapy after she graduated from High School here in Haiti. She is now a licensed Massage Therapist. Laurie returned to Haiti in March of 2004 to help her parents with the ministry. When she returned, she took over all of the daily bookkeeping activities for the ministry. She is also our Visitor Coordinator and makes sure that people are picked up at the airport and have a place to sleep once they arrive at the orphanage.

Molly Little

Molly Little is the supervisor of our Toddler House. Molly first came to Haiti in June of 2002 as a volunteer. She is great with the children and has a huge heart for Haiti. Molly organizes children's parties and activities. Molly can do almost anything! She is a great cook, knows everything about plants and flowers, and can even sew! We are very thankful for her work at the orphanage.

Joyce Trainer

Joyce Trainer came to GLA in January of 2004 for a short-term stay and is still volunteering at GLA after 5 years! Joyce is responsible for our English as a Second Language program for the children going to English speaking families. Joyce also assists the older children with their homework and helps Molly in running the Toddler House. All of the children love Joyce because she is so much fun and likes to play around with them. She is a great asset to the orphanage.

Susan Westwood

Susan is a registered nurse and works closely with our Haitian staff. She works mainly in our Intensive Care Unit, but is in charge of planning the care for all of the children at the main house.. Susan first came to us as a short term volunteer and returned as full-time staff. Susan loves the children and has learned lots of Creole since coming to GLA. She has a wonderful relationship with the other nurses and staff. She is from Scotland. Susan does not like her photo taken. Dixie cannot stand to have "holes" in the web site. so she chose this one showing Susan with two of her babies from the nursery.

Melissa Friesen

Melissa recently joined the GLA staff in Haiti as our photojournalist, blogger, and communications assistant. She has volunteered at GLA several times and wanted to return as a full-time volunteer. Melissa documents happenings at the orphanage and then posts the photos and stories on her blog, "Tattle Tales at GLA". Melissa loves the children and enjoys documenting their funny photos and stories about all of our lives at the orphanage. Melissa is from Manitoba, Canada.

Susie Schuelke

Susie Schuelke is from Wisconsin and has a degree in Social Work. She fell in love with Haiti on her first trip to Grand Goave in March 2009. After one more short-term trip to Grand Goave in January 2010, she found out about GLA and decided to apply as the update coordinator. She moved to Haiti in June 2010 and loves taking photos of the adorable angels here and organizing the sponsorship program.

Carrol Williams

Carrol Williams is the new Adoption Coordinator. She comes from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and arrived at GLA on June 7, 2010. After the earthquake she had an incredible burden for the Haitian people decided to do a fundraiser for Haiti through her grandchildrenâs school. When deciding where the funds would go, she found out that a family in the school had adopted a child from GLA! While making contact with GLA she found out about the position and applied. The rest is history!

Brandon and Nikki Jordan

Brandon and Nikki Jordan and family

Brandon and Nikki along with their three children Bailee Kylee, and Kofee are originally from Louisiana and first came to Haiti in June of 2004. They started running the GLA guesthouse in April 2010. Brandon accept Christ at the young age of four. As a ten year old boy, Brandon felt God calling him to be a missionary. Through the course of his life, Brandon felt strongly that God would have him serve in Haiti.

Nikki felt God's call on her life at the age of thirteen to serve God on the mission field. During her senior year in college, God led Brandon into her life. In June of 2004, they began serving in Haiti with a Haitian church in Port-au-Prince. They trained the nationals and were able to turn over the church to the national pastor in July of 2008.

After returning to Haiti in July of 2009, they began to search for God's next step in their lives. After six months of searching for God's perfect will, God shook the country of Haiti with a massive earthquake. Many changes were made in their lives and one of those changed included running the GLA guesthouse. They are wonderful hosts and enjoy getting to know so many volunteers and leading Bible studies with the Haitian staff. Brandon is also leadin a teen Bible study with Haitian teens in the area.

Colorado Office Staff

Jean Bell

We have 4 full-time workers in the Colorado office.and one part-time warehouse worker.

Jean Bell is a registered nurse who started volunteering her time doing the bookkeeping for GLA USA in 1999. She became a full-time employee of GLA in January of 2005. Jean is the Business Manager and Volunteer Coordinator. She is also responsible for sending adoption information to prospective parents. Her jobs are too numerous to list and she is a the driving force in our US office! She is married to Steve and has 3 children and 1 grandson.

Maria Gutierrez

Maria works full-time in our Colorado office. She recently was promoted to warehouse supervisor. She receives all donations, packs them for Haiti, and sends them on containers to Haiti. She supervises all of the volunteers that come to help sort and pack donations. Maria is very organized and can pack lots of things in a small box! She has one son, Eric.

Kate Bickel Benson

Kate recently joined the office staff in Colorado. She has experience in management and fundraising. She is John and Dixie's oldest daughter. Kate works in the office doing fund raising, newsletters, and state registration. Kate lives in Colorado and has 4 children, Mikayla, Keirstyn, JThomas, and Xander.

Melinda Wallace

Melinda is the newest member of our office staff in Colorado. She came to Colorado after the earthquake to volunteer and shortly after moved her family from Illinois to GLA permantly! She is married to her husband, Richard, and has 3 daughers, Megan, Melissa, and Mackenzie, and 2 Grandchildren.

Haitian Staff

Magaly Francois

Magaly FranÃ§ois has worked at GLA since February 2000. Through a GLA donor, Magaly was sponsored to attend school to become a registered nurse while working at the orphanage. She graduated in 2005 and became the Head Nurse for the orphanage. Magaly is now the Haitian Administrator for the Mission and does everything from hiring staff to getting medical visas for sick children. She has matured and grown a lot in her abilities and knowledge since coming to work at GLA. We are very proud of all she has accomplished. Magaly is from Kenscoff. Magaly is now married and has a baby girl named Ashley.

Terriot Simeon

Terriot Simeon is our adoption worker that takes the parents' dossier to all of the different departments for legalization and court work. He also works with Haitian Immigration to apply for the children's passports. Terriot is very good at his job and has developed a good comprehension of the process. He, along with his wife and son, lives in Kenscoff.

Ernst Beaublanc

Ernst Beaublanc is the purchase agent and driver for GLA. He picks up guests from the airport and also drives adoptive parents to visa appointments. Ernst's job is varied and every day brings something different for him to do. Ernst has worked with us for more than 5 years. Ernst is very good with the children and serious about his work. Ernst lives close to the Port-au-Prince airport. Ernst is now married and has a small son.

Guerda Fils Aime

Guerda Fils Aime (Mme Bernard) is our head nurse in the Intensive Care. She has worked at GLA since 2000. Since working at GLA, Guerda has gained a lot of pediatric experience and is a very competent nurse. Guerda becomes very attached to the children and treats all of the children as if they were her own. She and her husband live in Fort Jacques and have 2 children.

James DinDin

James has lived at GLA for about ten years. He was raised in an American orphanage close to GLA. He came to live here when he was 17 years old. James is attending university and plans on going into Foreign Government Service eventually. James does a little bit of everything at the orphanage and is one of our main drivers.

Vivianne Louis

Vivianne came to GLA when she was still in grade school. Her mother has worked at GLA for 10 years. We tutored Vivianne and eventually she came to live with us. She has lived here several years and has gone to school to be a cook, seamstress, and took a course in cosmetology. She is responsible for supplies in the house and working with the kitchen staff making sure we are fed. Vivianne loves the babies and always has one in her arms.

Wadson Maurice

Wadson has worked several years at GLA. Wadson works on adoption paperwork and also is one of our drivers. When needed, Wadson is security for people traveling around Por-au-Prince. Wadson is married and has one son.

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