The Team

Meet the teammembers!

 Nate

Nathan is from Mansfield, Ohio, and is the current team coordinator. He is in charge of working with the team, working on recruiting, and also studies Japanese in Tokyo when he isn't in the States recruiting or in Funehiki helping the team. Nathan likes "philosophical musings". He likes to give people nicknames. Nathan attended Wheaton College.

 Jeni

Jeni is from Pennsylvania, and teaches in the junior high program. She is an assistant team leader, and generally is very helpful to the Junior High teachers. She teaches an evening adult conversation class also. She is a dedicated distance runner, which has been of some note in the community. Jeni also makes some delicious baked treats, ranging from whipping up apple and banana breads to using local Japanese produce to create delicious persimmon bars. Jeni has been a dedicated student of Japanese, and she plays the violin. She attended Wheaton College.

Carrie

Carrie hails from New York state, not New York City, and will be staying for her fourth year as an English teacher at the Wakakusa English school. She is an assistant team leader, and is a real encouragement to her teammates. She loves to cook, and has even been known to bake cookies or brownies for the team "just because!". Her students benefit from her baking skills too. Carrie has a wonderful laugh and sense of humor. She also has a reputation for beginning and finishing 400 page novels in one evening. Carrie attended Roberts Wesleyan College.

 Trisha

Tricia is an Ohio native, though she spent two years as a teacher in Texas before returning to Ohio and then coming to Japan. She graduated from Cedarville University. She works in the Junior High schools here and teaches an adult conversation class also. Tricia loves to write, and has been rumored to be a speed-reader.  She has been known to borrow books overnight and return them the next day, fully read!  Trisha enjoys putting songs to Sign language. She is also known for her homemade apple pie, cheesecake, and enjoyment of electronic devices (to use, not eat). Tricia's latest big news is her engagement to be married -- the fun twist?! -- she met her fiance online through her blog!

Patty

Patty is a native of Germany, though she also called New York State her home during her high school, college, and post-college years. She graduated from Nazareth College, and has since worked retail in addition to doing ESL tutoring. She will be returning to teach for a third year in the Junior Highs.  In addition, she teaches not only an adult's, but also a children's English conversation class. Patty is a talented graphic design artist and flautist, and her dry sense of humor keeps her teammates in stitches from time to time. She is very adventurous in tasting new foods, which alternately amazes and dismays her less adventurous teammates!.

Tammy

Tammy hails from Rochester, New York where she attended Roberts Wesleyan College. She teaches in the Junior High school. She enjoys spending time with people, and on weekends she commonly "hangs out" with Japanese friends she has met.  She is also a dedicated runner, so she can often be found with teammate Jeni, running in all sorts of weather. Tammy is a talented singer and enjoys spending time in praise and worship. She is a great listener and has a beautiful smile which she shares freely. She also loves surprises.

Lis  

Lis is a Rochester, New York native who attended Roberts Wesleyan College. She is in the process of completing her graduate work in education at Geneseo University. She teaches in the Wakakusa English school. She has a mischievous sense of humor and an infectious enthusiasm for just about everything. Lis is a great worship leader, as both a singer and musician. She loves salsa dancing and both cooking and tasting foods.  Lis is happiest when she has something delicious to eat and her culinary descriptions leave her teammates drooling!

  Holly  

Holly is from Mansfield, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University. She also spent time at Huntington College through which she completed a study abroad program in Africa. She teaches in the Junior High schools here. Holly enjoys movies and literary classics, and is a gifted writer and editor. She is a talented musician and often leads worship on the keyboard and through singing. She is also a gracious hostess and talented cook and baker, frequently inviting her teammates over to her apartment.  The best thing about Holly though is her contagious laughter and good sense of humor.

Adriane

Adriane is from Pennsylvania. She attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She is a Junior High teacher here. She is a great baker, famous for her yeast breads and yummy baked desserts.  She enjoys traveling and has traveled more extensively than anyone else on the team. Of particular note in Adriane's pre-Japan travel history was a trip she took to Belize where she first discovered that she could teach in spite of far less than ideal circumstances! Adriane studied Japanese during college and is fulfilling a life dream of living in Japan. Her speaking ability comes in handy for the rest of her teammates at times too!

Cristy

Cristy comes from the cold North . . . Ontario, Canada, that is. As any good Canadian would, she loves maple flavored snacks and winter sports. She also loves peppermint and she makes delicious edible goodies. Cristy attended Roberts Wesleyan College and teaches at the Wakakusa English school here in Japan. Cristy enjoys music, and as the drummer for our group, she helps keeps her teammates in time. She is a talented vocalist as well. She has a good sense of humor and timing and often inspires laughter.

  Benno

Hailing from Pennsylvania, Benno has won the beloved title of "team-math-guru." Benno loves numbers and intellectual pursuits in any form and doesn't let a day go by without learning something new. He can frequently be found browsing "Wikipedia.org" to meet his daily knowledge quota. He is also an avid movie buff. But don't let Benno's intellectual exterior fool you -- he is a people person through and through. He is willing to pitch in and help out a friend at the shortest notice, with everything from financial consultations to washing dishes. Benno is returning for a second year to teach in the junior high schools.  He is a graduate of Messiah College.

Mike

Mike first became interested in Japanese culture as a kid through exposure to video games and anime. Since then, he has studied Japanese language, history, and culture during his college years at the University of Maryland. In addition to loving the culture, Mike loves to try strange new foods whenever he can. He is also an avid self-taught guitarist, and has found a niche here in Japan by joining a band of middle-aged Japanese men who are American rock enthusiasts -- crazy huh?! Mike also helps to lead the team's weekly Bible Study and worship times. He will be returning to teach for a second year in the junior highs. He is married to fellow teammate Jen.

Jen

Jen and fellow teammate Mike have been married since June 2004. They previously worked with their home church's singles group in Maryland, and have a place in their hearts for singles. Jen is an avid artist and writer. She hopes to one day write and illustrate children's books as a side job. She loves trying new recipes and making authentic Japanese dishes. She also loves riding her bike and takes it everywhere! Jen is a graduate of Covenant College and of Towson University. She plans to return for a second year teaching at Wakakusa English School.