Christina Burke 

Chief Nana & President

My Background:

I am a widow, mother, and nana. I love the Lord and I try to live for Him daily. I volunteer at my local church and also at one of the local schools. I have been a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, and have served on short-term missions.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

I am so excited to be part of an organization that is truly committed to helping children. I love children and it breaks my heart to see these children suffering. To do something about it and be able to help them brings great joy to my heart.

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My Go To Verse:

“In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” –Romans 12:5

Jenny McPhail

Director & Vice President

My Background:

I have been blessed with many opportunities in my life, working as a forensic chemist, surgical tech, writer, editor, graphic designer, web developer, and mission director. However, my greatest “job” is being a mother to three amazing children. My heart is for missions and my prayer is to live my life in obedience to God’s call to glorify Him in everything I do. Although I have done mission work in children’s ministries throughout the U.S., God called me out of my comfort zone several years ago. As a single mom, taking that step of faith was challenging for me, but I knew I had to be obedient to God’s call. That call has led me in many missions across the globe – from Belize, to Ecuador, to Turkey and Greece, and several missions into Africa. My prayer and heart’s desire is to share the love and salvation of Christ to the ends of the earth.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

From the moment I met the team from Go and Tell in Uganda back in 2013, I have been praying for God to continue His great work through them. I have watched from afar for so many years, and to now have the opportunity to work alongside them is a tremendous blessing. I am excited for this next generation of children who have been so greatly blessed by God’s Hands through Go and Tell, and excited for the future generations as God continues to use this organization for His Glory.

My Go To Verse:

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:40

Erica Koeppen, DNP, FNP-C, AGNP-C

Director, Medical and Chief Nursing Officer

My Background:

I am a sibling, aunt, and work closely with San Diego’s veteran population at the Veteran’s Affairs in La Jolla. I serve as a mentor to pre-teens and young adults. I have served as a short-term medical missionary in India and have a new-found love for Uganda. I enjoy the outdoors and exploring God’s beauty.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

I am excited to be part of an Organization where I can give back to God what is already his. I am blessed with the opportunity to serve and grow in my faith with the Go and Tell family.

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My Go To Verse:

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11

Melissa Lamothe

Director & Secretary

My Background:

I am a Mom and teacher who always wanted to be a part of something bigger. Then I went to Uganda! I served with the medical team, worshipped in the local churches, and had the privilege to serve at a special-needs orphanage. The beautiful children of Uganda stole my heart and I will never be the same.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

I am beyond blessed to be a part of the team and show God’s love and power to the gracious people of Uganda. Please pray about joining us!

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My Go To Verse:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners.” –Isaiah 61:1

Dawna Tierce 

Director, Treasurer & Bookkeeper

My Background:

I am an empty nester mother of three. I worked at Costco for 35 years. God brought the ladies of Go and Tell into my life at the perfect time and I am thankful for each of them.

 

What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

I am so blessed by the love and compassion that Go and Tell shares with the children in Uganda. I am honored to be a part of such a beautiful ministry.

My Go To Verse:

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 

Ssempa Peter

Director, KidsCare & Timothy Home

My Background:

I am a husband, father, and dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. I have four children, and we currently live in Masaka, Uganda. My wife and I are the founders of Kids Care School and also oversee Timothy Home. I graduated from Makere University with a degree in education and have a desire to bring hope to these children.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

My wife and I were heartbroken by the many orphaned children and the children being abused by their families in the area. We started off cooking food for the children, counseling them, and playing with them. Our desire to help turned into the bigger vision of KidsCare and now we are so excited to have partners who will help us save these children. We can’t wait to see all that God will do through us.

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My Go To Verse:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
-Jeremiah 29:11

Ssempa Ruth

School Director

My Background:

I am a wife, mother, and dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. I have four children, and we currently live in Masaka, Uganda. My husband and I are the founders of KidsCare School and also oversee Timothy Home. I graduated from Makere University with a degree in education and have a desire to bring hope to these children.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

My husband and I were heartbroken by the many orphaned children and the children being abused by their families in the area. We started off cooking food for the children, counseling them, and playing with them. Our desire to help turned into the bigger vision of KidsCare and now we are so excited to have partners who will help us save these children. We can’t wait to see all that God will do through us.

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My Go To Verse:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11

My Background:

I have been a tent-making missionary for most of my adult life. I have been a special education teacher for over 30 years, primarily teaching children in  grades  K - 3rd grade, while spending summers, Christmas, and Easter vacations on short-term missionary endeavors around the world. I have a deep love for people living in villages and creating sustainable incomes for these people. In my spare time, I am a woodcarver specializing in creating love spoons, wood sculptures, and crosses.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

From the very beginning, Go and Tell wanted to encourage and support a locally owned and operated ministry that knew the needs of the people better than foreign missionaries. The model developed from writings of former President of World Vision, Richard Stearns, who in his book, The Hole in our Gospel, encouraged support of ministers of local Churches worldwide. 

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My Go To Verse:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” -Luke 4:18-19

Annette Nyqvist

Advisor

Mike Brisson

Advisor

My Background:

In 1992, I helped plant a church in Southern California. For 23 years, I helped pastor it as we saw God work and grow that ministry to over 5000 members. One of my responsibilities was missions. I still have a passion for ministries that reach unchurched people and care for the basic needs of those people.

 

I’m an entrepreneur at heart and love new things. For the past 8 years, my wife Brenda and I have worked as realtors helping over 100 families a year sell homes and buy their dream homes.  We have two adult children, Hannah (who sponsors a Go and Tell child) and Zack (who serves in the youth ministry at his church). We are very proud of them.

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

I love the ministry of Go and Tell. I am blown away by what God has accomplished in a few short years. The women who lead this ministry are the most faithful, tenderhearted women I know. Their vision is clear and they have stayed committed to it. Their values resonate with mine and I believe in what they have done, are doing, and want to do in the future. I hope that after visiting this web site, your heart will be touched by God and that you will decide to join us.

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My Go To Verse:

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Tania Aviles 

Social Media Coordinator

My Background:

I am a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. I was born and raised in Texas. I have had a heart for the nations since I was a young girl. I have since dedicated my life to living out God’s plan for me and saying,  "YES" to wherever He decides to send me, which in turn, led me to Uganda!

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What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:

I am so blessed to be able to partner alongside such wonderful women + The Ssempa Family, helping where need be. I am so excited to see all that Go and Tell has before us in the coming years.

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My Go To Verse:

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." 
-Psalm 84:11