BIOGRAPHIES:

Mark: Mark was born in Iowa but moved to Ohio with his parents and 5 siblings at the age of fourteen. He made a personal commitment to Jesus at the age of sixteen. During a trip to India in 1981 as a college student, he felt the Lord calling him into medical missions. Mark finished his undergraduate studies and went on to medical school. An internship and a family practice residency followed medical school.

Mark practiced as a family physician for the past 13 years in PA. He has taken several short-term trips to developing countries, including Bolivia. Around 2000 he felt the Lord telling him it was time to prepare for an extended mission trip. But he had learned that the greatest impact on the healthcare of the poor would be through prevention and public health. Mark started a part-time MPH program in 2000 through Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He received his degree on May 21, 2003.

Through prayer and careful consideration of a Christian development organization, Mark found Food for the Hungry. Their vision matches what Mark has desired to do for many years, reach out to help the physical and spiritual needs of the poor in developing countries. He is excited about being a part of the FH team in Bolivia.

Mark and Phyllis met during his residency and later married in 1991. They have 3 children, Morgan, Madison, and MJ (Mark Joshua). Mark enjoys most sports but especially basketball. He is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan as well, following them on the internet while in Bolivia. He also enjoys traveling, reading, movies, and gardening.

Phyllis: Phyllis was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse and from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She accepted Jesus as Savior while pursuing her nursing career. She met Mark while working on the Medical/Surgical floor at the Community Hospital of Lancaster.

After moving to Clarion, PA, she worked in Home Care nursing and in the office setting. This continued until the arrival of their second child. Currently, Phyllis is a stay at home mother, busy raising their three children

Mark has introduced Phyllis to international travel, including a trip to Bolivia in 1998 with their two girls. Over the past three years, God has prepared Phyllis for the mission field, giving her a shared vision for overseas missions. Phyllis is excited about returning to Bolivia. She will at present, maintain her role as a stay at home mom, but will also be home schooling Morgan.

Morgan: Morgan, the oldest, was born 1/23/94. She is finishing 4th grade as a home school student. She loves horses, riding them, drawing them and writing short stories about them. She has taken horseback riding lessons during the summer since the age of five. Morgan is also gifted musically. She took piano lessons for 3 years, and likes to sing. She will even sing specials at church now and then with a little persuasion. Morgan was in Bolivia once before at age four.

Madison: Madison was born on May 23rd 1996. She is finishing 2nd grade at Carachipampa Christian School (CCS). She also enjoys horses and took horseback riding lessons for 3 summers. Madison has also been gifted musically and was able to finish one year of piano lessons before leaving for Bolivia. She loves to read and swim. She was also in Bolivia previously, but remembers very little since she was only 20 months old.

MJ: Mark Joshua (M.J.) was born 11/4 1999. He decided to attend CCS as well for pre-K classes. M.J. loves to play, play, and play. He also enjoys listening to stories, swimming, and learning about dinosaurs. He is very out going and social, making friends very easily.