ABOUT US
OUR VISION
To establish the kingdom of God in Honduras. We believe Puerto Cortes is the key to save our country for Jesus. He has placed us here for such a time as this, to build and train agents of culture change in our center, MLV.
WHAT WE DO
Our trade center offers six vital disciplines to Honduran men and women to train vocationally and become professionals in society. We use this avenue to share the gospel, build disciples, and demonstrate the power of the kingdom.
OUR COMMUNITY
We want community partners who will stand in the gap with us and build into the spiritual kingdom of Honduras. Become a prayer partner, a volunteer, mission team leader and more...
MEET THE TEAM
We have a U.S.A. volunteer board that helps manage logistics and shape the direction of the ministry, and ensure that we are in line with our vision. Our Honduran team are the staff that make the ministry what it is. They are the hands and feet who work tirelessly to be examples of Christ and train others in the community. Scroll down to get to know us.
UNITED STATES BOARD
Brian and
Rina Ruark
PRESIDENT
Brian is Co-Founder and the President of Cocal Gracias. At the age of 24 he received an invitation from God to go to Honduras. Without knowing Spanish, he said yes and moved. His heart was consecrated for the Lord, and He began to lead Brian into ministry. He and his wife, Rina, live in Puerto Cortes and run our vocational facility, Ministerio La Voz. Brian teaches Bible, English, and leads worship. Rina runs the cafeteria and supports the ministry with organization, and mission teams. They love to travel, do new things, read, and cook.
Joel McGinty
CO-FOUNDER
Joel has a passion for documentary storytelling that began with filming the documentary, Cocal Gracias. For 7 years he worked as a freelance cameraman and gaffer (lighting technician) in commercials, documentaries, live events and feature films. While Joel has enjoyed working in film and TV, the most rewarding work was found in documentary. Joel has been a member of the board for Cocal since its inception and desires to grow the visual storytelling that started this whole journey. He currently lives in San Diego with his wife Elda, and children, Ezra and Katya.
Barry Jones
TREASURER
Barry Jones has served on many mission projects around the world and is passionate about impacting the world for Christ. Barry serves as the Missions President at his local church and on the District Missions Council for the Southern California District of the Church of the Nazarene. He runs his own biological consulting firm and is married to Donna and has two adult children, Alicia and Sarah. He enjoys fishing, hiking, spending time with family, and playing the banjo.
Rafee Jajou
CHAIRMAN
Rafee Jajou loves to help people live from their true self with clear purpose and healthy relationships. He is married 20yrs and has 2 children. Rafee loves hiking in nature and travelling to Honduras to support MLV and the Honduran people. He has over 17 years of public speaking, organizational leadership, spiritual care and coaching to individuals, companies, and non-profits.
Amy Caffarella
SECRETARY
Amy Caffarella, mom of Brian, has had a passion for missions since her first work and witness trip to Honduras in 1999. Since then, she has served on short term missions in Honduras and Haiti. Her desire is to show the light and love of Jesus to the lost whether here or abroad. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, singing, animals, gardening, and reading.
Brooke Kirsch
BOARD MEMBER
Brooke grew up in San Diego and married her husband Tim in 2004. They have two crazy children, Charlotte and Weston. They live in Nampa, Idaho. Brooke enjoys the outdoors, traveling, horseback riding, tea, reading, singing, and theatre. She invited the Lord into her heart at six and with the help of godly parent’s was kept from a lot of trouble. God has been faithful to her and it is her joy to serve him.
HONDURAS STAFF
Wilfredo Bueso
COMPUTER PROFESSOR
Wilfredo has been our computer genius extraordinaire for the last seven years. He teaches all computer levels in MLV. He returned to Christ in MLV. He also serves as our special project manager. His latest project is building a homemade elevator for our center.
ROsa Castro
SEWING PROFESSOR
Rosa has over 20 years experience in sewing. She was professionally trained in an academy before she worked in a major factory as a production supervisor. She has since retired and teaches our sewing class. She is not only a teacher, but also a graduate of our computer program. We are grateful to have her.
PERCY FRANCO
WELDING PROFESSOR
Percy is a master welder, trained in one of the best technical schools in Honduras. He currently works in a shipping yard repairing chassis and trailers. He has been our welding teacher for several years, training our young men for jobs in factories and shipyards. He enjoys his wife and son, the outdoors, the mountains, and the hot water spring by his house.
Pastor
Juan Garza
TIMOTHY CENTER DIRECTOR
Pastor Juan Garza is our contact in Agua Caliente and in Las Flores. He has been a supporter and a friend to Cocal Gracias since the beginning. He shares the same passion and drive to share Christ's love and shows it as he walks hours to share Jesus with one family. He has a wife and five children. He loves the Lord and everything about ministry.
CESIA RIOS
ENGLISH PROFESSOR
Cesia Rios is a graduate of MLV from our English program and now teaches in the same. She also works as a bilingual teacher in Mary Frenter School. She will soon graduate from the pedagogical university with a degree in English. She loves being a teacher and loves to read. She also enjoys watching movies.
DENIS FUENTES
MECHANIC PROFESSOR
Denis is a master mechanic with over 15 years of experience. He has worked in mechanic shops in Puerto Cortes and San Pedro Sula. He loves the Lord and loves to serve in MLV. Denis' dream is to one day own his own shop. He lives in Tulian with his wife Mariana and their two children, Adiel, who is 10 and Sofia who is 4.
KIMBERLY MENJIVAR
MLV DIRECTOR
Kimberly is our kitchen manager, Teodolinda's daughter and has grown up in the ministry. She is now our administrator and semi-director when Brian and Rina are out of country. She has two boys, Jacob and Jeremy. She loves the ministry, and Jesus, and the opportunity to serve.
VILMA BENEDIT
COMPUTER PROFESSOR
Vilma is our computer teacher and also teaches in Mary Frenter. She is about to graduate from the pedagogical university in Computer Systems. She is passionate about teaching and would rather be in the classroom than any other place. She enjoys reading, traveling, and would like to see the world. She lives in Palermo with her mother.
MARIO FLORES
ARTIST/MAINTENANCE
Mario grew up close to the ministry and as a young man, studied computers in our program. He is a fantastic artist, painter, musician and mechanic. He runs our tool crib, the weekly coursework practices, paints murals, and leads worship. He is our handy man. Mario hopes to continue learning and serving others.
BRAYAN AVILEZ
WELDER
Brayan grew up in the ministry and three years ago went to live with Brian and Rina. He is a graduate from our welding program and Brian's assistant. He would like to find a welding job in Germany and travel. He is very mechanically inclined and always building motors and machines. He loves the ministry and the Lord.
HEIDY AVILEZ
KITCHEN ASSISTANT
Heidy is Brayan's older sister and also an adopted child of Brian and Rina. She grew up in the ministry and now serves our students in the cafeteria. She enjoys movies and technology and is a computer student in the ministry. She aspires to study nursing and become a hair stylist too.
DANIEL MARTINEZ
MUSIC PROFESSOR
Daniel is our newest MLV family member. He grew up in Nisperales, San Pedro Sula. From a young age he attended church and through his home church studied music with a Canadian missionary. He plays piano, guitar, drums, and base. He is now opening our new music program in MLV.
TEODOLINDA REYES
KITCHEN MANAGER
Teodolinda has worked in the ministry almost since the time we opened. She serves the food in the kitchen with Rina and also maintains the cleanliness of the ministry. She is a mother of six and a grandmother of three. She loves the ministry because she met Jesus there and her daughter Kimberly works with her.
THE KIDS
THE FUTURE MLV
Since the beginning, We have always had children in the ministry. Brayan, Heidy, and Mario were children who played in the ministry who now work in it. Our new generation of kids belong to our staff and are the future servants of the Lord.
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Brian's kids are : Angie, Danny, and Nathanael (photo).
Teodolinda's kids are: Joan, and Lulu. Kimberly's kids are: Jeremy, and Jaycob
Denis' kids are: Adiel, and Sofia, Teodolinda's granddaughter is: Zoe.
Our Partners
