Meet Our Board

Emily joined the Board in 2018, and has been serving with Casa Bernabé since coming as a college intern in 2010. After participating in FOCE’s Sponsorship program for many years, Emily has a deep love for the kids and staff at Casa Bernabé. With a background in cross-cultural ministry, Emily is thankful for the opportunity to her gifts to serve an organization she deeply loves.

Emily lives in Atlanta and is a self-employed artist. She speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing with her dog, making art, traveling, watching baseball and figure skating, and being Tía to her four nieces and one nephew.

Connor lived at Casa Bernabé from January 2017 to November 2019, serving as both the English teacher for the Casa Bernabé School and a house helper or “apoyo” in Casa Samuel. In the years after returning to his home state of New Jersey, Connor continued to return to visit Casa Bernabé and lead groups from his local church for short-term trips.

Due to his experience at Casa Bernabé as well as his passion to continue to support the ministry in any way he could from afar, Connor was invited to join the FOCE Board as a board member and now as Vice Chair for the Board. In his time at Casa Bernabé, Connor also served in other capacities leading the Casa Bernabé youth group and jumping in the rotation to lead worship for Sunday church services, both of which are ministries he has continued to enjoy serving in at his local church since his returning home at the end of 2019. 

Upon returning to New Jersey, Connor swapped teaching English in Guatemala for teaching Spanish at a high school in South Jersey where he lives, and he is overjoyed to soon marry his fiancée, Betzabé Hernández, who has also served at Casa Bernabé as secretary in the main office and an “apoyo.”

Julia joined the board in 2020 after an invitation from her college roommate. The board was searching for a financial expert and Julia’s background was the perfect fit. Julia is a Senior Manager in the National Accounting Standards Group of a large public accounting firm and started her career as a CPA in the non-profit audit practice. She lives in Central Illinois with her husband, Steve, who is a firefighter and paramedic. Steve has served alongside Julia, leading the medical and media teams on their most recent visit to Casa Bernabé.

Julie joined the FOCE board in 2019 after several formative experiences with the group and currently serves as Secretary.

After working in the biotech industry for several years, Julie started her own consultancy in 2012. Her hobbies include travel, photography, fitness, reading, and gardening.

Julie and Tom have been married for over 30 years and raised three children in Ohio. Tom is an educator and long time high school athletic coach. Together they have served in community building events and medical missions locally and abroad.

Sara and Edgar Salguero have been serving has General Directors of Casa Bernabé Ministries since 2017, and individually each of them has spent more than two decades serving full time in this ministry. They have been married for almost 18 years and have three children: Andres, Bella, and Santiago. Sara is originally from Kansas City, MO, and came to Casa Bernabé for the first time in 2002. Edgar is from Guatemala, having grown up in Casa Bernabé since the age of five.

For the last eight years, Sara has served on the FOCE Board as the International Relations Director. She is responsible for maintaining clear and transparent communication between the local Guatemalan Board of Directors (FUNPRONI) and the international FOCE Board. Additionally, she translates and compiles reports for donors and organizations partnering with Casa Bernabé Ministries and hosts them when they come to visit Casa Bernabé in Guatemala.

Bio coming soon

Born in Dumas, Texas in 1953, Donie Green de Hernández has dedicated her life to serving vulnerable children and families with the love of Christ. Her early ministry began with House of Samuel in Arizona where she served Navajo and Apache communities. In 1983, Donie followed God’s call to Guatemala, joining the foundational work at Casa Bernabé. She later founded Casa de Samuel to care for children affected by the country’s civil unrest.

In 1986, Donie married Pedro Hernández, and together they raised 11 children—five biological and six adopted. The couple pastored Verbo Church in Chimaltenango before merging Casa de Samuel with Casa Bernabé in 1994, stepping in as Directors and leading the ministry for the next 15 years. During this time, they helped establish FOCE in 2006 to further support children in crisis.

After Pedro’s passing in 2011, Donie continued to serve faithfully on the FOCE and FUNPRONI Boards. In 2013, she founded A Song in the Night, a ministry offering hope in Jesus to single mothers and at-risk children. Her life is a testimony of compassion, resilience, and unwavering faith, and her wisdom is invaluable to this ministry.