Our Leadership

In 1989, God called Dottie and me to leave our pastoral role in South Louisiana and move our family to Guatemala to serve abandoned, abused and neglected children, many of whom found themselves on the “street” at very young ages.  Now looking back over the three decades of ministry at Casa Aleluya, we reflect in wonder at what God has accomplished through the small seeds we’ve planted. Through His grace and His mercy, Casa has:

• Helped bring healing, moral direction and wisdom to more than 5000 abandoned children and then release them back into Guatemalan communities as living stories of God’s restorative power;
• Helped build more than 100 churches, pastors’ homes and Sunday School buildings in the communities surrounding our home – all through relationships with local pastors who were in deep need of resources;
• Facilitated more than 10,000 short-term missionaries from hundreds of U.S. churches and ministry organizations to share in God’s redemptive and restorative work at Casa;
• Raised up a full team of Guatemalan leaders (most of whom grew up at Casa as from abandoned children to Godly men and women) to guide the next 30 years of God’s story at Casa.

For almost thirty years now, Mike and Dottie (alongside their family) have continued to serve faithfully at the Casa Aleluya campus near San Bartolome, Guatemala – transforming the lives of children and literally building the next generation of family, marketplace, ministry, and Casa leaders.

“Arriving at Casa at age 12, I have been able to grow up and graduate from university with a degree in Business Administration. Now, my wife and I are the house parents for the adult transition house helping the older Casa adults learn how to transition to the next chapter in their lives. It is a joy to work along with my wife so we can help more adult Casa children know how to live in the world. “

Billy also serves as Sub-director of Casa, coordinator for the Casa schools, and is an advocate for the House Parents.  Billy met his wife at Casa and they have a beautiful 3-year-old daughter.

Marlin works with the Social Work team to protect the children and their rights at Casa Aleluya. Arriving at Casa Aleluya at age 14 to finished her education, she went on to sever at Casa in a variety of ways. Marlin also has a variety of diplomas on children rights and quality education, which helps her provide children with exactly what they need. She also holds a degree in Marketing, and supports all Casa’s internal and external communications.

“I feel blessed to contribute to teaching the children of Casa so they can be the change that Guatemala needs. Thank you for seeing the hearts of the children of Casa. Your prayers, service, and financial gifts have made a big difference in the lives of many people.”

“I grew up in Casa Aleluya from the age 12 – I am currently 19 years, and I am well blessed.  My passion is serving the needy, sharing love and compassion to renal children, and showing the love of God to others.

I am a Nursing Assistant and trained as a Hemodialysis Technician, so my role at Casa is serving the children who are in kidney failure and in need of Peritoneal or Hemodialysis Dialysis to prolong their lives.  Children in the dialysis program range from 5 to 18 years old and it is truly amazing to see God’s faithfulness in my ministry to these kids.

I am so grateful for all the support from contributors, missionaries and teams.  Without your contribution, it would not possible to carry out our mission at Casa Genesis.  You are angels of the most needy and thank you for the wings that carry you forward.  May God bless you today and always so that the hands they give will never be empty.”

Health difficulties have shown me the infinite love of God because I have been healed from an incurable disease – impossible for man but completely possible for the Great I Am.  This experience changed my whole story because it made me grateful, taught me to live only in the present and to trust God to take care of the future.

I have been part of the Casa Psychology Clinic for 9 years, where every day I attend the children and adolescents that God brings to Casa Aleluya to restore their heart, stabilize their thoughts and support them in their present decisions. 

My education incudes a Psychology Degree from the University of San Carlos de Guatemala and also have a diploma in transitional analysis and a diploma in addictions.  I work with vulnerable children in the garbage dump in zone 3, and care for mothers and workers in the same place.

My favorite thing about being part of the Casa story is helping children turn the heartbreak, pain, loneliness, confusion, sadness and suffering of their previous experiences into thoughts of a winning and not of a victim – so they can be part of transforming their own lives.

I send a special thank you to all the Casa supporters for being sensitive to God’s call in your hearts and giving our children so much love – each of you gives hope for our most vulnerable population.

” I am a person with Christian values, with great desires of overcoming, responsible, always with a desire to learn new things. I come from a united family, with strengths and weaknesses like any family, but we have as main value the Love of God. I am committed to supporting my family members in good times and in bad times.”

” I am responsible for the Casa Aleluya school which includes coordination and planning of the teaching and learning process and working with the members of the teaching-student-parent community. In our school, we promote the practice of Christian values as mentioned by the name of the institution “Build Your House On The Rock.”  

Flor’s education, experience and certifications include: Bachelor of Education Administration, Graduate of Humanities, elementary school teacher, high school teacher in pedagogy and administration technician, international reading and writing workshop, human trafficking workshop, Kaqchikel diploma and pedagogical congress

“My mission at Casa Aleluya is to ensure the well-being of every person in the ministry.  I am a respecter of people regardless of their religion, beliefs, background social status or preferences.  I value personal responsibility, sensitivity, generosity and warmth, and hope everyone who visits Casa will desire to get to know me.

I am a doctor and surgeon with a specialty in pediatrics, plus I have studied 1 year of business administration and am an expert accountant with a specialty in commercial computing.

I am at Casa because, in short, God sent me here.  I was in my house one morning when a friend called, and she indicated that they needed someone to come to cover a few days at the Casa clinic for the dates of November and December.  So, I called to be interviewed and my plan was only to support those dates, but as I say, God is the one who decides what happens in My life every day. When I was at the entrance to Casa, I realized I had already seen the image of the Casa entrance many years ago.  It was at that moment I reminded myself of talking to my mother about having seen this same image in my dreams and she told me God would let you know when you will be in that place.  That’s why I say God sent me here.

What matters most to me is to work in an environment of peace and harmony.  For me, working at Casa is such a place.  Of course, children often need to heal their bodies, but an even more important thing is to heal their souls that have been broken.  I tell them that God is the one who has decided that they are here, and that they see they are not a family of blood, but they are a family in the love of Christ who loves them and cares about them and wants the best for them.

Thank you, God bless you for giving your support and unconditional love to every child you help.”

“I came to Casa Aleluya 10 years ago as a Nursing Assistant because working for children is a most fascinating and a great opportunity.  I believe God guided me to Casa, but I also came because of the children and because of the people who make up the ministry.

I am a God-fearing person and I consider myself a loving and realistic person.  In my own home, we are a family of 4 members – very united and compassionate.

To everyone who chooses to visit Casa and serve alongside us, thank you for the great work you do for the children of Casa Aleluya and for our country.”

I came to Casa because of physical and intra-family abuse when I was younger.  So, I grew up here at Casa Aleluya and I am so thankful for the opportunities they gave me.  Now I am part of the ministry and it has been a blessing for my life and for my family.  We have fulfilled many goals and challenges being part of this great ministry while always putting God first.

I have been part of the Casa team for 12 years and am currently part of the team in the Casa social work department.  Thanks to the experience that I have obtained as attorney, I have the knowledge to help in the problematic area with the children and adolescents of Casa Aleluya. I love helping carry out activities that develop the talents and skills the young people need in order to transform their lives.

We are not a perfect family, but we believe God has a purpose for us, and uses our family as instruments to serve and transform lives through our actions and words.  Our role is serving as house parents for 13 – 16 year-old girls in the Esperanza Down dorm.  The girls are very important in our lives and hope they see this through our love and patience.

We came to Casa some 15 years ago knowing it was a safe place for our family. Now, we feel privileged to serve and to return a little of what Casa has done for our family.

Last, I want to thank everyone for the help you provide to Casa and for being a part of this ministry. This is a place where children’s lives are transformed for the good and thank you for helping make this possible.  Should you be considering a missionary opportunity, Casa Aleluya is a place that can change your life. The love from the kids will make you feel at home and the experience will make you value everything in your life even more.

As dorm parents in Buen Pastor, Alex and Sara have worked with the children to guide them spiritually, academically, and socially as they grow up. As a couple who has been married for 20 years and has raised 4 children of thier own, they are an example to all the children of what a loving and caring home can be for these children’s future. Through the years of working with the program, both have continued their education in business administration, social sciences, and law, so they can provide more comprehensive care to the children and ministry.

“We love sharing the word of God to each child who comes to Casa Aleluya to help form them into strong Women and Men leaders in Guatemala. Thank you for your visits and support.”

As dorm parents to the boys in the Vencedores Dorm, Esdras and Stephanie support the boys spiritually, emotionally, and musically. Both have had their challenges in life, but have seen that with God’s help, anything is possible. Working with the kids and helping them through different experiences, they share how Jesus gives them a second chance at life at Casa.

“We love giving back to these young people and being an example for the next generation of what is possible with God’s help. We are thankful to everyone who God has used to support this ministry with love and service to the children who need it the most.”

“I grew up in Casa Aleluya and thanks to that I am a very kind, cordial person, with a positive self-esteem, I have a beautiful family and I am very grateful to God for giving me such wonderful daughters.

Thanks to my life at Casa Aleluya, I now have completed 6 semesters at Rafael Landívar University as a nursing technician and have been a Nursing Assistant in the Casa Aleluya clinic for 10 years.  I have also completed the renal replacement workshop.

It has been my dream to be part of the Casa team and be able to return what was given to me and help see that each child has physical, mental and spiritual health.

To all the supporters and visitors to Casa, thank you for your great support so that all the children who come to Casa Aleluya will have the opportunity to have a better quality of life and a better future.  I ask God to bless everyone who gives their support for Casa Aleluya.”

I started at Casa Aleluya at age 18 as a volunteer and have been involved ever since.  My first trip to Casa was amazing.  I immediately fell in love with the kids and Guatemala itself, which eventually lead to adopting my son from Casa.

I have always loved kids of all ages.  I think Casa captured my heart because watching Mike & Dottie over the years has encouraged me to see what “real, unconditional love“ is, and how far it can go with God leading the way.  I believe 100% in what God has done and is doing thru Casa Aleluya.

Since I am responsible for connecting Casa kids with sponsors and coordinating the shipment of essential supplies to the ministry, being able to see the kids wearing clothes that we packed and sent lets me know the whole system is working.  Plus, the joy of holding babies all day long when I visit Casa is just icing on the cake!!!

If you have not yet experienced Casa for yourself, I can only tell you that I absolutely love my role at Casa.  I do what I do for the children and God’s glory.

“Before coming to Casa Aleluya, I was completely unaware that God existed and I was always a rebel to my mother. After God transformed my life through the love of Papi and Mami (Mike and Dorothy) and his Word, I understood that I must forgive the people who have hurt my family. My desire is to serve at Casa as long God allows it and my family supports me, and to move forward and achieve the dreams and goals that God has determined for my life. 

I am a House Parent and supervisor dorm named Los Angelitos.  Although I do not have a degree related to the care of children, I have a deep sense to serve the children who enter the doors of Los Angelitos.  I love working with babies because I get to share love with them just as God gave it to me through other people like Papi and Mami. My education includes a bachelor’s degree in science and letters with a computer orientation. 

I have been working for Casa for 15 years in different areas and that has allowed me to grow in the workplace and serving God through children. 

I came to Casa Aleluya because my father died very young and after his death, many family problems arose for the next 2 and a half years. Then, the judge determined that the best option would be to be sent to a home. (Casa Aleluya) 

My prayer is for the world to know the love of God is infinite and that is why he created this wonderful place to transform the lives of many children through his Word. Thank you for all the support you provide to Casa and for all the love you give children. “

We grew up at Casa so our desire is to show the same love and protection we received in our time here.  We have been serving on the Casa team for 5 years and are currently dorm parents in Estrellitas Abajo.  We love helping others because we believe every person who comes into our lives should see evidence that God is using as tools to change lives.

Our goal as dorm parents is to help the girls in as many ways as possible, but most importantly by showing them love.  We are so grateful for the great blessing that comes to Casa through missionaries and support provided to the Casa children through sponsorships and other gifts.