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Laura began her time with EMI as an intern in the Guatemala office. After working in industry as a structural engineer, God led Laura back to EMI in 2013 where she joined the US office as the CAD Manager. Her care and attention to detail were a great gift in helping the US office and participating in trips around the world as part of EMI projects. After serving for 5 years in a design role, Laura’s care for people while seeing the need for better systems and organizational structures led her to shift to a role in Human Resources, something that she discovered quickly to be a natural fit for her. Over time, she has added knowledge and experience to HR, becoming a licensed HR professional and taking on leadership as the Manager of HR in 2022. Laura has become an invaluable asset to the office – developing an office culture of belonging, providing care and support to our staff, and providing order to our office’s operations.

During her time at EMI, Laura married her husband (and EMI Intern Alum, Wes) and added daughter Camille to their family. When not at the office, Laura and family can be found in their community in Palmer Lake if not out on one of their frequent excursions in the Rocky Mountain trails and campgrounds.

EMI USA has been so blessed to have Laura with us and we appreciate her dedication, compassion, and service and the way in which she has ministered so effectively towards and among us.

What were you doing back in 2003? MySpace had just been invented, and Facebook, Instagram, and Netflix didn’t yet exist. But perhaps the most significant thing that happened in 2003 from EMI’s standpoint was that a young, single mechanical engineer from New Jersey who had just completed an internship decided to join as full-time staff with EMI USA in the role of Financial Coordinator. Specifically, it was April 24, 2003 when Jason Reinhardt joined EMI, helping not only in finances but also with leading project trips, being the Volunteer Coordinator, and serving as the East Africa Liaison (EMI staff wore many hats in those days!).

This year, we are celebrating Jason’s 20 year anniversary as EMI Staff! It would take a mini-novel to chronicle all that Jason’s been a part of at EMI. Assistant to the CEO, International Operations Manager, Director of Volunteer Development, Director of Finance and Admin, and even Webmaster are just a few of the roles and titles he’s held at some point. He’s been in some sort of senior finance role since 2009.

During his time at EMI, Jason has: married Jalina in 2008, added Drew (now 12), Blake (9), and Cole (7) to their family, mentored over 10 interns, housed 23 interns in their home, spent nearly a year living and working in the EMI Uganda office, and most recently in December 2022, graduated Summa cum Laude (translation: really good grades) from his MBA programme.

We are thankful for all Jason has done for EMI through the years and the significant impact his work has had on our ministry. For years, our financial auditors would give EMI high praise after their reviews, owed largely to the work Jason had coordinated despite having been largely trained on the job (prior to the MBA).

The Global Office is excited to celebrate Jason joining the very small number of EMI'ers who have reached the 20-year milestone of serving on staff with EMI!

We're excited to celebrate Matt Lammers' 10-year tenure with EMI, along with his wife Ashley and their family.

Matt moved from Canada as a structural engineering intern in the UK office, before relocating to Uganda in 2013 as a Long-Term Volunteer, then Staff Structural Engineer, Engineering Manager and, now, Deputy Director.

In Uganda, Matt met Ashley, who was working for another ministry in Kampala. They now have three children, Joshua Magezi, Abigail Mirembe, and Joanna Sanyu, and are foster parents to Shafik. Their family is an integral part of the community here, ministering to others and enjoying outdoor activities like camping trips, Nature Club, and even some canoeing on the African Great Lakes.

As Deputy Director, Matt’s wisdom and unflappable approach to situations help to keep the good ship EMI on an even keel. Matt’s desire to seek God in all things helps us to keep our Mission, Vision and Core Values at the forefront of our minds. “What’s most important, right now?”

He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We celebrate this milestone with them, and pray that God will continue to richly bless them in the years ahead.