Who We Are

The Romano Family

Rick and Tammie with our four children; Jonathon, Rebekah, Abby and Moriah

Rick grew up in Cranbrook, British Colombia, Canada.  He started attending Cranbrook Alliance Church in his early teen years.  It was there where God grabbed a hold of his heart, and gave him a passion for missions.  Rick attended Canadian Bible College and graduated with a Bachelor of religious education with an emphasis on missions.

Tammie grew up in Veneta, Oregon.  She attended Veneta Alliance Church her whole childhood.  At a missions conference God laid on her heart the passion for missions.  Tammie attended Canadian Bible College and graduated with a Bachelor of Biblical Studies.

Rick and Tammie met at Canadian Bible College, and quickly realized that they had the same passion for missions.  They were married in 1990, and continued studies in Canada.  God began a journey in their family, in which they learned that God needed to mold them into who He wanted them to be.  Their first church they ministered in ran out of money the first year, and they were unable continue to live there.  It was a tough experience, but through that God taught them to depend on His perfect plan and direction.   Jonathon was born during this time in between churches.  A year later Mt. View Alliance Church in Shelton, Washington asked them to come and minister to their youth; and lead  the short term mission trips to Ensenada , Mexico.  Rebekah was born during their time in Washington.  This was the starting point of God’s amazing plan; God gave them a passion to excited young people for mission work abroad.  The Alliance was not quite ready for opening the door to this kind of ministry.  In the midst of frustration God clearly opened the door for Rick and Tammie to move and minister in Owen Sound Alliance Church in Canada.  Rick pastored the youth and continued to lead short term trips to Ensenada, Mexico.  To their surprise God blessed them with twins, Abby and Moriah.  After four years in Canada, they felt God leading  them to move back to the Pacific Northwest.  Rick accepted a call to a youth position at East Hills Alliance Church in Kelso, Washington.  It was here that God’s plan began to be revealed to them.  Rick had the opportunity to help out at LIFE in Phoenix, and there he met Matt Peace.  Finally, God opened the door for their family to serve where God had begun working in their hearts 8 years before.  God’s perfect plan took their family on a journey of different experiences that molded them into who He wanted them to be.

Rick and Tammie had the great privilege to serve in Ensenada, Mexico for 6 years, opening a short term ENvision site with the C&MA.  Their journey continues as they have responded to God’s call on their lives in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

The Nishizaki Family

David and Aleah have had hearts for missions for many years. They both grew up in Christian and Missionary Alliance churches in which their families were active members. Both David and Aleah had their first international experience on High School missions trips to Mexico. David began serving in Haiti his senior year of high school. He formed a strong relationship with a pastor there and continues to serve along side him. Aleah also served in Haiti and Europe during her High School and early young adult years.

David and Aleah have been active in ministry together for the past four years. Their marriage in July 2010 combined their hearts for missions and created a stronger passion for serving the world. David served on staff at Neighborhood Church of Redding for eight years which gave him a wide variety of ministry experience from leading worship to graphic design. Aleah has been by David’s side actively serving in young adult ministry while also working as an Educational Sign Language Interpreter.

The Nishizakis are excited about the next season of life. David and Aleah feel honored to be serving  in Santiago. They are leaving their life in Redding, California to start a new adventure in Santiago, Dominican Republic along side C&MA International Workers Rick and Tammie Romano. Together the Nishizakis and Romanos will launch an Envision Trips site, hosting short-term teams who come to the island to serve.

Jonathan Leonard

Jonathan is from Hillsborough, New Jersey and currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Jonathan is a graduate of Muhlenberg College and is currently working on his Masters in Christian Leadership from Crown College.  Jonathan was initially called to ministry about three years ago after he got back from a mission trip from Ensenada, Mexico where Rick used to lead the Ensenada Project.  Jonathan got his first job in ministry at Princeton Alliance Church where he was a Pastor for the young adults ministry called Immerse.  Jonathan is engaged to his fiance’ Kimberly and they are going to be married July 14th, 2012 in New Jersey.  Jonathan is very excited for the opportunity to work for The Santiago Experience as the Director of Operations stateside.  He has always had a heart for world missions, feels blessed to be called to ministry, and is thrilled to be working with his good friend, Rick.