Meet Our Team
Dr. Sam was raised in Ozark County in southern Missouri, where he received the calling to become a medical missionary at the age of 14. In preparation, he attained his ordination as a General Baptist Minister and then went to medical school, continuing on to obtain the further schooling needed to specialize in Family Practice. Additionally, he is board certified in Forensic Medicine, and board eligible in Emergency Medicine. Before coming to the Philippines in January 2002, he worked more than 16,000 emergency room hours in addition to his practice at his clinic in Arkansas. He also was the medical director for 4 nursing homes, a Clinical Teacher, Collaborating Physician, and Preceptor for Nurse Practitioners and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the College of Nursing, at UAMS, Little Rock, AR.
This wide background of education and experience has made Dr. Sam well qualified for not only providing outreach clinics and surgeries to places where there is no doctor, but also to train national healthcare workers in those remote areas and westerners who desire to work as primary healthcare workers in this or any other 3rd world country.
Growing up in the flatlands of central Kansas, USA, Sherri developed an interest in helping people at an early age. She received a call from the Lord to foreign missions in 1997 and returned to college to prepare for the work He had called her to. She graduated in May, 2002, from Evangel University in Springfield, MO. with a degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Psychology, and a minor (almost a second major) in Social Work. This has prepared her well, giving her the skills needed to work alongside her husband among the underserved in the Philippines.
Sherri's primary role is to manage the organizational home base and to coordinate support services and provisions for the many facets of Reach International Healthcare and Training, Inc.
Dr. Idar Rommen and his wife, Jan, from Snohomish, Washington, came on June 26, 2010 to do mission work here in the Philippines for 1 year. Dr. Idar has taken some time from his practice in Washington to assist with medical outreaches and Jan is teaching at Faith Academy Mindanao (where our daughter, Lindsey, attends school).
They are a tremendous blessing and a great encouragement to us and we’re so thankful for their time here in Davao.
Tin-tin has an easy, contagious smile and is always ready to help, no matter what the situation. The eldest daughter in her family, she grew up in Bukay Pait, Tantangan - a small town in the Province of South Cotabato. Since she was a small child, she has had a generous heart - wanting to help people in need. Even during times when she has felt she has nothing else to give, she is always ready to offer her prayers and words of encouragement.
She received Christ into her heart when she was 12 years old. She states that she almost died when she was a small child (having contracted German measles). She feels that the Lord extended her life in order to give her an opportunity to serve Him by helping others. Because of this, she is excited be able to help her fellow countrymen through the ministry of Reach International.
Dada was born and raised right here in Davao City. She graduated in 2007 from Davao Doctor's College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, passing the nursing board exam the same year - the very first time she took it.
She believes that the Lord's purpose for her to become a nurse is to help other people. It is because of this that she feels called to the ministry of Reach International Healthcare and Training.
She uses her nursing skills on our outreaches to see patients, assist with surgeries, and in helping to teach our healthcare worker training classes.
Born on February 22, 1986, here in Davao City, he is the son of Elvisa and Romeo Vaporoso, and has one brother and two sisters. He graduated from Davao Doctor's College with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007 and passed the nursing board exam the same year (also the first time he took it).
Earl is a deep thinker, and loves to examine the wonder and 'why' of all of God's creation - especially the human body, thus his interest in nursing.
After working with our team for more than one year, Earl moved out to the remote village of Kihan, Sarangani Province to oversee our satellite clinic there.
Ian was born on August 22, 1982 to hardworking and responsible parents. He grew up in the remote mountain village of Lamhaku, T'boli, South Cotabato Province. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the General Baptist Bible College in Davao City. Two months after his graduation in 2006, Ian married his college sweetheart, Cherry Nen Hinampas. On May 18, 2007 God blessed them with a beautiful daughter, Shecaniah Marguerite (Nickole) H. Otbot.
Rev. Ian serves as our Administrative Liaison Officer and is responsible for setting up and coordinating our outreaches with the communities we serve as well as offering counseling and prayer to our patients and their families.
Nen is from the village of Maparat, Compostela, ComVal Province. She graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education from the General Baptist Bible College. She is married to Rev. Ian Otbot and is the mother of Nickole (born in 2007).
Nen joined Reach International in January 2009. After working with our outreach teams for more than 1 year as a healthcare worker (trained by Dr. Sam), she transferred to work in our administration office. Nen’s sharp mind, easy smile, and impressive organizational skills make her an asset to have both in the office AND on the field.
The youngest of 4 girls, Angel grew up in Bukay Pait, Tantangan - a small town in the Province of South Cotabato.
A visitor to our home base in Davao City will hear her humming or singing merrily as she keeps things operating smoothly with her careful and conscientious attention to the details - from cheerfully greeting patients and guests and making them comfortable, to making sure our headquarters is always spotlessly clean and in order.
Jordan was born and raised in Tagum City, just 1 hour from Davao. He graduated in 2008 from NDC-Tagum with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
He has a very tender heart and loves to help people and because of this he feels called to the ministry of Reach International Healthcare and Training.
Jordan is part of our outreach team, using his nursing skills to see patients, assist with surgeries, and in helping to teach our healthcare worker training classes.
She-she grew up in the village of Lamian, Surallah, South Cotabato Province. She is the 3rd child of Rev. Gerry and Adonia Otbot. Her two older brothers also work with Reach International.
Shielani enjoys helping people and being part of our outreach team, in fact it was through her work with Reach, that she realized that she really wants to be a nurse.
She is currently on leave from her regular duties with our outreach teams in order to attend nursing school. She plans to re-join the Reach Team upon her graduation in 2012.
From Bukay Pait, Tantangan, South Cotabato, Nene is the only daughter, with five brothers. She has been trained extensively through our Healthworker Training course and as an assistant to Dr. Sam.
She says that it's like a dream come true for her to be able to see patients and assist with surgeries. She considers it a great honor to be part of the team of Reach International and to be able to bring tangible help to her fellow Filipinos. Nene is currently on leave from her regular duties with our outreach teams in order to attend nursing school. She plans to re-join the Reach Team upon her graduation in 2012.
Dr. Sam and Sherri’s youngest child, Lindsey lives with them in Davao City and attends Faith Academy Mindanao - an international Christian school primarily for missionary children. She will graduate from high school at Faith Academy in 2012.
The Evans have 3 older children who live in the U.S.: Daniel and Kelita (along with her husband, Andrew, and their 3 little girls, Halo, Harmony, and Hope) live in N. Little Rock, AR. The third, Christopher, is attending College of the Ozarks near Branson, MO.
