(This quarter we would like to feature another one of our dedicated Mission Office staff, Heidi Quezada – pronounced Kay-SAW-thuh)

Tell how and when you came to the Mission Office and what your role here is.

In August of 2002, we moved back to Springfield to raise our family.  Rhonda Allcorn was the BBFI accountant at the time and she knew our family from church.  She heard I had moved back and was looking for a job.  BBFI happened to be looking for an accounts payable clerk, so Rhonda referred me for the job.  I started on September 11, 2002 – one year after the attack on the Twin Towers.  Three years later Rhonda left the office, and I became her replacement.

Tell us about your family and their connection with missions.

Missions was a big part of my childhood.  My mom was in charge of the Missions Board at our church.  I spent many evenings and weekends at church, helping her with the board.  She received all of the missionaries’ prayer letters, and I was able to get to know a lot of missionaries as a child.  In college, I went to BBC and minored in Missions.  Although God did not call me to the Mission Field, I did end up here at the Mission Office and I love having the opportunity to serve our missionaries on a daily basis through the work I do as the Accountant.

What is one thing that few people know about you?

I don’t have any big secrets, but a couple things people may not know is that my grandpa was a pastor, and my husband is from Honduras.

What is your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?

My favorite outdoor activity is walking on trails — preferably paved trails with paths wide enough to spot wild predators that may try to slither/crawl across the path in front of me.

I have many favorite indoor activities – reading, jigsaw puzzles, board games, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and just about any other kind of craft.

Who has been a personal mentor and how have they influenced you?

I think my dad is my biggest mentor.  He has been steadfast in what he believes and loves God with his whole heart.  He studies the Bible constantly and has been around a long time, so he knows a lot.  Whenever I need biblical guidance, he is the one I go to.  His advice comes from a place of love and knowledge!

What are your personal goals?

My personal goals are to always strive to be a better person than I was the day before and to improve my abilities from one day to the next.  I may not always be successful, but it is what I strive to do. 

What do you like most about working in the Mission Office?

My favorite thing about working in the Mission Office is my job!  I love what I do – balancing the books, creating Excel templates, and writing SQL queries and VBA code.  I love having a wide variety of duties, and I love to problem solve.

If you would like to contact Heidi, you may reach her at heidi@bbfimissions.com!