Our small Staff is able to facilitate teams in Belize and keep things up and running in the US, all-the-while empowering Christ-followers to find their potential by serving His people.

Tim Tam - Spiritual Director

As a teen in the northern suburbs of Chicago Tim Tam, Spiritual Director of TWAW, began his journey with Christ through the ministry of Young Life. Throughout his college days he was involved with youth programs and Bible studies leading the New Trier Young Life Club where he served for 8 years. In 1979 he graduated from Trinity College in Deerfield, IL where he majored in biblical studies and psychology. In 1980 he joined the staff at First Presbyterian Church in Evanston, IL as Director of Youth Ministries. While working there Tim participated in several mission trips and projects. He realized the immense value of these activities not only for the recipients, but also for manner in which they transformed the participants. Involving young people in mission became a focus of Tim's ministry. He left Evanston in August of 1988 to further his studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he earned his Masters of Divinity. After graduation he, his wife (Lisa) and three children (Cara, Josh, and Nate) moved to Amarillo, TX where Tim served as associate pastor of Youth ministries and adult education at First Presbyterian Church.
While serving at FPC Amarillo the mission to Belize took on a life of its own. What began as a spring break mission trip rapidly grew into an independent 501(C)3 non-profit organization. Founded in 2002, TWAW now serves as an interdenominational ministry engaging hundreds of volunteers each year from across our nation, impacting tens of thousands of lives in Belize.
Today Tim continues to live in Amarillo with his amazing wife, Lisa, and travels frequently to Belize.

Jose "Chepito" Valencia - Project Assistant

I was born in San Salvador after my parents fled Aguilares because of war.  I was six months old when we came to Belize and have lived here ever since.   I live in a beautiful community called the Valley Of Peace in the Cayo District.  I am the 5th of seven siblings.  As a young boy, every weekend and holidays we would join my dad in the farm, planting different crops and taking care of them.  I went to primary school in the Valley of Peace, high school in Belmopan and junior college in Belize city.  I am happily married to my wife Patricia and am a proud father of three: Christian, Sophia and a third that we await (it’s a boy)!  For ten years I was a primary school teacher in the Valley of Peace and at St. Margaret’s, which I enjoyed a lot - but now God has given me an opportunity to serve in a different manner with The Word at Work.  "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  Wherever I am needed to serve, let me serve under your guidance."

Jo Cole - Operations Manager / Trip Coordinator

Jo Cole was born in Belize and raised in a Christian Children's Home in Ontario Village from the age of three.  After completing high school, she took a two year training course in Tourism and did her internship at Banana Bank Lodge where she was then hired.  She met Tim Tam when he would take mission teams to stay at Banana Bank.  On one of those trips she met her husband, Chad Cole, and eventually moved to the US where she has lived since 2012.  Jo and Chad have one son, Asher.  Jo began working part-time for TWAW in February 2014.  She shares, "I am blessed that God has called me to work for a ministry that helps those in need, especially for my country Belize.  What I've heard Tim often say is also true for my life, "find where God is at Work and join him."