Anne Van Kleek - Secretary
Anne Van Kleek grew up in Worthington, MN, graduated from Westmar College with a BA in Elementary Education and minored in Sociology. While at Westmar she met her husband, Glenn. Anne taught first grade in Chariton, Iowa and she and Glenn lived in Indianola, Iowa for 6 years. They moved to the Minneapolis area in 1995 and Anne did some substitute teaching and then worked at a daycare with Pre K, Kindergarten and School-Age kids until she had her son, Nathaniel in 1998. They decided that it was important for her to stay home. Mary came along in 2002. Anne currently is a substitute teacher for South Washington County, MN. In her “spare” time, she is attending Special Olympic practices/meets, soccer games, leading the cafe team at Crossroads Church in Cottage Grove, on several school district committees and enjoys a Bible Study with a group of friends.
Anne grew up in a family that put Missions at the top of the priority list. Her Aunt was a missionary in Nepal for many years. She watched her Mom and Dad go on several mission trips, but never went on one herself. Anne was on the mission team while attending Peaceful Grove UMC and helped serve meals, collected donations, led fundraisers, but, watched as others went out and “did missions”!
After attending an informational meeting in March 2015 for the July Honduras trip, Anne knew that that this was her chance. Meeting the people, seeing the sites, visiting, praying, serving, etc. made such an impact that upon returning, Anne couldn’t even describe her feelings. She knew that she had to make another trip, but this time bring along Glenn and Nathaniel, now 17. So, even with all sorts of obstacles (the main one being finding someone to stay with Mary while they were gone), God had His hand in things and in January 2016, the three of them experienced this amazing adventure together.
Anne knew that God was telling her something and the opportunity/invitation to join the Milk and Honey Board came along. The people and needs of LaVilla and San Nicolas tugged at her heart strings and she wanted/needed to do more.
