Vanessa Patient is the newest board member for ION Missions. A pastor at Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ for the past 19 years, Vanessa has been a supporter of the Honduras Mission since her mother-in-law first went on a medical mission with the group. Her love for the mission has continued to grow over the years. In 2024, Vanessa joined the team officially and put her former work as a school teacher to good use serving at the CRIE. She also writes and leads the devotions for the trips. Vanessa lives in rural Sullivan with her husband Deacon, teenage children Magdalene and Colin, and golden doodles Rudy and Rory. She enjoys serving Jesus locally through her church and the wider Sullivan/Bethany community, but also treasures this opportunity to serve Jesus in the global church through the team’s work in Honduras.