Meet Our Chaperones
Chaperone
Andrea Hartman
Hi, I’m Andrea Hartman. I have been a member of St Anthony’s parish in Morris for about 30 years. My husband Chuck and I have two children, Bailey and Joe, who loved being Mission Team members in high school. My first trip was in 2016, and I’ve been on the Team most years since then.
This will be my 9th trip, and I’m excited to be part of a group that grows the faith and leadership skills of the team, and so positively affects the lives of the folks we help in the communities we serve.
Chaperone
Charlie Raab
I'm Charlie! When I'm not busy keeping everyone in line, you can find me perfecting my skills in snack distribution and dad jokes. My goal? To ensure we complete our mission while having as much fun as possible (and maybe finding the best local pizza along the way). Buckle up for an adventure filled with laughter and unforgettable memories!
Chaperone
Chuck Hartman
Hi, I'm Chuck Hartman. I grew up on a small farm in the Batesville area, where I learned the value of hard work and community early on. After graduating from high school, I joined the U.S. Army and proudly served before returning home to Batesville. I then went on to build a career in wireless communications, working in the industry until my retirement in 2023. Andrea and I have been married for 32 years and are the proud parents of two adult children. Both were part of the TriForce Mission Team, and we have seen firsthand how their experiences shaped and strengthened them. I would like to support these experiences with the youth of our area and look forward to another year with the team.
Tool Man
Mike Gerstbauer
Hello, my name is Mike Gerstbauer. I have been a resident of Batesville for the last 23 years. I actually grew up in South Bend, IN, where I was taught how important it is to serve Christ, His Church and those in need (thank you Mom and Dad). As the father of 5 children, it has been my opinion that we need to teach our children these same values, and I found an awesome way to do it. Over the past 12 years I have been serving on this Mission Team with my children, and I believe it is one of the best ways to teach our youth what it means to serve like Jesus wants us to. Not only do our young adults learn Christ-like values, but we chaperones and the residents we serve, come to know God through the whole process of preparing and working this week-long workcamp. Please pray for us, as our next adventure takes us to Grosse Pointe, MI.
Chaperone
Rick Meer
Hi, I'm Rick. I’m fortunate to have my wonderful wife, Anne, by my side, and together we navigate the delightful chaos of our busy household filled with kids. My experience in managing that energy has prepared me for another exciting adventure that comes with being a chaperone. I’m looking forward to making great memories and sharing meaningful experiences with this mission team!
Chaperone
Adam Ramsey
I'm Adam, back again for another chaperon experience! When I'm not busy finding solutions to life's little problems, I'm navigating the chaotic adventures of parenting five kids with my amazing wife, Kate. Armed with a backpack full of snacks and tools, I'm always ready for anything—whether it's a team outing or a family road trip. Just don’t ask me to fix the Wi-Fi!
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Chaperone
Lisa Oldham
Hi my name is Lisa Oldham. My family and I moved to Batesville in 2011. We are members of Holy Family Church. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Paul, for 21+ years and have 3 children: Paige, Landon, and Parker. I also am a Physical Therapist and currently the Director of Rehab at Decatur County Memorial Hospital. In my spare time I enjoy spending time outdoors in nature hiking or Jeeping.
​This will be my first year attending the mission trip as a chaperone. I look forward to being part of this team along with my son, Landon. I am excited to grow more in my faith and support the youth in strengthening their faith while serving others.
Coordinator/Chaperone
Sydney Lecher
Hi, my name is Sydney Lecher and I am a born and raised Batesville native! I grew up at St. Louis and went to Batesville High School. During that time I was fortunate enough to go on mission trips with my childhood best friends. These trips quickly became some of the most impactful parts of my faith life and I joined Cardinal Catholic when I went to Ball State University for undergrad (chirp chirp!). I then went to graduate school for audiology at the University of Cincinnati (go bearcats!) and now work as an audiologist. I went on 5 trips as a teen and an now going on them as an adult chaperone and as the coordinator. I'm so excited to help our teens grow their relationships with each other, their crew/resident, and most importantly God. Fun fact: I'm the youngest daughter of Barry, who is also an adult chaperone for the trip
Red Shirt Staff
Barry Lecher
Hi My name is Barry Lecher. I have been a member of St Louis parish since 1993 when I married my wife Peggy and a member of the mission team since 2011. My youngest has moved on to college but I loved the work that we did with the mission team so much that I will keep coming as long as they will put up with me. I am in the tool and die trade and a home handy man (too cheap to pay someone to work on my house). I enjoy working with the kids and helping those in need by sharing my skills.
St. Louis Youth Minister
Carrie Wesseler
I am Carrie Wesseler. I am a life long member of St. Louis Parish. My husband, Neil and I have 3 children, Josie, Sophie, and Donovan. I have had the pleasure of serving our parish as the youth ministry coordinator since January of 2011. I have been on every youth mission trip since 2012. It has been a wonderful experience watching the growth of our teens as they grow closer to Christ through the mission trip, conferences, youth group, and other youth events. Serving the youth in this way has also helped me in my journey with the Lord. I see how He works through our leaders and teens, and how He brings us all together to strengthen each one of us! I am excited for another great year!
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Deacon at St. Louis
Ron Freyer
My name is Deacon Ron Freyer and I grew up in the out skirts of Spades on a forty-acre farm. I went to grade school at St. Nicholas for eight years. I graduated from East Central high school. I married the love of my life Mary Beth in 1980. We have been married for 45 years. We have four children; Josh who
is married to Faith and has three boys Christian, AJ, and Austin, Melissa who has two children Hazel and August, and Joe, and Angela. All four of my children have been on mission trips and two of my grandchildren have been on a mission trip and felt God’s presence. I love God and followed his call for me into the Deaconate and was ordained June 2012. I work for Heritage Industrial Contracting and have been there 8 years. I love my life and enjoy all things in it. Family is very important to me. This will be my 19th mission trip and I am very excited to go again. In my life God has been very good to me and hope to spread his love to all I meet.
Founder & Red Shirt Staff
Dave Meyer
My name is Dave Meyer. I’m a life-long member of St Louis Parish. I graduated from SLS in 1967 and BHS in 1971. After serving in the US Army for 3 years, I attended the IU School of Business and graduated in 1979 with a double major. My wife (Rose) and I were married in June 1979. We have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. I’ve been employed by Wood-Mizer LLC for the last 34 years. In 1996 & 1997, Rose and I went on Wood-Mizer sponsored mission trips to Poland and the Ukraine. The experience made us realize that the youth of our parish (especially our own children), needed to see how good they have it here in Batesville. In 1998, we worked with the Youth Coordinator to organize the 1st Sr High Mission Trip. The 2024 trip will be the 26th mission trip I’ve helped organize for our youth. I stay involved because of the tremendous spiritual and personal growth I get to witness in our youth (especially those who go on multiple mission trips) and because sleeping on an air mattress on classroom floors helps keep me young.
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Holy Family DRE/Youth Minister
Beth Geis
I’m Beth Geis. I am the Director of Religious Education & Youth Minister at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg, IN going on my 4th year!
I am married to my husband, Ben since 2021 & we live in Batesville, IN with our puppy, Teddy.
I have been on 3 Mission Trips now & each trips holds a different place in my heart. The Mission Trip group was the first time I felt like I had a home in the Batesville/Oldenburg area & I love the group. At the beginning of the year, I am never certain if I am coming back, but I always end up going!
In my spare time, I like to see my family, friends & those who I love dearly. I like to walk & find new things to do in the area while I am trying to find my place.
I went to Marian University for my bachelors in Education & my master in Theology – I always love learning new things about my Catholic faith.
Be A Chaperone!
These mission trips would not be possible without great chaperones!
We do try to keep our chaperones from year to year as much as possible and for good reason! The mission team is a close-knit group. Over the course of a year, the team bonds through team building events, fundraisers, meetings, and service projects. By the end of the week-long mission trip, the team has become a family. The teens usually have nicknames for the adults (such as "Momma Duck" or "Auntie Kim"). We believe this is a great benefit to the teens to have adults they can come to with their struggles or to just ask important questions.
It is also important for the organizing, planning, and leading of the mission team year as well as the trip itself. Each year, the adults plan out everything from fundraising to organizing the 1/2 day activity! All adult chaperones are expected to help with various tasks throughout the year. This is what helps make the fundraisers, service projects, meetings, and the trip itself run smoothly and successfully.
Every so often one or two of our adult chaperones must step back for various reasons. Therefore, we need new dynamic adults to help step into their roles. If you think this is for you, please fill out the form below and let us know you are interested. We will then determine our current need and let you know. This year, we have had an overwhelming response from parents wanting to go and will need to make some tough decisions. ​
If you have a flexible schedule, a love of Christ, a desire to help teens grow closer to Christ, can sleep on a classroom floor, live on less than 6 hours of sleep, take cold (or burning hot) showers, digest cafeteria food, work in the hot sun or pouring rain, and enjoy being around people 24/7, please apply below. Please note that chaperone spots are limited and not every adult who applies will have a spot.