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Tarseny Otis was born to a Christian family in Chuuk, Micronesia. In 1991 she migrated to Hawaii with her family, and attended the Leeward Corps.
When Tarseny was in high school, her mother was suddenly promoted to Glory. Her death caused Tarseny to become rebellious, seeking to fill her inner void through drugs and alcohol.
In 1997 she attended WYI and re-committed her life to Jesus. She stood firm in her faith at school, and became active at the corps. After high school, Tarseny attended Crestmont College’s L.E.A.D.S. program. She has served on summer camp staff and on the Hawaiian Islands summer service corps team. Her commitment to service has grown through the years.
Tarseny is events organizer for the Upper Room, a Sunday night outreach meeting at Leeward Corps. She has worked on youth councils in Micronesia and with the WYI leadership team. She leads the youth programs at the corps and assists the divisional youth department in planning events.
Despite obstacles, Tarseny is a dynamic young Christian leader. She is an inspiration to the youth at her corps and throughout the division.
As someone who exemplifies the true Salvationist spirit, Tarseny Otis richly deserves the title, Trailblazer of the Year.
Cari Hogan comes from an officer family; her parents, Majors Neal and Carla Hogan, serve at the Portland Harbor Light Center.
From early on, Cari felt called to mission work. She spent four summers with the Army’s Service Corps and participated in college mission trips. Cari ministered in the Pacific Islands, Argentina, Chile, Alaska, Mexico, and South Africa, and she studied in Seville, Spain.
After graduating from college in 1998 with degrees in Spanish and in Writing and Literature, Cari had to choose between mission work and graduate school.
Cari went to graduate school and soon completed her Masters of Arts in Intercultural Studies, with a concentration in Urban Studies. Her education deepened her desire to work in the mission field, serving society’s outcast through The Salvation Army.
Most recently Cari has returned from 18 months of short-term ministry in the Dominican Republic where she served as the regional youth director.
She now soldiers at Portland Moore Street Corps, where she hopes to work with the corps officers in developing an Hispanic ministry.
For her sacrifice and commitment, her true heart for missions, Cari has earned the honor of Trailblazer of the Year.
Major John Cross, a retired officer from the United Kingdom, and Mrs. Connie Cross are soldiers at the Olympia, Wash. Corps. Their gift of service has become legendary in the Northwest.
In 1993, at age 79, Connie read about Army missionaries she knew who were serving in Moldova. She was moved to help the children there who did not have warm clothes for the winter. With the help of friends, she and John made stocking caps and gloves. Their first shipment to Moldova was three boxes of these hand-made garments.
Since then, Connie, now 87, and John, 88, have sent over 70 shipments to Moldova and the Ukraine, weighing in at over 120 tons. They ship used clothing, bedding and other goods. They pack and ship the boxes with the help of one other retired couple.
Hospital and nursing homes in the area regularly donate clothing and bedding. John and Connie continue to send an average of 12 shipments a year to Moldova.
For their years of dedicated service and their steadfast love for others, Major John and Mrs. Connie Cross have earned the distinction of Trailblazer of the Year.