Meet our NLAI Missionaries


  • Tara Goodloe Fuentes

    Director-Little Pasos Learning Center

    Tara joined NLAI and moved to Guatemala in 2017.  After serving as an English teacher at New Life Christian School for two years, she saw that the ability to speak English fluently would have a positive impact on children's futures in Villa Nueva, where very few children of that age have the opportunity to focus on learning it.  Tara and William opened a bilingual pre-primary school called Little Pasos Learning Center (ages 4-6) where children receive a quality Christian bilingual education.  Little Pasos lau in January of 2023.

    Email Tara (tgoodloe@nlai.org)

  • Lee & Staci Jarvis

    NLCH Director of Facilities and Team Projects

    Lee and Staci joined NLAI and moved to Guatemala in 2007.  Lee graduated from West Texas A&M University with a BS in Biology and a MS in Biology.  Staci graduated from Texas Tech University with a BBA in Management.  Lee serves as the Sub-Director and oversees maintenance, security, the teenage work program, and serves on the discipline committee.  Staci is the CEO (chief education officer) of the Jarvis household, serves in leadership in a missionary family homeschool co-op, and helps with special projects like Christmas at NLCH.  They have three kids: Canon, Ainslee, and Karis.

    Email Lee (ljarvis@nlai.org) or Staci (stacijarvis@gmail.com)

  • Jasper & Latrica Jowers

    Ambassadors-Southeastern US
    Jasper & Latrica have been volunteering at New Life Children's Home for over 15 years, including almost 3 years of living and serving in Guatemala at NLCH. They currently live in Pomaria, South Carolina, and act as ambassadors for the ministry; raising awareness and funds for child sponsorships and special projects. They continue to return to NLCH when possible in order to help with special projects. The Jowers have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.
    Email Jasper (jjowers@nlai.org) or Latrica (ljowers@nlai.org)

  • Kenny & Dorothy Kennedy

    Kenny: Construction and Projects Coordinator

    Dorothy: Asst to NLCH Director; Short Term Missions Coordinator

    Kenny and Dorothy joined NLAI in February of 2022 and moved to Guatemala in May. They have served at NLCH since 2013, through short-term mission teams and specialty work teams with Church on the Rock and Pursue Missions. Kenny is a Master Electrician. He will coordinate and serve in the areas of new construction projects and maintenance at NLCH. Dorothy has worked in Elections and Government for over twenty years and will be using her skills and experience to serve administratively in several areas at NLCH. Kenny and Dorothy have been married 27 years. They are from Lubbock, Texas and have five adult children and 8 grandchildren.

    Email Kenny (kkennedy@nlai.org) or Dorothy (dkennedy@nlai.org)

  • Rob & Kristy Mehner

    Rob & Kristy Mehner began serving at NLCH in 2017. They are from Cape Girardeau, MO, and have two adult children. 

    They have served God vocationally in various capacities; Rob as a Spiritual Formation and Executive Pastor and Kristy as a Children’s Ministry Director and Executive Director of a large foster home. 

    Rob has a Chemical Engineering degree from Missouri S&T and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. Kristy has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN.  

    Email Rob (rmehner@nlai.org)

  • Kourtney Nance

    NLCH Mentoring and Independence Program Coordinator

    Kourtney moved to Guatemala in 2016, and began serving with NLAI in 2019. She is a graduate of The University of North Texas and, before moving to Guatemala, served as preschool minister at The Village Church Denton for 10 years. Kourtney works with the teenagers and young adults at New Life, overseeing and implementing the Independence Program. This program seeks to support the older population of children and young adults at NLCH as they prepare to live thriving, successful adult lives outside of the home one day. 

    Email Kourtney (knance@nlai.org)

  • Sydney O'Guinn

    Teacher at Little Pasos
    Sydney joined NLAI in January of 2024 and is soon to move to Guatemala. Sydney is from Lubbock, Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech University  in December of 2023 with a BS in Human Development and Family Sciences specializing in child development. Sydney will be joining Tara at Little Pasos to teach Prepa (aka T1 in the US). Sydney has worked with children in many different capacities including being a special education aide at Legacy Elementary in Lubbock. Sydney is very grateful to start her time as a full time missionary and cannot wait to be apart of Little Pasos and the change that they are creating in many children’s lives. 

    Email Sydney (soguinn@nlai.org)

  • Beth Ann Tobin

    Learning Disabilities Education Specialist

    Beth Ann joined NLAI in January of 2022 and moved to Guatemala in August of 2022. She has a degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education from Bowling Green State University. Over the past 7 years, she has traveled back and forth to Guatemala for multiple short term and extended mission trips. She is so grateful and excited to commit to full time mission service, and working alongside other NLAI missionaries at New Life Children's Home and New Life Christian School. She  provides educational support and tutoring to a variety of students as well as helping with short term projects.

    Email Beth Ann (btobin@nlai.org)

  • Tommy & Marilyn Todd

    Co-Directors of Resource Development

    Tommy and Marilyn Todd have been with NLAI since 2009. They served at New Life Children's Home in Guatemala for 10 years. They live in Slaton, Texas and serve as Co-Directors of Resource Development. They will be traveling in the States to seek funds for all of the NLAI ministries, but especially for New Life Children's Home. The Todds have 5 children and 10 grandchildren.

    Email Tommy (tat1944@yahoo.com) or Marilyn (marilynktodd52@yahoo.com)

  • Kendon & Wendy Wheeler

    Kendon: President, NLAI

    Wendy: Director, NLCH

    Kendon and Wendy joined NLAI and moved to Guatemala in January 1988. They are from West Texas (Wendy-Brownfield and Kendon-Southland). Kendon graduated from Texas Tech University, receiving a BS in Agronomy in 1980 and an MS in Education in 1986. Wendy graduated from Baylor University with a BS in Nursing in 1981. The Wheelers have four sons: Jared (Rachel), Brett (Ashley), Micah (Laura) and Ian, as well as five grandchildren.

    Email Kendon (kwheeler@nlai.org) or Wendy (wwheeler@nlai.org)