We envision a Guatemala that thrives when its people develop holistically.
From Carlos & Telma Lopez’s home art school to a 400 student trade school, adult education program, & ministry, Love Guatemala has grown through the years to serve students in a holistic way.
We’re bringing the hope of Jesus through holistic development.
2006
Art School Begins
Carlos & Telma Lopez start an Art School in their home to help those in their community learn a skilled trade and to share the love of Jesus.
2009
Indy Metro Church Partnership
Pastor Aaron Story & Indy Metro Church visit Magdalena and begin a partnership with the Lopez family to support and expand their school.
2010
Cooking School Begins
Our Culinary School starts as a cooking school at the home of one of the Lopez’s neighbors, Antonietta, in 2010–the first expansion!
2012
Kunkel Family Moves to Guatemala
Ben & Jennifer Kunkel from Indy Metro Church move to Magdalena to support the growing school and ministry of Love Guatemala, working with Carlos, Telma, Antoinetta & others. Ben & Carlos eventually share responsibility for running the school and ministry.
2015
School Building Built, Programs Expand
Through the gift of generous donors, Love Guatemala is able to acquire property and build a school building! The Guatemalan Ministry of Education also asks LG to begin teaching adult education classes, starting with Primary School. And, the English School begins.
2016
Nutrition Center for Young Children & Property Expansion
Love Guatemala engages with young families in the community by providing nutritious meals for young children twice per week. Property adjacent to the school is purchased to make room for future growth.
2018
Iglesia Nueva Vida
Ben Kunkel & Carlos Lopez start Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life Church) at Love Guatemala in partnership with the New Life Network as a means of providing additional spiritual support to the students at the school and to the community of Magdalena.
2020
Multi-purpose Building & Adult Ed Expansion
Multi-purpose building opens, and the school begins offering básicos, the Guatemalan equivalent of middle school, for adult learners.
2021
Award Winning Middle School & Leadership Transition
Básicos program is designated #1 in the region! Ben Kunkel & Carlos Lopez announce that they will both transition to working for New Life Network as church planters. Katy Lopez is identified as the future Director of Love Guatemala.
2023
Holistic Vision, Kunkels’ Depart, & High School Graduation
Adult ed & vocational programs in cooking, baking, and English are complemented by holistic programming in speech therapy, nutrition, community service, and discipleship. The Kunkel Family returns to the US to pursue ministry with New Life Network. The first class of students graduates from bachillerato, our college prep program!
2025
Expanded Enrollment & Computer School
Love Guatemala sets an enrollment goal of 400-450 students and opens a program for Computer Education in the trade school.
Bachillerato (High School) Graduation Rate
Love Guatemala's Class of 2024 started the year with 38 students and finished in December with 35 of them completing their diploma program and graduating with their peers.
of Bachillerto students in the Class of 2024
graduated with their peers
Nutrition Program
Children Acheiving Healthy Weight
Through the course of 2024, Love Guatemala's Nutrition Program for Young Children served 37 students ages 2-14 healthy lunches twice per week and provided their families with supplemental groceries.
of children enrolled in our Nutrition Program achieved a healthy weight during their 2024 enrollment.
of Jesus through
holistic development.
Meet Our Team
Love Guatemala's Staff leads the vocational school, adult education program, and holistic program in Guatemala. They focus on the day-to- day operations of the school and ministry and carry out our mission to bring hope the of Jesus through holistic development.
Katherine Lopez began serving Love Guatemala as a teen, helping her parents Carlos & Telma , the founders of the school, with small projects such as selling t-shirts and paintings. She then began her career as the administrative assistant. Katy has grown and developed in leadership as Love Guatemala has grown, and in 2023 she became General Director. Katy studied business administration at Universidad Mariano Gálvez de Guatemala and has one son, Killiam.
Sergio started working with Love Guatemala as a teacher in the básicos program (middle school) and has since become the Director of Adult Education. He has a wife and two children and enjoys the opportunity to cultivate a seed with the talents and gifts that the Father has given him to share with others.
Meet Our Board
Our Board of Directors supports Love Guatemala through fundraising and advisory functions. The board also volunteers to serve as advocates and administrators for Love Guatemala in the US, allowing the US organization to operate with minimal paid staff support.
Amy is a human-centered designer with a Master’s in Design from Herron School of Art & Design. She has had diverse work experiences in public and non-profit sector administration, including public health, public television, and public education. Amy is passionate about loving and serving others, particularly in multicultural settings. Amy and her husband Scott and their five children attend Indy Metro Church.
Ben and his wife Jennifer and their 8 children lived and served in Guatemala for 10 years. They helped establish Love Guatemala in Magdalena and see it through a period of great growth and development. Ben has served as a Pastor, Missionary, and Church Planter. He is passionate about helping people come to know, love, and follow Jesus. Now that he had returned to the US, he is working for New Life Network, an organization that supports and plants churches in Hispanic/Latino communities. He is grateful to continue serving Love Guatemala as a member of the board of directors and by providing coaching for the leadership team at Love Guatemala.
Jared Huckstep is the Pastor of Indy Metro Church and currently serves as the treasurer of Love Guatemala. Before becoming a pastor, Jared was a high school math teacher for 11 years and holds a degree in Mathematics Education from Purdue University, a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from IUPUI, and a certificate of urban church planting from Indiana Wesleyan University. Jared has a passion for discipling people to follow Jesus and believes that a clear calling of the modern day church is to love those who are marginalized and disinherited. Jared and his wife, Carissa have two children, Madelynn and Maxwell, and they are also licensed foster parents.
Rich Irish is a founding board member. He has been a supporter and champion of Love Guatemala for many years. He is a retired Army officer, having served 23 years, and holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He is also retired from a second career at Indy Parks Department, after his military service. When he’s not working part-time, you can find Rich cheering on his grandchildren and spending time with family and friends.
Jake first became involved with Love Guatemala through Indy Metro Church on the eastside of Indianapolis where he serves as a bi-vocational pastor. He also owns his own web design & development company, Colorbox Design. Jake and his wife Emily share a passion and love for Latin American people and culture. They have two children, James & Cohen, and are licensed foster parents for unaccompanied minors at the border. In their free time, they enjoy trying different varieties of international & local cuisine.
Carlos and his wife Telma started Love Guatemala in their home in 2006. He has worked in different areas of the school over time and seen how God, in the midst of his mercy, has been in each project. Carlos has felt God working in the schools, the students, the staff, his family, and specifically in himself. Currently, Carlos works for Red Nueva Vida (New Life Network) in Guatemala, helping to plant churches in Central America. He also works in a very part-time role at Love Guatemala supporting the school chaplain and leadership.