Jerry & Susy McNally, originally from Minnesota, began their missionary service in Mexico in 1985, planting churches and evangelizing in rural villages in Oaxaca. In 1994 they moved to Puebla, Mexico, and God opened the doors for them to found Esperanza Viva Youth Home. Since that time, they have lived in Puebla, where they continue to serve as directors for the youth home, as well as the Integral Education Center, La Viña School of Ministry, Nations Church, and Life to the Nations Publishing Company. The McNallys believe strongly in raising up national missionaries. To that effect, they pour themselves into the staff, equipping, discipling, and counseling to prepare effective ministers of Christ´s healing love.

Marty & Mary Madsen have served as missionaries in the U.S., France, and Mexico since 1979. In 2000, they began working at Esperanza Viva Youth Home, where their experience and love are invaluable in ministering to the children. Marty is the English and physical education teacher at the Integral Education Center. He also helps as a handyman and driver for the home and plays harmonica and mandolin on the worship team at Nations Church. Mary handles the ministry´s accounting and teaches high school to missionary children. They are the parents of four adult children.

Ryan & Molly Nielsen, originally from Minnesota, have had a burden to serve as long-term missionaries in Latin America since their marriage in 1998. After serving in another ministry in Central America, they came to minister at Esperanza Viva Youth Home in 2003. Ryan is a construction coordinator for the Living Hope Community, overseeing all the details of building the permanent home for the children, which is his passion. Molly teaches homeschool and is a full-time mother to their two boys and two girls.

Miguel & Bridget Gomez serve together as the leaders of the youth ministry at Nations Church, as well as serving full time at Esperanza Viva Youth Home in Puebla, Mexico. Bridget is originally from Wisconsin. She became a missionary to Esperanza Viva Youth Home in Puebla in 1998. She lived and worked as a dormitory supervisor for nine years. Miguel is originally from Oaxaca and was serving as a pastor of a local church when he met Bridget at a conference at Nations Church in 2006. They were married in December 2007. After their wedding, Miguel moved to Puebla to work full time with the youth of Esperanza Viva, inspiring them to walk in a committed relationship with Jesus. They both serve on the ministry´s worship team. Bridget is a full-time mother to their three children, Asher, Annette, and Miqueas.

Rene & Kate Nevarez met at Esperanza Viva Youth Home in Puebla in early 2004 and were married in November 2005. Rene, originally from Tijuana, came to La Viña School of Ministry in 2004 and later returned to serve on the staff in 2005. He currently serves as a construction coordinator for the Living Hope Community, overseeing the many details of building the children´s permanent home. He is also part of the pastoral team at Nations Church. Kate came to the youth home to serve as a dormitory supervisor in 2003. Now that their son Samuel is in preschool, she works part-time as the ministry´s correspondence coordinator and helps write and edit promotional material. Together Rene and Kate disciple the ministry´s interns as they enter into full-time service to the Lord.

Josh & Ivonne McNally serve as pastors for the young adults group at Nations Church and are the directors of La Viña School of Ministry. Josh is the eldest son of Jerry & Susy McNally, founders and directors of Living Hope International, and he grew up on the mission field. After graduating from a ministry school in the U.S. in 2008, he returned to Puebla to serve full time as a missionary. Ivonne, originally from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, began serving as a teaching in the Integral Education Center and as a dormitory supervisor at Esperanza Viva Youth Home later that year. Their desire is to see young adults rise up and walk in the purposes that God has for their lives.

Alfredo and Hazeel Torres met at Esperanza Viva Youth Home in 2009 and were married in December 2010. Alfredo is our resident graphic designer, who uses his artistic abilities to create inspiring promotional materials for the ministry. Originally from Puebla, Alfredo joined the ministry in 2009 after graduating from La Viña School of Ministry. Hazeel is from Houston, Texas, and she also studied in La Viña a year after Alfredo. She is a teacher in the Integral Education Center and helps in the sponsorship and correspondence departments at the orphanage. Together they serve on the worship team at Nations Church, where Alfredo plays guitar and Hazeel sings in the choir.

Emily Haase joined Esperanza Viva Youth Home in Puebla in March 2011. She heard about the ministry and visited on a short-term mission trip several years ago, which inspired her to attend La Viña School of Ministry in 2008. After a few years of waiting on God, He brought her back to serve full-time in the ministry. As a dormitory supervisor, the children enjoy her effervescent personality. She uses her talents in photography, video, and communication to assist with the ministry’s promotional publications as the head of the audio/visual department.

Ivana Cooper first came in contact with Living Hope International in March 2012 when she visited Esperanza Viva Youth Home in Puebla as part of a shortterm missions team from the state of Minnesota. Ivana returned to Puebla to begin her one-year internship with La Viña Practical Ministry Training Center in June 2012. Now a full-time staff member, Ivana serves as a dormitory supervisor and works in the office as part of the sponsorship department and in general office duties. Ivana loves working with children and is convinced of her purpose to serve others. She has a passion to see children grow and overcome difficult situations through the hope found in Christ.

Dave and Alissa Wied and their daughters Sierra and Kaley are from Wisconsin. They visited Esperanza Viva Youth Home in Puebla for the first time in 2009 on a short-term missions trip. It was then that they knew they were called to serve as missionaries with Living Hope, and while waiting on the Lord's timing, they started planning and working towards that goal. They plan to arrive on the mission field in Mexico in August 2013. Dave plans to work in the communications department, putting to use his experience with multi-media, graphic design, and marketing. Alissa will homeschool their two girls while helping in the ministry however she can.