Ambassadors 2010 Trip HEART for the Nations.       

 Heart for the Nations Receives Award for Work in Antigua. An award for their humanitarian efforts was given to Heart for the Nations in February 2010  during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Guatemala City. In the Reception Hall, called La Sala de Recepcion, The Ambassadors for HEART for the Nations were received by Eduardo Prado, the Commendadore of Antigua, Guatemala.  For the past several years, once a day a special honor is given to a prominent person or organization in Guatemala in recognition of their work in the country.  On February 5, 2010 this honor was given to HEART for the Nations. Michelle White, International Director of HEART for the Nations was presented with a white rose and a formal peace document called "Acto Protocolario del Cambio de la Rosa Recihe este Honor" Since 2002, Heart for the Nations has been giving humanitarian aid to the people of Guatemala specifically addressing the water pollution problem.  Michelle and John White founded Heart for the Nations to address that issue. READ MORE

Sra. Selfa Amarilis Munguia,  Assistant Minister of Culture,  received HEART for the Nations in the Presidential Palace.

She is one of the most prominent Maya indigenous women to hold such a position in the government of Guatemala. The Maya people have been excluded from holding any public office until the current President of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom Caballeros. President Colom gained office in January 14, 2008, of the National Unity of Hope party.

Pictured above are John White, Director HEART for the Nations, Michelle White, International Director HEART for the Nations,  Selfa Amarilis Munguia, Assistant Minister of Culture, and two HEART Ambassadors, Jean Schlegel and Joann Rivera.

Rev. Benjamin Sandroval & Rev. Martin Leuuma receive HEART in Panajachel.  Included in the February 2009 trip was a visit to the Catholic Church in Panajachel on Lake Atitlan.  HEART Ambassadors delivered two ceramic water filters to the priests rectory for the church's use.  Also, St. Columbkill of Boyertown, PA donated to the church a substantial number of chalices, patens, and priest vestments which were no longer in use. The group had a very feisty and exciting visit learning about the parishes around Lake Atitlan and what the needs are for the priests in the region.  HEART Ambassadors were very surprised to learn that the three priests stationed in Panajachel actual serve 56 churches and chapels in and around the lake.  There is an extreme shortage of Catholic priests in Guatemala. Fr. Benjamin and Fr. Martin travel to four or five churches every day to say Mass and distribute Communion to the parishioners. Most of these trips are done via boat since traveling by lake is faster than driving by car. Fr. Martin was delighted to receive all the gifts and is hoping for a return visit by HEART in the next year. READ MORE

HEART ambassadors visit Maya Traditions on February 10, 2010.

On their trip in 2010, Ambassadors Jean Schlegel and Joann Rivera delivered 100 water filters to weavers and their families who are employed by Maya Traditions. The group of women pictured here were at a training session learning how to make rugs from scraps of material at Maya Traditions headquarters.  Social worker Marcelle Rankin introduced the women to HEART and told them about all the benefits of using a ceramic water filter.  Marcelle trains the women how to use the filter properly. In addition, Marcelle coordinates the child scholarship program through the Maya Foundation..   READ MORE

 UPAVIM was visited by Ambassadors Jean Schlegel, Joann Rivera, and Michelle White in February 2010 to see if UPAVIM could make a new line of products for HEART for the Nations.  The products, brainstormed by Deacon Michael Woodall, are for deacons in the Catholic Church who  wear an assortment of vestments throughout the liturgical year.  The prices for these vestments have gone up over the past few years and have become a burden especially to the Deacons.

HEART would like to develop a new line of vestments with UPAVIM which are affordable and Fair Trade. UPAVIM is currently working on new patterns of backstrap looming to be used in the stoles and chasubles worn by Deacons and Priests.  This will be an ongoing endeavor to continue to design new vestments. Hopefully a new line of vestments will be available by order by the year 2011.        READ MORE

View of Esperanza, Guatemala City, Guatemala, photo taken from the roof of UPAVIM, the neighborhood where the Maya women live. Esperanza is considered the poorest and most dangerous area in all of Guatemala City.