The following is from Laura W, one of the HIM-LOU coordinators ---Laura has been on several past service trips to Guatemala through Hearts In Motion: "The people of Guatemala are so loving and caring - they value community and want to help each other. They are very accepting of Hearts in Motion and the good that Hearts in Motion brings to the community. Some people say that you can't go somewhere and actually make a difference, but I disagree with that. Hearts in Motion has made a difference in Zacapa, Guatemala. By continuing to work in that region they have brought education (to both children and adults), health care (through nutrition centers, clinics, and rehab centers) and community (boys clubs and fire fighters) to help change the area for the better. By supporting Hearts in Motion you truly are making a difference to these people." ~Laura Wallitsch 
On June 12 through the 28th of 2009 I travelled to Gualan, Zacapa in Guatemala for my first mission trip with Hearts in Motion. Words can not do justice to what I truly experienced while I was there. The people I met, the villages I saw, the life changing transformations, the concentration of emotions – those things can not be simply put into a single account. I was blest to be able to serve the Guatemalan community in a variety of ways - from building cribs and toddler beds to holding Bible Stories and feeding village children. Once again, during the summer of 2010, I will return to Gualan but this time with my 10 year old son. Together we will experience a life changing week, and I look forward to seeing him grow within the Guatemalan community just as I have. I will not forget, can not forget, all I have already gained in Guatemala. Memories and relationships have been imprinted on my heart which have changed me forever. I am a better person because of seventeen days in a country ravaged by poverty. I am a stronger person because of the experiences I have had. I left Guatemala with a heart that has been filled with love, peace, compassion, clarity, relationships, understanding, and above all hope. On this past plane ride returning from Guatemala, I sat there intermittingly reading and watching the sunset and the city lights of Louisville appearing below me in vivid color. I could not help but openly smile with the promise of what was to come. I recalled the work we accomplished, the bonds I had formed, and the lives I touched. No matter what happens, I will survive, the people and children in Guatemala will survive, because there is promise. 
This is a picture of a daycare that is supported by HIM. This daycare offers hope for many children of an education and a future.
"My first trip to Guatemala was beyond expectation! We met many people and participated in a variety of HIM projects. My favorite project was when our team constructed beds, playpens, and cribs throughout the week. So many hands and a ton of love went into them from cutting wood and sanding to the final touches of varnishing and sewing mattress pads. The most powerful moment of the week was when it all came full circle - time to deliver the beds! Due to the narrow road, we parked down the road from the daycare…but they heard us coming. Kids, mothers and daycare workers were cheering for us before they even laid eyes on us. We carried in the beds one after another to a standing ovation that didn’t cease until the last bed was put in place. The feeling was humbling yet gratifying and the appreciation sent chills through my sweaty body. I will remember that moment forever! The kids joyfully played in the beds, and the women gave us bottled water for our hard work. Through tears, the head of the daycare expressed that she always dreamed of being able to take care of children, however the kids were sleeping on concrete and she never felt she was doing an adequate job, but that day we made her dream come true! It was very emotional and heartfelt – what an amazing capstone to the trip! Thank you HIM for making a difference every day and for making dreams come true." ~ Ellen Hauber 2009
"These are the captivating eyes of Guatemala that you never forget"
"In June 2009, the orphanage was still under construction. It is near completion last time we heard and anxious to get back down and see how it looks and what we can do to help."
"This is a group waiting for the medical clinic. These people would wait for hours to be able to see a Nurse. They have very limited access to medical care."
"There are hundreds of people that actually live in these dumps." 
"This country is just absolutely beautiful."
"The view from the streets of Antiqua with the volcano overlooking" |