APRIL 2014IMPACT

MAIL CALL!Showers of spring letters from sponsored friends began arriving in March. Unbound volunteers will process more than 310,000 letters this spring. One will even make it to your mailbox!

OVERHEARD“My sponsorships [are] a way to teach my two children about another country in a personal, and fun, way. … My kids love to compare the similarities and differences of their experiences.”

— Christie, sponsor since 2010

We’d love to hear from you, too. Email your sponsorship story and photos to outreach@unbound.org.

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DISCOVERING TRADITIONS

A CELEBRATION OF FAITH AND CULTURE

The food, decorations and devotions that are part of Holy

Week in Guatemala make a cornucopia for the senses.

For Dora Hernandez, a translator for Unbound in Guatemala,

Holy Week is a time to celebrate her faith and culture.

And it’s an impressive sensory experience.

“The mixture of the smells of incense, palm, fireworks,

pine needles, moistened sawdust, fresh tropical fruits, flower

arrangements, grilled fish and tamales is amazing,” Dora said.

One of the wonderful benefits of sponsoring a child or elder

is forming a friendship with someone from another culture and

learning about that person’s traditions.

As a staffer since 2006, Dora translates letters from spon-

Colorful festivities highlight Holy Week in Guatemala

Dora Hernandez, translator for Unbound, Guatemala.

1 ELMWOOD AVE., KANSAS CITY, KS 66103 800.875.6564 MAIL@UNBOUND.ORG UNBOUND.ORG ©UNBOUND 2014

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sored friends and sponsors. She has

seen countless letters in which they

share their traditions with each other.

Scott Wasserman, president and chief

executive officer of Unbound, said such

sharing deepens friendships.

“Your friendship gives hope to your

sponsored friend,” Scott said. “Sharing

cultural traditions helps you and your

sponsored friend to know and respect

each other.”

Holy Week, the week before Easter

(April 13-19 this year), is a time of prayer

and gratitude, Dora said.

“This is a very spiritual time of the

year for our country.”

Tourists flock to Guatemala during

Holy Week, known locally as Semana

Santa, to take part in the rich traditions.

Guatemala is especially known for the

colorful carpets that line Holy Week pro-

A man puts the finishing touches on a carpet made from flowers, pine needles and other natural materials.

Unbound staff member Dora Hernandez and her family in Guatemala have a special way of celebrating Holy Week. They make colorful car-

pets used to line the routes of processions.The carpets are made of colored sawdust, fresh flowers, pine needles and

other natural materials. They’re offered as a way to give thanks as the image of Jesus passes through.

“It’s also part of our tradition, our culture, our unique way of celebrating and decorating our community this time of year,” Dora said.

Dora’s family prepares to make their carpet two to three months before Holy Week. They create designs hand carved from wood in the shapes of flowers, religious figures or patterns. About 10 hours before the procession, they create the carpet.

“We start [with] a thick layer of white sand and then we spread out a lay-er of natural colored sawdust,” Dora said. “Then we start creating our design with colored sawdust and natural materials.”

People usually make carpets the length of their homes.“But there are carpets the size of a whole street,” Dora said. “So five or up

to 100 people can get involved in making a carpet.”

Carpets line Holy Week processions

cessions. (See story below.)

Dora sees a strong connection

between Unbound’s work and the liber-

ating, life-giving message of Easter.

“Unbound is also bringing liberation

to those in need,” she said. “It is provid-

ing dignity for the families.

“Sponsorship provides a path for

their liberation from poverty, not only to

have more but be more.”

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA

In 2014, the city of Antigua, Guatemala, is

expected to attract about 200,000 tourists for

Holy Week.

Vistors and locals check out elaborate street carpets.