Our Culture. Our Stories. Our Guatemala.
Celebrating independence, honoring our heritage, and caring for the people who carry it forward.
As our staff gathered at Casa de Fe to celebrate Guatemala’s Independence Day, we shared a moment to appreciate the country we are privileged to serve. It was an opportunity to honor our history, celebrate the traditions that connect us, and remember that Guatemala’s greatest beauty is found in its people.
On September 15, 1821, the Act of Independence was signed in Guatemala City, declaring independence from Spanish rule. This historic event marked a shared turning point for the territories that would become Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Today, all five nations commemorate their independence on September 15, with a connection rooted in their shared history.
Yet Guatemala’s story reaches far beyond that moment. Its heritage lives in ancestral languages, traditional clothing, food prepared and shared among families, and knowledge passed from one generation to the next. It lives in the communities that preserve these traditions and in the everyday ways people care for one another.
At Faith In Practice, we encounter this living heritage through our patients and their families. Each person who comes to us brings a story shaped by home, family, community, and hope. Taking the time to listen allows us to understand more than their medical needs. It helps us recognize what matters most to them and the life they hope to return to after receiving care.
Honoring our patients means listening to their stories, respecting their identity, and helping them feel seen, valued, and loved throughout their care. Their languages, beliefs, and traditions deserve respect at every step of their journey. In each encounter, we have an opportunity to affirm the dignity and worth God has given every person.
Our celebration at Casa de Fe brought this purpose close to our hearts. As colleagues, we came together in gratitude for Guatemala and for the opportunity to serve its people. We also reflected on the trust patients place in us when they arrive seeking help, often accompanied by loved ones who share their worries and prayers.
Independence Day gives us a moment to remember the past and consider how we can contribute to the country’s future. For our team, that commitment takes shape through service: welcoming families with kindness, listening with patience, and walking alongside patients as they seek a healthier life.
Guatemala’s story continues through its children, parents, grandparents, and communities. Their voices and traditions connect the past to the future. As we celebrate our country, we renew our commitment to caring for the people who make it home.
Our culture gives us roots. Our stories bring us together. Our faith calls us to serve.
¡Feliz Día de la Independencia, Guatemala!
A Moment to Play, a Place to Find Joy
At Casa de Fe, our Children’s Day celebration brought children and adults together to laugh, play, and enjoy a few precious moments of joy. For families facing the uncertainty of surgery, it was a welcome chance to set their worries aside and simply be together.
Some of the children staying at Casa de Fe are waiting for surgery that could change their daily lives, giving them more opportunities to walk, play, attend school, and experience the same possibilities as other children. Beside them are parents who remain close day and night, offering comfort and praying that this care will open the door to a brighter future.
For these families, a celebration means more than a break in the day. It offers space to breathe, connect with other parents who understand their fears, and make happy memories beyond medical appointments and waiting rooms. Seeing their children enjoy themselves can bring a little relief to hearts carrying so much.
As children and adults took turns breaking the piñata and sharing in the excitement, everyone had a chance to let go and join the fun. Parents, patients, and staff found fellowship in these simple moments, reminding us that the joy of childhood is something we can carry throughout our lives.
The celebration invited all of us to remember when we were young to laugh freely, delight in small things, and make room for play. Even amid uncertainty, there is still room for joy.
At Casa de Fe, reflecting Christ’s love means caring for families through both their worries and their celebrations. This Children’s Day reminded us why those moments matter: every child deserves the chance to simply be a child, and every parent deserves moments of peace along the way.
¡Feliz día del Niño from Casa de Fe and Faith in Practice!
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