Guatemala Mission News: August 2022
Men, women and children who have benefited from the support of the Guatemala Commission (Courtesy Photo)
The Guatemala Commission is pleased to announce that special guest for the Eighth Annual Guatemala Mission Celebration on Monday, Sept. 12 will be Natalia De Leon, program coordinator for Family-to-Family (FTF).
Natalia De Leon, program coordinator for Family-to-Family. (Courtesy Photo)
Natalia, a talented, bilingual manager has a Business Administration degree from San Carlos University in Guatemala City. She is the Administrative Manager for Ormat, a company that operates two geothermal energy plants in Guatemala. She has considerable experience in program planning, financial and international project management.
Natalia’s family includes her husband, Jorge, children Melissa and Luis Pedro, and sister Yoli. Natalia has worked with FTF for over thirty years, coordinating activities with Guatemalan Field Operations Manager Adela Tambriz and Spokane-based Jerry and Clara Monks, Miriam and Roger Devaney and Julianne Connell Sachs.
FTF is an economic development program in the Guatemala Mission area that connects people living in poverty to opportunity. Founded in 1985, FTF’s primary mission is to provide income-producing skills training and resources to families and communities working to rise from poverty and become self-sufficient. In addition to offering paths to financial stability, FTF helps families construct safer housing, invests in community development and assists with emergency and hurricane relief.
Natalia also serves as the liaison for the Guatemala Committee at Our Lady of Fatima Church, helping to convey the needs, progress and activities of several education institutions supported by the parish.
Please join us at the Celebration, which will be held at Barrister Winery, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12. It will include complimentary appetizers, coffee and water, with wine available for purchase. Family-to-Family will display and sell weavings made by people in the program and there will be a small silent auction. This will be the final opportunity to buy raffle tickets for the quilt, circulated to various parishes since the winner will be drawn at the event. There is no charge to attend this fun, educational gathering.
Previous guests, Pascual Tahay Ajpacaja and Francisca Tambriz Sohom, cannot attend this year; hopefully, they can participate in a future Guatemala Celebration.
