Ties Program Blog

Preparing for Heritage Travel | Ties Travelers Reflect | Hear From Our Team

Elizabeth Kwon 4/16/26 Elizabeth Kwon 4/16/26

Ties Traveler: Meet Aunt Allison

Read the powerful story of adoptee Dulce’s heritage journey to Guatemala, accompanied by her favorite aunt, Allison. This moving post details how the aunt-niece duo navigated the emotional complexities of a Ties trip, from discovering the program to successfully meeting Dulce’s birth family and siblings.

Learn why having a non-parental "sidekick" made a difference in Dulce's reconnection experience, the process of finding birth family, and how their family continues to build connections to Guatemala through Spanish classes and plans for future trips.

Elizabeth Kwon 3/12/26 Elizabeth Kwon 3/12/26

Language at the Lake: A New Way to Experience the Heart of Guatemala

Hazel Bendix refects on her transformative Ties trips to Guatemala and shares why she’s excited for the new Language at the Lake program. From cultural immersion and volunteering at El Amor Children’s Home to learning Spanish and building lifelong connections, this program offers adoptees a unique opportunity to explore heritage, language and identity.

Elizabeth Kwon 11/28/25 Elizabeth Kwon 11/28/25

November Gratitude Spotlight: Marra’s Star

Elizabeth Kwon 10/13/25 Elizabeth Kwon 10/13/25

A Journey Back to Guatemala: How One Adoptee Found Connection Beyond Birth Search

Former Ties Traveler, Gabby Mendez, reflects on what it feels like to travel to your birth country without accurate birth records.

Chloé Gingrich-Howling 7/24/25 Chloé Gingrich-Howling 7/24/25

From Participant to Team Member, Reflections from Ties’ First Intern

Guatemalan adoptee Bella reflects on her return to Antigua as the first Ties Program intern. From mentoring fellow adoptees to learning and living daily life in Guatemala, she shares the emotional and cultural impact of the Service and Language heritage travel experience.

Autumn Ackerson 6/20/25 Autumn Ackerson 6/20/25

Ties Traveler: Meet Bella

Guatemalan adoptee Bella Faulkenberry shares her transformative experience traveling with The Ties Program. From rediscovering her heritage to building lifelong connections with fellow adoptees, Bella reflects on what it meant to return to her birth country with support, community, and love.

3/1/24 3/1/24

Dear Birthmother

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