September:October 2019 Newsletter Online Copy

San Lucas Mission Newsletter September/October 2019 Letter from Julio Cesar Morales In This Edition Dear Supporters, Construction Updates Greetings from San Lucas Tolimán for all of our American friends who help fulfill the dreams of so many families here Hear from Julio Cesar, Director in Guatemala. You have managed to awaken smiles, well-be- of the Construction Program, ing, and happiness in each one of them. about the impact of increased ad- Thanks to your donations, the construction program at the equate housing in his community. San Lucas Mission has been growing more each day. Since the beginning of the new administration of the Friends of San The Impact of a Block Home Lucas at the end of 2014, we have built 11 community cen- ters, 63 block houses, 196 wood houses, and 1,340 fuel-effi- Flory Bocel Raxtun, whose family cient wood stoves. And this year, we started a new project received a block home from the to construct 24 hybrid homes, composed of block and wood by the end of the year. All of San Lucas Mission, tells us what this work is done with the purpose of advancing the principles exemplified by Father Greg the home means to her. Learn Schaffer of serving the people with the most need. how a block house improved The construction program is made up of 18 employees. Recently, Abner Bajan Mucía has their health and happiness. joined our team as the new Subdirector of the Construction Program. Not all families have the opportunity to be able to advance with dignity. However, with Mankato Gala Success your help, we’ve been able to change the lives of so many mothers, widows, children, elder- ly, and other vulnerable populations. At the same time we, as employees of the construc- We raised $140,000 at our an- tion program, also benefit from your support. nual San Lucas Gala in Mankato, In the name of all the people you help, we send you our gratitude because you put into Minnesota. Learn more about practice love for your neighbor. May God bless each one of you. our evening of inspiration and Sincerely, celebration. Julio Cesar Director of the Construction Program

Flory’s Story Flory tells how a new block home changed her life. “There are four people in my family: money situation was so difficult. We if they could help us with a house. my mom, my brother, my sister, had a wood house but over time And thanks to God, after a year, our and me, Flory. We don’t have a it deteriorated because the wood application was approved thanks father because after I was born he deteriorated and later on it rotted. We to the many people with big hearts abandoned us, and my mom took up were very sad because when it rained who supported the project with their work washing clothes from home and the water got into the house through donations. Their donations made selling bread to be able to support us. all parts of the roof. Sometimes possible for us a new, big, beautiful, Ever since I was born, my health has we had to sleep with wet sheets comfortable and safe home. been unstable. Father Greg helped us during winter because the sun didn’t Now we can sleep peacefully, without to make a better life by supporting come out and the house had holes fear of getting wet from the rain. We’re our education. We are people of few everywhere. When the weather was no longer cold. We feel safer. This resources, and for a long time we have cold it was very difficult. We got the new home is a dream come true. It been working for a better life. My flu and colds. When there were strong changed our lives and is a truly great brother was studying, but he wasn’t winds, sometimes the roof would blow blessing. May God bless everyone able to continue at the university off because it wasn’t securely attached. who made our dream a reality and all because it was too expensive. When For that reason, we started to buy of the wishes in their hearts. We are I get sick, my siblings have to spend some concrete blocks, little by little, to eternally grateful. Thank you so much a lot of money for my treatment and construct a new home. But regrettably, for your help!” with the little bit that they’re able to we couldn’t complete it because it -Flory Bocel Raxtun earn, it makes it difficult to hope for a became too expensive. better future for my family. After a long journey of suffering, we We dreamt of building a new house, spoke to the Friends of San Lucas. but it was not possible because our We completed an application to see

2019 CONSTRUCTION STATS Quick Updates from THROUGH OCTOBER 1 San Lucas Tolimán 40 Wood homes constructed to provide 1Visitor Prices short-term housing for families in need Since 2017 we have been charging $40 / 18 Block homes built to provide long-term day to our visitors but our actual costs housing for families are closer to $52 / day. Reluctantly, we will raise prices for groups that register 3 Hybrid homes constructed after January 1, 2020 to $45 / day for 369 Fuel-efficient stoves built students and $55 / day for adults. The average cost per day of similar programs To make your gift to the construction program, go to sanlucasmission.org. 2in Guatemala is $150 / day. Fair Week None of this would be possible without support from people like you! San Lucas recently celebrated the Feast To get in touch with us or make a donation visit Day of Saint Luke or in Spanish, San Lucas! The feast day is October 18th, nlucasmission.orgsanlucasmission.org but the celebrations started more than a week before with the fair coming to town with rides, delicious foods, handmade goods and much more! 3FOSL Address Change We have a new office! Please send all mail to our new address: Friends of San Lucas 3459 Washington Drive, Suite 207 Eagan, MN 55122

Celebrating San Lucas in Mankato! On September 28th, more than 350 people gathered In total we raised $140,000 to serve the people together for the annual Celebrate San Lucas Gala of San Lucas Tolimán. This money will make in Mankato, Minnesota. We enjoyed live music, education, healthcare and housing accessible. The dinner, auctions, and inspirational speakers. Several gifts from our donors and sponsors will pay salaries, special visitors joined us including, Bishop John buy books and build stoves. Their support will feed LeVoir of the New Ulm Diocese and Father John malnourished children, buy medicine for diabetic Goggin, who has served the people of San Lucas for patients and repair computers in the school. This more than 50 years. Guicha Ajcibinac, Director of money is the leaven that creates opportunities for the Women’s Center in San Lucas, also joined us to families and children, and gives life to struggling speak about the impact of her work empowering communities. On behalf of the 40,000 people we women in Guatemala. serve in and around San Lucas Tolimán, thank you to everyone who made this night a success. Welcome Paddy Garin Paddy Garin is our new stateside Director of the Coffee Program. Paddy holds a degree in marketing from Concordia University, where he studied as he worked full-time. Professionally, Paddy helped to launch a retail sales location for a for- tune 10 communication company in a “Hispanic intensive target” neighborhood. He considers himself a systems thinker, analyzing patterns unifying diverse as- pects of complex environments. Paddy was trained from a young age in a Spanish immersion program and has visited various Latin American countries. And of course, he loves coffee! If you’d like to meet Paddy or ask him a question about our coffee program, you can reach him at [email protected]. TThhaannkk yyoouu ffoorr yyoouurr ssuuppppoorrtt aanndd ggeenneerroossiittyy ttoo tthhee SSaann LLuuccaass MMiissssiioonn.. FrieFnridesndofsSoafnSaLnucLauscas • • 3454967W9aCshaimngbtroidngDerDivreiv#e2,0E7agEaang,aMn,NM5N515252122 • • 6516-5510-84-5148-408981 • •sansluacnaluscmaissmsiiosns.ioorng.org @friendsofsanlucas