May/June Newsletter - 2020

Friends of San Lucas Newsletter May/June 2020 A Letter from the Executive Director In This Edition Dear Friend of San Lucas, Meet the Recipients of the First, I want to thank all of you for your continued Mission’s Crisis Response faithful support during these tough times. Covid-19 has changed our world in significant Read the stories of Abelino, ways and given us a much longer list of things to Dominga, and Marta, three worry about. But, thanks to your commitment recipients of the emergency food to the Mission, the employees have not had to staples and basic necessities the worry about losing their salaries. The lock-down Charity Program is delivering to in Guatemala has been very strict and most people families in need. have had whatever meager income they had, dry up. But Mission employees have been able Mission Programs Pivot to continue to support their families. And, as you might expect during tough During Pandemic times, the number of people they support has grown. Also, every program of the Mission has had to respond to this crisis. You will Learn how each Mission program read about how they have adapted inside. has responded to the current And none of this would be possible without you. Programming will return to restrictions and needs in San Lucas. pre-Covid levels and the Visitors Program will return. But until then, please know that your gifts and prayers continue to work on your behalf, for the people What is the Health of San Lucas. Promoter Program? In faith and hope, Discover this little-known, but Bill Peterson life-saving Mission program. Executive Director, Friends of San Lucas

Mission Crisis Response Hundreds of people have received food staples and basic needs from the Mission Charity Program. Here are three individuals who are benefiting from your generosity. Abelino Roquel Abelino used to work as a municipal trash collector in San Lucas. Due to changes in government, he lost his job ten years ago. He started selling fruit and other goods to make ends meet. Today, keeping up with work is sometimes difficult for Abelino because he suffers from neuropathy. Abelino lives with his wife and his adult son who suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s. His other son was killed two years ago. During a time when business is slow and he struggles with his health, food delivery is helping Abelino and his family stay afloat. Dominga Castro Pic Dominga lives in Panimaquip, a small community outside of San Lucas. She earns about 20 or 30 quetzales per day (about $3-4 US dollars) as a day laborer working the land. She often works 12 hours in a day, rain or shine, in order to provide for her children. When Mission employees provided Dominga with a bag of food staples and other basic needs, she was overjoyed. She thanked them over and over again. Marta Chuc Tax Maria has had a difficult life. Seven years ago, her husband raped their 11 year old child, who then became pregnant. Her husband was sent to jail, where he later died. Maria cares for her six-year- old grandchild, as well as her six children. Recently, the business Maria worked for shut down as a result of the pandemic. She got a loan from the bank and set up her own open air tortilla stand, but she earns very little. When the Mission offered Maria a home, despite her difficult circumstances, she requested that a sick relative receive a home first instead. She graciously receives food from the Mission to feed her family.

Programs Pivot during Pandemic The pandemic continues to spread in Guatemala. Work and travel restrictions have had a devastating effect on the country, especially the poor. San Lucas Mission programming has adapted to respond to the current restrictions and community needs. Juan Ana Coffee Program Following shipping complications due to the pandemic, the Coffee Program successfully sent a shipment to Minnesota in June. The shipment includes a limited-time specialty “honey” coffee roast. The Women’s Center The Women’s Center has been delivering meals to first responders during the pandemic. They have prepared more than 400 meals for police, army, and firefighters. Construction Program Contractors secured a variance during work restrictions that has allowed them to continue construction on the church in Panimaquip. Several houses have also been completed and dedicated in recent months. Education Program (School) The school has launched a program to help students keep learning from home. Teachers prepare homework packets for pick-up every two weeks. New Board Officers Charity With Dignity Program The Charity Program has delivered more than 500 bags of food staples and other basic necessities to families affected by work and travel restrictions. They will deliver 100 bags of food each week moving forward. Visitors Program Travel to Guatemala is restricted, but the Friends of San Lucas Visitors Committee is developing meaningful virtual learning opportunities. This includes classes about coffee and cooking direct from San Lucas! Healthcare Program The clinic has prepared for the arrival of the virus. They finally received a critical shipment of medications stuck in customs. For more information, see the back side of this newsletter. Make your life-changing gift to San Lucas today at sanlucasmission.org

What is the Health Promoter Program? One of the hidden gems of the work of the San Lucas Mission and the Friends of San Lucas is the Health Promoter program that operates in the communities. It is somewhat hidden from view, because, unless you visit with a medical team, you likely won’t see it. The Health Promoters (except for the Director, Vicente) Pictured here: Health Promoters monitor a baby’s weight are not mission employees. They are paid a very modest stipend for their work, but it is largely volunteer. There are about 50 promoters and they are trained in detecting and treating childhood malnutrition, diabetes and identifying other conditions that require referrals to the clinic and Dr. Tun. They live in the communities they serve and are often the first to be consulted when someone is sick. They work with “curanderas” (folk healers) and “comadronas” (midwives) creating a healthcare system that brings the best of both traditional and western medicine together. They also work with visiting medical groups, identifying patients, helping with interpretation (both language and culture) and disease diagnosis. And they are teachers, presenting dozens of seminars each year to the communities on topics from nutrition to hygiene. And in response to Covid-19, Health Promoters have been trained in detection and response, and have been outfitted with a cell-phone calling tree system to be able to quickly disseminate the most recent virus information. They are distributing education materials and making sure that community members have enough nutritional supplement and medicine available if the communities are completely cut-off during the pandemic. Pictured here: Alma, a current Health Promoter living in and We are so proud of their work and their deep serving the community of San Juan Mirador commitment to their communities. They have saved hundreds of lives, especially the lives of children through the nutrition program, over the last 12 years. We are deeply grateful for their service. Thank you for your support and generosity to the San Lucas Mission. Friends of San Lucas • 3459 Washington Dr. Ste. 207 Eagan, MN 55122 • 651-508-1848 • sanlucasmission.org