Spring Newsletter 2023

NEWSLETTER SPRING 2023 IN THIS EDITION From the Executive Director Learn about new innovations at the Mission School Dear Friend of San Lucas, Read a recap of the I have three academic degrees. I am not bragging, because what is interesting 2023 coffee harvest to me is that I have had more opportunities because I am a carpenter. I am a huge advocate of vocational training and, in high school, I learned as Meet Alli Folk, FOSL's much valuable information in shop class as I did in my English class (which also newest staff member had a big impact on me). We are often asked why the Mission school only goes to 6th grade. And there Thank you to our are two answers. generous Kansas City One reason is that there are several schools that provide vocationally-focused Celebration sponsors training that is the equivalent of high school in San Lucas. These schools focus on training people to become accountants, teachers and to work in tourism. Go paperless - sign up The other reason is a little harder to get our minds around. That is the idea that for the e-newsletter you can educate a person out of their community. If there are no opportunities to use your education locally, you are forced to leave home and family to find You can be a part of work. this incredible work! The average age of leaving school in Guatemala is 11, so a solid education in Make your gift today. the early years is essential. One of the essential skills today is computer literacy and the Mission school sanlucasmission.org/give offers a fully-equipped and up-to-date computer lab. It also provides computers for every teacher to use for research or to develop lessons. This is all made possible by your generous donations. Read on to learn more! Bill Peterson Executive Director Friends of San Lucas

Mission School Opens New Computer Lab The Mission School opens doors of opportunity in San Lucas. The school offers high-quality, Montessori-style instruction and Christian formation at no cost to more than 600 students each year. Recently, generous donors made it possible for the school to update its computer lab. This means 15 state-of-the-art computers added for a total of 30 computers. Read on to learn about the impact of the new equipment on students. We interviewed Media Teacher Victor Chuc de León about the importance of new computers at the Mission School. Q: What is the biggest benefit of the new lab? Q: What else would you like to share? A: The facilities and equipment of the Mission A: When we started our computer class, many children did not know how to turn on a School are the best in the town of San computer, let alone use the keyboard and Lucas. This provides children with the tools mouse. Now, the students have mastered they need to develop fluency with new basic usage of the computer. They are technology. Thanks to the donors, the developing knowledge of technology. computers work well and don’t hinder the children's learning. With these donations, Q: What are the children learning right now? donors not only support the children at the A: The children are learning to type efficiently school, but also the development of our town. The donors provide resources for with a keyboard. They are using a program learning, but also the livelihood of teachers that helps them to position their hands like me. I know that each donor will receive correctly over the keys. The students are the blessings that they deserve, for helping very excited that they can now take the children in their learning. computer classes with quality equipment. \"Everything changed for the better with these new tools for learning.\" - Sol Guadalupe Sosa Gramajo, Sixth Grade Student Want to make a difference for children in Guatemala? Visit sanlucasmission.org to make your gift today!

2023 Coffee Harvest in San Lucas The coffee harvest for the 2023 season has come to an end! It was a season filled with new advances at Café Juan Ana. They were able to use their new water filtration system, which enabled the reuse of this valuable resource. They also trialed some new African drying beds for the honey-processed coffee which helped them increase the amount of space for drying and the ease of turning to increase circulation. During this year's growing season, Café Juan Ana was able to buy from 91 small coffee producers - 55 men and 36 women. They purchased 323,700 pounds of ripe coffee, which breaks down to 50,320 pounds of oro (green) coffee or about 41,930 pounds of roasted coffee. With your help, we emptied the bodega of last year’s crop and have refilled it with the new harvest. One of the growers, Victor, has been growing coffee for 40 years. His wife and two children used to help him with picking, but unfortunately, they have all passed away, leaving him alone. For him, the harvest season is always filled with special memories of them picking together and the special bond that coffee was in their life and how they always supported him. Victor wants to you to know that as Guatemalan growers, they guarantee that their coffee is the best quality, from healthy plants grown in rich volcanic soil. They appreciate your support in buying their coffee. You can support Victor and all the coffee growers who sell to the Mission by buying and sharing their fine product. Make your purchase today at juananacoffee.org. Meet FOSL's Newest Staff Member, Alli Folk! Alli’s introduction to FOSL was in 2018 when she went on a spring break mission trip with the Catholic Mavs of MNSU-Mankato. She fell in love with the people, the Mission, and the genuine joy she felt working alongside the Guatemalans. She became a Long-Term Volunteer in 2019, which further deepened her love for the people of San Lucas. Alli brings a background of banking, accounting, and investment experience to the team. In her free time, she likes finding new walking paths with her husband and pup, reading, and traveling to new places.

Kansas City Event Exceeds Fundraising Goal In April, Friends of San Lucas and Strickland Construction hosted a historic event in Kansas City. We celebrated 25 years of Strickland Construction building in San Lucas. Strickland has constructed 50 buildings, including community centers, schools, churches and spaces for non- profits. It is a remarkable and impactful legacy. Thank you to Rogers and Peg Strickland for decades of service to the people of San Lucas! Thanks to the generosity of our The event was also historic because we raised friends in Kansas City, we raised: over $1.8 million to support the work of the Mission! This is the most we have ever raised in a $1,800,000+! fundraising event. It is a testimony to the faithful and deep commitment to the work of the Mission by hundreds of you. Our hearts are full of gratitude for your support. Thank you! Extra special thanks to our major sponsors: Rogers & Peg Strickland | Rich & Jeannie Keeton | Brian & Ronda Mathiowetz | Jim & Jan Seifert | Quality Plumbing & Mechanical | Forge Building Company LLC | Steve & Tricia Schreiber | Strickland Farms | Kourtis & Simmons Foundation | Jim & Ann Adamic | Jay Sentz | Matt Miller | Unbound | TPP Kansas City | Clarity Services Group | Eric & Charlene Hughes | First National Bank of Omaha | Roger & Jeanie Scarbrough | Peterson Manufacturing Company | Curby & Denise Hughes Go paperless and make a difference for the people of San Lucas. For every mailing we send, we pay for printing and postage. We value keeping our supporters up to date, and we also strive to be as efficient as we can with our funds, so that we can maximize our impact in San Lucas. If you'd like to receive digital newsletters and save us the cost of print mailings, please email us at [email protected]. Friends of San Lucas | 3459 Washington Dr. #207, Eagan, MN 55122 | sanlucasmission.org