May/June Newsletter

San Lucas MissionNewsletterMay/June 2018A Note from the Director In This EditionDear Friends of San Lucas,50 years ago Fr. Greg and the School Sisters of Notre Dame had the foresight 50 Years of Educationto begin a school in San Lucas that would open its doors to the underservedand often excluded indigenous Maya of San Lucas. I had the privilege of Hear from the Director of theattending the 5-day long celebration of the anniversary of the school early in School about how they celebrat-May along with many of the people who played important roles in those early ed 50 years of education in Sandays. Lucas.It was a marvelous time with tributes to graduates, former teachers andformer administrators. So many lives changed by a vision born 50 years ago. Cultural SnapshotCongratulations to all the teachers who made this anniversary possible andthank you to everyone who has supported the school over the years. Both Former Long-Term Volunteer,the scholarship program and all the general support received for the school is Alex Meyers, reflects on the sig-essential in our quest to provide a rigorous, accessible, Catholic education that nificance of something as simpleserves the whole person. as a snack break.By the time you read this, the Friends of San Lucas will have ended its secondstraight year in the black. All this is due to the faithful support of so many of San Lucas Updatesyou. We appreciate each and every gift that comes in and continue to do allwe can to ensure that each gift has maximum impact among the community Catch up on other Mission newsof San Lucas. We estimate that the programming and employment provided through our quick updates fromby the Mission in San Lucas affects the lives of 15,000 people each year. And San Lucas Tolimán.that impact would not be possible if it weren’t for the vision of those whoworked so hard in those early years and certainly could not continue were it Event Updatesnot for the generosity of all of you. Here’s to 50 more years!In hope and faith, A brief summary of our KansasBill City Celebration and updates on upcoming events.

50 Years of EducationLetter from Patricia We wish you blessings from our savior, Jesus Christ, and success in your daily lives. I want to inform you that, thanks to God, Fr. Greg, Friends of San Lucas and donors, the Colegio Monseñor Gregorio Schaffer celebrated 50 years of providing education to thousands of students that have passed through each one of its classrooms receiving new knowledge, ideas, and developing the skills and abilities of each one. 50 years ago, Fr. Greg recognized that in San Lucas Tol- imán, only the children of a higher social class had the opportunity to receive an education. This is why he wanted to create a place for the Maya children to have the opportunity to learn and, in return, be able to experience the joy of person- ally excelling. Because he believed that education is the basis of development for both a country and a community. Thanks to the support of the entire educational community, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary through the following activities:After a group of students and staff Students, staff, parents and severalran through San Lucas with the cer- others attended a mass to celebrate 50emonial torch, Bill had the honor of years of education!lighting a fire to signify the beginningof the celbrations!A lunch after the mass included de- Girls from all grade levels partici- A statue of Fr. Greg and a plaquelicious cake decorated with the 50th pated in a pageant where they were commemorating 50 years of edu-anniversary logo. awarded for things like their kind- cation was unveiled in the school ness, athletics, academic achieve- couryard. ments and more!Thank YOU for making 50 years of education for the youth of San Lucas possible!

Cultural Snapshot -Snack BreaksWritten by Alex MeyersWhen your group hops on a plane to come spend time in San Lucas Tol- Quick Updates fromimán, the idea of what awaits usually dances at the forefront of everyone’simaginations. At some point though, you begin to realize the things you’ve San Lucas Tolimánleft behind.First it begins small; did you pack the right shoes? Enough bug spray? Then 1New School Buildingyour mind gains momentum -- your reliable wifi, hot showers, clean water,your family and friends, the comfort you’ve grown accustomed to, and over- Mission employees, contractors andall, your general sense of belonging. visitors have been working hard for aAs a visitor, you trade in all your familiarities for Guatemalan comforts, like year to prepare the land and foundationthe sound of handmade tortillas being sold in the streets, warm greetings for a new school building. The foundationmatched with gentle charades to deconstruct language barriers, and always is now complete and the school buildinga felt sense of shared gratitude amongst the locals. will be complete after the second weekIt’s in these small exchanges that you feel a new sense of belonging. No,you’re not in your own home, but you’ve been welcomed into someone 2of July!else’s, and they let you know how special and celebrated your presence is.These are slow and subtle shifts though, and sometimes you must be rattled Fr. Greg’s Passingawake from your own expectations and pretenses. Sometimes all it takes is asmall break, or the “refa” as our construction teams call it. May 24th, 2018 marked 6 years sinceEvery week day morning, as visitors trickle into the biblioteca for their daily Father Greg’s passing. Every year on thisdose of breakfast beans, the construction workers are beginning to set up day, the people of San Lucas celebrateat their day’s site. For this reason, by the time groups arrive, helping hands his life through a mass and procession toready, the Guatemalan workers are probably already thinking about a little the cemetary where they pray, sing andsnack to get themselves through until lunch. However, without fail, theygraciously greet us and assign us to various jobs. tell stories from Fr. Greg’s life.About an hour into our given work of moving dirt, sifting sand, or bendingrebar, the workers begin to slow their pace. Then they say a sentence that 3New Coffee Drying Patiogives you a key to unlock a part of their world, “vamos a refaccionation,” ajoke that began months ago with past LTVs. Hilarities aside, this is a per- A new coffee drying patio has beensonal invitation extended to volunteers, an initiation of sorts into the con- completed and will be ready to use forstruction clique. This impossibly small gesture reconstructs part of the the next coffee harvest! This new dryingsense of belonging you thought you had left behind back in the states. patio allows more space to be able toAn invitation to share a bag of chips and a pop becomes the purchase and process more coffee fromwelcome mat to a new home you didn’t even knowyou were building. our small coffee growers. None of this would be possible without support from people like you! To get in touch with us or make a donation visit sanlucasmission.org

Event Updates of the Misson. Former Volunteer Other Events Coordinator, Heather Statz, talked about her experiences in San Lu- Friends of San Lucas Gala cas and the effect such a wonderful community has had on her life. And The 6th annual Friends of San Lucas former Colegio Monseñor Gregorio Gala will take place in Mankato, MN at Schaffer student, Myra Abshire, dis- the Verizon Wireless Center on Octo- cussed the profound impact Fr. Greg ber 27th. It will be an evening of goodKansas City Celebration and the school had on her life. It was company celebrating the work of the Mission. Mark your calendars!On April 21st, Rogers and Peg a wonderful evening celebrating SanStrickland hosted the second annu- Lucas and thanks to the generosity of Friends of San Lucas get Sociableal Kansas City Celebration to raise sponsors, supporters and all those inawareness and funds for the Mission attendance we were able to raise over The Friends of San Lucas will be host-projects. This year, the event focused $300,000. ing an end of the summer celebrationon education. Former Director of the at Sociable Cider Werks in Minneapo-Friends of San Lucas, Arch Mrkvicka, Thanks to all who planned, attended lis the beginning of September!spoke about the most recent projects and supported this event! Details to follow.Black Out DatesIn an effort to allow all of our employees in Guate- Purchase your fresh bag of coffeemala time to take vacation and spend holidays with online at sanlucasmission.org their families, the Mission will NOT be providing Follow us @friendsofsanlucas visitor services (including transportation, meals, money exchange and service work) the following dates in 2018: September 9th - 24th October 14th - 21st November 15th - 17th December 24th - 26thThank you for your understanding in this effort! Thank you for your support and generosity to the San Lucas Mission.Friends of San Lucas • 4679 Cambridge Drive, Eagan, MN 55122 • 651-454-0981 • sanlucasmission.org