Virtual Guatemala Gala

Click the above image to watch our 2020 Virtual Guatemala Gala! It begins with a 10-minute countdown to the gala featuring marimba music and photos of past trips to Guatemala.

We couldn't gather in person this year due to COVID-19, but we supported the Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG)...the Lutheran Church of Guatemala better than ever! Proceeds from our online gala are going toward paying back an ELCA loan to purchase and renovate a new building for its school AND in this time of global pandemic, toward providing food and supplies for ILAG's 450 families isolated in rural villages.

We are excited to share that as of June 1, more than $90,000 was given. Of the proceeds, $33,000 has been sent to the ELCA for the first payment on the $250,000 loan. Almost that same amount was sent earlier for repairs to the school to install railings on balconies and stairways, renovate bathrooms, upgrade electrical grids, and paint many rooms. A recent challenge was the discovery that the underground water tank needs to be replaced, so some of the gala funds will be used for that. At least $20,000 will be used for the next wave of COVID-19 relief, as we all recognize that the virus threat will return.

The Virtual Guatemala Gala includes:

The premiere of a Guatemalan produced video about the school and its impact on its families and neighborhood
Updates from ILAG representatives, including Pastor Karen Castillo, Beatriz Castillo and Diego Gil
Messages Bishop Patricia Lull and other synod leaders involved with our Guatemala partnership
Messages and artwork from Rev. Steve Thomason (Easter Lutheran, Eagan). You can download his final painting to use as a Zoom background or for your social media. (Right click on the image to save the image to your computer.)

Thank you for your financial and/or prayer support for our Guatemalan sisters and brothers in the ILAG!

Make an Authentic Guatemalan Meal!

Chef Amalia Moreno-Damgaard usually plans the menu for the Saint Paul Area Synod's annual Guatemala Gala. But because we couldn't gather in person in 2020, she is sharing her recipes so you can make your own authentic Guatemalan meal at home! In the video below, Chef Amalia demonstrates how to make Sangria a la Amalia (Red Wine & Citrus Punch), Ensalada de Tomate y Huevo (Beefsteak Tomato & Egg Salad with Garlic Vinaigrette), Jocon (Chicken, Tomatillo & Cilantro Stew), and Gallo Pinto (Spicy Rice & Black Beans)...all from her award-winning cookbook, Amalia's Guatemalan Kitchen-Gourmet Cuisine with a Cultural Flair. Click here for the printed recipes!