Partners in Education

The Lutheran World Federation posted the article “Guatemala: Miracles take time and trust” on its website in May 2020. Pastora Karen Castillo, President of Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG), discussed how sharing and studying scripture with people in the villages and their realization that Jesus worked with and through all people in his ministry was a gradual process that began in the infancy of ILAG three decades ago.

Over the years, as members in the village churches experienced Pastor Esther’s and Pastor Karen’s presence and the scripture lessons influenced their thinking, congregations with their strong male leaders began to accept equity as women started to have roles in the churches. Women’s voices in the villages were instrumental in collectively sharing their dreams for their daughters, granddaughters, and future generations of women. Pastora Karen, and the ILAG staff used their inspiration as Casa Milagro became a part of its ministry.

In addition to learning more about Milagro, what caught my attention was a quote by Pastora Karen about Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala as her parents started the church.

As children, both my father and my mother received scholarships from churches to attend school in the city. This is where they met. They believed that with those scholarships, they received an opportunity to change their lives and it opened doors for them. Therefore, they founded this church understanding that If you give someone an education their life is going to be changed - boys and girls (Guatemala: Miracles take time and trust, 2020).

Education is a component of so many of the initiatives that we have been a part of in the past--improving drinking water, sanitation, nutrition, air, health, and well-being of members our congregations. We have generously sponsored health training, leadership and theology training, scholarships, and funds for the elementary school. So many of us have led children’s activities at the school and with Sunday School classes.

You are invited to celebrate the many ways we have partnered with ILAG in the past and how learn how we can continue to support its work to change lives through education at this year’s Guatemala Gala. We hope you'll join us via Facebook or the synod website on Sunday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. Visit www.spas-elca.org/2021-guatemala-gala for more details.

-Jennifer Reinhardt
Guatemala Gala Committee