Seeds of Hope: A Sustainable Agriculture Project

Since many of you are brothers and sisters from our partner churches, you are aware that Guatemala is a multicultural and multilingual country. Four ethnic groups coexist: the Maya, the Garífuna, the Xinka and the Ladino; its people speak 25 different languages. In the Guatemalan economy, 60% of all exports are developed by agricultural production. But over the years, farming families are facing challenges: climate change, deforestation, lack of new knowledge and diversification of the crops.

Working together with the congregations and their input, the ILAG is starting a new project based on sustainable agriculture, hopefully with the support of Global Mission, partner synods, independent churches and government entities. The goals are to:

• produce new products (vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants)
• improve nutrition for the families in the communities
• find new markets in the future

This first year, despite the pandemic, we have been able to start the experimentation process in several communities. Church members who volunteered were implementing the use of organic fertilizers such as compost, preparing land in a new way to improve the water collection, and producing new vegetables that will benefit the nutrition of the families located in those communities.

Even though we acknowledge that this is the start of a long journey, we are motivated and blessed to explore and find sustainable agricultural practices that will benefit future generations. With continued ideas and energy to improve their agricultural and product development, people will have opportunities that will provide better incomes and nutrition for their families.

Know that your sister congregations hold you in their hearts and prayers in these uncertain times and look forward to seeing you in the near future to share a meal together at the table.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” - Galatians 6:9

Diego Gil
Coordinator of Communications and SEED Program
Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala