And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 NRSVue | | Your Generosity Keeps 72 Q'eqchi' Maya Girls in School | | |
This fall, the Rev. Mary Beenken (Peoria, Il.) shared her LPGM story with the LPGM community. She introduced you to Elvira, a Qʼeqchiʼ Maya woman in Guatemala who went from middle school dropout to community leader and entrepreneur with support from our partner, Community Cloud Forest Conservation.
Thank you to those of you who answered Mary's call to action to support this initiative; 47 supporters funded 61 WALC scholarships at $275 each.
However, their impact was multiplied by a match of $50 per scholarship from three generations of the Beenken family. In total, supporters gave $20,010 — or 72 scholarships — toward our $34,375 goal to fund 125 scholarships this year.
To learn how you can help provide a scholarship for one of the 53 girls still waiting, call Bethany at 612.806.0733 or visit lpgm.org/dreams.
| | Mwangaza's Fall Fundraising Initiative Makes Progress | | Normandale Youth Share Guatemala Trip Observations (& Pie) | | |
During the October 11 adult forum at Normandale Lutheran Church (NLC) in Edina, Minn., youth travelers shared slides, stories, and baked goods from the Central Highlands of Guatemala.
Seven NLC youth and three from Faith Lutheran Church (Shelton, Wash.), plus chaperones, visited LPGM partner Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) this past July as part of a multi-congregation youth trip.
LPGM trip leader Laura Feile is planning a post-trip gathering in November, so that NLC and FLC youth and chaperones can reunite and reflect on how the experience has transformed their lives.
Read Q&A highlights
| | Literacy Program Students Advance | |
On October 24, two literacy centers in Baboua, Central African Republic (CAR), held a graduation ceremony for 30 women advancing from level one to level two in the literacy program.
One student, Julie Kombo, shared her experience with the program in front of the group. She proudly exclaimed, "Before [joining the program], I couldn’t read or write, but thanks to the literacy program, I can now read, write, and do math. I didn’t know how to take care of my family, but today I take good care of my children. I have learned a lot of things that will help me throughout my life.*"
While level one caters to true beginners, level two is for learners who have spent two years in the program and can read and write at a basic level. Literacy instructors measure students’ progress through a midterm and final exam during each six-month session.
Three centers are preparing to host similar ceremonies soon. Your support of the literacy program continues to bring hope and tangible life skills to women and girls in CAR.
Learn about the literacy program
*Quote translated from Sango to English
| | Women in Agroecology Leadership for Conservation (WALC) is Growing! | | |
Due to increasing demand and the popularity of WALC, Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) is planning to hold three — instead of two — WALC sessions this year, beginning November 8.
Leadership development is a key component of WALC, so the team hopes to identify the next generation of WALC teachers and group leaders during the first session.
CCFC has hosted 26 WALC sessions since their inception and have seen the dropout rate for female students in their area decrease from 75% to 5%.
LPGM friends help make this incredible impact possible by funding scholarships that allow WALC participants to defy the odds and stay in school longer.
Learn more about WALC
| | Saron Students Plant 100 Trees Ahead of El Niño | | | | |
On September 23, a group of boys from Saron Boarding Home spent all day planting trees in anticipation of this year's El Niño. They dug 100 holes, hand-wrote and painted posters, and started a garden. Staff also encouraged students to plant trees in their home villages.
One student named Krishna wrote, "El Niño brings unpredictable weather and dry spells, but our hands choose resilience. By planting these 100 team trees, we are building a cooler, greener, and more climate-resistant tomorrow."
Read more about how and why this project happened
| | Video above: Watch an inspiring five-minute documentary about Mwangaza's story and impact, created by Mwangaza communications staff member Johnson Laizer. | Asante Sana ("Thank you very much") from Dr."Mama Shoonie" Hartwig | |
This reflection was written by Mwangaza founder Dr. "Mama Shoonie: Hartwig to mark Mwangaza's 30th anniversary.
Salaama wote! (Swahili phrase meaning “peace be upon all” or “peace to everyone")
We couldn’t have imagined that ELCT and ELCA teachers, gathered in Arusha after a seminar in 1986, would be vibrant and thriving in 2026.
At the end of our gathering, one teacher asked, “Who are we? What should we call ourselves?” Without missing a beat, Margaret Bulugu, from the Eastern Coastal Diocese, said, “We are MWANGAZA!”
Mama Shoonie was not able to travel to Tanzania to deliver the address, but former Friends of Mwangaza (FOM) President Mary Jo Huelle (Mitchell, Neb.) read it on her behalf at Mwangaza's 30th anniversary celebration in Arusha, Tanzania, in September 2026.
Continue reading Mama Shoonie's reflection
Learn more about Mwangaza in this 30-minute webinar
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My Journey with Mwangaza: What I've Learned and Why I've Stayed Involved
By Debbie Kogelman
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I was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. My parents had us active in our Lutheran church, and we were always doing some type of social outreach through our youth group. I guess that carried over into adulthood. I became a middle school earth science and history teacher. Once I married John, we moved around a lot as he built his career, and I taught in five states. We finally settled in Illinois, where we stayed for 25 years.
I was first introduced to Mwangaza Education for Partnership (Mwangaza) around 2002 through St. John Lutheran Church in Joliet, Illinois. I found out that several people in our congregation had helped form Mwangaza in 1996, especially Jim Talarico.
Continue reading about Debbie's Mwangaza journey
| | Praveen's Determination to Break the Cycle | | | | |
Praveen's father passed away when he was young, and his mother began working as a daily wage laborer in Bangalore to make ends meet. She enrolled him at Saron Boarding Home in Tiruvannamalai, India, to ensure he had a safe place to live and study.
When Praveen's grandmother fell ill, his mother returned home to take care of her. She switched to local household work, but it barely covered medical expenses, so she sought financial help from Praveen's uncle.
However, his support came with strings attached. Whenever Praveen is on break from school, his uncle insists that he work to earn money.
Despite these hardships, Praveen remains remarkably focused on his education. He is determined to break this cycle and views education as the only way to ensure he can provide a different life for himself and his family.
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Secure your Seat at our Table. Help Shape the Future of our Ministry!
Join LPGM's Finance, Program, Transformational Travel, Congregational Engagement, or Development committee.
In your role, you'll contribute to meaningful work, share your unique point of view and skill set, provide hands-on support for our programs and travel, and collaborate and connect with mission-minded people.
You do not need to be an LPGM board member to serve on a committee. All ages are welcome. Most committees meet bi-monthly or quarterly for 1-2 hours over Zoom, and meetings are usually held in the evenings after work.
Email office@lutheranpartners.org to learn more.
| | Video Highlights from Recent Transformational Travel Trips | | |
Generosity Matters:
A Monthly Reflection on Faithful Giving
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Since 2024, the second Thursday of October has been celebrated as a national giving day to raise up the power of donor-advised funds (DAFs) to make our world a better place. This year, DAF Day fell on October 8.
DAFS are the fastest-growing tool people are using to:
- Set money aside for charity
- Get an immediate tax break
- Grant to nonprofits anytime
There are nearly 3.6 million DAF accounts nationwide, with assets estimated to surpass $326 billion*!
Continue reading about how you can use your DAF for good
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Do you have an alternative gift fair at your church? Let us know!
If your congregation hosts an alternative gift fair, we'd love to connect with you!
We can confirm that you have the most current information on LPGM's programs, branding, and our partners' needs — to ensure that your gift fair posting is accurate and compelling.
If you haven't included LPGM in your alternative gift fair in the past and are interested in learning more, we would love to hear from you, too.
Please email Laura Feile at laura@lutheranpartners.org.
Thank you for connecting your members with meaningful ways to give this holiday season.
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Pictured above: To celebrate Halloween, the LPGM U.S.-based team dressed up as characters from "The Office."
Left to right: Bethany Krepela as Angela Martin, Laura Feile as Jan Levinson, John Anthony as Dwight Schrute, the Rev. Dan Ruth as Toby Flenderson, and Shannon Mahedy as Phyllis Vance.
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Sharing is Caring!
Share this newsletter with a friend and help spread the word about LPGM.
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Upcoming Events
November 8 - Foundation Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka, Minn.
November 8 - LPGM at Galilee Lutheran Church, Roseville, Minn.
November 9 - Registration Deadline for February 2027 Trip to India
February 9-23, 2027 - LPGM Trip to India
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Our Mission: LPGM provides access to quality education for people at the margins – especially women and girls. We work together with global partners to listen, respond and bear witness to local needs and priorities.
Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 41-1818525. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
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