The virus that has devastated lives and ravaged economies around the world has affected our missionary work, just as it has affected most of you in your jobs and daily lives. As many churches have had their offerings diminished, they have been able to send less to the missionaries they support. That obviously affects all of us who work in the missionary ministry. We immediately perceived the risks and moved quickly to reduce expenses. In order to meet this unprecedented challenge we have stopped all construction at the camp and are attempting to keep expenses as low as possible so as to help with the needs in Colombia as much as possible. We place our trust in the Lord to provide and move forward in that simple faith, knowing He will provide for our needs.
As would be obvious, the virus has affected the entire world and in many countries has been much more destructive than it has been to us here in America. It has devastated the economy in Colombia as well and in many cases much worse than here. Many Colombians live from hand to mouth as what they earn today is what they eat on tomorrow. They struggle to pay utilities and rent and many times must go hungry just to meet those basic nAs would be obvious, the virus has affected the entire world and in many countries has been much more destructive than it has been to us here in America. It has devastated the economy in Colombia as well and in many cases much worse than here. Many Colombians live from hand to mouth as what they earn today is what they eat on tomorrow. They struggle to pay utilities and rent and many times must go hungry just to meet those basic needs even in the best of times. When they do not work, they do not eat! When money is short for food and rent hunger knocks at their door and then obviously there is nothing left over to pay tuition for the school for their children.
Since Colegio Peniel is a ministry, there is no profit to build up and then lay aside for the lean times and emergencies, such as this pandemic. Since we provide a social service to the very poor, we do not want to expel students who are unable to pay at the time of crisis. We could try to wait it out and hope their parents could catch up once things get better. But even when the economy opens back up it will be hard for many parents as they will be behind in many other areas as well, such as rent and utilities. The school cannot simply pardon the debt as we must pay teachers and other school expenses. If the school does not have the income from tuition, they cannot pay salaries to their teachers and the teachers would need to look for work elsewhere. If that happens, the school would soon cease to be a viable ministry because of the economic realities and would be forced to close down permanently.
For this reason, we come to you at this difficult moment. We are aware that many of you have faced significant challenges as well when it comes to your own economy. Yet we have been blessed here in America was we do have many advantages that others in the rest of the world do not have. For that reason we come to you now and ask that you consider making a special donation to the educational ministry of Colegio Peniel, so that we can offer to these struggling parents a partial or full coverage of the tuition they have not been able to pay. If you can contribute a special love offering to the Pandemic Tuition Fund you will bless us in this ministry and save the educational opportunity for a child in Colombia. The only other option most of these parents have would be simply to withdraw their child from school and attempt to return in a year or so when things have normalized. But obviously, if we are forced to close the school, there will be no place for them to return to! If you would like to donate to help with the program, send checks to:
Colombian Christian Mission
Post Office Box 95
Rittman, OH. 44270-0095
or Donate through Paypal below: