Happy Easter and Thank you from Armonia

Dear Friends,
Thank you for your generous support and prayers for our Christmas Appeal. Thank you also for your wonderful hospitality during Saul and Pilar's visit to the UK earlier this month. We thank God for your love and faithfulness in these trying times.

Over the week, Saul and Pilar related many stories about the students at Armonia and the families brought closer to God through their Christian Transformation Centres. We wanted to share these stories, positive and unfortunate, to all our supporters.

Positive news:

- Building work on the second residence in Oaxaca keeps advancing and the first floor has been completed. This will allow Armonia to house boys and girls in separate buildings possibly by next September. It will also provide a larger kitchen where everyone can eat inside together. (Volunteer groups are needed this summer to help finish, paint and furnish the house!)

 

- An Armonia graduate, Irene, was the first woman in her village to go to and graduate from University. She has also been accepted to have a voice  into her village's eldership (another first)!
 

-One of the indigenous students, Jose, who left Armonia two years ago out of a very sad episode in his life, ended up working in the city for an abusive employer. When asked if he would like to come
back to Armonia, he said no because he didn't think that the other students would accept him back but when his brother convinced him to visit Armonia, the students begged him to come back and told him that they missed and loved him. He was their brother in Christ and would always be accepted back into the fold! He has since rejoined his classmates and thanks God for his brother who found him and his classmates that welcomed him home.

Unfortunate news:
 

- 14 Students had to be sent home in the last 10 months because there was a large decrease in scholarship funding over the past year. This is a huge issue right now and something that Armonia (UK) Trust really wants people to know about. Many individuals like to give money for buildings and sending the kids on holidays, but Armonia needs volunteers and funding for scholarships to help support the students. It costs £1000 per student per year to pay for their lodging, food, and schooling. This is £80 per month (much cheaper than it costs to go to school in the UK). Could your youth groups help support a student?
 

- 8 out of 9 volunteer groups cancelled their trips to Mexico last year after committing to at least a week of projects and fellowship with the students and families in Oaxaca and Mexico City. Please volunteer to send a group and stay committed! Armonia will help your group by preparing a mission seminar about what volunteers can expect when they arrive and what their daily tasks will entail. If you are not able to volunteer with projects then maybe you would like to schedule a group visit instead. Visitors meet with Armonia's students and visit the Christian Transformation Centres. They witness the poverty endured by local individuals and learn how Armonia is helping local communities take care of themselves.

May the promise of Easter be fulfilled!

God Bless you and keep you,

Irish Sirmons
Administrator
Armonia UK Trust
On behalf of the Armonia Ministries Team