tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13986180466174258852024-03-05T07:58:48.580+00:00ARMONIA UK TRUSTUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-24308624959738097012013-03-28T17:20:00.000+00:002013-03-28T17:20:07.906+00:00Happy Easter and Thank you from Armonia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHTI03R8QFlrtSyQdAH9kEl3voXFU66abIZaGHnWaiuOrBXncLXmXKxds1EGJVeUVwzgr_gHZBoQ_Fv6bfm_qWzcpMp7Y_srAGaRYvYC8HZ73b6g66sEDZXOWAhyphenhyphenUWKSM6az-eAVdgQH/s1600/DSC07960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHTI03R8QFlrtSyQdAH9kEl3voXFU66abIZaGHnWaiuOrBXncLXmXKxds1EGJVeUVwzgr_gHZBoQ_Fv6bfm_qWzcpMp7Y_srAGaRYvYC8HZ73b6g66sEDZXOWAhyphenhyphenUWKSM6az-eAVdgQH/s200/DSC07960.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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Dear Friends,<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Positive news:</div>
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<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvv4oJPKLTWxBrSU8p3QV1BaLbUqjBdPVZfMKUoZ-iDmLl5DiQSQzNbq4BtIqbvmj9OL53TvRRVoqlZ0YzR0o6mca-RmZeHoFmdFGnsEhyphenhyphensluqb5Rv9lbZaZAjD15WOmu3ophmd7e9HgW/s1600/IMG_2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvv4oJPKLTWxBrSU8p3QV1BaLbUqjBdPVZfMKUoZ-iDmLl5DiQSQzNbq4BtIqbvmj9OL53TvRRVoqlZ0YzR0o6mca-RmZeHoFmdFGnsEhyphenhyphensluqb5Rv9lbZaZAjD15WOmu3ophmd7e9HgW/s200/IMG_2123.JPG" width="200" /></a>- 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!)<br />
<br />
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<br /> </div>
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- 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)!<br /> </div>
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-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<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Unfortunate news:<br /> </div>
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- 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?<br /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-VHbmotqzSUybf3_rW5u7bJfAv2GJkC5Sbaj-ILc0UfjK6MaH0xlOKx7Pa04BQCfUToz9GdtS31YwDhElW-X72BN_EPpDD1S00b-8pNtGlJDGhEPxhPveAa4DIenYnGCPwN0zAZiMGhe/s1600/IMG_2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-VHbmotqzSUybf3_rW5u7bJfAv2GJkC5Sbaj-ILc0UfjK6MaH0xlOKx7Pa04BQCfUToz9GdtS31YwDhElW-X72BN_EPpDD1S00b-8pNtGlJDGhEPxhPveAa4DIenYnGCPwN0zAZiMGhe/s200/IMG_2002.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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- 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.<br />
<br />
May the promise of Easter be fulfilled!<br />
<br />
God Bless you and keep you,<br />
<br />
Irish Sirmons<br />
Administrator<br />
Armonia UK Trust<br />
On behalf of the Armonia Ministries Team</div>
<br />Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-30103602293247921502013-02-18T15:44:00.005+00:002013-02-18T16:32:25.555+00:00Saul and Pilar to Visit the UK!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t8MZ4_zhjEpE1evP_c_4RBXaJE6nQtLbtzavKnb5vZ0ywrZFr3d-F7ipkUwwbfqco-R4Pd0q2xEHaSW4J1j36Kv9haD2lNTIj8zPslvSc6UeUoNOlxWSICv5o9Mt2lHj4rDc9bGw8PTn/s1600/SaulandPilar_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t8MZ4_zhjEpE1evP_c_4RBXaJE6nQtLbtzavKnb5vZ0ywrZFr3d-F7ipkUwwbfqco-R4Pd0q2xEHaSW4J1j36Kv9haD2lNTIj8zPslvSc6UeUoNOlxWSICv5o9Mt2lHj4rDc9bGw8PTn/s320/SaulandPilar_1.png" width="213" /></a>Saul and Pilar will be visiting the UK during the first week in
March! Their journeys will take them through London, Cambridge, and
Gloucester.<br />
Please visit our online calendar at <a href="http://www.armoniamx.org/?page_id=40&ai1ec=action:agenda%7Ctag_ids:9">www.armoniamx.org</a> for more details.<br />
<br />
Saul
will also visit the UK in the autumn. Please contact the administrator
if you would like to schedule a meeting in the late October, early
November time frame.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-81812842157550694082012-12-19T09:31:00.000+00:002012-12-19T09:31:08.550+00:002012 Christmas Newsletter<iframe frameborder="5" height="600" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.armoniamx.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Newsletter-Christmas2012.pdf" width="500"></iframe>Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-15869532460836961212012-12-18T08:50:00.000+00:002012-12-18T17:20:11.617+00:00Christmas in Armonía<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznJY_6rTMS5ZemQ7PbkSvl5uWXbHmOQ95ppxtC0Bx7vjWIrCmsKKTZZBqvoaZ3Lj0vphySiIp6Ihwu8agrDtg_JbtRulCuYjoMoowBWs8PnCabBWjhuN0jwZTTf0DsiGad8rGRyZiivkJ/s1600/Leo+et+al.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznJY_6rTMS5ZemQ7PbkSvl5uWXbHmOQ95ppxtC0Bx7vjWIrCmsKKTZZBqvoaZ3Lj0vphySiIp6Ihwu8agrDtg_JbtRulCuYjoMoowBWs8PnCabBWjhuN0jwZTTf0DsiGad8rGRyZiivkJ/s1600/Leo+et+al.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>'I can now see it would be better to do things for others during Christmas to let them know that I love them, and that in that way I express the love that God has for us all.'</b></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Leo arrived in Armonía 4 years ago from the small
village of Tepuxtepec in the State of Oaxaca. One of his cousins was an Armonía
student for many years while we were in Yalálag, in the southern mountains of
Mexico. Leo was 14 years old then and was hoping to study the last three years
of secondary school (Senior High). He has one brother who is seventeen years
old, their mother lives in their village and comes to Oaxaca City when there is
an opportunity for work. Leo's father passed away very tragically a couple of
years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Leo has enrolled at University to start on the 7th of
January next year. He will study the technical degree of Industrial Processes
near Mexico City. He is excited about the prospect of eventually being able to
help his village using some of the resources they have, such as fruit and
vegetable processing, and make products that can bring a few jobs and income to his
homeland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Yesterday, as we were on our way back from the
Students Residence Leo was telling us how he heard about Christmas for the
first time when he arrived in Armonía. 'The first time I visited Mexico
City for the Christmas celebrations with Armonía, was the first time I really
heard about Christmas... I thought our trip was just a treat, a trip so we
could see the City for the first time and have parties with my friends. I had
heard almost nothing about Christmas in my village and all I thought it was,
was a time to decorate different places.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Leo continued saying that he now realises that there
are many people like him that are celebrating in order just to have a party. 'Now I understand that celebrating Christmas allows us to see and try to
understand more how much God loves us... I can also now see that the actual
celebration invites us to do things with others, but especially, do things for
others. This is important because, lets say I go back to my village and just
put up more decorations like others do, they wouldn't necessarily understand why
I'm doing that. I can now see it would be better to do things for others during
Christmas to let them know that I love them, and that in that way I express the
love that God has for us all.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The Armonía students have come back from a week of
visiting their families and friends in their villages for the Christmas holiday
and are now getting ready to receive their parents at the Student Residence and
help with the construction of the second building of their residence. As they
prepare to celebrate Christmas together, Leo thinks that in that way parents
can also understand what Christmas is about. 'Decorations are nice, we
enjoyed dressing up the tree and laying out other ornaments... if I was
to tell someone about what Christmas is I would do a little of what we did
yesterday, tell them the stories that the Bible has about Jesus so they know
what it was like when He was born. I will also explain what we are doing these
days, helping with building the second house for the residence together so more
young people like us have a place to live and can continue with their
studies.'<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Eidi Cruz</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-850886946732260722012-12-18T03:54:00.000+00:002012-12-18T04:27:22.378+00:00New Ways to Stay in touch with Armonía<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Dear friends,</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj26hjyQRZWVfOqI6QKDyS7yqCmBoJ1PwQBM4X-fWvbqQ0pZHu77HAVSDLf-GvZojB04UI4xWGGZsxZaFPbqxluV4PqZ3Y-Zi6UJkACbHqAt8hEYSfvnWUI2AV3cFHszmyeiRVTABA3n1B/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-19+at+15.59.50.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj26hjyQRZWVfOqI6QKDyS7yqCmBoJ1PwQBM4X-fWvbqQ0pZHu77HAVSDLf-GvZojB04UI4xWGGZsxZaFPbqxluV4PqZ3Y-Zi6UJkACbHqAt8hEYSfvnWUI2AV3cFHszmyeiRVTABA3n1B/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-10-19+at+15.59.50.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">New Website:</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Thanks to the generosity
of <a href="http://www.lcn.com/">LCN.com</a> we have a new website, <a href="http://www.armoniamx.org/">www.armoniamx.org</a>! Our Armonía UK administrator, Irish,
has been uploading pictures and information onto this freely hosted site. It
combines the information we held on our Armonia Ministries site and the Armonia
(UK Trust website, as well as a link to the Armonía US website (an USA version of the UK Trust) . We hope you find <a href="http://www.armoniamx.org/">armoniamx.org</a> easy to navigate and
explore. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with any good website, it
will be updated regularly with photos, stories, and information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please let Irish know if you see any problems
or issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Twitter:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">If your a Twitter fan you can follow us @ArmoniaMexico</span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you have pictures and
stories that you would be willing to share with the Armonia Community,
please send them to <a href="mailto:administrator@armonia-uk.org.uk">administrator@armonia-uk.org.uk </a>!</span></div>
Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-62348945184879627212012-10-20T17:05:00.000+01:002012-11-02T14:34:35.543+00:00Update from YalahuiDear Friends,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dQBcfMchBoxa-SDG5Ufucs6v1HxFIHHmLXQvS_GvCh132Nt-tB_i6TxhnKddlRu68uCpGUSxrgkTBGrKORRgW9XhLFuOIhyphenhyphen2628d7H9O6vnp6VBVuZ-CeBa-tTIIb6sAyUWw_w3vweOw/s1600/Newglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dQBcfMchBoxa-SDG5Ufucs6v1HxFIHHmLXQvS_GvCh132Nt-tB_i6TxhnKddlRu68uCpGUSxrgkTBGrKORRgW9XhLFuOIhyphenhyphen2628d7H9O6vnp6VBVuZ-CeBa-tTIIb6sAyUWw_w3vweOw/s200/Newglasses.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
During the first week in September 2012, a group of Armonía friends visited Yalahui, a village in the mountainous region of Oaxaca, Mexico, in order to set up a health clinic for the villagers. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c9F8TJfQCTL5Nuq0dRTp05zrhy82F69w0eAsepvrGGTLgJRgoMUmb_rx1baTzHTe2VV5S5dOyboGkGz7zYRkXWDUkT366uWx1y6Iowb9xhNw4uWZFOIRRIpRQYLasTwIRKfYHOB_1uEi/s1600/Readytoplayballatsunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c9F8TJfQCTL5Nuq0dRTp05zrhy82F69w0eAsepvrGGTLgJRgoMUmb_rx1baTzHTe2VV5S5dOyboGkGz7zYRkXWDUkT366uWx1y6Iowb9xhNw4uWZFOIRRIpRQYLasTwIRKfYHOB_1uEi/s200/Readytoplayballatsunset.jpg" width="200" /></a>Prior to their arrival, Irene, one of our resent graduates (and a 'Yalahuian' herself),visited this small village and started preparations for the health clinic under the guidance of Saúl and Pilar.<br />
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Irene and Leo, one of our university students, stayed in Yalahui to finish orchestrating all the logistics for receive the group which consisted of doctors, nurses and an optometrist from different parts of the world - USA, UK, Australia and of course, Mexico.
Along with their skills, the visitors brought thousands of prescription
eyeglasses!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFh73CMFsFgWbfsXoFBDaz2HyvVul-vvT-LZ4rK3fNH9cMvEZIclAMFigM4sX75yvgDcvTz4YgoQHpEsu19iQ8NcXiTLD4cZtaPn58nv1LjugrYSv6lX-vL6bUfhzSMk_TbXKCaACb_iH/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFh73CMFsFgWbfsXoFBDaz2HyvVul-vvT-LZ4rK3fNH9cMvEZIclAMFigM4sX75yvgDcvTz4YgoQHpEsu19iQ8NcXiTLD4cZtaPn58nv1LjugrYSv6lX-vL6bUfhzSMk_TbXKCaACb_iH/s200/photo.JPG" width="200" /></a>Everyone did a wonderful job and the community was very loving and gracious toward our guests! <br />
Armonía was able to serve around 600 people over two days, as well as acquaint ourselves with most members of the Yalahui community.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXG2lfTosZEX8hmvOP7U4SfLFePKmRoNcdqIx_cWK8l7Z-FfsabvfxiJ5_q6NEmDKLxINzN95_U-kMq7FYb_9FQ80F_nUncWNtXyYiKtwXtoojwLnjZFTjuWNngkO4QyhRHbPThacDYan/s1600/photo+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXG2lfTosZEX8hmvOP7U4SfLFePKmRoNcdqIx_cWK8l7Z-FfsabvfxiJ5_q6NEmDKLxINzN95_U-kMq7FYb_9FQ80F_nUncWNtXyYiKtwXtoojwLnjZFTjuWNngkO4QyhRHbPThacDYan/s200/photo+copy.JPG" width="200" /></a>We look forward to posting a subtitled interview we did with Irene and letting you know more about Armonía's work.<br />
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Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-37468623910517167802012-09-05T09:16:00.001+01:002012-11-02T14:34:35.536+00:00Clinic at YalahuiDear Friends,<br />
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Over the past 24 years we have been blessed with an annual visit by a volunteer healthcare team consisting of members from the US, UK, and Mexico. This week, a multinational team composed of GPs, pediatricians, optometrists, and dentists will form a temporary clinic in the small mountain village of Yalahui, Oaxaca. The Orangewood Presbyterian Church of Orlando organises the annual trip in cooperation with Armonia, assessing the local needs of the community and what the group can provide to meet those needs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC8bD9tk02n7538TJcHbCJmjGp-yloUOwG2uYTA75H1enGWzbLDe5VpjRspsFCpV9VHe0BlVXYGJgZHl4NWQagOdSp4XlFagfdn3v8cvFigYDyO8QHO_yBkDeYIVXQ3l1MQEJ9V6bb0r7/s1600/IMG_2403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC8bD9tk02n7538TJcHbCJmjGp-yloUOwG2uYTA75H1enGWzbLDe5VpjRspsFCpV9VHe0BlVXYGJgZHl4NWQagOdSp4XlFagfdn3v8cvFigYDyO8QHO_yBkDeYIVXQ3l1MQEJ9V6bb0r7/s320/IMG_2403.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We were invited to the village of Yalahui again this year by a former Armonia student who studied with us in Yalalag. Visiting the village will help us form even greater bonds with the local community and provide Irene, one of our resent graduates, an opportunity to give back to her hometown. She is currently in Yalahui with other students getting everything ready and will help host the clinic along with several other members of Armonia. Our clinics will see more than 500 people each day!</div>
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This year we will have two clinics in the City of Oaxaca and three in the mountains. A main focus of the team is eye care. This involves allocating thousands of eye glasses to visually impaired residents. Since the team has been provided with a list of requirements, they can offer accurate prescriptions for complicated lenses.<br />
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This annual visit (during the first week of September) provides an excellent time for other volunteers to visit Armonia!Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-64600579086548848462012-08-09T10:13:00.002+01:002012-11-02T14:34:35.544+00:00Irene's Graduation<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DVrW6crTivzxDivWmNytomhiUgFwi_j5rn4FPOuiHj_EpqaIVO8kdjS0ujJfoHnSVbwVB9A-ivF-X4tc5BCxtYuOYYiKod5jaX9WqZCgYaKEobWNT_ZoQxafnjyvUpXHC8zMoukE1mCn/s1600/Irene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DVrW6crTivzxDivWmNytomhiUgFwi_j5rn4FPOuiHj_EpqaIVO8kdjS0ujJfoHnSVbwVB9A-ivF-X4tc5BCxtYuOYYiKod5jaX9WqZCgYaKEobWNT_ZoQxafnjyvUpXHC8zMoukE1mCn/s320/Irene.jpg" width="250" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Excellent news - Irene has</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> finished her Human Resources and Administration Technical degree and turned in her dissertation! Soon she will also receive a legal professional license.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><br /></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>She continues to teach the children at the Santa Cruz Community Centre and has also begun to carry on a few administrative tasks for the Armonía Indigenous Mexican Students Programme. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is now 21 years old and wants to, in the next couple of years, convert her technical degree into a Business Development Engineering degree at the same university. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knows she can continue to hope and dream for her future and her community’s future, trusting that God will continue to be with them.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><b>Irene's Story</b> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Irene comes from Yalahui, a remote village in the highest mountains of Oaxaca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At fifteen, she decided to start the equivalent of her GCSEs by enrolling in one of the few Secondary schools available in the region. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a good student in previous years, but had also become a bit mischievous, so her parents were unsure about her leaving Yalahui. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, they chose a school in Yalalag for her to continue with her studies - it was far, but had recently acquired a very good student reputation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Five years earlier, after their little shack of a home was almost entirely destroyed by a storm, Irene’s father left Mexico searching for work in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just prior to her journey, he had returned from the US, after living there for eight months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He</span> had been deported on both occasions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We, at Armonia, have seen many young men take this route in life, moving back and forth illegally between the US and Mexico, because they believe they have no other choice. We try to offter them another choice through education and a supportive christian community, providing them with an opportuinity to find diginified employment in Mexico. This also provides hope for the future of our country. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Fortunately, Irene was able to convince her father to stay in Mexico for long enough to accompany her on her journey to enroll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2006, Irene joined the Armonía Students Programme in the Oaxacan village of Yalalag beginning her first term in August.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Disappointingly, however, in January 2007, Armonía had to leave Yalalag, due to a very corrupted municipal government. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Irene continued studying and earned good grades, but was having a very hard time with other students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Armonía had left Yalalag, she was made to live in an ‘improvised’ student room that was being built in the middle of the forest of Yalalag, away from the normal school small residence. Irene was constantly threatened by other girls, and remembers feeling very scared in the middle of the night when men from the village would get drunk and walk towards her lodging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would yell at the girls that were living there and throw stones at their windows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day, Irene and her friend, Lola, decided to leave Yalalag and find Armonía. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, over a weekend, without telling their teachers what they were up to, the pair travelled to the city of Oaxaca and visited Armonía's student house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Shortly after that, Irene visited her parents in Yalahui, only to find out that her father had left the country again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she was very saddened by this, she convinced her mother to visit Armonía with her so that she could be enrolled for the following term. Subsequently, Irene finished her Secondary studies in Oaxaca with Armonía and after completing her year of service, she moved to the Armonía Mexico City Student House. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Irene remembers how much she cried when she found out that her Dad had returned to the US again, and how she promised herself she was going to accomplish her commitment, finish a degree and work as a professional, just as she had promised him. She also remembers that Armonía made that “unbelievable” idea seem a real possibility and she was not going to let that opportunity go. What a joy it was to have not only her Dad, but her whole family come to her graduation ceremony this past June!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"></span></div>
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<small><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=San+Juan+Yalahui,+Oaxaca,+Mexico&daddr=Hidalgo+Yalalag,+Oaxaca,+Mexico&hl=en&geocode=FW23CQEd6iVF-ikLHxOzlDzBhTHZbEE47BTkhw%3BFXoXBgEdXIxE-iklD7X2vtjAhTGjoPbzJPS8UA&aq=0&oq=Yalahui&sll=17.176442,-96.170916&sspn=0.173845,0.308647&t=h&g=Hidalgo+Yalalag,+Oaxaca,+Mexico&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=17.298199,-96.15097&spn=0.278624,0.292511&z=11" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-40394970613117878192012-07-10T11:43:00.001+01:002012-11-02T14:34:35.538+00:00Our New Administrator<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Dear friends,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">My name is Irish Sirmons and I am the new Armonia UK Trust Administrator!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaGStu-ZVF9vV7h8wndDO5wz6C8vsDYND_RtYM202W1TXXnkNjaqZ1N0bYCq_hVlcbTTZCioYHAxjW08BRwDKe6PFkwARTsK2rLQqgfs5ikhiUNdJoQCQ6bMxUL8BOTPmUXgB6v45p7yp/s1600/RyanandIrish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaGStu-ZVF9vV7h8wndDO5wz6C8vsDYND_RtYM202W1TXXnkNjaqZ1N0bYCq_hVlcbTTZCioYHAxjW08BRwDKe6PFkwARTsK2rLQqgfs5ikhiUNdJoQCQ6bMxUL8BOTPmUXgB6v45p7yp/s320/RyanandIrish.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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<shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="Charlesthedog.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 132.75pt; margin-left: -15pt; margin-top: 85.5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: margin; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 114pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Charlesthedog" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMe%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><wrap anchorx="margin" anchory="margin" type="square"></wrap></shape><span lang="EN-GB">Although I was born in the U.S., I currently live in the ‘wilds’ of Essex, England with my husband, Ryan. </span><shape alt="RyanandIrish.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 153.75pt; margin-left: 92pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: margin; mso-position-vertical: top; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 132pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="RyanandIrish" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMe%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_image003.jpg"></imagedata><wrap anchorx="margin" anchory="margin" type="square"></wrap></shape><span lang="EN-GB">We have lived in the UK for almost five years and in Europe for nearly seven. Along the way, we picked up our little dog Charles in Naples, Italy, I graduated from University College London with an MSc in Information Sciences, and Ryan has been assigned to the Little Baddow United Reformed Church as a Pastor on Student Placement! Throughout our travels we have encountered many faith groups and families which we hold in our hearts and prayers (without whom we would not be enjoying our current livelihood). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u2XDnSBieYHZl1ddEQD6JX9K8Es0lzoHCBBE38EG0IdQp3ucFXvyqbfnKKkSEe7cT_9KnB_QsaCy6a0U9tCaXkjPTzoZtJVYVjo7XiPkOQ3zSSHO57-ifUDlUbO3pm7uIURDImyBpUUV/s1600/Charlesthedog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u2XDnSBieYHZl1ddEQD6JX9K8Es0lzoHCBBE38EG0IdQp3ucFXvyqbfnKKkSEe7cT_9KnB_QsaCy6a0U9tCaXkjPTzoZtJVYVjo7XiPkOQ3zSSHO57-ifUDlUbO3pm7uIURDImyBpUUV/s200/Charlesthedog.jpg" width="171" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Though my work background is in information management and information technology, I’ve been accepted by the University of Essex to study an MA in Wild Writing. This amazing course will allow me to study literature and the environment whilst (hopefully) improving my creative writing skills.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I am an active member of the City of Portsmouth Women’s Athletic Club. I throw the hammer, shot put and discus for the team as we compete in the Southern Athletic League and UK Women’s Athletic League Division 2.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I am very excited to work with Armonia (UK) Trust. As soon as I met Eidi and Saul in London for my second interview, I knew that I wanted to join the Armonia family. Ryan and I want to live our ministry as Saul and Pilar have done over the past thirty years.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Please let me know if you need any information pertaining to Armonia UK. I will be managing our website, the UK contact list, mailings, schedules and donations.</span></div>
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All the Best,<br />
IrishAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-58992409153791804662012-06-29T17:50:00.002+01:002012-11-02T14:34:35.541+00:00Hola, we have returned!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrfayk1rrvNoOCXjtQDDD-k5E_aMT2SdfLzul-1_92rTs1jAy8NYXLcc0Zv0GK76OFKglWhhQNREiPQeSsrZW6WoFICe16v2bQ8dqkkBbOPBwwN4On0uNBM427uKYUrdMzCbppvMH1XGZ/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrfayk1rrvNoOCXjtQDDD-k5E_aMT2SdfLzul-1_92rTs1jAy8NYXLcc0Zv0GK76OFKglWhhQNREiPQeSsrZW6WoFICe16v2bQ8dqkkBbOPBwwN4On0uNBM427uKYUrdMzCbppvMH1XGZ/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dear friends,</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">After a long period without using this blog, and although we have
communicated through e-mails and letters, we look forward to using this
resource more --- with more news, more ideas as well as with our gratefulness
and prayer petitions. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As we go into the presidential elections on Sunday July 1st, we ask
you to please have Mexico in your prayers. As you have probably heard or read
in the news, during this last six year presidential term things have worsened
in our country, with more poverty and more corruption, and especially through
the terrible problem of the drug cartels.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We believe we have a good chance to improve the situation with one
of the candidates, however, since it wouldn’t be appropriate to make a
political statement in this blog, we just ask you to please have Mexico and
Armonía in your prayers this weekend. As we also do this - we read this passage
on Isaiah 58:9-10.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><i>"</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If
you do away with the yoke of oppression,</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'MS Mincho';"> </span><span lang="EN-GB">with the pointing finger and malicious
talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the
needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and
your night will become like the noonday.”</span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We also have some very good news - and we will write more about
this during the next few weeks:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-GB">Irene, who comes from Yalahui
in the high mountains of Oaxaca, and Lola who comes from the Chinantec region
of San Juan Petlapa, both graduated from their university technical degrees two
weeks ago. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-GB">Lupe from Chichicaxtepec, one of the most remote villages in Oaxaca,
and Alejandra, who also finished a university degree in Psychology this month,
and who comes from Jalalpa, one of the most neglected and impoverished areas in
Mexico City, are in Germany at the moment. They are part of an International
Camp, called Baucamp, with a wonderful ministry called OJC (Offensive Junger
Christen).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-GB">Eight students from Casa Margarita and Oaxaca and the University
Students from Mexico City have had a two week Seminar with Saúl and Pilar. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-GB">Seven students from High School are graduating this Monday and five
of them will become Older brothers for the Student Residence in Oaxaca. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-GB">We are having friends from Florida visiting us in July, August and
September. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-GB">The foundation for the second student residence in Oaxaca has been
layed,</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span lang="EN-GB"> <b>--- and so much more news!</b></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Last but not least we are delighted to introduce the new Armonía UK
Trust Administrator to you, <b>Irish Sirmons</b>, who we have asked to also introduce
herself to you on a blog post.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We look forward to hearing from you soon, and trust you are having a
good Summer!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">With love,</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Eidi Cruz </span></div>Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05543237534947814317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-47618222170262368122010-11-26T21:37:00.003+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.102+00:00Thanksgiving Update from Mexico<div style="text-align: center;">Saul and Pilar have just sent this update through from Mexico. Happy reading and Happy Thanksgiving!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSws0YWltoTHBPzviWj_yMi1Ruc91TJ7lq_10X-DalNwaPcTmpnOIWpkyjhfL6aeT9RIRZCUcdTKZdY5lVsHWLABC45Ku8tjguD9J_Z7mGSa2VZ4mOEUhbKCqVjqFujS4re_XuUsYqk_p/s320/Slide1.PNG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543977440193067618" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NnKRLYfAzQRwLKj3DRt6LERjg0YaZC4DbYFTuAhFkw-gHR6z5x5Kd0dJ631rSiy0RzTqopk1qXOoLYCWLrZCDr26xnEvur4Lbh96ZKBND9U0NDzPk4uG-kAssalVmod_5Ty0doPNPYEw/s320/Slide2.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543977700093699458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrU458OzjAQ8HX23zL1ncfyEvDeI2x2bdpKjASMxs1bkk7rguTKVFSLKtxbnrOn7h3lLjl_Q4bUI_rwMDVreSYitXNKOJhKxe4-M5oCT8tDzSYPNYRYYi_2W4AGlC71f16HjRihvptCgg/s320/Slide3.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543977713876173426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Chris and Zoe Rimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253628496296676480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-86909650606670649022010-08-14T17:18:00.015+01:002012-10-29T16:55:44.124+00:00Further details on Saúl's UK visit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLMPvgDvfNCFu068TTjHOD6nrxVRO0ZpAT3tGGJc7Et2smnnw4E17s2NKObhNaQAudG476TUWl9xvfUs0Ow6Jz_ZZQ0wCT5HbnK4f0s9-7EOZCXxT75vIpfoZlqV0ATZ6fM7nz6LvM6Q/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLMPvgDvfNCFu068TTjHOD6nrxVRO0ZpAT3tGGJc7Et2smnnw4E17s2NKObhNaQAudG476TUWl9xvfUs0Ow6Jz_ZZQ0wCT5HbnK4f0s9-7EOZCXxT75vIpfoZlqV0ATZ6fM7nz6LvM6Q/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512995594498881346" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Saúl Cruz will be in the UK from 18th - 27th September:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">On 19th September he will be preaching in London at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>All Souls Langham Place at the 6:30pm service</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">. You can also </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>join us from 4:45 - 6:00pm </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">when there will be a time to find out more about the work of Armonía at the Waldegrave Hall (All Souls - lower floor).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you'd like to see pictures from this summer at Armonía please follow this link:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/eidicruzv#100128">http://gallery.me.com/eidicruzv#100128</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Look forward to seeing you soon!</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Helen Careyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11771928915127155348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-35033820296509256252010-05-21T12:08:00.002+01:002012-10-29T16:55:44.085+00:00Dates for Saul and Pilar's next visit to the UKThese are: 18th - 27th September<br /><br />More soon on where they are going to be speakingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-7168526660717921612010-05-17T11:04:00.004+01:002012-10-29T16:55:44.114+00:00Could this cloud have a silver lining?The High School in Oaxaca that Armonía has partnered with since 2007 when AIMS was set up is under new Management and has been experiencing a few challenges lately. However, some of the parents from the locality as well as Joaquín from Armonía (who acts as an Older Brother to the Armonía Students) have had meetings recently with the directors and things seem to be on the right path again.<br /><br />Going back a bit for the school’s history – the previous Director used to accept indigenous students from Armonia who were on the AIMS programme. A strong bond was formed between the 2 organisations. The school ran sports activities among many others and the Armonia International Board visited and were impressed with what they saw. The PTA were won around to the work the school was doing with the Armonia students. So successful was it that non AIMS students began to ask if they could go to Armonia! In a schools wide exam in Nov ’08 the top 3 places went to Armonia Students representing the school at State Level and also at an Olympiad – a University Challenge type event at schools level. The Director and Saul & Pilar were understandably thrilled at its success. The partnership was coming to fruition! Then, last year, out of the 17,000 University applicants in Mexico City, 5 Armonia Students were placed in the top 25 (including the three who won the Oaxacan Olympiad). Quite an achievement, I’m sure you’ll agree. <br /><br />However, publicity like this can be double-edged. News of this success spread quickly and a new scholarship scheme is being set up for non-indigenous students. Some kids from the Community Centres in and around Mexico City have been identified. This is great news and shows the ripple effect that empowering a small group of indigenous students has. <br /><br />Unfortunately, news of this success spread to the wrong kind of people too. Armonia is about creating new possibilities.... it doesn’t drive for publicity but sometimes it comes anyway. Giving a voice to the voiceless can lead to negative consequences. At times politicians want to cash in on the publicity but of course this runs against the principles of walking alongside the poor. <br /><br />However, there is always a strong belief in the way God rules in all things. As we know, the current AIMS Residence came out of a difficult situation. Armonia has to constantly adapt to the context it finds itself in. <br /><br />Which brings us to the good news – a new community centre is in the process of being planned and built near the new residence. Though a lot of prayer and funds are still needed. This may be able to double up as a school in the future, which will not only take Armonía students but serve the local community as well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-59351183122515854842010-03-30T21:59:00.004+01:002012-10-29T16:55:44.112+00:00The Daisy House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH-KP_1slEF0tmh6Jc9uraXV-nz5cA8Ape_SZAJ6cwGRj3-wRS-KKYwhwCa0gkzkLxU0kdYzc5gi1cRIp1Hj3QhtRYKzjvjB3btoqxUZJX4t6xmC3G07s_ZuazjsmFbk1sV16dDQb0WYl/s1600/_NHN0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH-KP_1slEF0tmh6Jc9uraXV-nz5cA8Ape_SZAJ6cwGRj3-wRS-KKYwhwCa0gkzkLxU0kdYzc5gi1cRIp1Hj3QhtRYKzjvjB3btoqxUZJX4t6xmC3G07s_ZuazjsmFbk1sV16dDQb0WYl/s320/_NHN0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454535918588808018" /></a><br />The newest residence for AIMS students is called 'Casa Margarita' - the Daisy House. It was named after Saul and Pilar Cruz' second daughter, who was still-born.<br /><br />"For many years we didn't understand why God put us through that", explains Saul. "But now we realise that although we lost our precious daughter, God has given us many more children in the students. We're privileged to be considered like parents to them".<br /><br />The railings along the balcony and stairs have been decorated with metal daisies in honour of the old Margarita and the new life that Casa Margarita represents.Crimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585233266531274419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-77215330878844609242010-03-16T23:12:00.004+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.119+00:00AIMS Residence, Oaxaca<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6Q9-IuvycMnibbaBcvhfoQBiHN0rEj7TTV8cOCohRw-dxvqAj939TCzzoZWvR335axNrlEMmJeIpRjYwihtDsih8ObZ_390fmdS5t1ko8Vvgu0tQ_AbGO2pY0f-76LxkJmQ53fXthr9Q/s1600-h/IMG_3599.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6Q9-IuvycMnibbaBcvhfoQBiHN0rEj7TTV8cOCohRw-dxvqAj939TCzzoZWvR335axNrlEMmJeIpRjYwihtDsih8ObZ_390fmdS5t1ko8Vvgu0tQ_AbGO2pY0f-76LxkJmQ53fXthr9Q/s320/IMG_3599.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449374063793907634" /></a><br />Following Saul and Pilar's recent visit to the UK, we now have some more photos to put up to update you on what's going on in Mexico. <br /><br />I'll be posting some from time to time and although I posted about Saturday a moment ago, this one is so spectacular that I can't wait to next week to put it up! It strikes me that the vibrancy of the residence against the rugged Oaxacan back-drop mirrors the vibrant lives which the students have found in the Christian community of Armonia.Crimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585233266531274419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-89614886890385311322010-03-16T22:31:00.002+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.129+00:00Armonia UK Celebration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pyMifRFYJpkWdd7GRvK-5UMjCUb7vn945rrf0EX53RKr0P0RMA5Eh4rG8kbOX8sivpee6ZvOufiKdCugCYUosxn-_5aSQpZr6TIxiLBLyIb1-Eqj45v0HKtMeUvwl40mlFLhzuyeZqpP/s1600-h/IMG_2691.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pyMifRFYJpkWdd7GRvK-5UMjCUb7vn945rrf0EX53RKr0P0RMA5Eh4rG8kbOX8sivpee6ZvOufiKdCugCYUosxn-_5aSQpZr6TIxiLBLyIb1-Eqj45v0HKtMeUvwl40mlFLhzuyeZqpP/s320/IMG_2691.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449366558043020706" /></a><br />Last Saturday afternoon, a collection of visitors, volunteers and friends of Armonia came together at St. James the Less for an afternoon of sharing, news updates and food. Saul, Pilar and Eidi Cruz were able to join the Armonia UK Team and other visitors for the few hours. Each person had their own fond memories of visits and adventures. As we shared, we found that the work of Armonia in Mexico had touched each one of us in a special way. <br /><br />For some, it was the teaching on poverty that the Cruzes are so clear on. For others, the memories of summer schools and teaching kids who would otherwise have little hope apart from the work of Armonia. For yet others, it was the impression of seeing the conditions in which some live; images that never leave.<br /><br />Yet all of us found our memories came a little more alive as Saul and Pilar gave an update on the work. We watched the newest Armonia promo/update DVD, which we hope to post a link to soon here. We heard of how the community centres are progressing and saw the fantastic photos of the newest students' residence. The orange walls struck a stark contrast against the deep blue Oaxacan sky. We saw familiar and unfamiliar faces and our links with Mexico were re-kindled.<br /><br />To finish, we ate a simple (but tasty) meal. It was just 4 in the afternoon but seemed fitting as we shared food; just like the disciples did in Jesus' time and just like many of the Armonia communities would be doing over in Mexico.<br /><br />More news from the update will follow here. But if you were there, please make sure you have given us your contact details so we can keep you in touch with all that's going on in Mexico. And if you weren't, get in touch with the Armonia UK office to make sure you hear about the next get together, probably in October when the Cruzes will return with more news.Crimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585233266531274419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-87229100463661183092010-03-15T22:20:00.003+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.127+00:00Paloma<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k0iAUC6fjhoOSMiqYSrG4RF-GVlnuxuOQxlufNejVMGomxOxPNLLw9HO6CRVB496UMgbiBXPgK2BlzFKuWtPJhzR8yfXBJ0MfS6AWa4-UVbNq12-gYb4EdhgbZ_b2JraiwLTCujqpBzz/s1600-h/Paloma+photo+2.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k0iAUC6fjhoOSMiqYSrG4RF-GVlnuxuOQxlufNejVMGomxOxPNLLw9HO6CRVB496UMgbiBXPgK2BlzFKuWtPJhzR8yfXBJ0MfS6AWa4-UVbNq12-gYb4EdhgbZ_b2JraiwLTCujqpBzz/s400/Paloma+photo+2.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448989637035241730" /></a><br />It is with great sadness we regret to tell you of the death of Paloma aged 7 on Thursday February 11th during her heart surgery operation. Her parents Remedios and Jose and her brothers Aaron (10) and Josue (9) are being supported by Saul and Pilar, Saul Junior and other members of Armonia at this time and will send news when they can. Please keep the whole family in your prayers at this sad time. <br />Paloma was born with a heart condition and by Christmas 2009 needed urgent reconstruction of one of the valves or the installation of an artificial one. Sadly she didn’t survive the surgery. The news has shocked everyone who knew her especially her school friends and people at the community centre. <br />Paloma’s mother, sad but strong said to Saul and Pilar at her funeral “Thank you for making my little princess so wonderfully happy all her life”. She was buried as the song ‘children belong to Christ’ was sung. <br />It was at the Christmas celebration in Jalalpa last year that a spontaneous offering was taken up to help pay for the cost of Paloma’s surgery. The $1500 collected just exceeded the amount needed and was a true expression of the community’s love and support for her and her family. Without this offering, there would have been no chance of surgery at all. <br />Provisions for family expenses and food have been taken by the Armonia community and friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-74336130707811001142010-02-27T21:20:00.003+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.117+00:00MANCHESTER - MEXICO CULTURAL EXCHANGE<a href="http://www.mexicomanchester.co.uk/">http://www.mexicomanchester.co.uk/</a> is the new website created by a group of Manchester people - promoting a trip to Armonia in June. They are hoping to spend two weeks linking up with Armonia's "family and friends" mainly in Oaxaca to make music, paint, photograph and in all ways get colourful and creative.<br /><br />If you want to hear about their project - then try to get to Manchester Cathedral on Tuesday March 2nd at 7pm. <br />There are also places for new people to join the team. More information from their website.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-58272915571598603252010-02-27T21:01:00.004+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.110+00:00ARMONIA DIRECTORS IN UK for MARCHMarch 1st-23rd Saul and Pilar Cruz will be visiting churches and groups -<br /> if you can't meet them at any of the venues listed please <a href="mailto:administrator@armonia-uk.org.uk">Email us!</a> <br />and we'll see if we can arrange a meeting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tuesday 2nd March <br /><br />MANCHESTER</span><br /><br />7.00 p.m. Manchester Cathedral, Launch Event <br />Mexico-Manchester 2010 Intercambio<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sunday 7th March <br /><br />LEICESTER</span><br /><br />Carley Evangelical Baptist Church<br />Wharf Street North<br />St. Matthews<br />Leicester<br />LE1 2AB<br /><br />10.45am & 6pm church services<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wednesday 10th March<br /><br />NEWCASTLE<br /></span><br />Email mission@church.org.uk<br />If you wish to be included in their appointments<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Saturday March 13th <br /><br />LONDON</span><br /><br /><br />MEXICO PARTY – INFORMATION - MOTIVATION <br />2.30pm-6.30pm, St James The Less SW1<br /><br />2.30pm <br />Introduction Conversation and interview <br />Refreshments – snacks and drinks<br /><br />3pm-4.30pm <br />Saul and Pilar keynote address<br />including premiering new film<br />Reminiscences from volunteers<br /><br />4.30-6.30pm <br />Food and fun, networking and conversations<br /><br />The Upper Room<br />St James the Less<br />Thorndike Street<br />off Moreton Street<br />London<br />SW1V 2PS<br /><br />Nearest Tube – Victoria / Pimlico<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sunday March 14th <br /><br />CAMBRIDGE</span><br /><br />Eden Baptist Church – Administrator Ruth Tricker<br />1 Fitzroy Street<br />Cambridge<br />CB1 1ER<br />Tel: 01223 361250<br />www.eden-cambridge.org<br /><br />LUNCH 12.30pm-2.15pm at Eden<br /><br />6pm – interviewed and preach at evening service<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thursday 18th March<br /><br />KENT</span><br /><br />8pm <br /><br />St Peter’s hosted event <br /><br />Stream Cottage, <br />Ditton <br />Aylesford<br />Kent<br />ME20 6AG<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sunday March 21st<br /><br />OLDHAM, LANCS</span><br /><br />10am Church Service<br /><br />St. Mary's High Crompton<br />Rushcroft Rd, <br />Shaw, Oldham, <br />Lancashire OL2 7PP<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SALE, MANCHESTER</span><br /><br />St.Mary Magdalene<br />44 Moss Lane<br />Ashton on Mersey<br />Sale, M33 6GD<br />Junction of Harboro Road<br />& Moss Lane<br /><br />7pm church serviceUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-15887406079524775372010-02-20T20:52:00.006+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.075+00:00Reflaction<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; 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mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Baskerville; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Baskerville; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} em {mso-bidi-font-style:normal;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US">Most of us are accustomed to reflection before action: education precedes employment, knowledge equips us to perform particular tasks, and learning leads to new forms of living. During our year as Armonía volunteers, however, we experienced a more dynamic way of relating reflection and action. <o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US">First, we experienced </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">reflection <b style="">on</b> action</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US">. The Armonía directors frequently encouraged this by asking the pivotal question: </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">“What did you learn today?”</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US"> With the hard work of the day still fresh in our minds, and often the smell of sweat still on our skin, we debriefed, discussed and prayed together, learning more from these times of reflection on action than we could ever glean from books.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US">In addition to reflection on action, we also experienced </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">reflection <b style="">in</b> action</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US">. This type of reflection occurs by asking: </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">What are we learning right now?</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US"> Some of our most memorable insights into the meaning of ministry and Christ-centred service arose in the midst of digging a ditch, teaching an English class or washing dirty dishes. By reflecting </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">in</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US"> and </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">on</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US"> action, we allow God’s Spirit to convict and convince without giving our minds time to distill what forms of action are the most manageable. Reflection in/on action is the method for cultivating kingdom lifestyles, propelling us beyond comfort and convenience.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US">It is difficult to communicate the dynamic interplay between reflection and action. Perhaps an illustration is helpful. Reflection and action are related like eating and exercise. Eating without exercising is like reflection without action: we get bloated with ideas and spiritually out of shape. But the opposite is also true: exercising without eating well is like acting without adequate reflection, since we will not have the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual nutrients to keep going, running the risk of burnout.<span style=""> </span>To fully convey the inseparable relationship between reflection and action, we use a new, blended word: </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">reflaction</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;" lang="EN-US">. <o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-US">Volunteering with Armonía in Mexico was a unique way to experience and grow in our ability to <i style="">reflact</i>. The challenge for all of us is to practice <i style="">reflaction</i> as we seek to know and follow Jesus in unique situations and circumstances. How will you reflact today?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:";" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span> <span style=";font-family:";" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span> <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuRojAMpNy1y218cHYA8hn_O8uczjyVrFIMzEzwBa7rV1Es7AGK68XGoQyT-EO_YxqqYhwFPAaki42yBIeLrEKNbLp_QFsStdLD6Sz0DlKxa3hilRN2GsA7jojAWpLdsZuKix85g9mnVy/s1600-h/Wes_and_Steph_Vander_Lugt.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuRojAMpNy1y218cHYA8hn_O8uczjyVrFIMzEzwBa7rV1Es7AGK68XGoQyT-EO_YxqqYhwFPAaki42yBIeLrEKNbLp_QFsStdLD6Sz0DlKxa3hilRN2GsA7jojAWpLdsZuKix85g9mnVy/s320/Wes_and_Steph_Vander_Lugt.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440431806469120962" border="0" /></a></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:78%;">Wes and Steph Vanderlugt (centre) were long-term volunteers with Armonia, living and serving in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> between August 2008 and July 2009.</span><span style="font-size:78%;"> Here they are teaching visitors and AIMS students alike to dance after visiting the Oaxaca Guelaguetza (annual dance festival). They now live, study and serve in St. Andrew's, Scotland.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> Crimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585233266531274419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-46507001862802201302010-02-10T17:47:00.004+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.098+00:00Six Flags and Six Baskets<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8luMyOD9kKZ6bZSobyjbcoJGhzLhjWfkKgfrNZxVQX9SldiIMbdAB9SAGO0PtB5glyKmgskVeUN8gxSWnesyKOPKc2cZUla_1swid9ueSy6SRs38WzdtUOTK6ESjxV-wmlAj7eCZQxqYj/s1600-h/Armonia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8luMyOD9kKZ6bZSobyjbcoJGhzLhjWfkKgfrNZxVQX9SldiIMbdAB9SAGO0PtB5glyKmgskVeUN8gxSWnesyKOPKc2cZUla_1swid9ueSy6SRs38WzdtUOTK6ESjxV-wmlAj7eCZQxqYj/s400/Armonia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450307134748482498" /></a><br />12 of the students from the residence in Oaxaca were rewarded for their high academic achievement just before Christmas with a week-long trip to Mexico City which included, amongst other things a trip to ‘ Six Flags’ - the Mexican equivalent of Alton Towers. They also had a cinema trip to see the film ‘Avatar’ (followed by a very interesting discussion lead by Saul Cruz on the links of the plot with the history of Mexico), saw some city sights and enjoyed the novel experience of using an escalator - some spent half an hour travelling up and down ....!<br />Their city trip gave also gave them the opportunity to work alongside locals and volunteers from the UK and US in giving out food for Christmas to poor families and organise games for children in some of the community centres. This type of experience is very important as it gives the students a window on other things going on in Armonia and enriches their cultural understanding. For most of the students this will have been their first trip outside Oaxaca! <br />The students who didn’t do quite so well in their studies (and therefore had to stay behind to do extra revision for their re-takes) were presented with a challenging forfeit – Saul got them to each fill six baskets full of harvest produce from the land cultivated around the residence in Etla. This was no mean feat as the baskets were pretty large! Produce included maize and root vegetables among other things. This exercise taught the students how to harvest maize and the result has been that they think they have enough maize to last the whole year! Food growing is just one of the skills that the students are learning as part of the AIMS programme. <br />Photographs to followUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-10635198582092828962010-02-09T22:00:00.003+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.069+00:00All Souls Team at Dedication of Students Residence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrMEsYM2CQEDXsB2ajkGX9g87Tgb2FXfx2ydKo95Q7OlWERuJ1ObA3RvKulPOXP4r5F_SOgCPF9nqjwcK9h-gHLVSXgP2eIK09fm5Crkn_0am603jMzh2p_mkRTUinnRWq6oCKv4-V2xa/s1600-h/wetfood+pic+3.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrMEsYM2CQEDXsB2ajkGX9g87Tgb2FXfx2ydKo95Q7OlWERuJ1ObA3RvKulPOXP4r5F_SOgCPF9nqjwcK9h-gHLVSXgP2eIK09fm5Crkn_0am603jMzh2p_mkRTUinnRWq6oCKv4-V2xa/s400/wetfood+pic+3.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441424644652940530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54q4cbzrS_PCO8xT5Hwkf37CLOcxsVQxv5v2OVCVJpWlwe2bf5KW3V1-PTRbOb-lenFyu5i_AqQekHVZGDGkf8ZXCxehtAxfZdO9Rw1Pb0gqVsoI-ARS4P17B39QyDan-O7DctYt3p357/s1600-h/Residence+wetfood+pic.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54q4cbzrS_PCO8xT5Hwkf37CLOcxsVQxv5v2OVCVJpWlwe2bf5KW3V1-PTRbOb-lenFyu5i_AqQekHVZGDGkf8ZXCxehtAxfZdO9Rw1Pb0gqVsoI-ARS4P17B39QyDan-O7DctYt3p357/s400/Residence+wetfood+pic.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441424356190941874" /></a><br />The dedication ceremony of the Students residence was poignant. The beautiful Oaxacan mountains surrounded a large plane, the sun beat down and for the 200+ who gathered - neighbours, local dignitaries and children from the Summer Course and their parents - a feast was served. Saul and Pilar Cruz shared their vision for the Students residence, and the Community Centre to be built there. <br /><br />The residence for young indigenous students had taken 2 years to complete, and we felt privileged to contribute in just the last two weeks. Our team of 23, in itself cross cultural with 9 nationalities represented, found ourselves forming strong relationships with the students through our common tasks together – running a Summer Course for about 50 children each afternoon – and painting the Students residence. Despite little language in common, we had become a wider family as we walked alongside Armonía and tried to understand the meaning of true community in Christ with others around the world. <br /><br />We pray that the residence will continue to be a welcoming home for generations of students as they develop intellectually, socially and spiritually – building possibilities for their future and avoiding the need for illegal migration. We also pray for funds for a second residence.<br /><br />Back in Mexico City, we were challenged by widespread urban poverty, and in the same way by our own preconceptions of poverty. We participated in another Summer Course, visited Armonia’s three Urban Transformation Centres and also spent time with the Hornos community, who were displaced because their fragile shacks had been built on the side of a steep, sandy cliff and had began to collapse. In re-housing the community, the government provided one small room for each of the families, with up to 8 people. Some in this community had much praise for God, though little material comforts. For us it is often the reverse.<br /><br />We are deeply grateful for all the support given to us in order to make this trip possible. Each team member returns with their own story enriched in some way – friends made, thoughts about poverty alleviation challenged, holistic gospel emphasised, dependence on God reinforced, serving others tangibly modelled and a new sense of becoming a community and family in Christ. Our adventure isn’t over. The challenge now becomes applying what we’ve learnt in our own contexts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-204665639597730252010-02-07T13:07:00.004+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.082+00:00We've finished the Residence!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-By80P7Nn2Wl8WJRYPRc_3SjxiE2rUQ58vrFD1wChnZgupthq4dVQFD5-ZEqJDdh-juEzDNDC6ytHGO2m9TtCUel7ePaHQevPhwUtEV1tg-Xn2w10ySecG_BmlHANtD0G1Lkf09OupL0g/s1600-h/IMG_2473.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-By80P7Nn2Wl8WJRYPRc_3SjxiE2rUQ58vrFD1wChnZgupthq4dVQFD5-ZEqJDdh-juEzDNDC6ytHGO2m9TtCUel7ePaHQevPhwUtEV1tg-Xn2w10ySecG_BmlHANtD0G1Lkf09OupL0g/s400/IMG_2473.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435490140301793330" /></a><br />The new AIMS Students’ Residence ‘Casa Margarita’ is now open in Oaxaca! <br />The new students’ residence was officially opened and dedicated in a celebration in October 2009. The ceremony was attended by Saul and Pilar Cruz, the International Board of Armonia, students, volunteers, local residents and other staff from Mexico City. The Wetfoot team of volunteers from All Souls Langham Place were also present, having helped put the finishing touches to the building (see previous story). Celebrations included a Feast, a Sermon, a blessing for the local community and local traditional dances performed by the students in their traditional dress. Saul says a huge THANK YOU to God and for the support from Armonia International and its world wide community. <br />The Residence provides a safe environment for the students aged between 14-18 in which to live and study. With the “Older Siblings” overseeing it during their pre-university year of service, it is a place where ‘Community’ and loving others are given a strong focus; a place where the Gospel is lived and preached, and the students are equipped with books and uniforms. They are given ongoing daily support in various forms: basic living skills including hygiene and communal living, Spanish lessons and bible studies to name but a few. <br />Selection is two fold: Students selected have to be among the best in the Mexican state School system (that is achieve 9’s and 10’s in their final exams) and they need to be committed to the ongoing activities of the AIMS community. <br />At present, the students love the new residence so much that Saul and Pilar have arranged for two groups of students to alternate between the residence in Oaxaca city centre and Casa Margarita (about a half hour outside town) so there is no favouritism. The new residence is proving to be very popular indeed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1398618046617425885.post-8533629427538912322009-12-11T11:44:00.003+00:002012-10-29T16:55:44.122+00:00London 14 year old does Mexico Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHB1-RiqxkS1U0xk5C_df2wdrEo6GiNDB-btSzskg3vP94LMIkHnDjRnZBK-MJxuQ1G9sRxlnvG5gpJwJkY4-J9M2nay7nneJLAmaplVeZ2Mapk4s8j6eR2KtravvAH7G5IQlCNiGNCzV/s1600-h/victoria.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHB1-RiqxkS1U0xk5C_df2wdrEo6GiNDB-btSzskg3vP94LMIkHnDjRnZBK-MJxuQ1G9sRxlnvG5gpJwJkY4-J9M2nay7nneJLAmaplVeZ2Mapk4s8j6eR2KtravvAH7G5IQlCNiGNCzV/s400/victoria.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413946009112869858" /></a><br /><br />I think that one of the amazing things about a trip like this is the way that, however much you give, you receive so much more in return. I went to Mexico thinking that we would be teaching the Mexicans and that they would be learning from us, but in reality it was completely the reverse. During those three weeks, I learnt so much from everyone there about humility and what it is to have a servant heart and I really feel like God was changing me through those individuals. <br /><br />Mexico is a beautiful country full of beautiful people. Everywhere you go you see colour and vibrancy and, between the people, there is a sense of community which you often don’t find in central London. This really challenged my perception of poverty because, despite being poor and coming from very broken backgrounds, many of these Mexican Christians have a joy and contentment that all our money hasn’t been able to bring us. So, in some ways, they are richer than we are. <br /><br />I feel very fortunate to have gone on this trip, particularly as a teenager, and I know that I learnt so much while I was there, things that I can hopefully bring back and apply to my life. Being a similar age to many of the students was lovely because I got to know them really well, but at the same time, I often felt like I could never understand where they were coming from, as their situation is so alien to me. In their villages, these girls would be expected to marry and have kids at an age as young as 14. <br /><br />But it was incredible the way in which God worked through our team. Firstly, to think that He chose each member of our group for a reason and a purpose is hard to comprehend, but very beautiful. It is such a privilege to have been used by God in even just a tiny part of His huge plan and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Victoria Gallagher, 14 years old, went to Armonia Mexico with the ‘WETFOOT’ team from All Souls Langham Place, London in August 2009</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0