Colombian Christian Mission

A Letter from Paul

Paul has traveled to Colombia several times now to work with 
Dale. He teaches seminars to the Colombia teachers about dealing with learning disabilities. In July, Paul was in Colombia teaching several seminars.

Dear Colombian Christian Mission Supporters:
 
What a blessing the last two weeks have been here in Colombia!!  God has greatly blessed our efforts here in such a small window of time.  I thought the 130 teachers we trained last July '07 was fantastic but this year it has been simply unbelievable!
 
Here are just a few highlights:

•140 teachers from Coleigo Peniel and other Public Schools here in Villavicencio were trained and certified in an 8 hour seminar over two days on Dyslexia (a learning disability that affects reading development in approximately 15% of the student population).  Teachers were given the latest research findings, including neurological differences, classroom warning signs, modifications, accommodations that work with older students and an actual treatment plan that works with young students (K-2) entering school.

•The acting Minister of Education for the Villavicencio region (responsible for about one fourth of all school districts in the country) was at both last years conference and this years.  She came last year just to see if the Christian School really was teaching teachers or if they brought someone in to preach.  Once she knew we were teaching and had something to offer of value, she stated that she would like this conference for next year in July.  She told Dale that if he would set it up, she would personally shut down the regional public schools for two days, require her teachers in every district to attend and pay them to come.  She also offered her own home for Patty and I to stay in if we needed a place to stay during the conference.  I told her that Lord willing, I would be there so start planning it for the district's calendars next year.

•This Minister of Education has the power and influence to assist Coleigo Penel, (our Christian Private School) which serves primarily the most poor and those who have been removed from public schools because of disability.  (This may sound cruel but Colombian teachers - Public and Private Teachers - have never been trained in Special Education).  This official can provide our school (since in Colombia there is no separation of church and state) with necessary school materials and even assistance with the tuition of the poorest students.  So this is a huge boost to the Christian Church and School and to Dale's ministry efforts in this city.

•170 parents and family members from the city of Villavicencio attended the two Parent Workshop sessions offered over two evenings.  Parents learned from the Fat City Video by Mr. Rick Lavoy, how it really feels to be disabled.  There was much laughing, crying and hugging as parents saw their children with new eyes. Parents then had an opportunity to have their individual questions asked.

•Thanks to Alba Pena, a public school principal in Bogota and the wife of Edgar Pena, the Minister of the Normandia Christian Church; Dr. Dale Meade and I were invited to present a two hour overview of Dyslexia at the Colegio Distrital Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo, the first public school we have lectured at in Bogota (the capital city and the countries largest school district) this year.  The two sessions were very successful and the schools (along with 100 public school teachers in attendance), requested an 8 hour educational conference next year.  I eagerly accepted.

•Dale and I met with three Educational Co-ordinators in Bogota, at the school listed above, and discussed the schedule for a large district-wide educational conference in Bogota next July.  One of the coordinators thought the overview on Dyslexia was valuable enough to ask if we could alter our conference schedule to present at her daughter's private school.  Dale and I agreed and we presented at one of the largest and wealthiest Catholic schools I have ever seen.  50 teachers were in attendance and were very eager to receive the training offered. 

•Sans Facon, the Catholic school mentioned above, is an all girl school run by Nuns and taught by the first faculty I have encountered where probably 1/3 spoke English.  Their school has an auditorium large enough to hold two thousand people.  The school principal offered her facility including the auditorium to hold a city-wide educational conference next July!!!  Of course I am still numb over this news and I am stunned by the speed that God can work. 

•So next July and early August, Dale and I will, with God's grace, provide two large educational conferences in both Villavicencio and Bogota.  We hope to reach hundreds and maybe thousands of teachers next year (with the full support of the government).

•The Saturday before I left to return to Florida, Dale, Dewayne Liebrant, of Deaf Ministries International and I visited a mountain overlooking Bogota.  As I looked down on this immense city, Dale told me that I was looking at 5% of the world's population!  11 million people live in the greater Bogota area, one of the largest cities on the planet.  There are 50,000 teachers living there who have never heard of Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, or Accommodations or Modifications to the curriculum.  I could spend the rest of my life presenting, training and encouraging teachers in just one city that all children have value, purpose and can learn. 

•In addition to training teachers, I had the opportunity to preach at the Normandia Christian Church in Bogota.  This church supports half way houses that retrain some of the 200 rebels that are leaving the jungle and surrendering everyday to government forces.  I had the opportunity to meet with six of them and share a lunch together.  The church helps them gain a new life by assisting with employment training, personal finance management, housing and food.  They have achieved a 60% success rate so far.

•It really helps to have the assistance of a Missionary and College Professor like Dale who has established an excellent reputation of service with the Colombian people over 36 years. In Colombia, you have to be introduced by people they trust if you wish to earn the right to educate or minister.  Often, the only ministry is providing a service people desperately need.  Once that is done, you earn the right to witness of the One you serve.

•Do not worry about your personal safety as God watches over you day and night and is stronger than anything you will come across.  Here are just a few examples of his protection:

•Dale and I travelled the narrow two lane mountain road from Bogota to Villavicencio and back despite the fact that on that very day, a truck driver was killed instantly when he could not make the curve and lost his load of steel on the mountainside. 15 people were killed just three days before our trip down from tremors and rockslides.

•The Lord helped Dale navigate traffic where it is totally ok for two or three cars to drive side by side on a two lane road.

•In Villavicencio, just before our last Parent training, I was called away to another location.  Had I not left, I would have been right in front of a knife wielding robber who stole the school's laptop computer in front of fifty parents.

•Finally, I slept soundly through two separate remote controlled bombings in downtown Bogota near our apartment.  Nobody is that lucky-God takes care of his own.
Short-Term Mission trips are a wonderful opportunity to see what God can accomplish in as little time as a two week vacation.  The small boy who only had two loaves and five fish did not believe he had anything of value to offer.  But our Savior knew better so whatever talent you have consider using it on a short term Mission trip.  It will truly change your life!!
 
God bless
Paul (aka Pablo)

There are many ministries that could use your help in Colombia. If you would like to visit Dale in Colombia, let us know. You can visit alone, with your family or with your church or Sunday School class. We can help you plan a short-term mission trip.

New (used) Microscopes for Colegio Peniel

If you are looking for a great project for your Sunday School Class, small group or church, Colegio Peniel needs more microscopes and other science lab supplies.

Some of you may remember that we raised money 7 years ago to buy some used microscopes for Colegio Peniel. Back then we were able to raise money to buy 5 microscopes, which are still being used daily. Because the school has grown so much in the past 5 years and there are now more older kids attending, those microscopes have waiting lists for usage at the school and the school is in need of more. As the government of Colombia puts more and more restrictions and regulations on private schools, Colegio Peniel tries to keep up as much as they can, but occasionally they need our help. Colegio Peniel provides one of the best educations in the City of Villavicencio to the children of the very poor. Please help us help them continue to provide a quality education to these poor children that are neglected by the rest of society because of their economic class.

If your Sunday School Class, children’s church, small group or church is looking for a fall/winter/Christmas project, this is it. We would like to have the microscopes purchased and delivered to the school by February 2009 when the new school year starts. Each microscope will cost about $250 and it will cost $20 to get them down to Colombia. We are also trying to raise an additional $1000 to buy science supplies and equipment for Colegio Peniel, their physics and chemistry labs are in need of more equipment to fill the need for so many students.

We have a video about Colegio Peniel if you would like one to show to help raise funds for this project, just let us know and we’ll send it off. Contact us: SusyMorris@supportCCM.com

Colombian Christian Mission
PO Box 95
Rittman, OH 44270-0095

Sponsor a Teacher Program

We have great teachers at Colegio Peniel. This year through our Sponsor a Teacher program we are trying to raise support to be able to give each of our teachers a bonus at the end of the year. We are trying to raise $500 for each teacher or $9,000 total (we are over halfway there). They give up a lot of benefits and economic gain to work at Colegio Peniel. Help up thank them and show them that we appreciate all that they do in providing a quality Christian education for the poor children of Colombia and teaching them about Jesus.