For years, our church has embraced the people of La Palmilla, Veracruz, Mexico. Their financial resources are limited. But God has blessed us, and we’ve been able to walk together with them to assist their ministry (and to allow them to minister to us).
We’re ministering with them on two fronts…
Sponsored Children Project
Each August, the children and youth of La Palmilla prepare to return to school. They need school supplies, uniforms, backpacks, shoes, etc to be ready for a new year. In addition, they have to pay school registration and book fees. Unfortunately, many families do not have the economic resources to be able to buy these things for their children. Often, children will not be able to continue their schooling in middle school or high school because of the prohibitive costs.
In 2012, we began to match needy children in La Palmilla to sponsors in our church. Through the donation of the sponsors over the years, we have been able to help hundreds of children and youth to be ready to start a new school year. The program has grown over the years, spread to the community and become a ministry OF the church, not just a ministry TO the church.
Sponsors give just once a year and always have the option of stopping or continuing their support each year. ALL of the donations go towards the children; NO administrative costs taken out, and 100% of your donation will go directly to the kids’ needs. Full sponsorship covers school registration fees and book fees; and buys school supplies, backpack (if needed), shoes and whatever part of the uniform that is needed. Soon after donating, new sponsors will be notified of the name, age and grade of their sponsored child. Then they will receive a picture of their sponsored child and a thank you note from him or her at the end of August or beginning of September. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, here are the details:
- Kindergarten School Child: $55
- Elementary School Child $60
- Middle School Child: $70
- High School Student: $100
If you’re not able to fully sponsor a child, contributions of any amount to the General School Supply Fund are also welcomed. Any amount will be accepted and will be used to buy school supplies for other children that don’t have full sponsors. If you wish to help or if you have questions, please contact Jen Andrade.
(All donations are tax deductible. Make checks payable to Pitman United Methodist Church.
Mail to 758 N. Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071, ATTENTION Jen Andrade.)
Church Construction
The church in that village has outgrown their building and we are doing what we can to make sure that their ministry isn’t limited by the size of their sanctuary. The people in La Palmilla have little resources, but they have a huge heart for God. They are being God’s hands and feet in their area of Mexico, but they need our help.
We waited in the “wilderness” of borrowed spaces for four years before we were able to move into our present building, However, the people in La Palmilla had to wait for almost 20 years! We have discovered how the resource of our building can be used to impact the lives of others, while the people in La Palmilla have been struggling to help others without this resource.
Below are some pictures of our friends in Mexico and of the sanctuary that was dedicated in 2017….
There are still many “finishing touches” to be completed, and the church now needs to convert their old sanctuary into a kitchen / social hall. La Palmilla is a church with limited means but with boundless enthusiasm and love for our Savior!
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For news about our mission to La Palmilla, Click the below “News” button…
News
