Jorge from the Prayer Garden, Colegio Alfa & Omega
Thank you very much for your support as always. I would like to start this update with a Psalm that really captured my attention today, Psalm 39, verse 4 that says,
“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”
In Dénia, the situation is dire in our regional hospital where they don’t have enough protective face masks nor enough beds for those who need them in the intensive care unit. Surprisingly, the situation is worse here than in other locations in Spain due to the many, from the central part of the country, who are escaping to their summer homes in search of smaller crowds and fewer reported cases of the virus. The onslaught has caused Dénia’s medical infrastructure to collapse. And while our strict home lockdown has been largely an effective measure in reducing the propagation of the virus, it has been very difficult for children and the homeless.
Here is an update on the ministry at Colegio Alfa & Omega:
Online Instruction
We spent the first week of the quarantine preparing our technology platform to deliver daily online teaching to our students. This past Monday, March 23rd, all of our teachers began teaching most of our curriculum online, including physical education which is especially important to our students’ (and their parents) well-being. We are the only primary and secondary school providing online instruction in Dénia. The public schools have temporarily closed. For our pre-school we are providing online content that parents can access for the children by demand.
Daily Devotionals
We are using the crisis as an opportunity to send a short daily devotional to all of the families of the Alfa & Omega community. This is a tool that we have used occasionally in the past with parents who have expressed interest in the Gospel and now we are sending it to all of our families. During the crisis, we are finding that there is a strong sense of desperation, insecurity, confusion and fear. This uncertainty is affecting both the physical and emotional health as well as personal relationships of many in our community. It is also strongly affecting our local economy now that most businesses are closed. Through this ordeal, it is certain that some will turn against God. But even more are looking for the comfort and tranquility that can only be found through Jesus Christ. With today’s technology, we have many opportunities to spread the gospel to a group of people who are much more receptive.
Food for the Needy
We support a ministry that contributes food every day to the homeless living in our streets. Although the logistics of cooking for groups is much more difficult now, we continue to provide enough food for thirty families each day. The police are allowing one person from each family to come to our distribution center and pickup food, clothing and other necessities.
Volunteers:
Our current group of twelve young international volunteers who were serving at Alfa & Omega have all had to leave the residence hall and return to their homes in their home countries. Our four German volunteers were the first to leave as our group of Americans scrambled to get flights. All of our Spanish volunteers have now returned home as well. And unfortunately, we had several who were about to travel to Dénia to begin their volunteer service us who have now had to postpone their trips indefinitely. It’s strange to see the Alfa & Omega campus completely deserted except for our guard, Fernando and his family. Fernando is providing complete security and not allowing anyone to enter except for emergencies.
Summer 2020 Camps Program
We had already made all of the preparations for our comprehensive summer camp program for children, adolescents and adults. Most of our camps are supported by visiting teams from the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the US who would serve as volunteer counselors and staff. Due to Covid-19 all of them have cancelled their trips and we are now scrambling to reorganize the camp itineraries. This will certainly affect our attendance because the objectives of each camp will be more limited in scope. Coincidentally, this year we had more groups planning to come to Dénia than any other year in the history of our summer camps program.
Essential Prayer Requests
That during this pandemic, we would serve as Christian witnesses in a timely and inspiring way and that we would serve as channels of the grace of God in our extraordinarily secular and unchurched Spanish society.
For the Lord’s protection against the virus for those who serve in the ministry of Alfa & Omega and that it would be a time of personal spiritual enrichment for them. For believers, we pray that they would draw closer and become more committed to Jesus Christ. And for non-believers, that they would receive Him.
That the new leadership of Alfa & Omega would be renewed spiritually and physically. And that the Lord would provide them with a new vision for moving forward. Without doubt, programs and ministries will change and some drastically. Much wisdom is needed to face this new reality with discernment, determination and faith.
As a private, non-profit institution, not having students onsite for so much time will most likely affect our enrollment for the next academic year. In fact, it is now, during the month of March, when we begin accepting applications to fill open spots for the fall semester. We ask for prayer that we would rest in the provision of the Eternal God who has never left this institution even during its most difficult days. We pray that the economic measures that we are taking are those that flow from God.
Also, for the hundreds of families who entrust their children to Alfa & Omega, that they continue to have faith in the Christ-centered education that we deliver. We know that the enemy will try to hinder this ministry, but we are certain that God is on our side.
For each of our students who will now be at home and away from the good, healthy and holy environment of Alfa & Omega.
That God will continue affirming servanthood in the lives of our international volunteers who have had to leave Alfa & Omega early without completing the program; And for those who will come in the future, that the Spirit will work in them to come fully prepared to fulfill the mission they have in Spain through the ministry of Alfa & Omega.
To be attentive to the physical and economic needs of the people with whom we interact and then to respond accordingly to God's plan for this emergency.
To be obedient every day to the prophetic call in this generation to sow the gospel in each person who has not yet experienced a new birth in Jesus Christ.
And finally, for the ten doctors from our church in Dénia who work in our regional hospital and who are exposed every day to the Coronavirus. For the nurses and other health care professionals that are in the same situation, that they receive the necessary medical devices, medications, hospital capacity and personal protective equipment vital for their great work.
To God goes the Glory!
Please receive a non-contaminated virtual hug!
Jorge
info@alfa-omega.org
