Dear Praying Friends: One of our really quality First Love missionary couples from Bogota, Colombia will be needing to spend some extended time in the USA, and as a result they are in dire need of a vehicle.
I wouldn't normally make an appeal like this, but this couple is extremely under supported financially and in much need of some major encouragement. Their names are Leo and Lilia Morales. Lilia originally went to Bogota as a single missionary in order to teach at El Camino Christian Academy, a school for missionary children. While living in Bogota, Lilia met Leo (a Colombia young man) at the local church she was attending. Over the next year they fell in love and made plans to get married. Leo applied for a visa with the American Embassy so that he could travel to the USA in order to marry Lilia at her home church in Ohio, but his visa was denied. He reapplied only to have it denied again. It is difficult for a single Colombian male to get a USA visa. Because of this, Lilia and Leo ended up getting married in Bogota, and Lilia's parents traveled to Colombia in order to attend the wedding and met their new son-in-law.
Linda and I had the privilege of traveling to Bogota last March, and I've got to tell you, both Leo and Lilia are very gifted and dedicated servants of our Lord and they are very worthy of your investment. Both of them are extremely accomplished musicians as both teach music as well as perform. Lilia has one of the most beautiful soprano voices I have ever heard both in English and Spanish and Leo writes music (even full symphonies) as well as plays several different instruments. They have produced several albums. Leo has now been given a temporary resident visa for the USA but in order to get his "Green Card" and become a permanent resident, he must spend some extended time living in the USA and this is why I am trying to help them find a vehicle. While on "Home Assignment" they will continue to serve as missionaries with First Love. They will be attempting to recruit additional missionaries for us as well as promoting the entire mission efforts of First Love through word and song. I have attached a photo of Linda with Leo Morales which was taken in the town square in Bogota and also a photo of Lilia and me which was taken during an outreach at a home for the elderly. Lilia is on the righthand side of this photo and I am sitting next to a mature Colombian woman who is a part of my peer group! Please let me know if you have a well running vehicle which you would like to donate to First Love and I will make arrangements with you on how we can get it picked up and delivered to Lilia and Leo in Columbus, Ohio.
Thanks so much! Love, Tom
