Ariel is the eldest of three siblings in Álvaro and Hilda’s family. This family is from El Cocuy, the birthplace of the Lutheran Church of Colombia. For security reasons, Ariel’s family he moved to Bogotá in the late eighties and did so without having money, connections, or a place to live. Nelida, a member of St. Paul&’s Church, opened her home to them and was extremely generous and patient when the family could not pay the rent money.
Ariel had only finished primary school. His two brothers, Jorge, and Andrés, also needed to enroll in school. And the family had no money to do it. Through what is now Fundacion Camino de Emaus Ariel and his brothers managed to see their dream of education come true. Ariel persisted in completing her secondary education, attending all six years of high school in three years and attending a night school. Although Ariel did not go to college, Ariel is today a successful entrepreneur, committed Christian leader, founder and former board member of Fundacion Camino de Emaus. By the grace of God, the scholarships Ariel received became the passport to a better and dignified life for himself and his family. Ariel’s passion has been her own pizza business and God has blessed this business.
Ariel has been able to provide employment for other family members and buy her own house. The story of Ariel and her family is a living testimony of transformation and empowerment thanks to the incredible generosity of you, our mission partners in the United States and Finland. Like Ariel, many other families have been, and continue to be, blessed, and empowered to live a dignified life, to break the cycle of poverty, to become committed Christian leaders and productive and responsible citizens.