By Bentlee Barry – Loveland, Colorado … Campion Academy’s international enrollees have faced a variety of challenges with returning to campus, mainly due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Students from Brazil were able to return home during the month of March, but are now faced with closed borders and are having difficulties returning to Campion.

Students from China were not able to return home at all due to the travel restrictions that began in February.

Giovanna Balgamon, international student from Brazil, has started the school year online.

“Starting school online was discouraging. I think all of us hoped that things would be back to normal by now,” Balgamon said.

Eager to return to Campion, the Brazilian students have had to get creative in finding a way to travel to the United States.

Carol Silva, senior, along with Duda De Oliviera, junior, were able to get to Campion Academy in early August. They had to take a flight from Brazil to Mexico, and quarantine for 15 days. Then they were able to fly to Colorado.

“Although it was tedious and frankly very tiring, I am beyond grateful to be able to spend this year growing with God and being around all my friends. I am appreciative to all the staff and the students for following the rules to keep our campus safe,” Silva said.

Seven more students, from Brazil, are currently going through the same process in an attempt to attend Campion.

They arrived in Mexico on August 24th, and plan to be at Campion by the 9th of September.

Gregory Lang and his brother Jarrod, Chinese students, started at Campion last year.

“I first heard about COVID-19 in February when the outbreak began in China. My family was then already prepared for us to stay here and sent over 400 masks immediately. In March, the outbreak hit the U.S., my brother and I immediately began donating and handing out masks to Campions staff,” Jarrod Lang said.

During the summer the brothers stayed with Campion’s alumni president Codi Jahn and her family for the summer.

“They are very good people and have strong relationships with God. I was never sad or depressed during this time. My brother and I both love the U.S. and are very grateful to be here. We were able to get more in touch with God, and learn about his grace. Codi and Caleb Jahn took very good care of us and my family is extremely thankful,” Jarrod said.

Even through, new international students were not able to enroll due to visa restrictions, Campion Academy has 17 international students enrolled for the academic year.

–Bentlee Barry is a senior at Campion Academy; photos by Jill Harlow