October 2024 Newsletter
Hello Friends!
While the following update was physically sent out through the mail in October, unfortunately, we neglected to send it to our electronic followers. And so, while very late, we feel this is an important update, so here you go! Enjoy!
For most of my life, November has traditionally ushered in the holiday season, with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's!
But this year, as soon as it turned to October, the race was on! Now we have Christmas decorations competing in full force with the decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I hope with all the wars, storms, hurricanes, and tornados in the world today we don't lose sight of Thanksgiving and what it represents. May we start the holidays with grateful hearts regardless of what is happening around us!
The children and adults we serve need us more than ever, with so much uncertainty and confusion around us! Between cartels fighting for land and control and society losing sight of the difference between men and women, things are getting crazy around us! But we as the church of Christ, must remember what our calling and purpose is. We more than ever need to be the light of the world and do the work to which we have been called! James: 1:27 says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." And let us not forget to reach the lost, making disciples and baptizing them while equipping them for ministry! So, stay focused and pray without ceasing!
I'd also like to give an update on our 2nd annual Gala which we had the privilege of hosting the first weekend of this month. The Lord granted us his favor, and even with fewer attendees we exceeded the funds we raised last year! We now have funds to start a new construction project in Mixistlan, Oaxaca to better serve our kids there. We will begin by building a small 600-square-foot La Roca center and an outside playing area, for our children’s ministry and allowing us to host events and outreaches. This village is heavily influenced by the Catholic church, which makes it very difficult for us to do events for the people there. Even though Juan and Olga have done a fantastic job of winning the confidence of most people in the village, the catholic church there has started seeing us as a threat. So, building this center will give us the freedom to do events without depending on them giving us permission to use their facilities! We will be able to feed more than we're currently capable of, as well as host outreaches and classes for couples and men!
Which is what the community is asking our help in. These people are hard-working, laboring in the fields all day along with their children, with little to no affection towards their children or within their marriages! Children go without hugs, and it's rare, that they hear the words "I love you" from their parents. Couples don’t hold hands, and there is a significant problem of adultery among them, as the men go far away to work in the city, or outside the state. These children have cried in Rossy’s arms for the lack of love in their lives. So please pray for this community and for us as we take on this mission. We will also need support in finishing the facility as well as finishing and equipping this new center!
Again, thank you for your faithfulness, both in your prayers and in your support. You are all very dear to us. We love each one of you for your obedience to our Savior!
In His Love and Truth, Carlos and Rossy Montoya and the La Roca staff
