Hello everyone,
We're already barreling into fall and I don't know about you but I love it! Priscilla and I have found ourselves a little more reflective as we come up on our 1 year anniversary of returning to the U.S. It's hard to believe it's almost been a year. We'll hit that anniversary the first week of November. So much has happened. Had He told us ahead of time what was in store and given us the choice, it's probably not the choice we would have made. It's been a very challenging year but we can't deny that God is moving in and all around us. For that reason, we're thankful and realize we are so blessed. And we're excited for what's in store and trusting in Him for this next season.
Down in Chihuahua, Pastor Jose and CC Roca Norte continue on with the work of reaching Chihuahua with the Gospel and making disciples of Jesus. It's been a challenging year of transition for them as well. Getting used to a new pastor is hard for any church. I think it was even more difficult because the transition happened so quickly and Pastor Jose and his family moved to Chihuahua from another state. But I have been so blessed by how the church has adjusted and how they've been able to keep their eyes on Jesus. I've been left in awe by Pastor Jose and his family and how they've handled the year of transition. Every time I talk to him--even when painful things happen, when the finances just aren't there, when things don't work out as he had hoped, when it could be hard to see the Lord's provision and faithfulness--he always seems to keep his eyes on Jesus. He's always positive and willing to sacrifice more for the sake of the Gospel and for the sake of the sheep God has entrusted him with. It's not just me that notices this, I've heard the same testimony about him from person after person. I'm sitting here tearing up as I type these words, because I'm so thankful that God provided CC Roca Norte with a pastor like Jose.
If you have a couple minutes, please take some time to thank the Lord with me for all that He has done with Roca Norte and Pastor Jose. Please pray for him and for his family (his wife Keyla and his two sons Lemuel and Samuel). As I mentioned, it's been a difficult season for them and they could really use the prayer. Thanks so much and have a great week!
-Tim
Eph. 3:20-21
Praise Reports
-God has been answering prayer for Pastor Jose and his family and providing just enough at just the right time to sustain them.
-Pastor Jose has begun a church-planting training program with two of the leaders from the church (Mario & Luis who were both leaders when I was there).
-New people from the surrounding neighborhood where the church recently moved to have begun attending the church.
-The process for the U.S. Roca Norte Missions 501c3 non-profit are continuing forward.
Prayer Requests
-For God's financial provision for CC Roca Norte to be able to pay the rent consistently and pay Pastor Jose and his family so their basic needs are taken care of. Pastor Jose specifically asked for prayer that the church would be able to be self-sustained as soon as possible.
-For the church-planting program that they are going through. That God would raise up these men and their families to plant churches throughout Mexico.
-For the new bilingual service that CC Roca Norte will start later this month.
-For continued church unity of the Christian churches in Chihuahua. Pastor Jose has a burden to lead the charge of uniting churches in the city and has begun organizing meetings to do so.
-For traveling mercies, provision and safety for the Pastor's Conference that Jose and a couple others in the church will be attending Oct. 13-14 in Mexicali.
-For the Roca Norte Missions 501c3. That we would finalize the process as quickly as possible and be able to open a ministry bank account within the next month.
-For my mom's continued cancer treatment. The most recent scans found that the cancer had spread again over the summer. The spots are still relatively small but they are considering another surgery, this time to remove two spots from her lungs.
