Mission Newsletter August 2026

09Sep

The Rivera Family Serving at The Mission in Carmen Serdan, Tecate México

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

August was another full and blessed month at the mission. Our home continued to be filled with children, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors serving together. After an especially busy July, we entered this month grateful for the strength God provides each day and for every person He sends to encourage, serve, and walk alongside our mission family.

School of Discipleship

Throughout August, the School of Discipleship students continued living, learning, and serving alongside our mission family. Their extended stay allowed them to experience much more than a short-term mission trip; they became part of the everyday life of the children’s home. Their days began with our 6:30 a.m. devotional, followed by breakfast and helping with dishes before attending their classes. They returned to share lunch with everyone and spent the rest of the day serving wherever they were needed—helping in the kitchen, washing dishes, doing laundry, spending time with the children, working on projects, and assisting with the many responsibilities that keep our home running.

The first weeks required an extra investment from our staff as we taught and trained the students in our daily routines, but as they learned, they became a tremendous help. Their willingness to serve lightened the workload and allowed our staff to devote more time and attention to the children. We are grateful not only for their helping hands, but also for the privilege of being part of their discipleship and watching them learn that serving Christ is often found in faithfully doing the ordinary things.

On August 27, the School of Discipleship officially came to an end, and we said goodbye with grateful hearts.

Our prayer is that everything God planted in their hearts during this season will grow and bear abundant fruit—through the teaching they received from their teachers, the lessons they learned from our children, and the experiences they gained while serving alongside our staff. We pray that they will carry these lessons with them, continue growing in their relationship with Jesus, and faithfully serve Him wherever He leads them next.

A Month Filled with Visitors

At the beginning of August, we were blessed to welcome a group from Kaylese, Philipy Church in Oregon. For a time, our mission family grew to nearly 70 people under one roof. It was a busy house, but also a beautiful opportunity for fellowship and service.

Later in the month, Ashley returned with a team of eight volunteers from Heritage in Brookings, Oregon—four men and four women—who served with us from August 18 through August 27. They joined our daily activities, spent time with the children, helped wherever there was a need, and brought encouragement to our staff and families.

During Ashley’s team visit, we also had the joy of celebrating the birthday of one of their team members. It was a simple but special opportunity to come together as one big mission family, share a time of celebration, and make their time with us even more memorable. We are always thankful for these moments of fellowship that allow us to build relationships beyond the work of serving together.

During their visit, approximately 67 people were living and serving together at the mission. Hosting so many people requires additional meals, dishes, laundry, transportation, accommodations, and coordination, but it is a privilege to open our home to those God sends. We are thankful for each person willing to come alongside us and experience the everyday work of loving and caring for these children.

Caring for Our Children

August was thankfully a quieter month medically. We continued with routine care and follow-up appointments, including a neurology appointment for Lucita with Dr. Piedras. We are grateful for quieter months because they provide a much-needed break from the hospital visits, tests, and specialist appointments that are often part of our normal routine.

Our children are also growing older, and with that comes an increasing need for specialized medical care and proper legal documentation. We continue working to obtain birth certificates for all of the children in our care, and God has given us tremendous grace and favor with the Civil Registry in Tecate. Of the 14 children currently in our home, only two are still completing this process. These documents are an essential part of each child’s file and are also necessary for healthcare and many other important procedures. We praise God for every step forward and ask for your prayers as we work to complete the final two cases.

Thankful for Those Who Serve

After such a busy summer, we are especially thankful for our permanent staff. Behind every visiting team are people preparing rooms, planning and cooking meals, buying groceries, coordinating schedules, training volunteers, washing extra dishes, answering questions, and, most importantly, continuing the daily responsibility of caring for our children.

We are deeply grateful for the Ahumada, Bastidas, Cruz, and Rivera families, as well as our single staff members: Blanca, Estefani, Karolina, Azahel, Hakim, Guillermo Aleigha and our “kids“ Azaff, Abdiel, Conchita, who continue serving faithfully through every season. Their commitment makes it possible not only to provide consistent care for the children, but also to welcome others into the ministry and give them the opportunity to serve alongside us.

In Awe of God’s Creation

One special moment this month was watching the eclipse in the night sky. We were able to capture a beautiful photo of it, and it became another reminder of the greatness of our God. No matter how many times we look toward the heavens, His creation never ceases to amaze us. In the middle of our busy lives, moments like this invite us to stop, look up, and remember the majesty of our Creator. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” — Psalm 19:1

A New Season for Our Family

This month brought a very significant change for our family as Azaff and Abdiel prepared to begin high school after many years of homeschooling. During August, they completed their enrollment, took their entrance exams, and participated in their preparatory course. We are very thankful and proud that both were admitted with A+ averages. They are excited to begin this new chapter, and we are grateful to see the fruit of their years of hard work and dedication. As they transition into a traditional school environment, we ask for your prayers for God’s protection, wisdom, and provision, and above all, that they will keep their hearts close to Jesus and honor Him in this new season of their lives.

They have entered this new season with so much excitement, and while it is a joy to watch them grow, it is also a major adjustment for all of us.

This new chapter brings additional expenses and changes to our family’s daily routine, so we especially ask for your prayers. Please pray that God will provide for every need and, above all, protect our sons as they enter a new environment, make new friends, and face new experiences. Our desire is that they will enjoy this season while continuing to grow in their relationship with the Lord. We trust Him to guide their steps, guard their hearts, and use this new chapter for His purposes in their lives.

How You Can Pray

Our staff — For renewed strength, unity, wisdom, and God’s provision for every need of our mission families and single staff members.

The health of our children — For each child, especially those requiring ongoing or specialized medical care, and for wisdom for their doctors.

A full-time nurse — That God will provide the right nurse to serve here at the children’s home and help us care for the increasing medical needs of our children.

Our family vehicle — For the financial provision needed to make the necessary repairs so we can continue using it for school, medical appointments, any needed transportation of our family.

Our family’s medical debt — For God’s provision to help us pay the remaining debts our family has incurred because of medical expenses.

Azaff and Abdiel — For God’s protection, wisdom, provision, and guidance as they begin high school and adjust to this new season.

Our School of Discipleship students and summer volunteers — That everything God planted in their hearts during their time here will continue to grow and bear fruit wherever He leads them.

The spiritual lives of our children — Above all, that every child entrusted to our care will personally know Jesus and experience His love through our words, actions, and daily life together.

God Has Been Faithful

As summer comes to an end, we look back and see God’s provision everywhere. Some days our home held around 49 people, while at other times that number grew to nearly 70. There were countless meals to prepare, beds to arrange, dishes to wash, people to transport, children to care for, and unexpected needs to meet. Yet through it all, God provided.

This ministry belongs to Him. He provides the people, the strength, the resources, and the grace we need for each day. We simply desire to remain faithful with everything He places in our hands.

Thank You for Standing With Us

We are deeply grateful for every individual, family, and church that sacrificially gives from what God has entrusted to them to bless this mission. We understand that behind every gift there is a person or family choosing to share what they have so that the needs of our children and mission family can be met. We never want to take that sacrifice for granted.

Your prayers, financial support, visits, and encouragement allow us to continue caring for the children, supporting our staff, meeting medical needs, and carrying out the daily work God has placed before us.

Our prayer is that the Lord will multiply every blessing you have shared with us, provide abundantly for your families, and never allow you to lack what you need. May the same God who has faithfully provided for this mission continue to show His faithfulness in every area of your lives.

Thank you for being part of what God is doing here in Mexico. We could not do this alone, and we are grateful that God has chosen to surround this ministry with people like you.

With love and gratitude,

Miguel, Zurisadai, Azaff, Abdiel & Conchita
The Rivera Family
Serving Together in Mexico