After much prayer and discussion, Lori and I have decided to move to La Palma, El Salvador to work with congregations in that area. We have committed to one year there, intending to move there the last of July 2010. We currently plan to be back around the same time in July 2011.

In January, Lori was able to go to La Palma for her eleventh visit. Soon after her return, she felt called by God to ask me to commit one year to the work there. She told herself that if I was outright opposed to the idea, she’d let it go. To her surprise (and somewhat to my own) I was not only not opposed but, instead, excited by the idea. We then began praying and talking about what we might do and how we could do it.

Some weeks later, we felt it time to discuss this idea with our thirteen year old daughter, Ruth. We told ourselves that if she was outright opposed to the idea, we’d let it go. To our surprise Ruth was excited about the idea and didn’t seem to mind too much the sacrifice of her freshman year of high school and her friends and all that goes with an adolescent’s childhood at that age.

That left Nathan. It is difficult to really get this idea across to a nine year old boy. Again, we told ourselves that if he was outright opposed to the idea, we’d rethink the move. Again, we were surprised to hear he also would be excited to go – though not nearly as much as the rest of us. We understand we will be asking both out children to sacrifice much to spend even one year out of the country and away from all they know.

During the rest of January and the following two months, we began seeing what some would call God opening doors for us. I personally believe it was not doors opening, but instead it was God revealing that the obstacles we put in front of ourselves were never really there. These doors had been open all along. Open doors are useless, however, unless you are willing to walk through them.

In March, Lori and I went back to La Palma, but this time we went six days before the mission team was to arrive. We needed to experience what it will be like to be the only U.S. Americans on the ground doing the work. It is one thing to be there and be surrounded by friends and Christian family we have known since childhood; it is another thing entirely to be there knowing that our only familiar companion is God.

We spoke to the local preachers about the possibility. We do not want them to get the impression that we are there to do their work or be their supervisors or spies for the U.S. churches. They are very excited and longing to hear when we will arrive. The three local preachers with which we will be working are Jose Castillo (La Palma), Jesus Hernandez (San Ignacio), and Jorge Rodriguez (Ocotepeque).

During this time, we also did research into what it will take logistically and financially to live in La Palma for one year. We are quite glad El Salvador’s currency is U.S. currency – no exchange rate! Some things are cheaper while others are cost more. For example, a small bag of Fritos is 10 cents, while toilet paper is 3 - 5 times costlier. At times you can get 40 bananas for a few cents. Meat and milk, however, are more expensive.

Our expectation of monthly need is $2,310 for 13 months beginning with July 2010. This amount includes both one-time costs (such as air travel, insurance, appliances, etc.) and monthly expenses (such as utilities, food, travel, supplies, etc.) expressed as a monthly average.

While that pretty much sums up the “what” of our going to La Palma, more important is the “why”.

Primary Goal:

We will successfully equip the brothers and sisters in La Palma and San Ignacio, El Salvador and Nueva Ocotepeque, Honduras (and the immediate area) to be committed, discipling members of the Lord’s body in their local congregations and communities.

1. Monte
a. Monte will be working arm-in-arm with the local preachers in those three congregations to bolster their ministry. Monte will not be taking their place in any capacity but will instead do all he can to encourage them in their labor for the Lord.

b. Monte will provide classes on Spiritual Maturity, Christian Duty, and Godly Commitment to all three congregations. These classes are intended mainly for the men and focus on what it means to be a disciple, how to make disciples and being the spiritual leader in their families. Monte was asked by Jorge to teach such classes to the men in Ocotepeque and has taught two classes so far.

c. Monte will also work to build effective communication between each preacher, both with each other and with supporting congregations.

2. Lori
a. Lori will continue relationship discipleship. She will continue to encourage the bond of Christ in the women and children of the congregations in this area. She has already earned the respect of the men and women in the region, allowing her to continue with credibility, her work with personal evangelism, friendship evangelism, and shopping evangelism (yes, it really is effective), as well as continue and increase ladies’ and children’s classes.

b. Lori will also have a focus on teaching the teacher. She will be training the members of the body in this region to become teachers and teacher trainers themselves, leaving no void when we return to the States.

3. Ruth and Nathan will primarily have the job of being children. However, as the children of missionaries they will have all eyes on them. We will continue to foster their spiritual growth which in turn will be an example of Christian parenting. They will also be able to assist in many of the aspects of our ministries.

Secondary Goals

1. Monte
a. Monte will do administrative work for the preacher school. Currently there are no formal admissions, attendance, or graduation policies and there is no mechanism in place to provide syllabus development, scheduling, or transcripts. Monte will work with existing schools and the overseeing eldership to put these things into place.

b. Monte will do administrative work for the orphanage. The facility is built. Monte will work to get things in motion and be able to set an expected operational date.

2. Lori
a. Lori will help to set up a sewing lab for the ladies of the church. Several sewing machines have been shipped to La Palma and will be utilized at the school or church building. Lori will work to implement regular scheduled train the women in how to use them. This will allow them to sew and make clothing for their families and linens for their homes as well as items that they can sell.

b. Lori will also oversee the education of Ruth and Nathan. Though Monte will assist in this, as one with an education degree, it will be Lori who is better equipped and will assume primary responsibility.

The congregations in La Palma, San Ignacio, and Ocotepeque are experiencing different stages of growing pains. Just as any U.S. congregation, each faces unique opportunities and challenges. We believe God is leading us to help these congregations realize their opportunities and work through their challenges. We ask that you partner with us in this effort, right now, with continued prayers for our family and for the people in the La Palma region. We ask for financial partnership. We need both one-time and monthly financial commitments. Checks should be sent to our administrative support congregation:
Lalli Family La Palma Mission Fund
℅Mt. Vernon Church of Christ
732 South Landrum Street
Mt Vernon, MO 65712-1724

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and faithful action.

In Him,

Monte Lalli

Hebrews 5:12-14
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Ephesians 4:11-16
It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

James 1:27
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.