My name is Luke Cota, and I’m currently living in Europe. For the past four years, I’ve been serving as a volunteer missionary in the Netherlands. Recently, my wife Julia and I moved to Stockholm, Sweden to help pioneer a new church. It has been an exciting and faith-filled season for us but in the midst of it, tragedy has struck our family.

Just days ago, my stepdad Ramon passed away unexpectedly.

He was my mom’s second husband, a man who stepped into our lives with love, strength, and care. His loss is devastating on its own..but it also reopens a deep wound. In 2015, my father (my mom’s first husband) passed away. In the span of just ten years, my mom has now lost two incredible men. The weight of that grief is hard to put into words.

And the hardest part for me is this: Julia and I are not there

I’m not there to hold my mom, to sit with her in the quiet moments, or to stand alongside my siblings as we grieve together. Being so far away during a time like this feels incredibly heavy.

That’s why I’m asking, with humility and hope, for your help.

Julia and I are trying to get back to California as soon as possible not only to be present with my family, but also to help plan the funeral and support my mom through this heartbreaking time. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have the financial means to cover the cost of our flights.

If you feel led to give, any support—big or small—would mean more than we can express. And if you’re not able to give, we would deeply appreciate your prayers and for you to share this with others.

We truly believe in the power of community—that in moments like this, people come together to carry one another through.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and for standing with us during one of the most difficult seasons of our lives.