Aug-Oct Update

WIN-GS…..Wherever I’m Needed—Go Serve….

Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. It’s because of you that we are able to be free to be in those places where the Lord needs us to serve Him.

In August, 20-22, Joe attended the Anglican Honduras Hope board meeting in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The Board was able to hear from the various Deaneries and special ministries throughout the Diocese. The purpose of Anglican Honduras Hope is to provide a vehicle which can help ministry occur between congregations and individuals in the USA and the Diocese of Honduras. There are many avenues in which people are able to serve, so if you would like to do some type of ministry to help the Diocese of Honduras please let us know and we will see what we can do to make it happen.

We went to Atlanta, GA to stay with our good friend, Paul Wood, on the 29th of August. That served as a double purpose because we needed to be at the Atlanta airport at 6:00 AM to pick up Stacey and Simon coming in from Australia the next day. Stacey has not been back to the states for 2 years and this was Simon’s first trip to the states. Not only that, but it was Tina’s 60th birthday on the 30th. So we had a big celebration with the family for Tina when we arrived in Sumter.

Joe continues to hold services at St. Augustine’s, near Poinsett State Park off SC 261 usually on the 1st Sunday of each month when he is available. This has been a real blessing to us to be able to connect with these precious people. Also, this summer, Joe has helped out with St. Mark’s church which is not too far from St. Augustine’s. St. Mark’s is the Mother Church of the region and was established in 1757. Six former South Carolina Governors attended this parish and two of them are buried at the cemetery that is on the grounds. Joe will celebrate and preach at St. Mark’s annual homecoming service on the 25th of this month. If you are in the area, come and join us. Bring a covered dish to be shared. The service starts at 11:30 AM.

We went to Alexandria, LA the weekend of the 11th of September to be the presenters at the Diocesan Ultreya of Western Louisiana. It was good to be with some friends that we had met along the way through our mission work and Kairos when we were in Baton Rouge. It was a refreshing time of ministry with the Cursillo Community. We were also able to have a short visit with Charlie Moore and son, Matthew. Janet had to work so we missed seeing her, but we did get a chance to talk with her for a short while. They were parishioners of Holy Spirit when we where in Baton Rouge and good friends of our daughter Kerry and her husband Daniel.

Through the generosity of Holy Comforter Church, we were able to have a Welcome Home gathering for Stacey and Simon in the Parish Hall for our family that live in SC and near by states on the 19th of September. It was a real joy for us to have our family meet Simon and to be able to see Stacey. What a blessing!

On Wednesday, September 23rd, we took Stacey and Simon to Charleston. We were able to show Simon the Citadel and parts of down town; especially the Battery and the Market. Later in the day, they did a presentation of their ministry at Holy Trinity Church on Folly Road. The priest there, David Dubay, was a member of St. Christopher’s when we served there many years ago.

On the 25th of September, the Florence Deanery had the privilege to meet with Bishop Mouneer Anis. Bishop Mouneer is the Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa. He is also the President Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Joe was really excited to meet Bishop Mouneer because when Bishop Mouneer was on staff at the Cathedral in Cairo as a priest, he ministered to George Tutu and his family who were refugees from Sudan. George and his family became members of Holy Spirit in Baton Rouge in 1998 and opened a new world and ministry for us in regard to the persecuted church and the plight of those in Sudan.

Stacey and Simon did a ministry presentation at Holy Comforter on the 26th. It is absolutely amazing to hear about the various people groups that they minister in the South Pacific and the indigenous of Australia. To learn more about their ministry go to www.Islandbreezesydney.org and to www.islandbreeze.com.au.

We celebrated Joe’s 60th birthday on Sunday the 27th, a day before his birthday, so that Stacey and Simon could go to Louisiana to visit Holy Spirit and Beloved, two of the churches that Stacey was part of before heading down under. And Joe headed off to Lee Prison with Kairos for 4 days.

This past Tuesday, the 13th, we took Stacey and Simon to Atlanta for them to head back to Australia. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to prepare for their wedding on the 19th of December.

Mixed in to all of this, we continue to substitute teach at Abney’s school. It gives us the opportunity to help the school out and also to be available in other ways with the students. Tina is involved in a bible study group at the school with teachers and parents, as well as going to pray for the school at the school once a week with another parent.

Needless to say, it’s been very busy around the Rhodes’ household with Stacey and Simon being here with all the extra activities. Tuesday was a sweet and sour day for us; glad that they were heading back to Australia and sad because they were heading back to Australia. Yet, many years ago, the Lord told us that none of our children were ours; they were His and just on loan.

Thanks again for your prayers,
Fr. Joe & Tina