February
2015
Today
as I sit to write; the weather outside is cold, sunny, and clear! It’s nice to be inside a warm home reflecting
upon our blessings. Upon our arrival
home from Honduras in October, we felt the Lord say to us that we were to rest
and “to Be” until the new year arrived in January. The winter settled upon us and brought a time
of stillness, reflection and prayer. We have
enjoyed our slower pace of life and being with our family and friends.
When
January arrived, our lives began to pick up a steady rhythm again and watching
the Lord begin to bring new things into our life and WIN-GS ministry. Because we value your prayers and support of
our ministry, we want to share what we have been about since January began and
some upcoming events.
January
6, 2015; the Feast of the Epiphany and the Epiphany service at Holy
Comforter. Tina was asked to help
prepare for this special evening. Holy
Comforter had invited 5 other churches to be part of a joint Epiphany
service. Holy Comforter provided a
reception following the service. We had
ordered King Cakes from Gambino’s Bakery in New Orleans and had them shipped
overnight. Twelve King Cakes arrived for
an anticipated 125 people….well, 187 people attended. It was a special evening, gathered with
brothers and sisters---and the Lord multiplied the King Cakes! Yes!
You read correctly. Many people
had several pieces and we had King Cake left over! “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm
34:8
January
9-19: We had Bishop Lloyd Allen of
Honduras come for a visit. This was a
quiet time of rest and refreshment for him.
January
31: We led a Prayer Team Ministry
Training Day for Holy Comforter’s Sunday Prayer Teams.
February
4-10: We drove to New York or “Double
New York” as Abney has called it in the past.
We attended Abney’s graduation from AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic
Academy) and several of her graduating Showcases. We helped her move out of her dorm into a
home in the Bronx. Thank you Lord for
Your perfect provision! Yes, she does
have a small job and as she says, “looking to see what doors the Lord will
open!” Along the way going up, we were
able to stay with some friends of ours from our early Louisiana days at Holy
Spirit in Baton Rouge.
It’s
always a blessing to see old friends.
Thank you to those who prayed for us not to be stuck in the snow
storms!!
February
14: Saint Mary’s Episcopal School in
Tegucigalpa, Honduras hosted their 10th Annual Family Race. Each year the school honors a person who has
contributed time and love to the school to help promote and advertise the
race. Tina was given this honor this
year and sadly had to be absent because of our New York trip. The proceeds for the race go to support the
Athletic Program at the school. There
are trophies for the winning Family Teams and for creative Team outfits…..lots
of Family fun! Check out the pictures on
Face Book @ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=175736555828511
Upcoming
Events:
March
3: Joe will have another PSA blood level
reading and we are praying for another zero report! He is doing very well and we thank you for
your continued prayers.
March
13-14: The Diocese of South Carolina
Convention. This will be our first
convention in many years and we are looking forward to seeing old friends and
meeting new ones.
April
9: We fly to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to
attend the wedding of a young lady who has been on many mission trips with us
since she was in the 9th grade.
She even has served as our Co-Leader on several of our last
missions. What a blessing to get to
share in her special day.
April
12-19: We leave Baton Rouge and fly to
San Pedro Sula, Honduras to attend a clergy conference at the Diocesan Conference
Center in Muchilena. The Rev’d Mike
Flynn will be leading the conference and he has asked Joe to help with some of
the teaching. It will be wonderful to be back among our brothers and sisters
there and to be able to pray for them and to encourage them. Please pray for the Lord’s anointing on this
conference…..refreshment, encouragement, healing, fun and fellowship!
April
29-May 3: Joe will be serving on a
Kairos Prison Ministry Team going into Lee Correctional in Bishopville, SC.
June: Hoping to attend Saint Mary’s High School
Graduation on June 11 and to be able to present each of the 17 seniors with a
Bilingual Bible that has been given to each senior for several years as a gift
in memory of a dear friend who had been a part of several mission trips to
Honduras.
Our
time home has provided us with the opportunity to meet new brothers and sisters
throughout the Diocese, as Joe has been helping with Sunday services at several
churches. He also helps out at our home
church, Holy Comforter, when needed.
During the week, we have been blessed to be part of some prayer and
Bible study groups which continue to “feed” us for the Lord’s work.
Our
lives are blessed here, but Honduras is still very much on our hearts and in
our prayers. Please continue to pray for
the Diocese of Honduras for the Lord’s purposes and plans to be accomplished.
Please
continue to pray about:
·
Saint
Mary’s School for a new roof
·
Saint
Mary’s School band….still collecting band instruments, so contact us for details
if you have an instrument or instruments to donate
·
Scholarship
Fund…we still need sponsors for our teacher’s children who attend Saint
Mary’s. A BIG THANK
YOU!!! to those who have given
and continue to give to this fund.
Please contact us for details.
Our
prayer for all of us in this Lenten Season is that we will be obedient to that
which the Lord asks of us. Fear will
keep us from doing the things that the Lord would have us do. Relationships are vital in Kingdom work. So, our pray is that we will be quick to forgive
others and ourselves. Keeping short
accounts with the Father and let the Holy Spirit lead and direct us in the work
that He has called us to perform for the extension of His Kingdom.
Be
Blessed to be a Blessing,
Fr.
Joe & Tina
Fr.
Joe & Tina Rhodes
2280
Clematis Trail
Sumter,
SC 29150
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