Posted on 15 Jul 2010
Riots are not new here in Belfast. If you talk to most people, they are sad about what is going on but not surprised. Sorta like the child whose parents are always fighting with each other…sad but this is the way it has always been.
Click to see what is going on…
Last night, we looked out our bedroom window. The helicopters flew low above our neighborhood. We saw fires in the distance. Someone’s car or worse, home, has been set on fire. More riots? Again? We sighed and felt slightly overwhelmed. The news reported that children as young as eight years old have been involved with the recent riots. Eight years old?! Our heart breaks.
Those helicopters are noisy. As we tried fall asleep last night, despite what was going on, we prayed for the Lord to send a heavy rain to break up whatever riot or fighting was going on in the neighborhood next to ours. Within seconds of saying ‘amen’, the skies opened and it began to pour buckets. Perhaps, a skeptic would say, “It always is raining over there.” True. Except, this time, it only rained for a short bit. After it showered, the city was quiet and the helicopters had left. Could it be that God had heard us and answered our prayer? We were filled hope that the Father is ready to answer our prayers for Belfast… we need only to ask.
Would you join us in interceding for Belfast? We believe with all our heart that Jesus will reclaim this city for HIS name… and no longer will it be divided and claimed by religious sect or political standing. Would you believe this with us?
Because Jesus IS Love,
The Rhodes’ Crew
Posted on 7 Jul 2010
It has been almost one month that we have lived in Belfast! Awesome.
How are we finding it? Awesome.
This past year we really have felt like the Lord has been teaching us about His great provision. The fact that we are actually here… living and eating… is a great testimony that the Lord can miraculously provide! So, today, if you are in need and are feeling discouraged… do not despair! He is the great Provider!
We quickly realized when we moved here that we would need a car. A family with two small children would need to be able to get out and about. Taking the bus everywhere with a stroller and two energetic toddlers can get old… quick. Initially, when we researched car insurance for us here in Northern Ireland, we were utterly depressed. We kept getting ridiculously expensive quotes for 2000 pounds or more! Jersey car insurance is not even that high! We began to think that perhaps we would have to resign to walking and using the Metro Bus. A lot of folks here survive without cars. We decided to ask the Lord to provide affordable car insurance for us and if not, give us willing heart to do some more walking 
Just a few days later, we were quoted car insurance for $784.00 USD! Awesome! The next day, we went out and bought an affordable 98′ Honda Civic…
Troy is finding it pretty easy to drive here in Belfast. Noelle is finding it slightly more challenging but she is getting better everyday thanks to “driving lessons” with Sharon Caldwell! Every time we see our car we think of that verse in Ephesians…“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21) Having this car is a luxury and yet in God’s goodness, He was able to do immeasurably more than all we asked or imagined! Awesome.
Some of you may know that Noelle is a “closet songwriter”. She rarely plays her compositions for the public but there is hardly a day that goes by that her fingers don’t find their way to the piano. When we came to Belfast, we asked the Lord that, if it was possible, He would provide an affordable keyboard for Noelle to have at the house. Only a week later our friend, Les Hume, was able to hook us up with really nice keyboard at really nice price! Noelle has been playing everyday since!
Again, we have see the Lord’s goodness in giving us more than we deserve or even need! We are blessed and humbled in how He has taken care of us and our children! We are convicted in how we quickly we are prone to worry and doubt that the Lord knows what we need and can provide where we lack. This is why is is important for us to share with you these little ways God has blessed us! It helps us remember that He is a generous Father!
May Ephesians 3:20-21 become alive in your hearts today!
Love,
The Rhodes’ Family
