We have fun.

We do.

Every Sunday a few of us get together and film the weekly Kidz Club clip of the week… and it is always a blast. Here is an example of some of the stuff we come up with:

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

We  hope you enjoy!

Peace,

The Rhodes’

Just a couple pics to see what we do on a Monday night!

(****There are no pictures of the students that come in since we legally cannot take their picture without their parents permission. But we promise, there were kids there!)

Recently, Troy was commissioned to ‘make a boat’ for school assembly we are preparing for this coming September. This  assembly is about putting our ‘Trust in the Lord’. The story is about the disciples in total panic as that crazy storm tossed them about the hungry sea while Jesus napped.

How many times have we read blogs, heard sermons, or encouraged others with this awesome Bible story: “Ya see? Even the wind and waves obey Jesus! Don’t freak out! It may seem like He’s sleeping on the job but don’t worry… He’ll put all back to peaceful order again.”

How many times have we found ourselves in our own storms, wondering if God has taken even the slightest notice that we are legitimately terrified? When we read the passage of Jesus saying ‘Peace, be still’ the weather, we wonder at one point will Jesus ‘wake up’ and speak to the storms that churn and spiral within us.

Even in the wind and waves obey Him… even the wind and waves….

If you are discouraged, we want to encourage you that we have been at the boat too. We have cried out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” We have been amazed at our own lack of faith because those waves are huge and were certain to take us down with the ship.

But, despite our tiny, tiny faith… “Even the wind and waves obey Him.”

May the Lord increase our faith and strengthen our confidence that He truly is the Son of God.!

(Ben Estes in photo)

Here are a few pictures of the team building our fabulous set for this year’s Kids Club : Fun and Faith Factory!

I just wanted to share with you a little about our outreach ministry we started this last Friday. Here in Belfast, like many cities, kids rule the night. There are so many youth running around in the streets late at night getting themselves into just about everything. Here in west Belfast the kids mostly hang out in Woodvale park. Gangs, drugs, sex and abuse rule the park at night, but we are believing God want to turn that around. So, we decided to set up a tent just outside the gates of the park from 9:00- 11:30pm giving tea and coffee, and prayer. We are calling the ministry “Night Watch”, because we believe God is calling us to not only be a light in darkness, but shepherds to gather the lost and protect them from the enemy. It was amazing to see the kids and youth come out of the wood work. We got a chance to talk to over fifty kids that night. The kids were very open to talk about God and life and we are believing that God is Going to be using us to bring in the harvest. We are going to be doing this “Night Watch” ministry every Friday night, so please keep us in your prayers. Things here in Belfast can go from normal to crazy in 10 seconds flat.

Prayer List:

1. That God would open the hearts of the lost

2. That God would give us His heart for the Lost

3. Protection

4. Wisdom

5. Funding

6. Courage

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

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

We love… LOVE… our new home in Belfast. It’s just the right size, just the right location, and is a total answer to prayer.

The best part about our new home is that even though we live in the city, we are surrounded by Belfast’s gorgeous green hills! Everyday we have a physical reminder of Psalm 121:1+2:

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

The Lord has helped us get here and He is helping us establish a home here. It has been such a blessing to watch Him take such great care of us!

We are ready to get down to the task at hand. This summer will be set aside for planning the school year of ministry as well as hosting summer outreaches these next few months. There are many open doors here and more schools are beginning to invite G.O. Kidz to be a voice among their students. As opportunities grow we are realizing more each day the need we have for extra hands to labor this harvest. If you know of any young person who might be interested in serving in Belfast for six months to a year, please encourage them to email us (emailrhodes@gmail.com)!

Noelle is having a blast setting up her home. She is itching to get back to Ikea to pick up a few little ‘finishing touches’. She is enjoying spending time with kids and getting them settled here in Belfast. Yesterday, Silas officially registered for a nursery school up the road from us! This is an answer to prayer as he registered late and there were hardly any openings in the schools in this area. God is about the details! There were only two spots left at Spring Hill and Silas got one of them! He will be starting up at school in the fall. Look out for adorable pictures of him in his really cute uniform!

Olive speaks fluent Belfast. She goes around saying, “Hiya” to all who walk her way! She has made herself right at home in Belfast.

Troy is working on tonight’s youth event called, “Explosion”. He and Ben Estes (along with an American team called, ‘Splinter’) have planned the event. These past two days they have been leafleting the area inviting students to come out. Please pray as there will be an opportunity for students to give their life to Jesus tonight!

We are blessed and grateful for you! Please keep us posted on what is going on in YOUR life!

Because Jesus IS Love,

Da’ Rhodes

This morning, I (Noelle) was at birthday party for one of Silas’ friends. My friend, Angela, who was the mom of the birthday boy, introduced me to one of her friends. She mentioned to her friend how Troy and  I would be moving in two weeks to Belfast, Northern Ireland for mission work. This kind woman was asking me all sorts of questions about G.O. Kidz and Belfast and she asked me a question that sorta caught me off guard and for about three seconds I was speechless (shocking, I know).

She sweetly said, “I’m just curious, but what made your husband fall in love with Belfast so much that he is so passionate to serve there?”

At a loss for words, I stalled with, “That’s a good question…”

I can’t remember what vague answer I gave her but, this entire day, I have been thinking about it. For crying out loud, I am moving to Belfast in less than two weeks! The question should be already be answered in my heart as to why we love Belfast so much!

It’s not for it’s sunny weather, that’s for sure.

As I pondered this, I reminisced about the first time Troy and I ever stepped foot in Belfast. We were just friends back then, but I’ll admit it – I thought he was hot. We were just two kids on a college mission trip, who thought Belfast was a land where the shamrocks, leprechauns, and lucky charms were plentiful. Well, it wasn’t quite like that at all.

Truth be told, I was sick the entire mission trip and did a lot more sleeping then serving but Troy was out everyday in the schools leading assemblies and talking to kids about Jesus. I remember watching him come into the R.O.C.K. Centre every night bursting at the seams with stories and excitement. Troy has always been an enthusiastic person, but this was different. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it was like watching him fall in love with Belfast. It was unexpected but cool. At the end of the mission trip, he told me he was going to take a year off  of college to do missions in Belfast. I was sad (cause I totally liked him back then) but something in me knew it was right.

Well, we became boyfriend/girlfriend soon after that mission trip and just a few short months later, he shipped off to Belfast for ten months. It was challenging to be so far apart from each other for so long but oddly enough it strengthened our romance. He literally wrote me everyday that he was in Belfast. I still have every letter.

While he was serving in Belfast, I went back over to Northern Ireland on a second college mission trip. It was on that mission trip that Troy whisked me away to Belfast Castle for a romantic dinner. After dinner, we went outside to the castle gardens which over look they entire city of Belfast. Troy got down one knee and asked me,

“Noelle will you marry me and serve with me here in Belfast?”

Elated, I answered with a pretty enthusiastic, “YES! YES! YES!”

So, from the very beginning, I knew that being Troy’s wife would mean that we would be in Belfast at some point sooner or later. Belfast would always be in his heart and his passion and he was inviting me to be apart of it.

I sit here amazed to think that in less than two weeks, I’ll be typing on this lap top.. IN Belfast! It boggles my mind but at the same time confirms in my heart that the dreams the Lord gives us when we are young, He never forgets. What a really cool thing. We may forget. We may give up on those dreams But Jesus doesn’t. He doesn’t force us to do anything but He never forgets.

I still can’t give you an impressive answer as to why Troy loves Belfast so much. He just does. I have grown to love it too… even with all its rainy days

I am looking forward to this adventure of eating a lot of potatoes and driving on the other side of the road. It’s a little scary, but I know Belfast is where we are meant to be.

I don’t know about you but it just seems like many people are  moving or taking off to do something cool for a season. For instance…

Our good friends, Tom and Jamie (true Jersey-ites, born and raised in Essex County, mind you) are moving to Philly this summer so Jamie can get her Masters at Westminster! Our friends, Scott and Karen are moving back to Boston (after braving New Jersey for a few good years) to be closer to their family. Our friend, Jason is taking off to Brasil this summer to work and live among missionary friends, Tom and Kathy Padley. Some friends of ours are selling their home that they put a ‘lot of love and tender care’ into so they can move closer to their kids’ school (no more ridiculous commute)! Another couple friend,  are going to Africa for a month to serve missionary friends who work in the Gambia and to seek the Lord for future direction. We are moving to Belfast in just 34 days… but who’s counting?

With so much transition amidst one may wonder, “Lord, what are you doing?”

Then there is our friend, Jenny, who is staying in Jersey… in her adorable home in Essex County to teach another year of English at a high school in the area. There is our friend, Amy, who will be finishing up her social work degree at Rutgers this upcoming year. Noelle’s brother, Noah, is also finishing up his degree at Rutgers this year. Our friends, Gayle and Kevin – will continue to work faithfully at the company they have been with for years…

With so many continuing as they have been one may wonder, “Lord, what are you doing?”

When the Lord calls us to ‘move’ or ’step out’ into something different, we typically respond with…“But why, Lord? Why now? Why there? Is it even possible?”

When the Lord calls us to ’stay put’ and ‘to be faithful’ in what we are already doing, we sometimes will respond with…“But why, Lord? Why here? For how long? Is it even possible?”

Point being: boldness and faith are required to both ‘up and leave‘ and to ‘stay put and just be‘. “Bold moves” are anything and everything that we TRUST the Lord in. Whether it is leaving New Jersey to move to PA or selling our house in a stinky market, or having to grade 125+ research papers yet again (right, Jenny?)… walking in faith and in boldness is simply surrendering ALL to Jesus. Surrender looks different for each of us and sometimes it may mean we pack up and move. Sometimes it just means, we keep going until He asks us for something different.

It’s exciting to hear of so many who have heard the Lord and are obeying in what He has asked them to do! We believe that the Lord is doing something pretty cool…there are so many new things happening around us! It’s going to be awesome!

So tell us of YOUR adventures… whether the Lord is taking you somewhere new or having you stay where you are. Keep us posted on what is happening and how we can pray for YOU! Email us – emailrhodes@gmail.com! Don’t be a stranger!

Whether we are leaving or staying, remaining or moving on – the Lord is with us every moment and in every way!

We love YOU!

Because Jesus IS Love,

Troy and Noelle