Neither us ever intended on becoming foreign missionaries. Troy wanted to be a professional scavenger when he was child… spending his lifetime ruling the wilderness and creating a kingdom of tree forts and booby-traps. As a small child,  Noelle dreamed of becoming  a Care-Bear when she grew up – which is disturbing on many different levels – and thankfully, she has out grown such desire. Troy, on the other hand, still wouldn’t complain if his home was in a tree somewhere….

As children who grew up ‘churched’, we had heard much about foreign missions but never really aspired to be a ‘foreign missionary’ ourselves. It wasn’t until our hearts melted for Belfast in college  that we considered missions as our future. As we now prepare for this next season of serving in a different country, we have been doing some reading and researching of men and women who have gone before us and spent their life serving Jesus on foreign soil. There are some pretty amazing legacies out there and here are just a few cool things that some of our favorite missionaries have said:

J. Hudson Taylor

Missionary to: China

“God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

“God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him.”

” I have found there are three stages to every great work of God: first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”

“The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain.
No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.”

“Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.”

Amy Carmichael

Missionary to: India

” One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving.”

“Give me the love that leads the way, The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire, The passion that will burn like fire,
Let me not sink to be a clod: Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.”

“It is a safe thing to trust Him to fulfill the desires which He creates.”

“Bare heights of loneliness…a wilderness whose burning winds sweep over glowing sands, what are they to HIM? Even there He can refresh us, even there He can renew us.”

“But God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed.”

C.T. Studd

Missionary to: China, India, and Africa

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

“Had I cared for the comments of people, I should never have been a missionary.”

“Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell.”

“Funds are low again, hallelujah! That means God trusts us and is willing to leave His reputation in our hands. “

“The “romance” of a missionary is often made up of monotony and drudgery; there often is no glamour in it; it doesn’t stir a man’s spirit or blood. So don’t come out to be a missionary as an experiment, it is useless and dangerous. Only come if you feel you would rather die than not come.

There are so many others who sacrificed much for the Kingdom of God. Their stories inspire us and cheer us on to continue in faith as He leads us!

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

If you ever wanted to know more about us…

TROY

1. In 2001, Troy participated in the Miss Teen Maryland beauty pageant… as a chaperone for his cousin who was a contestant. It’s a long story but entirely true. And no, he didn’t wear heels…

2. Has never been to Disney World. Never.

3. Has a serious addiction to anything ‘Smart Wool‘… including their underwear…

4. Once ate a bag of glass.

5. Has beaten his mother-in-law in a game of Bananagrams – and she’s a tough cookie when it comes to word games.

NOELLE

1. Played Golde in Fiddler on the Roof in tenth grade. “Sunrise…Sunset…Sunrise…Sunset…”

2. Once wore a ‘N.J. Devil’s‘ baseball cap backwards on her head for a solid year straight.

3. Is deathly afraid of sharks – even when swimming in a pool.

4. Is allergic to Splenda… or so she thinks.

5. Contrary to the rumors, has NEVER eaten squirrel.

6. In eleventh grade, watched Girl Interrupted and immediately went out and got her hair cut just like Winona Ryder.

SILAS

1. Can eat a whole can of black olives – all by himself.

2. Has already been to Belfast twice.

3. Plays the drums.

4. Owns a plethora of flashlights.

5. Has a girl for a best friend and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. (Katie!)

OLIVE

1. Favorite food – all things ‘meat’.

2. Loves to take hikes with her daddy in the back-pack.

3. Has been known to be a bruiser at times. Don’t mess.

4.  Sings in the car when the Ipod is playing. She grooves to anything with a good beat.

5.  Plays with toy dinosaurs.

There are just a few random facts about us – “missionaries-to- be“. We’re normal . Well, we’re  kinda normal… just like you. We are ordinary people wanting to see Jesus work the extraordinary in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Will you partner with us in this great adventure? Come on, it will be fun – and certainly worth the while.

Because Jesus IS love,

Troy , Noelle, Si, and Olive Pearl

Psalm 25:3-5

³ No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

⁴ Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.

⁵ Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.

The message of ‘Hope‘ has been on our hearts recently. As we look at Haiti and the travesty that has brought despair and a sense of hopelessness for its future… as we continually hear of friends who has lost their jobs or cannot find work in this difficult economy … or hear of prayer requests for tiny little babies who have been given a terminal prognosis cutting their sweet life to just a few precious months… I have found it easy to be overcome with discouragement and defeat. Even as I prepare to move our little family across the ocean for mission work, having to completely trust the Lord for physical provision and wonder “How in the world will You provide for us, Lord?”… I have been challenged to look deep into my heart and examine where my hope and trust is rooted in.

Is my hope founded in…

Circumstance?

Seen Provision?

People?

My own ability?

His word promises us that those who trust in Him will not be put to shame. His word says that it is safe to hope in Him all the day long because He is the God…

Who Created the Universe

Who gave Abraham and Sarah a child even in their old age (not to mention Zechariah and Elizabeth too)

Parted the Red Sea

Fed Five Thousand Men and their Families with just 5 loaves and 2 Fish

Calmed the raging Wind and Waves in the midst of a mighty storm

Walked on water

Raised the Dead (including Himself )

Healed the sick (even those with a terminal prognosis)

Made the Blind See…the lame week walk…

Redeemed the outcasts…

Used the weak, the small, and timid to accomplish His mighty work…

Softened the hardest of hearts like Paul who was one of the early church’s greatest threats before the Lord met Him on the road to Damascus…

I mean,  these are just a few things that our mighty Lord has done and continues to do. When I begin to remember all that He is done, I cannot help but be filled with HOPE. His word is a written record that our God IS good and can do anything. Even in my own life, I know I have a testimony in this. I am  surprised at how often I forget that He has been mighty to save and if He has done it before, He can do it again.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Cool, huh? Really cool.

As I reflect on His incredible history of ‘doing the impossible‘, I encouraged to trust in Him and to put all my hope IN HIM. Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:26:

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

He said, ‘all things’… not ’some things’ or ‘most things’ but ‘ALL THINGS‘! Can Haiti ever be rebuilt and become a great nation whose hope and trust if founded in the Lord? YES! Can the Lord provide work and provision even in this shaky economy? YES! Can He heal those who have been given a terminal prognosis with little hope of survival? YES! YES! YES! I have to believe that my God is that good and that great, that all things are truly possible with Him. I know He doesn’t give lip-service. Psalm 33: 4: “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”

I like what it says in Psalm 77:11-13:

¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

¹² I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

¹³ Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

Who is as great as our God? He really is awesome. I am so glad that He has invited me to put all my hope in Him.

“Those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint! “

Isaiah 40:31

“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,but joy comes with the morning.”

Psalms 30:5 NIV

This verse has brought me so much comfort throughout my life. Whenever I have found myself, like King David, guilt stricken because of sin I am encouraged that the Lord’s permanent disposition isn’t anger and wrath, but rather a life of favor for me. Just like the verse says His anger is but a moment, his favor for a lifetime. The other half of this verse is just as encouraging, but to often I find myself not truly believing or hoping for the Joy that is promised. This was the case this last week.

It had been one really long extended period of sickness for my two children. I was tired from holding them in my arms in the middle of the night. I hadn’t had any job offers from the two interviews that I went for at the hospital. Plus, Noelle and I hadn’t received any new monthly Belfast support in the last month. I was hopeless and joyless. If there was ever a time for a good dose of “morning joy”, now was the time. Although I have been praying consistently for the Lord to show us His direction and knew He answered with a loud “GO TO BELFAST”, there seemed to be no end to the discouragement of the evil one. He really is that lion waiting to attack our areas of vulnerability. The extent of my discouragement couldn’t have been greater, but then…The Lord gave me that desperately needed Joy! I know that we always have joy, because we have Christ in our lives, but this was a day of joy! I prayed in the morning, “Confirm your will, Lord…really show me a sign that you are calling me to Belfast.”

That very morning while having a great cup of coffee at Starbucks, I got a call from a Pastor from upstate New York. He called to ask when their church could host us to come and share about Belfast at his church so that they could start supporting us. What a difference that phone call made! A simple phone call was the outward expression of the Joy the Lord had for me. The day went on to be full of great things. I got a small handyman job, I replaced the starter on my truck that had been out of commission for two months and I felt the presence of the Lord so close all day. I wanted to share this story with all of you, because I want to encourage you that the Lord is for you and He really can bring you Joy. I know that there are probably very few people who know exactly what you go through each day and what discouragements you face, but He does. The Lord loves you! He has a life of favor planned for you, and His desire is to fill you with a new Joy every morning. I know that we don’t alway seek, or see that Joy, but it is there.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”

Matthew 7:7 NIV

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:36-38

As many of you know Noelle and I presented our vision and a little of what we are going to do in Belfast to our church  this last Sunday. For those of you who were unable to see it, we used puppets and songs to show the audience how G.O. Kidz ia able to communicate creatively to students. The children of Belfast are riddled with fear, hate, and a sense of hopelessness. With puppets, songs and of course, the powerful word of God,  students are shown a glimpse of the life and joy that comes from knowing Christ. When I was a intern in the fall of 2001 and I saw the look of pure joy shining on the faces of the students I was hooked. I knew that in this moment, as the songs were going and and the puppets were singing and us interns were doing the worst display of dancing you have ever seen,  these children were able to feel love like they never felt before. It was the beginning of God putting a passion in my heart for the children and youth of Belfast. Over the past eight years, my passion for those children and youth has not wavered, but grows stronger and stronger.

In 2001, I was one of eight full-time interns. It was this large number of willing bodies that lead us to be able to reach out to hundreds of students a week. Today, this is not the reality of G.O. Kidz. Now, there are two part-time leaders and only one intern, and another future worker who is still state-side getting her visa and financial support. This means that there are students unreached and not being ministered to, because there is no one to do the work. One of the main reasons Noelle and I are going is so that I can recruit interns from all over the world to come and share in the vision of seeing God’s love reach a cit, and the children in it. I will be not only gathering students to come and serve, but will be personally responsible for there discipleship, spiritual growth, and equiping them with the tools they will need to do the children and youth work. Noelle and I are so excited to know that our roles in Belfast are going to have an eternal impact for the kingdom of God!

We need your help! The task of gathering workers for the harvest is hard, and sometimes seems impossible. Where do we begin looking for young people for the internship program? How do we reassure parents that this six months away from home and school will have a positive impact on their child? How do we share that God will provide money, and protection when their son or daughter is thousands of miles away? Please pray that God would give Noelle and I wisdom in sharing our heart for Belfast and insight into organizing the logistics of the program. Pray that God would compel students to give their time, energy and money to the task at hand. If you know of a young person (17-23 years old) who you think would be interested in a six month internship program in Belfast please encourage them to call or email us.

Seeking After Him,

The Rhodes family

There is an incredible OPEN DOOR to preach the gospel in the public schools of Northern Ireland. No, that was not a typo. Prayer and sharing the gospel is still allowed in the schools of Belfast! What an incredible opportunity! G.O. Kidz (the organization we will be working with) has been invited to lead bible clubs  in two of largest high schools in Belfast!! They also have an open invitation to many schools to lead Christian assemblies and run many programs where the gospel will openly be shared! This seems to good too be true yet the Lord has an open door.
Sadly, G.O. Kidz needs workers. The harvest is plentiful but laborers are few. They need a team of young interns to work in the schools and community to reach the kids and youth in Belfast. This is why Noelle are I moving our family to be apart this work. Our heart is for this city and we see such an incredible opportunity for the name of Jesus to be restored in Northern Ireland… that “In the name of Love” (thank you, Bono) people’s lives would truly be transformed and healed.
Our heart is to help G.O. Kidz run their internship program (recruit interns, equip interns, disciple interns) as well as develop programs for the high school age students in North Belfast. We cannot emphasize more the urgency we feel as the Lord has made it possible  at this time to be IN the Belfast schools and speak so openly about Jesus to students. The time is now to reach these kids!
We need people who will financially partner in this kingdom work. We are currently raising our support and hope to reach our goal so that we can move to Northern Ireland in June 2010. We need to raise $3600.00 in monthly support. Currently we have raised 10% of what we need to sustain our family while living as missionaries.
We also need intercessors! We need people to commit to praying for us. This is so crucial. The prayers of righteous men and women are powerful and effective! Your prayer support is so precious to us! Keep them coming!
Would you join us in this kingdom work? Would you help us seize this amazing, God-ordained opportunity and make a significant impact on the children and youth in Belfast? This is an investment that won’t crash on you. This is an eternal investment.

Because Jesus IS Love,

The Rhodes’ Crew

Dear Friends,

We are hosting monthly prayer meeting as we prepare for our mission to Northern Ireland. These “prayer lunches” are opportunities to pray with others for the city of Belfast, G.O. Kidz, and for our own journey in this adventure. We believe that prayer is the necessary preparation along with all the other practical preparations one must be faithful to when becoming a missionary overseas.

If you are in the North Jersey area and you find that you are free this Saturday, October 17th at 12pm, please come pray with us! We will be having lunch together at noon and then begin praying at 12:45pm. We will be meeting at our current residence in Bloomfield, NJ. If you are interested in attending, please email me at emailrhodes@gmail.com.

Thank you for all your support and prayers!

~ Troy and Fam

Rhodes Crew

Friends!

We have some exciting news! We now are apart of a wonderful missions sending agency: World Missions Advance! This terrific organization has been an answer to our prayers! They will be organizing and administrating all of the donations. This will be a huge help and will be huge blessing to you, our supporters. You can even donate online!

If you would like to learn more about World Missions Advance, please visit their website: www.worldmissionsadvance.org

Our dear friend, Marek (who does an amazing work in Poland) connected us to WMA and they have been so incredibly helpful. We are learning that being a missionary requires serious organization. WMA will help stay organize with our financial support which will be a huge burden lifted! This truly is good news!

Would you mind helping us organize our database? If you would like to receive email updates, please email us at emailrhodes@gmail.com. If you also like to receive a newsletter in the mail, please email your mailing addess at emailrhodes@gmail.com. This will greatly help us keep our database organized and current.

We also just had our very first Belfast Prayer Lunch this past Saturday! We have decided to hold monthly prayer meetings for those want to gather to pray for Belfast and would also like to specifically support us in prayer. We had such an encouraging time on Saturday with our brothers and sisters in that time of prayer! It was so precious to hear the prayers of others for Belfast! We will be holding another Belfast Prayer lunch on Saturday, October 17, 2009 @ Noon. If you are interested in attending, send us an email (emailrhodes@gmail.com). It would be wonderful to have you there!

Here Is a quick update on the Rhodes’ Family:

-Troy is still working construction. He is blessed to have work!

-Noelle has started a new year of youth ministry at Lamb of God Fellowship! She is excited to have some wonderful new leaders partnering with her in this work.

- Silas has started pre-school! His favorite thing is stringing beads

- Olive has taken her first steps! Watch out!

Prayer Requests:

-Pray for G.O. Kidz as they begin a new school year of ministry!

-Pray for Ben and Ruth Estes who are leading the new youth ministry at ROCK Church in Belfast!

-Pray for us in all preparations (raising support, obtaining visas, moving, etc.) that our hearts would be focused on the Lord.

Thanks so much for all your support and encouragement!

-Troy, Noelle, Silas, and Olive Pearl

The Shankill is an area of Belfast we will be ministering in. ***Photo by our friend, Tom Rose.

I often heard it said, “God chooses the littlest, the least, and the last because He is the biggest, the best, and the first.” I have lived on these words for many years. They have always stuck with me, and especially have encouraged me these last few months as I prepare to move our family to Northern Ireland for mission work.

Since our decision to move to Belfast to serve alongside of G.O. Kidz, it has felt as though someone has come along with a highlighter and highlighted all the weaknesses and disadvantages  we posses. Our “lack” of abilities, resources, talent, funds are ever before us. It is easy to throw our hands up to the Lord and say, ” You have made a mistake! You chose the wrong folk for this mission!” (and sometimes we do say this). There is always someone better for the job. It doesn’t take long to look around and pick someone out more talented, intelligent, charismatic, or well liked that we would have chosen for the task He has called us to.

Recently, I was speaking to our Father about how unworthy I felt in all of this. I just felt incredibly inadequate. It wasn’t too far long into my speech about “not being good enough” that  I was reminded of those words Jesus said to His disciples:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” John 15:16

Jesus chose the least likely lot to be His twelve. Those fishermen were not the most educated men. In those days, a tax-collector would not be what we would call “well-liked”.  A zealot may be charismatic but in all the wrong places. This famous group of twelve were not necessarily the “cream of the crop” but He chose them. He chose an ordinary crew because He would bring about the extraordinary through their willingness to follow Him. I am beginning to see that the Father is not so much concerned with our abilities (since He already knows what He is has gifted us in) but is far more concerned with our willingness to follow Him in His leading.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

It is Jesus who makes me what I need to be for what He calls me to do. Despite our “lack”, He is faithfully showing the Rhodes family that He is more than enough. The Lord has gifted us with specific and unique abilities to do the work in Belfast. We both have experience in ministering to  children and teenagers. Troy has been an intern for G.O. Kidz. He lived in Belfast and has worked with the organization. Noelle has loads of experience in theatre/drama and has directed both teens and kids in productions. Though we see that the Lord has been preparing us for this work years and years ago we can still be tempted to believe there is someone better for the job if we look around long enough. Yet, our eyes need to be focused on Him and our ears tuned into His speaking. It is our willingness to follow Him that qualifies us for the journey not our talents, experience or personalities.

So, we are encouraged that He chose us to go to Belfast, Northern Ireland! We are blessed and so very thankful! We want to encourage YOU, that the Father has CHOSEN you too! The areas in which He is calling you to follow Him into may seem a bit out of your “league” or “comfort zone” BUT be encouraged! He will make you what you need to be for what He calls you to do. He will provide and supply all that is required! Don’t give up and don’t give in to the belief that are not good enough. Remember that God chooses the littlest, the least, and last because He is the biggest, the best, and the first! (gosh, we just love that saying!)

Thank-you for your continued support and encouragement! Please pray for us as we are still raising financial support for Belfast. We have about 10% of our monthly support raised. We have a long way to go but we believe that He is faithful! If you would like to know more about how you can support or help us in any way, email us at emailrhodes@gmail.com or call us at 973-368-3745. Blessings!

Because Jesus IS love,

Troy, Noelle, Silas, and Olive Pearl

“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Dear Friends,

The summer is almost over. We cannot believe how fast it went. We just returned from our family vacation! We had a blast being with Noelle’s family and dear friends of ours in the beautiful Outer Banks! Silas enjoyed the ocean and Olive ate the sand like it was sugar! We also were blessed to spend some time with friends and family in Maryland! We attended the Rhodes’ family reunion which was loads of fun!

We are back in Jersey and back to work. Troy is still working in construction. Noelle is gearing up for coming school year of youth ministry at Lamb of God Fellowship.  We are excited for this coming year as we prepare for our move to Northern Ireland! Please continue to pray for us:

- Please pray for us as we wait on the Lord. Pray that we would have wisdom and faith and that we would not surrender to discouragement.

-Please pray that we would be faithful in our preparations. There is much work to be done! We have visas to work through and support to raise. We want to lean on the Lord and also be faithful to do the tasks He has given us.

-Please pray for Belfast and the ROCK Community Church as well as G.O. Kidz. Pray for revival and Belfast and that many children and adults would come to know the love of Jesus and surrender their lives to Him! Pray for the workers already  in Belfast (Pastor Jonny and Sharon Caldwell and the ROCK team) who continually pour out their lives into the community there for the sake of the gospel! Pray for their daily renewal and strengthening in the Lord.

If you would like to be on our mailing list, please email us at emailrhodes@gmail.com. Every month we send out a newsletter with an update of our progress. We would love to share with you in our journey. We are so grateful to have so many walking with us and encouraging us along the way. Your words have been a blessing!

Thank you so much!

Because Jesus IS Love,

Troy, Noelle, Silas and Olive Pearl Rhodes