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Rhodes To Anywhere

Category Archives: mission

Rhodes to Anywhere – Here We Go!

03 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by kimrhodes in Family, life, mission

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Atlanta, Grace Fellowship, Pawley’s Island

Dear Family and Friends,

A while back we decided to change the name of our family blog from “Fingerprints on My Walls” to “Rhodes to Anywhere.” We did this because we wanted to talk more about being a Family on Mission and what being a Family on Mission might look like—using both our family’s successes and failures to share our journey and encourage others. While Kim had used “Fingerprints on My Walls” as a site to communicate her personal place of expression for our family’s experiences (and she was amazing at articulating that), we wanted the site to evolve into a place that began to express the family journey for both of us and our kids.  (Let’s just say that getting that dream to move from pen to paper is still a work in progress as you might be able to tell from the lack of posts.)

What we had no idea of though, at the time, is that this change of name would be accompanied by a change of physical location of where we lived. While we sensed that an ongoing shift or evolution for our family communication and mission was happening, our physical home in Pawley’s Island was to a large degree an assumed staple of life. For three years now Pawley’s Island has functioned as both a learning and sending center and (quite honestly) a heart home of family and friends. God has provided so many friendships, partnerships and so much opportunity that even though we knew we would travel to many places serving others, we believed Pawley’s Island would be the place that we would orbit from.

That is why in some sense we are surprised, excited and a bit sad to announce that we are MOVING TO ATLANTA!

Every day seems to unlock a variety of emotions in us. And often we still struggle to find the right words to adequately describe what is happening in our hearts. So, with that said we would like to do our best to let you in on a little bit of this journey. In doing so, we thought it might be easiest to talk about this journey in three ways. We want to share about where we are going, where we are leaving, and the journey between the two along the way.

Where are we going? We are Moving To Atlanta GA, Snellville to be exact:

map_of_snellville_ga
Living as a Family on Mission for so much of our life has created a certain lens by which our family looks to the future. We ask first, “Who should we do life with?” and then “What Kingdom opportunity is a part of that?” 

With that said, the city of Atlanta and the surrounding area, has long been a location for some of the people that are part of our missional family. Central to that group of people has been a church family named Grace Fellowship. Many of you, have heard of Grace Fellowship and some of the incredible things that God is doing here. 

We have long been a fan of Grace–both investing in some of their incredible group of leaders from afar and doing our best to champion this vibrant community of faith in letting others know what God has been doing through them. Specifically, Grace Fellowship has been a place that is leading their community to reach and disciple the NEXT GENERATION, to create a CULTURE OF WORSHIP LEADERS, and to forge a local and global MISSION IN REACHING NEIGHBORHOODS and NATIONS, especially among Muslims.

In short, Grace Fellowship is a community that we have been impacted by and have had the honor to invest in for many years.

That is why our family is incredibly excited and honored to join this team as a continued evolution to this ongoing conversation. With a growing number of campuses that have discipled into the City, the Suburbs, Small Towns and College Campuses, we believe Grace is strategically positioned to continue to be both a formidable force for the Kingdom of God in the Atlanta area as well as a training center for leaders from all over the country.

Our role and responsibilities will revolve around these two things. As Pastor of Discipleship and Movement Initiatives both Kim and I look forward to investing in the Grace Community to help make more disciples that become missional leaders. But just as much, we will also be committed to helping lead teams from Grace to teach and train other leaders in other churches and organizations globally in what we all have learned and are discovering on the ground together.

Where we are Leaving?  Leaving Pawley’s Island 
Like we said earlier, the past few years in Pawley’s Island have provided us both an opportunity to partner with many US and global leaders as well as a local missional family to do life and faith with. The principle agent of this missional gathering of leaders was 3DM. But joining 3DM was not our first venture into this kind of life. As co-founders of Wayfarer, creating missional family has long been a central part of our DNA. It’s a way of life that we have learned from many and no doubt have learned a whole lot more about these past three years. 

Three years ago, our family along with the Reichley family (long-time partners in missional family life) loaded up everything we owned and merged Wayfarer with 3DM. The Berg family followed shortly there after. During our time here, these two missional families (3DM and Wayfarer) have become one. Together we have had the privilege of not just seeing God do an amazing work of the Kingdom but also shared in the every day covenantal life and laughter of becoming one team. Wayfarer took on the 3DM family name and the Reichleys, Bergs and Rhodes became part of the larger 3DM team.

For our part, invited in as partners in this 3DM work, we first joined the team as Director of Learning Communities and then later took on the responsibility of becoming the US Team Leaders. So much of our everyday life has been devoted to creating content, training leaders, and transforming culture through joined mission—long time life callings that we have and will continue to enjoy. 

In the process we were also introduced to a vibrant larger community of people that called Pawleys Island home. Pawley’s Island Community Church, Heritage Plantation (our neighborhood) and so many new friendships created a heart home for our family that we have treasured and will always hold close. So many great people and memories will hang in the forefronts of our heart and minds. That is why our departure makes us sad.

We will always be thankful for the family we found here:

1513319_10201659253217288_933927550_n

The Journey Between the Two:  From Pawley’s to Atlanta
The journey from Pawleys to Atlanta brings some shifts, both in our day to day life and our relationships. First, as you can imagine, Atlanta will become our new center of training. Joined with some incredible leaders already on the ground (and more to follow we are sure), Grace Fellowship will provide a local context of ministry that we look forward to serving at and engaging in. Getting the chance to focus our energy in a local church setting we believe will only help us be more effective in discipling leaders in other contexts from all walks of life.

Second, both us, the Reichleys and other team will be using this next season to invest further in Wayfarer. We hope to continue to establish the Wayfarer family and the ministries on-going investment in the next generation of students and families beyond it’s current reach.

Finally, we will also be taking this next season to partner with other leaders and initiatives in the things we have helped develop and learned as part of the 3DM team. New opportunities of partnership with people like Aaron Keyes and his team at 10,000 Fathers and Will Mancini and the team at Auxano among others, we believe will help us further invest in the broad kingdom of God initiatives that serve the church and it’s leaders in fantastic ways. We look forward to this next season of blossoming partnership!

Staying Connected
If you are reading this blog it is most likely because you are part of our biological or missional family, are a family friend, are part of the future work we are called to or because you have been a partner in the work that we have been a part of in the past.  As with all transitions, the hardest part will be staying connected. And that is why we wanted to put this post out now. Know that we want to stay connected to you in this transition. We want to serve you, host you, walk beside you, partner with you and imagine the future together. We believe that the best days of life and ministry are in front of us. And we honestly know if that is the case that it is because your presence has been and we hope will be a signpost to the presence of God in our lives.

You can find us both here on our Family blog at rhodestoanywhere.com and by emailing us at these new email addresses:
Dave: dave@gfc.tv
Kim: kim@gfc.tv

Specific Prayer Requests for our Family:

  • That our house would sell quickly and we would be able to fully transition to Atlanta.
  • For our kids in this move and all that means for them leaving Pawleys Island and establishing in Atlanta.
  • That our family would continue to honor our past while engaging our future and we would do this well.

Once again, thank you so much for believing in us through the years, for championing the call of God in our lives, for calling us your friend and family and mostly for just being present with us. We can’t wait to discover the future with you! 

In Christ,
Dave, Kim, Emma, Izzie and Frankie

Rhodes Family Picture

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What you’ve missed

14 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by kimrhodes in Adoption, Dave, Emma, Family, Frankie, Friends, haiti, Journey, life, mission, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Camp, Haiti, life, Ministry, Parenting

Oh my.  Yes it has been that long.  So instead of taking a month to blog about it, here is what you have missed…

  • We are full on in camp.  Dave is with Student Life this week and Rush of Fools at Wake Forest University.  I’m wishing I was there.  Emma’s with him.  I don’t think she slept last night dreaming of camp.
  • Wayfarer camp.  Week one was a great success.  It’s amazing what a group of people and can accomplish when you work together.  Loved being a team. Met some great new people.
  • Talking about camp.  I thought I’d figured out a way to never do housing or connect groups again.  No such luck.  Housing was fun and I’m busy into housing this week for our next Wayfarer Camp next week at Anderson University.
  • Loved knowing Dave and Reichley were able to catch up with 3DM.  I was sad I missed them.  We are always blown away after having any conversation with them.
  • Emma lost her front tooth last night.  She looks hilarious!  I’m happy but sad at the same time.  They are growing up way to fast.
  • Talking about growing up and making some major decisions…  we heard Sam Norris was baptised Sunday.  So proud of that little man and his life.  Brings much joy to my heart.
  • Trying to figure out a way that our family can start hosting people in our home.  No clear pictures yet on how that will happen but it’s exciting.  Just need a few more bedrooms.
  • Frankie is IN LOVE with his daddy.  A wonderful but not so good thing when daddy is gone all summer.  He had a 1 hr cry fest on his way home from camp missing him.
  • Talking about camp, Frankie seemed to enjoy his first experience.  Not too sure of the  loud music or why daddy was on a stage but hey… he’ll figure it out sooner than later.
  • Izzie won’t stop talking.  She wakes up talking and goes to bed talking.  She is having a hard time with her “r” sounds so she is constantly cracking me up.
  • Playing tennis in 95 degree heat is probably not a smart thing to do in the heat of the day. But I’m still so in love with the game.  It keeps getting better.
  • Hot Hot Hot.  If you live in the South then you know what I’m talking about.
  • Pool time is a regular for us.  The kids would spend hours there if I would let them.
  • Excited about some new adventures with this company.  Can’t wait to share more soon.
  • I know a celebrity!  Kristen from Rage Against the Mini Van and adoptive mom and friend is heading to NY Tuesday  to be on the View this Friday I think.  She’ll be talking about blogging and adoption some of my favorite things.
  • Blogging, oh how I love you.  Check out my new blog title in case you missed it.  So long Chapter Two.  Hoping for good things in store for Fingerprints on my Walls.  There is a purpose for the title as the next few years unfold.
  • I’m missing Haiti.  My heart thinks of it everyday.
  • I miss my Haiti connection friends in Houston, Tampa, Austin,  Little Rock and PA and CA and MI.  Why can’t we all live in the same town!  I guess I’m really thankful for blogging and facebook.
  • Some people in the Wayfarer Family are expecting…  Finally!  Will be good to have more babies running around soon.
  • Tried the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and well, it was too spicy for me.  Dave Loves it.
  • Thankful to DVR Toy Story for the kids.  Finally some “boy” themes instead of princess around here.
  • Everyone keeps talking about their beach trips. Would give anything to take off my shoes and go for a stroll.
  • I’m making rice crispy treats for a shower tomorrow night… I’ve never made them before.  Lame I know.  I’m thinking I’ll just buy them!

Blessings Friends.  I’m back at it once again.

White Boards, markers and a room of ears….

24 Tuesday Feb 2009

Posted by kimrhodes in Dave, mission

≈ 1 Comment

Lately my pure joy has been playing tennis again.  And what about Dave???

dave

Hmm. Let’s see, white boards, markers, people who will  listen, and some things to share about God…. Pure Joy!  I loved getting this picture from an event he did this past weekend.  When I picture Dave in his element, this is exactly how I picture him!

We Could Use Your Help

05 Sunday Oct 2008

Posted by kimrhodes in Adoption, Family, mission

≈ 2 Comments

Many of you have been following our adoption journey on my blog or on Frankies site and know that we are about to be sending our dossier to Haiti in the next week.  Sending that dossier is the first major step in our financial commitment to bring Frankie to our home.  In trying to meet that step we are applying for grants, interest free loans, making personal sacrifice as a family and now also asking for your help.  To be honest this is tough for us.  Both Dave and I are somewhat private people and we don’t like to impose our private needs on other people’s lives. And yet we are also largely community people who believe in investing in the lives of others and inviting others invest in our lives. 

With that said, many of you that are reading this blog are part of that community.  Some are more intimately connected to that journey than others but all still helping us write our story with our lives.  And so we want to let you know as authentically as possible that we could use your help.   We know there is more than one way that you have and will contribute to this journey.  Many of you have been such a huge encouragement already with your words.  Many of you have been praying for us since we started this process.  Already many of you have told us how you would like to help financially and now we feel we need to open that opportunity up to you.  So from two indirect people this is our indirectly direct way of saying that honestly we could really use your financial help.

Again, this is not something that we want you to feel any pressure or obligation to do. We know that times economically are tight and even a little scary right now. We understand that every dollar is a precious decision of how it is best used. And we know that many of you have your own needs in the journey that God has called you to. However,  this is simply one way that we are continuing to invite you in to our journey.  So, Dave and I are very humbly asking if you would consider partnering with us financially in our journey to bring Frankie to be a part of our family. We estimate the total journey to be between $13-16,000.00. This first step is roughly half of that investment. Because both of us work for Wayfarer, Wayfarer has generously allowed our family to set up an account through them so that anyone who wants to give to this journey will be able to receive a tax write off for your contribution.

Two Ways to Give:
1. Donate on line through Paypal


2. Send a Check to Wayfarer.
Make Check out to Wayfarer and note that it is for the Rhodes Family Adoption Fund.
Mail to:
Wayfarer
Attn: Rhodes Family Adoption Fund.
116 Hidden Hill Rd
Spartanburg, SC 29301

Thanks for letting us share with you.  Please keep coming back to my blog or Frankies for updates.  We appreciate each and everyone of you.

Kim and Dave

Joy in the middle of life

10 Thursday Jul 2008

Posted by kimrhodes in Family, life, mission

≈ Leave a comment

I must say this has been one of the best summers that Dave and I have had as a married couple and during his busy travel season.  I was wondering what has been different than years past last night and I think I came to the conclusion that it’s because we are both maximizing our time right now in our sweet spots.  Dave has been having an incredible summer of ministry but he has said that it’s been the most tired he has ever been.  He’s had more conversations and interaction with people this summer during the day than ever before.  He’s thankful for that because he loves intersecting into  peoples lives and stories.  But it’s tiring for sure.

Me, I’m exhausted as well.  But a good exhausted.  I’ve been slammed at the Wayfarer office.  It’s an amazing dance that I do trying to keep up with three guys and all the details/flights/contacts.  And I’m reminded too often of a missed detail here and there but I’m giving it my all and finding so much joy in my job.  And our adoption journey… I think it’s kept me up way too late at night.  Right now there is always something to do and as the sun sets and I’m ready to call it a night, there are so many things that I am behind in and I just need to keep going.  But it’s so good.  And I’ve had some incredible conversations in the past few weeks with other people and their desires and journeys.  Amazing conversations and I just love it.  I’ve found so much Joy in this journey so far.  Did I say that I love it?

So at the end of the day when Dave and I finally get to have a decent conversation in, he’s sharing about his joy and I’m sharing about my joy and it honestly has created a wonderful bond in us that we have yet to experience in our 10 years of marriage.  Again, we are a part but so united in all the aspects of what God is calling us to do each and every day.  We are a team in every way and I must say that I love this team that is. It has been an amazing summer.

It could be over

02 Wednesday Jul 2008

Posted by kimrhodes in God, life, mission

≈ 6 Comments

I swear I have one of these days every month or so.  Am I the only one who has these kind of days or thoughts?  The days where you go, “you know it could all be over for me at any second of any day.”  I don’t think I’m a morbid person but I have these thoughts more often than not.  Maybe today those thoughts came because  as I turned on the local morning news I heard the following….

  • Spartanburg High School football player drowned yesterday as his team was having a cookout at the lake.
  • 32 year old mother and child died last night in a local fire
  • Body of missing Greenville girl from last week, found in a house.  Investigators still working through what might have happened.
  • Mother of 5 is stabbed to death as a robber was trying to mug her as she was heading into a store.
  • Man struck by lightning this week and just happens to live.

So I say all of that because I am well to aware once again that my life here on Earth could be over at any second of any day.  So I think that is why I personally am so passionate about mission and life.  At leaste I try to be.  So as I sit here this morning and do my questions that I always do as I reflect on things here is what I want to share with you.

  • Love what you are doing.    If not,  find something you love doing.  Don’t waste your life doing something you don’t love. 
  • Make the most of each day with your family, friends, and children. 
  • Invest in other people dreams, your friends, your community, your family, your kids. 
  • Risk and Dare.  Don’t let time, money, funding, situations, cause you from not doing what you are called to do.
  • Dream and do it!  Don’t wait till later.  Do it now. 
  • Be a Person of Great Faith  – Because Faith is hearing the voice of God, and trusting the heart of God enough to act on what you have heard.

DO IT, LIVE IT, DREAM IT, ……..GIVE YOUR LIFE AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Big News

25 Wednesday Jun 2008

Posted by kimrhodes in Family, life, mission

≈ 2 Comments

There is a reason I have been absent from Blogland this past week.  So much to do and so little time.  We are finally announcing our new journey!  Check out the top of my blog header or click this link to find out what it is! 

We are sooooooo soooooo Excited.  Did I mention that we are excited?

Never far from my mind

22 Sunday Jun 2008

Posted by kimrhodes in haiti, life, mission

≈ 4 Comments

We got home on Friday and just crashed.  Dave is heading back out again tomorrow for another week of camp this time it’s somewhere in the Nashville, TN area.  I know he enjoyed having a few nights in his own bed.

boys

Just been thinking today about Haiti.  It’s never far from my mind and I never get through a day without thinking about it.  I’m thankful for that.  My life here is so different from the lives of the people in Haiti.  I only hope I’m living… really living in all the blessings that I have.  I try but I always wonder.  Here is when my mind will randomly wander off during the day and I start thinking about Haiti.

  • When I am making a meal
  • When I throw away leftover food
  • When my kids run and play in our yard
  • when I clean my hardwood floors with cleaner
  • when I vacuum my carpet
  • when I look at all the stuff in our house
  • when I give the girls a hot bath every night
  • when i get in my air conditioned leather seated van
  • when I drive on the interstate
  • when I see a child of darker colored skin
  • when I fold my wash and see my blue Haiti shirt
  • when I see one ant in my house and realize I don’t care to go and kill it
  • When I think about having another child
  • When I look at our closet full of shoes
  • When I fluff the pillows on our couch
  • When I get a letter in the mail from Angela
  • When I sit in church
  • When I get on the Internet
  • When I read peoples blogs
  • When I get up in the middle of the night and turn the air down because I’m hot

Once again, Haiti, never far from my mind and I’m thankful for that.

Want to walk a journey with me this week?

26 Monday May 2008

Posted by kimrhodes in haiti, Hope, mission

≈ 1 Comment

Many of you know I was able to take a trip to Haiti earlier this month.  And I was able to visit and see first hand the amazing work that Lori, Licia and Zack are doing. 

Licia has just told Aaron that  without immediate financial help, the rescue center is in danger of closing. Arron has said that “this means 50-60 malnourished and sick children have the potential to be left without care, shelter, and food. I fully trust that God will provide more than enough funds to keep the mission open, as well as birth a deep love and affection for this place in the hearts of many of YOU.”

So I will be linking to Aarons blog this week.  Please follow along.  Who knows…maybe you’ll be challenged to be a part of changing the world in helping the Rescue Center or be challenged to help someone else that has a need.

Day 7 – Meeting Angela

11 Sunday May 2008

Posted by kimrhodes in haiti, Hope, life, mission

≈ 2 Comments

Last Wednesday I met Angela our 6 year old child that we sponsor through compassion.  When Emma was born Dave and I decided to start sponsoring a child through compassion that was the same age as her so that she could journey with them through her life.  Our first child sponsored was Leon.  She was from Haiti.  3 years ago we were notified that she was leaving the compassion program because her family was moving.  So at that time we picked up Angela as our sponsor child.  We’ve corresponded back and forth through letters and tried to get know her as much as we could a 4 year old child. So when I knew I would be heading to Haiti this May I contacted Compassion to see if they could arrange a visit with her.  I was pretty doubtful they could since she lived on the other part of Haiti that I was going to be at but it was worth a try.  Well they made it work out and here is how the journey went that day.
 
Wednesday morning Angela and her aunt woke up early and loaded on a bus for a 6hr ride to come see me.  With them traveled the project coordinator from where Angela was from.  The plan for them was to meet us at Wahoo Bay a beach place near where we were staying.  We would hang out for a few hours and then they would head to PAP to spend the night in a hotel and then take the 6hr journey back the next day.  So as our team pulled up at Wahoo Bay, they were already there waiting. 
 
Let me just say that I did not know what to expect.  I was nervous about the day just because.  I just wanted Angela to have a good time and to have a good experience and of course I felt I had a lot of expectation on my shoulders.  I just did not want to let her down.  After all at the end of her journey was only me waiting to greet her and spend some time with her.  I had brought stuff for her.  I spent a lot of time before my trip gathering things for her.  A backpack, clothes, candy, a doll are just some things to name a few.  And we got some things for her family.  A beautiful tablecloth, a crank radio and flashlights etc.  After spending a week in Haiti I was having those thougths of feeling like I got her all the wrong things.  After seeing what little the children have there I was wishing I had gotten different things for her.  I was just praying she would not be overwhelmed.
 
So back to when I met her.  I waited for her outside her car and there she was.  This beautiful girl that I had only seen in pictures.  She was dressed in a pretty dress and new white socks.  And after being in Haiti for a week I knew that whoever got her ready to see me had made some sacrifices in getting her these items. 
 
So how did it go?  I think it went well considering she had never seen a white person … in person.  She had also never been up to the Ocean before and that was a first for her as well.  But as I met her I showed her the photo album I had brought of Dave and the girls and then took her to the store on sight to help her pick out a swim suit so that she could go to the beach and pool that was there.  For the first hour or so she was in shock.  She did not talk much.  I took her down to the Ocean and she started to cry in fear.  She told the translator it was too loud.  Again first time she had been to the Ocean.  So we went up to the pool instead and stuck our feet in the water and then ended up spending time coloring together.  She copied everything I drew and then began to open up more.  By the end of our time together she was finally smiling for the pictures we took.
 
As they prepared to leave her aunt began using the translator to thank me.  She went on to tell me how much God would bless me for all that I did for Angela that day.  She told me thank you for giving Angela hope and support.  She prayed for God’s blessings on my life.  That was a hard thing for me to experience.  Because I am richly blessed and they have nothing and to sit and be told to be blessed even more was humbling and also made me sick inside if that makes any sense at all. 
 
It was a once in a lifetime experience for me.  One that will be embedded in my heart forever.  I’m glad for people like Angela in our families life.  The compassion worker said that Angela would likely remember this day for the rest of her life.  I just hope and pray that as she remembers that day she does not remember me or my white face or the things she did but that she would remember the love of Christ that was shared between us as our 2 worlds collided for just a simple moment.  And I pray that she takes from our time together Hope and Love.  That is all I know to say.  Not sure if I even did a good job explaining all of that. 
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