My Heart is Overflowing!!

I arrived in Zambia on Thursday morning at 5:50 in the morning! One of my favorite things is to step off the plane and go down the steps onto the tarmack into the fresh Zambian air. I hit the ground running after I got my bags and by the grace of God, I had energy to get me through the day without needing a nap. I had a meeting with the American who is over all of the schools here, visited 4 schools, bought a Zambian phone, went to lunch, and then had a meeting with the teachers who I will be working with for the next couple of weeks, and this was all done before 4:00. After all of that was the best treat of all. The kids from the Tree of Life were waiting for the Americans to come down from camp and I was watching them as my sweet Paulina ran up to me, put her arms around me and just started crying happy tears. She held onto me forever and I LOVED every minute of it!! I was able to visit with her for a few minutes and then they went to greet the Americans. I was standing back and this girl was walking toward me and I looked up at her face and it was my precious AnnMarie that I had at camp in 2007 & 2008. She had been moved into the Tree of Life the week before I got there! I thought I would becoming with the suprises and I was so suprised and happy to see her! She was happy and healthy and looked so good!!
Yesterday, I was at the FCA (which is the school at the Tree of Life), and was able see so many beautiful faces. Being with those kids fills me up to the brim and it overflows. These kids are so happy and joyful and I love how The Lord has redeemed them from the worst situations and brought them into a life of safety, love, and hope. That afternoon we went to camp and took communion with the kids. WOW, what a special and amazing time!!!!! Greer read something over them and the tears started streaming uncontrollably down my face. Through what he was reading he was telling the kids over and over how they were created in God's image, they were created with a purpose, and that God has a future for them. The kids at camp are in such tough situtations and then they exhibit such joy and happiness that could only come from The Lord. I LOVE being here!!!
The new group of teachers arrived this morning and we are getting ready to start a great two weeks of teaching. Please continue to be in prayer for all of the teachers, the kids, health,strength and wisdom to follow God's moving. Thank you for going before us in prayer!

My Heart is Overflowing!!

I arrived in Zambia on Thursday morning at 5:50 in the morning! One of my favorite things is to step off the plane and go down the steps onto the tarmack into the fresh Zambian air. I hit the ground running after I got my bags and by the grace of God, I had energy to get me through the day without needing a nap. I had a meeting with the American who is over all of the schools here, visited 4 schools, bought a Zambian phone, went to lunch, and then had a meeting with the teachers who I will be working with for the next couple of weeks, and this was all done before 4:00. After all of that was the best treat of all. The kids from the Tree of Life were waiting for the Americans to come down from camp and I was watching them as my sweet Paulina ran up to me, put her arms around me and just started crying happy tears. She held onto me forever and I LOVED every minute of it!! I was able to visit with her for a few minutes and then they went to greet the Americans. I was standing back and this girl was walking toward me and I looked up at her face and it was my precious AnnMarie that I had at camp in 2007 & 2008. She had been moved into the Tree of Life the week before I got there! I thought I would becoming with the suprises and I was so suprised and happy to see her! She was happy and healthy and looked so good!!
Yesterday, I was at the FCA (which is the school at the Tree of Life), and was able see so many beautiful faces. Being with those kids fills me up to the brim and it overflows. These kids are so happy and joyful and I love how The Lord has redeemed them from the worst situations and brought them into a life of safety, love, and hope. That afternoon we went to camp and took communion with the kids. WOW, what a special and amazing time!!!!! Greer read something over them and the tears started streaming uncontrollably down my face. Through what he was reading he was telling the kids over and over how they were created in God's image, they were created with a purpose, and that God has a future for them. The kids at camp are in such tough situtations and then they exhibit such joy and happiness that could only come from The Lord. I LOVE being here!!!
The new group of teachers arrived this morning and we are getting ready to start a great two weeks of teaching. Please continue to be in prayer for all of the teachers, the kids, health,strength and wisdom to follow God's moving. Thank you for going before us in prayer!

It's Time!!!

Time to go!

200 pounds of bags are packed and I'm still wondering what I have forgotten! I knew last fall that I would be spending my summer in Zambia and it seemed like it was taking forever for it to get here, but now it's time!

I am anxious to see the way The Lord is going to work this summer as He is continuing to transform lives. Not only does God transform the lives of the Zambians we work with but He is also transforming the Americans lives too.

As I leave I ask that you would join with me in prayer:

• Pray for traveling safety as well as safety while I am there.
• Pray against any sickness. It's winter there right now and it is very dry. I have my bag of medicine ready but pray I don't need it!
• Pray for wisdom and guidance from The Lord to direct each of my steps and words.
• Pray for the teachers that we will be working with. Pray that not only will we share new ways of teaching strategies with them but that they will also be encouraged and refreshed.
• Pray for the kids we will be working with. I pray that as we are helping them in their education, they will see and feel the love of Christ. I pray they will see that they have worth and that they are dearly loved. (I can't wait to love on those kids!)
• I have been praying that God would allow me to see people through His eyes and love them like He does.
• Pray that my heart would be completely sensitive to the Lords leading and guiding.

God is so good and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen this summer! I will post updates as Internet is available. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
Love,
Allison

What Would my Picture look like?

WOW, this is powerful!!  I hope that you will take a few minutes to watch this video. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk&feature=player_embedded

We always seem to be our own worst critic.  I just wonder what my picture would look like if God were describing me to an artist.   This really makes me think.  Do people really see God in me on a daily basis?  Do they see joy, hope, love, mercy, patience, and peace?  I want to be a reflection of who God created me to be!


"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-28

 

“You are a miracle.  Each person created in the image of God bears the value and significance of their Creator.  The God who spoke creation into being created YOU on PURPOSE, with a unique personality and personhood, and He gifted you to make a mark on other people’s lives for His glory.” ~ Rick McKinley: A Kingdom Called Desire

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you Lord for your unending faithfulness!! 

"I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness through all generations" Psalm 89:1

I am so humbled at everyone’s generosity in giving towards my trip back to Zambia!  I received all of the money that I need for my trip and was so overwhelmed with God’s goodness through it!  I am so grateful for each one of you and for your support and prayers. 

All of the teachers that will be going to Zambia for the Teach One trip met this weekend for a meeting and it made me even more excited!  I absolutely cannot wait to see the ways in which God is going to move in the kids, Zambian teachers, and the American teachers.  Other than these kids coming to know Christ, the biggest thing that will change their future is getting an education.  I am so very grateful for the hearts of the Zambian teachers that work with these kids every day and in the ways that they love them through the struggles faced on a daily basis.

Thank you again for everything!!! 

                                                                                                                      Love,     Allison  

Some of the most precious ladies ever! 
I cannot wait to teach with them again in Zambia this summer!

 

"For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies" Psalm 108:4


 

T-Shirts

Family & Friends,

Some of the other teachers and I were trying to find additional ways to raise funds for our trip to Zambia. We decided to sell tshirts to help with the cost.  They are $20 each and the funds raised will go towards my trip. They are regular cut red tshirts. If you would like to order a shirt, please email me and I will give you my address as to where you can send a check.  If  I will be mailing the shirt to you, please include $5 for shipping.  I will place the orders on March 7. 

My email address is allisonerhodes@gmail.com

I am thankful for each one of you and all of the encouragment and support you give me as I prepare to go back to Zambia!!

If you would like to contribute directly to my trip, you can donate online at: http://donate.familylegacy.com/allisonrhodes

Love,

Allison

 

Kings & Queens

This is a fairly new song to me and every time  I hear it, I can just picture the beautiful faces of children who are considered “the least of these” in Zambia.    What an amazing God we serve that He wraps each one of His children in His love and majesty!!!

 

Here is a link to the youtube video and I have the lyrics below.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U64bongHqYU
 

“Kings and Queens” by: Audio Adrenaline

Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won’t let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

Chorus:
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these

Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open

CHORUS

If not us who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these


Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these

 

Please partner with me in prayer as I prepare to return to Zambia this summer for 6 ½ weeks. I am so excited and thankful God has called me back.  If you want to partner with me financially, I need to raise $5200 by the end of March. 

Your tax deductible donation can be done online or by check.   

You can go to this link and donate online:  http://donate.familylegacy.com/allisonrhodes

Or you can send a check to:

Family Legacy Missions International
5005 W. Royal Lane, Suite 252
Irving, TX 75063
In the memo line, write: Allison Rhodes/Teach One 2013