Lord, Bring Your Joy!

During my second week of teaching in Zambia, I was at the Chawama Legacy Academy teaching grade 2.  This week was a breath of fresh air compared to my previous week.  The classroom was full of precious kids who were so excited to learn.  There was one child, however that would daily come late and who never smiled, named Gertrude.  She seemed disinterested in learning, often was a distraction to others, and a name that I had to say multiple times to redirect onto what we were doing.  Many of the kids would hang on me during the breaks but she didn’t seem to want much to do with me while I was there. 

On Thursday, I was walking the morning class out to get their lunch and I walked around to the opposite side of the building from where they receive their food.  Gertrude followed me and in passing in a soft voice said, “my dad died.”  “Excuse me, what did you say?” Again Gertrude repeated it with her head turned away from me, “my dad died.”  I stopped her and was trying to get her to talk to me, but quickly the language barrier was preventing our conversation.  We were standing right by the field workers office (the field workers, check on these children and follow up on any home issue that might arise), and so I pulled her out to help me with translating and knew that she would know more of Gertrude’s story.  Gertrude’s father had been sick for a while and had passed away a couple of months prior to my time there.  She is the youngest of 5 children and desperately misses her father.  Her mom is not working but her oldest brother does small jobs and tries to help the family when he can although he doesn’t live with them.  

Complete Sadness 

As I was looking this little girl in the face, I was asking the Lord what to even say to that other than I am so sorry!  I felt that He was impressing on my heart to share with her that when I was there in January, I lost my grandmother.  She kept her head down, but I lifted her chin and was trying to get her to look at me in the eyes.  Through the tears pouring down my face, I told her that right after I got to Zambia in January, that my mom called me to tell me that my grandmother had passed away.  I shared with her how I know it isn’t the same as losing a parent, but how hard it was to not be with my family when it all happened, but that the Lord took care of me.  We talked about how even though things are so very hard right now, God sees her right where she is at, He loves her more than anyone can imagine, and that He will take care of her and her family.  I prayed over her that the Lord would fill her with joy amidst the pain and that she would see and feel His hand daily in her life as we cried together.   As I left her that day, my heart was so heavy for Gertrude, but I had to trust that God was going to continue moving in her life.

Friday, was the day to say good-bye to that room full of kids. We had fun playing word games, reading stories, and giving lots of hugs.  The best part of the whole day was the continual smile on Gertrude’s face that I hadn’t seen all week!  She was a completely different child and I know that it wasn’t anything that I did but what God was doing in her.  As much as I would have done anything for my grandmother to pass away when I was at home, the Lord knew what He was doing.  If it was all for that moment for me to share my story with Gertrude it was all worth it.  Life is hard for these children in Zambia, but it becomes even harder when you lose a parent or both of them.  This is something that I will never understand, and it isn’t my place to understand it.  What I do understand on a whole new level since January is that when we feel like we can’t do what is set before us, God carries us through each moment and we are able to continue on.  Not that we aren’t still sad and shed tears, but we have a God that can bring a peace and joy over us that this world cannot understand.  Lord, fill your peace and love in the hearts of all of your children, young and old, no matter where they are!   

Filled with JOY!

He is Good!

God is Good

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

We have good God and I have always know that, but sometimes things happen and it makes it all so much more real.  He becomes a good God that you cling to more and go deeper with.  I know that I have shared bits of what God has done in me through my grandmother passing away and again He has been stirring my heart with reminders of His goodness in something that has caused so much pain.  I apologize now for the length of this, but stay with me, because He shows himself faithful time and time again of how good He is to His children.

The 9 months before my grandmother went to heaven had been really tough on her.  It started by her falling and breaking her pelvis for a second time and after rehab she was moved into an assisted living facility much to her dislike.  While there, she fell again and this time broke her neck.  Each time she fell and hit her head, her memory became a little worse.  Fast forward to her birthday week and she was doing fairly well and then all of sudden after one night’s sleep she was substantially different! (I think she may have had a mini stroke at that time). 

I went to Abilene to celebrate my grandmother turning 90 in October and that day was so good!  She was happy and we talked and just spent precious time together just the two of us.  The next day is when she took the turn of wanting to sleep and not being able to remember anything at all in her short term memory.  I can remember trying to hold myself together when I was with her so that she couldn’t see how sad it made me.  The next couple of months were still tough for her, but slowly she started getting back to herself. 

Christmas day came and it was just going to be my parents, grandmother and myself celebrating that day. (We would celebrate with the whole family the following day)  She was feeling so good on Christmas day and she looked absolutely beautiful!!  We all had lunch together and we laughed and laughed.  One of the funniest memories from that day (which she would kill me if she knew I was sharing this with everyone) was when she needed to go to the bathroom.  We were eating at the independent living cafeteria (which was very nice and attached to the nursing home) and so I was taking her to the bathroom so she didn’t fall.  We get into the stall and she is starting to sit down and starts using the bathroom as she is hovering over the potty.  I immediately said, “grandmother what are you doing? Why aren’t you sitting down?”  She immediately said, “I am not sitting on that seat, you have no idea who has been sitting there.” She and I both started laughing so hard that neither one of us could talk or stop laughing.  As soon as one of us would almost stop the other one would begin laughing so hard again that it just continued.  Christmas day together was so special and GOOD.  The Lord had it all planned so perfectly knowing what would be coming in just a few short weeks.  He was good in all of us celebrating Him together, good in allowing us to laugh and laugh hard, good in allowing her to feel well, and good in us being able to make beautiful memories from that day.  I am so very thankful to the Lord for that day!!  It will be a precious memory forever etched in my mind. 

This is a picture that I treasure from that day that God was so good to allow us to capture. 

 God was in good in the following weeks that she was feeling good!  She was upbeat, happy, and talkative.  God was in good in that when I got on that plane to Zambia I talked to my grandmother and told her that I loved her and that I would talk to her when I got back.  (I never in a million years dreamed that would be my last time to hear her voice).    He was good in that He gave me a grandmother who believed in me, prayed for me, and loved me with all her heart!  God is good that I didn’t struggle with the decision to leave that day or not because she was doing better than she had in months!

Even after the news of my grandmother passing away, God was good.  He was good in carrying me through each day and helping me to finish what I was called to Zambia to do.  He was good in that the day my grandmother had her stroke, she was able to let my mom know that she wanted me to stay there in Zambia (which is a decision I struggled with and only stayed because that was her wish).  God was good the whole time I was there in showing me glimpses of her each day even up till the minute I was driving off to the airport.  The other ladies that were leaving the following day as me stood on the curb and waved good bye until I was out of sight.  They didn’t know this, but that is what my grandmother would do anytime we left her house.  God is so good in reminding us that He is always there in every little detail and for that I am so thankful!

The day before I left, I was starting to get anxious, because going home and not seeing my grandmother was going to make it real.  This is a picture of His beautiful promise of His faithfulness.

God is good in that He LOVES us unconditionally, He is good in His perfect plan, He is good in the details, He is good in the memories, He is good in the peace and comfort that can only come from Him, and He is good in all that He does.  I am thankful that His goodness shines through even in the pain.  Thank you Lord for being such a good, good, Father!

I pray that you will see God's goodness in your life each and every day!  

He is a good Father even in the pain!

Family & Friends,

   As I sit here writing an update from this past summer and plans for the upcoming summer, I am in the midst of packing for Zambia!  I am leaving this weekend for a special trip to kick off the school year and help implement a reading curriculum that will be in all 18 Family Legacy schools.  Once again, I am in awe of the Lord and all that He is doing!  This past summer, we piloted a reading curriculum over the two weeks I was there.  It was amazing to see the progress the kids made as well as the teachers.  The excitement in the teachers and kids’ faces was priceless.  There are so many stories I could tell you from this summer, but it would take lots of pages.  I was in a grade 1 classroom and it was filled with some of the most beautiful children!  There were a variety of kids; one with a seizure disorder, one with cerebral palsy, and one who was almost completely deaf.  Most of Zambia looks at children with disabilities as worthless, but the beauty in it all is that the Lord made them perfect in His image.  He picked them out and said you are worthy and placed them in an amazing school!  I was inspired by the strength, courage, and boldness they display.  Just as much as the Lord loves them, it is a constant reminder that He loves all of His children that much, you, me, every one, no matter where you are.  The Lord is so good and I am excited to see what he continues to do over the next three weeks and what He is going to do while I am in Zambia again this summer.

I have loved seeing the growth in the children through the ministry of Family Legacy.  It is nothing any one person has done, but what God has done through those He has called to go to Zambia as well as the Zambians that He is empowering to partner with the ministry.  The Lord also uses friends and family to support those that are going.  I am so thankful for each and every one of you who partner with me.  Not only for the financial support you provide, but more importantly the prayers leading up to my trip and while I am there.  My time in Zambia wouldn’t be the same without each of you!

As I go this year, I would ask for the following prayers:

1.    That the Lord would be glorified in everything we do from the airport, to the schools, and to the Americans and Zambians we interact with.

2.    That any frustration will be covered in prayer and grace.

3.    That any challenges we encounter in the classroom, as far as how to get through to the students and teachers, would be covered in wisdom.

4.    That our team of teachers would quickly bond and work well together.

5.    That the Lord would keep us healthy, give us energy, and give us stamina to get through the long days.

6.    That we would be safe and have a hedge of protection around us.

7.    That we would be sensitive to the spirit in His moving and that we will step out in faith when called on.

8.    That above all else, everyone we come in contact with would be pointed to Christ.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers.  If you feel led to help support me financially as well, my first deadline for a portion of the money is due February 1^st.  The full amount of $4900 is due by April 1^st.  To donate towards my trip, you can send a check made out to Family Legacy International and in the memo line, please write Allison Rhodes/TeachOne2016. Their address is Family Legacy, 5005 West Royal Lane, Ste. 252, Irving, TX 75063. 

 Or you can donate directly to my account through this link: www.camplifezambia.com/allisonrhodes

Thank you for your continuous support!  I am forever grateful for you and your family!

                                                                                        Love,  Allison Rhodes

 

Many of you ordered shirts from me last year.  I will be selling shirts again this year to raise money for my trip. If you would like to purchase a shirt as well, please see the order form below.  You can either email me with your shirt order at allisonerhodes@gmail.com or you can mail your order form and money to me at:

            Allison Rhodes
            10437 Nettie St
            Keller, TX 76244

***Please let me know how I can be praying for you and your family.***

 Africa T-Shirts

Thank you for supporting my return to Zambia! This year I have short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts available in the Gildan SoftStyle brand.  The color of the short-sleeve shirts will be Heather Navy and the long-sleeve shirts will be Navy.  If you order youth sizes, they only come in short sleeve and they do not come in softstyle.

 

                                                Sizes Needed:

                                                     

Children’s Short-Sleeve Shirts $20  _______        ________      ________       _________     
                                                    YS       YM      YL       YXL                                                                 

 

Adult Short Sleeve $20 _____      ______      ______     _______      _______     _______       

(add $2.00 for 2XL or 3XL)  AS     AM     AL     AXL    A2XL   A3XL

 

Adult Long-Sleeve $25   _____      _______      _______     _______      _______     _______       

(add $3.00 for 2XL or 3XL)   AS     AM     AL     AXL    A2XL   A3XL

 

   **All orders are due by Wednesday, March 2, 2016**

If you need your shilrt mailed to you, please add $4 for shipping.

                   

Going Back to Zambia!

Dear Friends and Family,     

   I am so excited to tell everyone that with much prayer, I feel like God is calling me back to Zambia this year!  Each year that I have gone to Zambia, it has brought about a different experience and has taught me so much about God and myself.  I am expectant that this year will be no different.  Though I will not be there for 6 weeks like last time, I will be there for a couple of weeks working with some of the teachers employed by Family Legacy in their private schools.  Since I was there last, they have opened a new school and are in the process of building some schools for the students that are in grades 8-12.  Over the past three years of the Teach One trips, they have seen AMAZING growth in the teachers and the students.  

"Look at the nations and watch and 

be utterly amazed.   For I am going 

to do something in your days that 

you would not believe, even if you 

were told.”  

                     Habakkuk 1:5

The last time I was there, my sweet Paulina could barely read at age 13, but this Christmas I got a letter from her that she wrote and there is no doubt that she has made huge progress and is now reading!  What a beautiful gift to be able to read that so many of us takes for granted.  Zambia just celebrated their 50^th year as a country and the theme for the children in Family Legacy’s program is “I am the next 50.”  That couldn’t be truer and the next 50 years for these children are filled with joy and hope for a better future.  I praise the Lord for all that He is doing in and through these children as He is growing them to be leaders.  Not just academically (which is huge), but spiritually He is giving them the hope of a future that many didn’t have before.  They truly love the Lord with all that they are and they know that they can do all things through God’s strength, guidance, and promises. 

The teachers that work in the schools are amazing and are hungry for new and different ways to teach and better help their students.  I am extremely excited to partner with them and work together to find ways to make the kids more successful.  These children come from extreme poverty and often abuse.  The heart of these teachers is like no other.  Not only are they educating each child, but they are also nurturing them as well as guiding them spiritually.  I will forever have the imprints of the teachers and children on my heart!  

I am asking that you would partner with me in prayer with the following requests:

   1.       That God would give me His heart for His people.

   2.  God’s guidance and wisdom in the best way to help equip the teachers and students while I am in Zambia. 

   3.     God’s love, hope, and joy to be poured out over the people in Zambia and that they would long for more of Him.

   4.     Safe travels to and from Zambia and safety while in Zambia.

   5.     God’s Word to ring in my heart and to have ears to hear all that He wants to teach me during my time there.

   6.     For my heart to be teachable and sensitive to God’s moving.  

   7.     That I would stay healthy; specifically pray against stomach problems, sinus infections, and against upper respiratory infections.

   8.     That all the American teachers would come together and bond as a team to make the biggest impact in the school. 

If you feel led to do so, I would love for you to partner with me financially as well.  I need to raise $5000 for my trip by the end of March, and your donations are tax deductible.  I have always been blown away and overwhelmed by the ways in which God has provided the funds for my trips.  I am praying expectantly and believing He will provide what is needed again. 

If you would like to contribute toward my trip, you can donate online to this link:

http://www.camplifezambia.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 please write: Allison Rhodes/Teach One 2015

I appreciate each one of you more than you know and I am so thankful that God has placed you and your family in my life.  I can’t wait to share with you about my time in Zambia.  I will send updates through email as often as possible (that all depends on if the internet is working or not), as well as update my blog: myhopeisingodalone.blogspot.com  If you are not currently on my Zambia email updates and would like to be, please send me your email at:  allisonerhodes@gmail.com  Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement, they mean the world to me!!!

                        

                         Love, Allison Rhodes

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see what he has done and be amazed.  They will put their trust in the Lord.” 

        Psalm 40:3

Zambian Summer 2013!

Well it only took me 6 months give an update since I am back home, but here it is!

Friends & Family,           

I am home!  I got back from Zambia at the beginning of August and I truly hit the ground running with school starting back!  I first want to thank everyone for their prayers and support on my journey to get to Zambia and while I was there.   Having the privilege of spending 6 ½ weeks in Zambia this summer was like no other time that I have been there.  It was definitely the hardest work I have done for that long of a time period, but also so rewarding.  I wouldn’t have traded it for anything!!  I was able to blog some stories while I was there and would love for you to read them whenever you have time.  The website for my blog is: www.myhopeisingodalone.blogspot.com

This was my fifth time to return to Zambia and every trip brings a deeper desire in my heart for God’s orphans.  I cannot put into words how much my heart breaks for these children and the conditions in which they have to endure.  One thing that I do know is that through their pain and hurt, the JOY of the LORD radiates out of their little bodies!  What a great promise to us all, no matter our circumstances or situations we have a God that can and will fill us with Joy and Hope!  Once again, throughout this summer, I met and fell in love with beautiful and broken children!    “I have made you and I will carry you.  I will sustain you and rescue you.”  Isaiah 46:4

Throughout my time in Zambia this summer, I had the unique opportunity to visit all 15 of the schools and do a lesson.  I loved seeing the different schools and seeing how God has them full of His children that are eager to learn.  Going back to the school I was at last year, was a HUGE blessing.  They have done so much at the school since I was there last year and it is amazing!! The pride that is in the school and the way the teachers pour their hearts into those kids is a testimony to the passion God has given them to change the children’s futures.  Some of what we were able to share with them, I could see in some of the other schools too.  They have a couple of times a year that they have teacher trainings and they were able to share with the other teachers what they learned.  It was encouraging to know that God is using the Teach One trips to make a visible and immediate difference.

I listened daily to the song “Oceans” by Hillsong United and prayed these words in the song.  “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders,  Let me walk upon the waters,  Wherever You would call me, Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander,  And my faith will be made stronger,  In the presence of my Savior”  I never knew where each day was going to take me while I was there in Zambia and would often find myself in situations that I had to completely trust the Lord to lead me in how to handle a situation.  God would reveal ideas to me to try that I knew only came from him because I wouldn’t have ever thought of them.   Each step I took this summer was in total dependence on the Lord.  I’m so thankful we have a God that has each step planned for us.  As much as my heart longs to be in Zambia, I have felt like the Lord has told me that I am not supposed to go back this next summer.  As much as I am missing those sweet kids, I know that God has a time and season for everything. 

Please continue to pray for the Zambian teachers and precious kids that God is working in and using to change the face of Zambia.  Also, please pray for the Americans that are living full time in Zambia. 

I love this quote from Katie Davis:  “I have learned that I will not change the world.  Jesus will do that.  I can, however, change the world for one person.  So I keep loving one person at a time.  Because this is my call as a follower of Jesus.”     What a beautiful reminder of what God has called all of us to do no matter who we are and where we live.   

      Thank you again and I pray that 2014 is full of endless blessings for you and your family!                                                                         Love,  Allison

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

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