Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ
As we get closer and closer to the time of our departure, we get more and more excited. Honestly, we also get a little scared and sad all at the same time. We are completely trusting that God is in control, and we are leaving everything, our possessions, and our families, to follow what God has called us to. As we have had the opportunity to share with you what God has and is doing in our lives, we have also been reminded of how good and faithful God is. My prayer for you is that as you go about your day, you may experience His presence, His love, His mercy, and His grace, and that you may bestow them on someone else who needs to hear about what He has done for you. In preparing for the CIS, I have begun to think about what an awesome opportunity we have. In speaking with our private Russian tutor, we have come to find out that she grew up in Siberia. Her family was one sent to exile there. She literally does not know where she comes from, who her extended family is, or any of her background other than the fact that she is Russian. She is part of a large number of people who have been stripped of their identity, and who long to be a part of something bigger. The country we will be serving in is much like this. They are a people lost, now knowing who they are, and struggling to find somewhere to belong. Many try to find themselves in Islam, but to no avail. We have a message to share of hope, love, and of someone that they belong to. The message of Jesus Christ is that hope and to Him is who we all belong to. The knowledge that there is someone who knows you, who you are and where you are from, and who loves you, can be one that transforms lives. Also, the knowledge that you belong to a brotherhood of believers all around the world, that your Christian family is very extensive, can also change the lives of those who many times literally have no one else. We thank you for your commitment in supporting us either through prayer, giving or both. May God bless you and from our family we would like to say thank you for your support. We would also like to make you aware of a new website that the Church of the Nazarene has created for all Mission Corps volunteers. Some had asked us if there was a way to give by internet, or if there was a way to set up a monthly automatic withdrawal from your checking account. The answer is yes. You can still send your support to the General Treasures office if you would like, or you can use this new website to give your monthly support. The direct address for this webpage is: http://web.nazarene.org/goto/rodriguezfamily
Again thank you for your commitment.
