The Rhodes Family: Memphis to Aotearoa

Dear Friends, Summer heat has arrived here in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), and with it a good bit of heat, end of year and Christmas season busy-ness (and blessings), meaningful work, and blossoming friendships. Here are some highlights and updates from us: Bible Study. We wrapped up our year with a “Randwick Park Bible Study Christmas Party” this past Monday. This was a highlight of the year! About fifty of us neighbours feasted together through great food (including delicious hāngi ), carol singing, a nativity play featuring over twenty kids; and then we finished off our evening with an epic dart gun battle (boys vs. girls of course!). This was a fitting end to our year. Krystal, Pauline, Michael, and I co-hosted the event. Each of us brought our best to the evening… Krystal is an amazing gatherer (and incredible cook!!), Pauline used her gift of hospitality to make everyone welcome and run the kitchen, Michael brought his unmatched passion for raucous and worshipful Christmas carol...

  Dear Friends, The past month has been full of days and moments of answered prayers; and also ministry and family life at its fullest. We are blessed and grateful. Here are some highlights, praises, and prayer requests from us: Bible Study . We are now meeting at the community house a couple blocks from our house… and it has been wonderful ! The front porch, bigger kitchen, and visual accessibility to and from the street has transformed the feeling of our Bible Study. We have new neighbours coming, and there is a thirst for knowledge and access to God’s Word. Praise God with us! And please continue to pray for Pauline, Michael, and I as we lead this tender group. One of our most consistent families moved far away (to their ancestral home in the far north of Aotearoa New Zealand), and we miss them. Viv, the matriarch of that family, was my closest friend in our community for the past three years. She is irreplaceable.   Zyane and I often took our reading group outside to the...