On the Road Again... Or Rather, In the Air.

It’s been about 9 months since our last trip to Hong Kong as a family and with our children’s ministry King’s Kids.  Since then the Lord has opened up the doors to return end of March, and this time, the tickets have already been paid!  Praise His name!  We have been invited to co-produce a special Easter event where will have the privilege of presenting a mini musical written and interpreted by Diego and I called, “In the Garden” based on the encounter between Mary Magdalene and Jesus after His resurrection.  We will also have the privilege of going into mainland China serving along side some precious people in extremely remote villages for about 10 days of our 3 week trip.  I cannot tell you how exciting it is too see the fruits of all the labor and generous donations from last years trip to Hong Kong turn into a second trip where we can actually continue and advance in the work that we started!  Our Challenge for this trip would be the cost of travel, food, and lodging while in traveling through mainland China

On the other hand, as many of you might know (and surely many of you truly don’t) Diego and I have been leading a Discipleship Training School here at our home base in Argentina.  It is the largest DTS we have had to date since 2008; we were surprised to receive 24 students rather than the usual 6-8 students that are expected for the January DTS (generally the smallest DTS of the year!). Our school is full of bright, young, artistic and passionate people for Christ and missions of all different ages, backgrounds and nations such as the USA, Finland, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Ukraine, Armenia, and Chile.  We will be leaving with our team mid-April on outreach to Bolivia where we will spend 2 months of serving in churches and in the streets, working with local artists, media, and of course, our passion, theater.  Our challenge for the DTS would be the cost of our outreach to Bolivia.

Please pray with us in how you can be part of our grand adventure with the Lord in spreading His gospel! The Great Commission is calling and, together, we can achieve great things for His Kingdom!

Lot’s of love, as always, the Rodriguez Fam!!! 

If you are interested in adopting our family as missionaries, all tax deductible donations can be made through PayPal at cherish.rodriguez@gmail.com 

If you are interested in adopting one of our 24 DTS students as a missionary please communicate with me and the donation can be made through PayPal at the same address.

Financial Challenges:

China Trip: 

$1,050 transport & lodging

$400 food   

TOTAL- $1,450  

Bolivia Trip

$2,000 Flight Tickets

$1,000

TOTAL- $3000

My Happiness

Going to Hong Kong , for me, was life changing.  The way I view my life, my faith, the way i use my time, even muy thought space. There is a quote from Gandhi that I love that says, "I won't let Anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet." Worries, often invade my thought space and when this happens I find myself thinking of Hong Kong.  For me the steps of faith previous to buying our tickets, to the work with children, the elderly, and those who were seriously spiritually thirsty, cleansed my mind in a way I couldn't have imagined.  I've literally lost my taste for a variety of frivolous things that usually would brighten my day.  For those of you who have ever been pregnant, you know what I'm talking about.  When I got pregnant with my boys I litterly lost my taste for my very favorite things such as chocolate and coffee and began to enjoy things I never had before, like taking naps and eating blood sausage (a typical Agentine delicacy).  Something similar happened to me after Hong Kong.  I can no longer live this life or use my time with the frivolity that I did before.  Time is too precious, my deep love for Jesus is altogether too palpably present in the very air I breath to simply continue with business as usual.  Jesus always taught this though His lifestyle but when you actually begin to feel that teaching in your own physical body is when you first begin to actually understand that not only is giving better than receiving, giving is receiving.  People are so hopped up on "finding their happiness" that they become spiritually sick and stagnant as they dwell on the same thoughts everyday.  "What is making me happy", "more me time" , "getting empowered".  The Bible says, "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt. 6:33)  This is what I believe,and now am sure of; this is what I want as make a lifestyle.

Surprise Ending

There is WAY to much to tell.  Our time in Hong Kong was anything but business as usual.  From the time we stepped off of our 30 hour plane journey and onto the continent of Asia we were just itching to see what Gods purpose in all of this was.  We saw way to many miracles, even aside from our own, to expect a "normal" trip.  No, we were full of expectations. For what, we were not yet quite sure?  The program was to work with local churches the first bit of the trip, then serve in the Gateway camp, then to go into China on a bike tour and visit remote villages where the people are not likely to have ever even laid eyes on any sort of foreigner.  All good and exciting things.  Something inside me said there would be more.  As many of you know, for the last 9 years my husband and I have have simultaneously worked in missions and the arts trying to share the love of Jesus wherever we go.  And although I'd LOVE to go into every little detail of our next project, I feel it may not be prudent.  What I will say is that God opened the doors, I'm writing a play, and it looks like Asia in not yet done with us...  For more juicy details I guess I'll have to revert back to good old snail mail!  Pop me a message to my inbox if you'd like to receive one!

The Rest is for the Birds

Today has been a crazy day.  We were running to and fro, checking ticket prices, communicating our needs (which for some reason can be quite stressful), praying and interceding, changing diapers and stopping tiny brothers from tiny-brother-tackling one another and poking out their tiny eyes... I just can't quite describe this day exactly right.  I knew we'd buy our tickets today even though we were lacking more than half of the supposed needed amount.  It's an assurance I'm not sure I've ever felt before; a weird sort of stillness in the midst of figurative storm.  

     On top of ticket stuff, and sort of off topic, we found out that someone who had attended one of our artistic variety  shows last week,"La Varieté"(a show with performances of artists of all shapes, sizes, and walks of life), had decided to take her own life.  That night, the night of the variety show, one of the artists shared about Jesus after finishing his performance.  It's not a usual part of the agenda because it's not what you might call a typical "Christian" event but it was something he felt he had to share that particular night in front of everybody.  It was almost as if the gospel was oozing out of his pores and he couldn't help it.   

    I'm not sure what this has to do with our trip to Asia but it was all coming down on us all at the same time today.  All day we seemed to be seeking God, not for answers but for guidance, about so many things.  My sweet nephew Milo went to be with the Lord almost 2 years ago to the day and I've long since learned not to look too hard for answers.  I've already found THE answer and the rest of it no one has been able to figure out since the beginning of time.  No, I don't look for answers.  I look for guidance, mainly in how to obey that sweet voice of love within that drives me on and carries me all at the same time.  I still ask questions, I guess they are just different kinds of questions.  Somehow it all comes together for me - our mission, the girl who was so sad she took her own life, and our Asia Project.  The world needs love, the world needs Jesus, and I'm ready to share Him with those who'll accept Him or not. 

     If any of you who have been following our story and don't really know my best friend Jesus, my Father and Brother, but would like to know this love that casts out fear and doubt, depression and rage, sadness and deceit, let me know.  I'd love to introduce you to Him.  You'll never be the same once you find THE answer.  The rest is for the birds.

The Great Commission

If the Lord has so spoken to you to give, not to our cause but to the cause of the great commission through the #AsiaProject and GATEWAY camp, today is the day.  Today is our last day to buy tickets and we only need $1,300.  I don't do this habitually or even ever but I believe in this project with all my heart and know that God's reward for obedience is bigger than our sacrifice.  If you'd like to be a part of our miracle and the great commission,

you can give through PayPal at rosesnbloom85@yahoo.com. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

The Limb May Break

Do you ever wonder if God has left you all alone on a weak cracking branch where you were 110% positive that He had called you to step out upon in the first place?  You are out of hope, out of cash, out of "luck", and out of time.  There you sit, with chin depressingly resting in hands, listening to the slow crack, crack, crack of the branch, just waiting for it to either break completely or for God to miraculously do... something.  You rack your brain thinking of all the ways he might save you, what it might look like, and then you begin to plan out what you might do if the branch breaks.  And back and forth, back and forth, back and forth your mind goes between the two scenarios, your head filling with doubt, worry and dread.  Then all of a sudden a third thought comes to your mind, "what does He say about all of this?" And then it comes rushing back to you... do not worry about what you will eat and drink or what you will wear... Faith is the hope of what you don't see.... Worship the Lord at all times because He is worthy of praise... The Lord is our strong deliverer... And there you are with the loud cracking of the limb in your ear trying not to worry, trying to keep the faith as you slowly but surely fall.  What are you missing here?  The same thing Peter was missing as he began drown after his brief stroll on the water: a steady gaze upon the face of peace, truth, and love, the face of Jesus.  Who called you to do what you are doing?  Jesus.  Why are you doing it?  Because you love Him.  Since when did the God of the Universe, the maker of heaven and earth, creator of all things lose control over stormy seas and cracking branches?  Never.  So what's the "plan"?  I'm going to sit on this fragile limb and worship Him til my praises drown out the noise of the breaking and my faithless doubts.  Not ignorance or denial.  I am completely aware of my situation.  I simply choose to believe Him beyond what my eyes can see and my ears can here.  Let the branch break completely if it must.  He will catch me.

To find out more about our current "branch", our #KingsKids #AsiaProject, check out my earlier blogs.  What's your cracking branch?  

To make a tax deductible donation make your payment through PayPal to rosesnbloom85@yahoo.com

It Has Begun: the multiplication of our loaves and fishes

As of a few days ago we didn't have enough recourses to buy a single flight ticket for our King's Kids Asia Project.  Today we bought 2!  Thank you to everyone who so generously and lovingly  gave, adding your "loaves and fishes" to our basket.  Because of your gifts Diego and Gael are well on there way to Hong Kong (figuratively speaking of course!  They don't board the plane for a couple more weeks). Prayers are appreciated as we have yet to buy my and Valentine's tickets.  We can't wait to see what God does next.  His ways are so much higher than ours!

Some of you have been asking to here more details about our trip. So here it goes.  Apart from taking this group of King's Kids to Asia to preach the gospel through artistic expressions (amongst other things), we will be serving in what is called the Gateway camp (gateway.com.hk).  Thousands of spirituality thirsty Asian youth will all gather together in Hong Kong to learn more about Christ and worship in freedom.  Missionaries from Argentina have been running this camp annually for several years now, and as numbers have grown significantly over the past few years, we are anxious to serve along side these faithful servants and be a strengthening to their arms.

Ways you can be a part of our King's Kids Asia Project:

#1 prayer for us, the Kings Kids group, and the Hong Kong Gateway camp.

#2 clothes donations to "My Closet".  Clothing will be sold; profits go to the Asia Project.

#3 tax deductible cash donations can be made through PayPal: rosesnbloom85@yahoo.com

#4 air miles donations