Rhodes Family December 2008 Update

Dear Family and Friends,

What a year it has been!! As we come to the close of 2008 we look back and see how much our lives have changed. We began the year in Lodi, CA where Jeremy was on staff full time at Calvary Bible Church. We are now ending the year in Fremont, CA awaiting our next adventure of Church Planting in Chico, CA. It has been a very challenging year for us, but we are glad to say we have come out of it stronger and better than when we went in.

For those of you who don't know, after leaving Calvary Bible Church we decided to begin the adventure of church planting. After going to an assessment center in Wisconsin in July we were approved to plant a church with Converge PacWest. We are very excited to partner with this organization. They are extremely supportive and we are blessed to have found them. For the last several months we have been raising our support so that we can get to Chico and start! We are only $132 short of our monthly goal and biting at the bit to get going! We are hoping to be in Chico by the middle of January.

Elizabeth has been working the past several months at her parents medical practice, while Jeremy has been staying at home with the kids and planning for our future church. We have both learned so much through this experience. Jeremy has been able to walk in Elizabeth's shoes for the last few months and Elizabeth has been able to see how much she loves staying with the kids. We are both anticipating going back to their previous roles, but wouldn't take this time back for anything. God has taught us both so much and we have a better appreciation for each other!

Gabriella turned three at the beginning of this year. She has been a joy (and a frustration at times). She is very smart and compassionate. She loves to sing and dance and play with her baby brother. She is a very good big sister and loves to play mommy with Josiah. Although they do fight her compassionate nature always wins out.

Josiah just turned two at the beginning of this month. He is definitely a boys boy. He loves to growl and pretend to be all sorts of animals. His favorite is an elephant, and he does a great impression of one. He is very independent and can entertain himself very well. He loves to get into things that he shouldn't, but what two year old boy doesn't. He is also very sweet natured and loveable.

We hope this Christmas is filled with much joy and celebration for you all. Hopefully you will be spending wonderful time with family and remembering the birth of our Savior. We are so blessed to have you all in our lives and couldn't do any of this without your prayer and support. If you have pledged support to us, please send in your December support. If you have not and would like to help push us past that goal you may do so at www.sunergeo.com/donate.

Blessings!

Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Amount Left to Raise: $132/ month