July 2011 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update

Dear Family and Friends,

July is finally here and with it comes the Chico heat. Although it doesn’t seem to be as hot as the previous years it is definitely warm enough to blow up the kids pool and have lots of fun summer water play!

Summer is very slow in Chico. The heat seems to slow down every ones pace and people tend to do everything they can to escape it. We learned when we first moved here that summer is not the time to make any big plans but to enjoy the slow pace before it kicks back up in the fall when all the university students return.

With that in mind we have some wonderful plans for the fall. We will begin a advertising campaign in the Chico News and Review which is a weekly paper that is very widely read. We are also praying about starting a free tutoring program for students who need a little extra help with their studies. Please pray with us as we continue to brainstorm new ways to reach the community. Jeremy is focusing on getting more active with the fire department as the Chaplin. He is also looking for possible part time employment to help supplement our income.

We want to thank all of you for your prayers for Gabriella and we are pleased to report that she is doing much better! Praise God!! The doctor has given her a clean bill of health with no follow up appointments necessary at this point! We are thrilled with the results and we are seeing a little girl who almost always had dark circles under her eyes feeling full of energy and of life! 

We ask that you continue to pray for Jerry who is adjusting to life without his wonderful wife Kay. He is showing an amazing strength and we are so blessed to have him here with us. Also please pray for our financial situation. We continue to fall a little short each month. It is great to see the wonderfully creative ways God is providing for us during this time! Thank you to those of you that have answered Him and sent extra money when you are able. We are deeply thankful for you!

            You may not be here in Chico with us, but we still consider you part of our planting team because without you we wouldn’t be here. We praise God for you! If you have not yet sent in your support for July please do so at this time. And if you are able to increase your support in anyway, please feel free to do so. We love you all very much. Please send us your prayer requests so that we can also pray for you.

Blessings!

Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes