-willrodes.com/blog-

Charleston Trip 06.10

will — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:10:16 +0000

Liam Photos- Week 2

will — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 23:43:42 +0000

In awe

will — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:14:16 +0000

William “Liam” Lucas Rodes
Born: 6.13.10 @11:33AM 7lbs. 13oz. 20″ long

I’m still in awe at God’s faithfulness.

Mother’s Day 2010

will — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:26:46 +0000

This year at NewSpring Jesus allowed us to do something a little different than we have done for Mother’s Day. For the past 3 years we have given away houses to single mom’s. This year we were able to do something that is going to have a huge impact in our community. I promise, it’s worth the time to watch it.

Flaming Torches

will — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:33:10 +0000

For Easter at NewSpring we wanted to communicate that Jesus’ death on the cross and victory over the grave was designed to get our attention. This was communicated not only verbally, but also through several videos, below is the Need To Know video from that day.

Photos from Jackson Hole

will — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:49:04 +0000

The Story of Sarah Chapman

will — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:12:33 +0000

The latest piece I worked on really drove home to me the importance of never forgetting how important each person is to God and that He never gives up on us, no matter how many times we turn Him down and turn our backs to Him. He has called us to show that same love to others.

God’s Faithfulness Part 2

will — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:20:41 +0000

On the third day of my February 2010 trip to Kenya, I got to see water running at Black Tank. Now, when I was there in June 2009, people would walk by Black Tank because the pump for the well was broken and the tank was leaky. Our team in June worked on chiseling out the soft portions of concrete on the tank and replaced it with fresh to stop the leakage. Shortly after, a team from the International Water Mission came and replaced the broken pump and installed solar panels to power it. In November 2009, another NewSpring team built a roof over the tank.

What was once dry is now full of water. What was once barren and devoid, now has life.

It hit me that when I was there in June 2009, Kelly and I had just lost
our daughter Elizabeth and honestly we were devastated. It felt like we were left barren, but our hope was in the LORD. We knew if it was His will for us to not be dry, to not be barren, but rather to have another child, then it would happen.

As I watched the children of Black Tank filling up their containers with the clean drinking water from the well in February, it hit me. God had restored water to this dry desolate area in the same way He had given Kelly and I new hope. As I stood there that day, I knew that God had been faithful. We are expecting a son, William “Liam” Lucas.

Kenya 02.10 Photos

will — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:48:57 +0000

God’s Faithfulness

will — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:15:02 +0000

During my trip to Kenya in June 2009, I often looked around and wondered if I would be back to see this beautiful place again. I wondered if I would see the Kenyans that I had become friends with again.

Just before I left Kenya on that trip to return to the States, I felt God tell me, “You will be back”.

When I walked out of the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in February 2010, I began to see how faithful God was. In fact, throughout the trip He reminded me over and over.

Our first day in country in February 2010, we crossed the Uaso Nyro river on the way to Segera Mission and the river was flowing unlike in June 2009 when it was only a series of puddles. It was awesome to see water flowing through this dry, dusty region. We went out to Endana to do an outreach service that afternoon and as we got off the bus, one of the guys on our team asked me if I thought it was going to rain because of the dark clouds. I responded, “No, we’ll probably be able to see where it’s raining, but I don’t think it’ll rain here.” Three minutes later, I was eating my words when big drops began to fall. We continued with outreach service in the rain. Apparently sound equipment is more waterproof in Kenya.

As I look back on it, I lacked the faith that it could rain in the Segera area because I had not seen it rain, but just as it says in Isaiah 43:19 (NIV):

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

God was doing a new thing, but yet it wasn’t a new thing, it has rained there plenty. God has been making streams in this wasteland and not just literal ones like the Uaso Nyro river, but ones that never run dry, spiritual ones. It is because of knowing Jesus that these people have hope and joy, just like in John 4:14 (NIV):

“…but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus says “never” thirst and because of that we have faith in eternal life because He paid the ultimate price for us. He impressed upon me through this entire trip how faithful He is. No matter what the situation or circumstances He is never failing.