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Spring 2008 "May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5.23. We didn’t post a winter update, but we had a real Winter Wonderland – Lots & Lots of Snow. Some folks thought it was a long winter, but we seemed to enjoy all of it, and the snowplow got a pretty good work out. Even got the plow stuck a few times in the heavy snowfalls, and just seemed to run out of places to put it, so we’re working on some modifications for next winter. Spring has sprung, and the girls have planned to plant a large vegetable garden. We’re working to get next years wood stored away in the woodshed, and it seems there is always lot’s to do. We installed a zip line so we can get across the creek in flood stage, 1 line over and 1line back – lot’s of fun (I Guess), but maybe a little scary, as you are more that 25’ above the ground (water) at some points. Josh will be home for the summer, he got a job in the Engineering Dept. at Algoma Steel for the summer, which is just what he was looking for. He plans to go back to Lakehead to start his 4th year of Electrical Engineering this September. Anna has a summer job which is part of her co-op for College at a "Tree Top Adventure" park they have just opened just up the road from us, so that is nice that she can ride her bike to work or walk. Grace plans to look after the garden, and take a summer off at home, since she has been away most summers in the past for Cadet camps etc. She will be home to help Jane with the Baby when it arrives the end of June. Reuben & Isaac have both started working for a Landscaper, and will be working with him throughout the summer whenever they are needed. The most recent addition to the family farm is a Donkey – he’s young and feisty, so not sure how long we’ll be bale to have him around with all the little kids around, we’ll have to see if he settles down. A Donkey is supposed to be excellent for protecting the flock from predators, even cougars and bears. Anna has been working on fences for an extra pasture area for her sheep, and we have one spring Lamb, the donkey and sheep will go there once it is completed. We continue to have good contact with our neighbors, and are praying for them regularly. We also enjoy good fellowship with a few families who we find have a deep desire to serve the Lord with all their hearts, and enjoy edifying fellowship, sharing the Word, and can discuss freely how they find it as relevent in their lives. Music is also very much in the centre of most of our fellowship times. Piano, flute, sax, trumpet, guitar, mandolin, violin, trombone, and maybe some spoons or something made into a drum on occasion, with heart-felt prasies and thangiving to God. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - November 1, 2007 Blessings to you from Revelation 22:17. "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. (RSV). Had a few snow flurries the other day, and the kids are eagerly awaiting a nice covering of snow. Josh is at Lakehead University, and is doing well in his studies in Electrical Engineering. Anna ended up (at the last minute) enrolling in the Sault College in Forestry, because of her love of nature and the outdoors, and is doing well. Grace is facing all the challenges of her Pre-Helath Sciences course at the same College, and is disappointed if she gets anything less than an "A". Anna & Grace are able to commute together the 20 Minute drive from home which is nice. The older kids sure are bombarded by "humanism" in the College / University setting - Seems like the whole establishment boasts the truth of Psalm 53:1 " The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." Anyway they all seem to be holding their own by God's Grace, and a number of staff and students have enquired about their lives and faith. Please pray that they will be able to continue to live out the fulness of what is written in Philippians 2:16 "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
We're just finishing up a bout with the Chicken Pox in the family. None of the kids had ever had it before, so ... one by one they all took their turns, Josh just happened to be home at the time of the outbreak, so a few weeks later he was able to sympathize "in the fellowship of the sufferings of his brethren" (and sisters) as he got it too, once he was back in Thunder Bay, and an unplanned week off school, just like his sisters. Simeon who is 5yrs old is the only hold out, so maybe it will pass him by this time. It certainly is true from our experience that you get them a lot worse when you're older, than when your young. But we're thankful to know that our times are in God's hands. We've had a few nice visits from family and friends now since we have settled in. We've experienced many good times of fellowship with new and old acquaintences. God's Word is becoming more and more precious to us as we live day by day. We feel we've hardly scratched the surface of the depths of the truths God wants to teach us, so please pray that we will be faithful to ... "continue stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2.42)
God Bless you all "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;" (Colossians 1:10) The Rodgers in Goulais River. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - July 1, 2007 Warmest Greetings & Blessings from Psalm 150 We're slowly getting settled into our new home in Goulais River. Josh has gone to Lakehead, Grace has left for summer employment in southern Ontario, and 3 more boys will be leaving next week for Air Cadet Camps. So it will seem strange over the next while with so many gone. According to Proverbs 24:27 ... "Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house." ... we've been doing mostly outside work, trying to get the sheep pastures established, i.e. fenced/contained, so they don't visit the neighbours unawares (again), tending the garden, and soon hoping to harvest the hay fields if we can arrange to get some equipment. Another priority will be to begin to gather our winter's wood supply. There's lots to be done inside, but we're happy to let those things wait until the other things are done. We've had the opportunity to have great fellowship with a few folks here already. We're looking forward to what the Lord plans to do. We read in Proverbs Ch. 1 this morning, "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." What a promnise! We want to learn to love the Lord's reproofs, so that we can experience this "pouriing out" He refers to. Reproofs aren't necessarily pleasant, but we know God intends it for our best, and so that we can receive a blessing. So we must learn to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. Isaac wants to get baptized this week before he goes to camp, so we'll be having a baptismal service in the Goulais river sometime this week with friends. We hope have an open door with our neighbours, and invite them to join us for weekly fellowship and Bible studies as the Lord directs. God 's word has been the secret to all the blessings we have enjoyed. We hope others will be able to experince the joy's of the Lord, as they seek him, and grow closer to him through the direction of His word. God Bless you all as you grow in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. The Rodgers in Goulais River. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - May 23, 2007 Warmest Greetings & Blessings from Isaiah Ch.43 We're Moving ... again ... back to Goulais River. This time may be a little more settling for a time. We had been seeking the Lord about His direction for the next step we should take since February. Just 3 weeks ago we got a call from some dear christian friends in Goulais River inquiring if we would consider purchasing their property, as the Lord had opened some doors for them, and put it on their hearts to call us, as they felt property would be "perfect" for us. God is so Good! God has thoroughly blessed us, and instructed us through many experiences and good contacts at All Tribes Mission, in Blind River over the last year ... hard to believe it's been a year already. We're in the midst of another 2 week archery program with the local young people. This time the kids are making their own bows, and have really been enthusiastic about the whole program. Even though we are moving to Goulais (2 Hours away), we plan, Lord willing, to be involved in both the Air Pistol, and Archery/Arrow Making programs to be scheduled at the mission for the Fall. The Security and Medical Alarm business that has been our source of income, needs some attention in order to continue to supply our needs financially. Some changes have been made, and we will continue to oversee the business in Southern Ontario, but since we are settling 20 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie, we will expand the business there as well. Joshua (21) will be starting University at Lake Head in Thunder Bay July 1st. Anna (20) will be doing business administration and "farming" in Goulais. Grace (18) will be staff at the Cadet Camp at Trenton Air Base, and Reuben (16) , Isaac (14), and Gideon (12), will all be attending Cadet Camps at various times through the summer. Grace will be attending Sault College in September. Lydia (10), Jethro (8), Elijah (6), Simeon (4), and Tirzah (2) will no doubt be exploring the 82 Acres which we will now call home. If you're traveling through on the Trans-Canada, we would be an excellent pit-stop, as we are only 1km East off Hwy#17, on Hwy 552. Our Address:" 253 Hwy 552 East, Goulais River, ON. P0S 1E0. Our "hotmail" email addresses (if you have them) will stay the same. We pray God will open new doors for ministry and fellowship, and also allow us to grow some of those the Lord started when we lived in Goulais 1 year ago. May God Richly Bless You ... May you "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life" (1 Ti. 6:12); "and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb 12:1); and "be thou faithful unto death" (Rev. 2:10); so you "shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." (Jas. 1:12); "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude v. 24,25); Amen! The Rodgers Family - soon to be in Goulais River (D.V.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - February 2007 It was a great homecoming after 2 months in the Balkins. The Lord greatly used the the lives of many believers in the Balkins to touch our lives. Their testimonies have become fuel for a spirit of renewal and revival for those who have been allowed to hear of the faith, and testings of our Christian brothers and sisters in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Macedonia (even though we were refused from entering the country - when we got to the border ... our fault ... we didn't know that only Canadians and Australians need a Visa to enter). Made many good friends, and met many special believers. God is doing great things in the lives of people in every nation under heaven. Glory be to His name. As soon as we were back we started an Air Rifle Program at the Mission, and had a great time of relationship building with the 20 youth from the community (We had to limit the enrollment to 20). Had a crew (including the President of the Mission) come from Pennsylvania to help us with this 2 week program. We see God moving in the hearts of different ones according to their need, and their hunger and thirst after righteousness. Praise God - He is Faithful in ALL things. 'Til Next time - The Rodgers. |
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