Jesus loves us

           

"16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17. Have you ever read this verse and truly thought about what it means? God loves us so much, that he not only sent his son down to earth to live as a human, but to be tempted, to suffer as we suffer, and to die a horrible death on the cross. Only to save us! God did all of this because he loves YOU! He loves me. He loves all of us! He even loves those of us who aren't in him. He loves those of us who don't love him!

          Read that again, John 3:16-17. Now read Romans 5:8   " 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." How amazing is that! Even while we were sinners! That is even now, after we have become one in Christ, we all still sin. We never truly stop sinning. Sin is something that we will forever struggle with until the day we rise up and meet our savior. Sin is a thing that all struggle with, God knows this. But he sent his son that we would have life eternal through him! Praise God! Through this sacrifice, we will see those that we have lost in this world again! This promise is what keeps me going every day. Without this promise I and many others would be lost, seeking and searching, trying to make sense of the loss we feel in this world. I give thanks to God for his sacrifice!

             In 1 John 4:7-12 it says "7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." Take this as a challenge for this week, to love one another as God loved us. I hope yall have a blessed week! As always don't hesitate to reach out for whatever reason! As VeggieTales says " Remember God made you special, and he loves you very much!" 

Cole W Rodgers

Learning to Surf the Waves of Grief

          On August 7th, 2019, I was at home. Just about to finish my homework and turn it in, when a knock came to my door. My mom stood there a little shook. I asked her what was wrong. She looked me in the eye and said the girls had been in a wreck on the way home from church. You see on Wednesday nights, they went to WOW, Worship on Wednesday. This day they had celebrated a baptism. They went to get ice cream and were coming home later than usual. I got in my car and headed to Littlefield, TX, waiting on mom to tell me what Emergency Room they would be going to. Mom called me before I got to town, she told me that they would be going to UMC in Lubbock, at that moment I knew it was bad. As I drove to Lubbock, about 45 minutes away, I passed the wreck site. I asked the workers who were there if they could tell me anything about the accident and how the girls were. He wouldn't give me any information. All he told me was to get to the hospital as quickly as I could.
       When I got there, mom told me that Ella had died immediately, I was shocked, I couldn't breathe, I asked about Aranza and Sarah. Aranza was in surgery and was in critical condition,  Sarah was en route. As we went back to the family room all I could do was pray. When I entered the room, Robert and Christy were already there. I had no idea what to say or do. As we prayed and sang praises to the Lord, Aranza's surgeons came in. I knew this was wrong, her procedure should have taken much longer. I knew what would come out of their mouths before they said it, but I still listened intently hoping, praying that I was wrong. Aranza didn't make it either. We burst into tears but soon turned our attention to Sarah. We continued praying and singing. As the night turned into day more and more people came and prayed with us. Sarah had surgery the next day and spent a few more days of healing before she got to go home.
        Since August we have all had to learn to live without these amazing people that I was so blessed to know.  The hardest part is knowing that they are in Heaven, and we are here longing to see them. I have been so very blessed to have been raised in a Christian home. I know where my future lies. Knowing this has helped so very much. Not to say that my faith wasn't tested, it has been. We have such an amazing community around us, even though our own grief we are there to help others.
         I am now in the Navy, far away from anyone who knows the story. These times have been some of the hardest. I am having to learn to deal with the loss on my own. I covet your prayers, any encouragement you can give me. I am doing alright, but the drowning waves come crashing more often, and without my community of life jackets and floaties around I am having to learn to swim, to stay afloat. I am working back to surfing, you see before I was surfing, before boot camp. I had my place of comfort. When I stepped out of my comfort zone, I forgot how to surf, or maybe the waves became bigger, whichever it was, I had to begin again.
          I should be back home around November, thankfully I joined the Reserves! I get to go back to my amazing community, hopefully having learned to surf my waves. I love each and every one of you. May the Lord bless you. Until next time.
Cole W Rodgers

thoughts on piercings/tattoos

So I have four tattoos, and my ears are pierced. I want to pierce my nose too, but a lot of people are giving me negative feedback on the idea. So I want to know yall's opinions. Also I, obviously, don't think its a sin to have them. Again thoughts? Should I get my nostril pierced or no?

My Dream House

                        I want a tree house( I know crazy ) 2 stories. 2 bedrooms and a kitchen living room on the bottom story, a bedroom and library on the 2nd floor with a wrap around balcony with stairs leading up to the balcony inside the house and outside. Outside I want a pond dug with a grassy bridge crossing it, with tilapia or catfish. I can live without electricity for a while, have a shower with 2 heads one for a hot water heater and one with a 50 gallon barrel to heat water and put it in. I want an out house. And a 2 bathrooms in the house one upstairs and one down. With gas a stove, and 2 wood burning stoves. With solar panels when I do get electricity. To be self sufficient. Also I want a good sized garden, some chickens, rabbits, meat cows and milk cows. Room for a wildlife refuge and/or zoo, some quail, maybe a peacock, ect...

         

             For house pets I want 2 ball pythons, 2 corn snakes, a few lizards, hamsters, mice, 2 canaries, fish (fresh and salt water) a hedge hog, hermit crabs, a dog, a cat, a caiman/alligator, maybe a rabbit, a scorpion, a tarantula, some turtles, maybe a frog, salamanders, that may be it…lol

     I want my tree house to be in the middle of the zoo/wildlife refuge. I want my kids ( far off in the future,) to grow up there working/living/playing/learning. I want them to grow up with a passion for conservation and for God! And I think the best way to do that is to raise them learning about those things and seeing my enthusiasm for them. If yall have any pointers on this they are welcome. :) 

      And of course I want a partner in crime to join me in this adventure. My life has always been an adventure, and I pray the adventure never stops. I may change the name of this blog to Cole's adventures or something like that, any suggestions? Also, if there is anything that my readers recommend I start or change, a nice encouraging message would be nice! I am open to suggestions. :) 

November plans update

                So I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my life. As I mentioned in October, I have 3 plans. I have changed that...hehe. I now am looking more in to Wildlife Conservation projects and such. I am planning on getting my basics done at SPC ( South Plains College ) and then going to LCU ( Lubbock Christian University ) and majoring in Natural Resources Ecology and Conservation, along with a Minor in Animal Sciences. I want to apply to work at Walters World of Pets to get hands on experience working with exotic animals. Also maybe an internship at the Clovis Zoo. My goal with this is to either, own/run a zoo, or own/run a wildlife refuge in my area of Texas. 

            I will be moving back to Amherst in December. After living here in Cochabamba, Bolivia for almost three years, with ups and downs, I decided it is time to move back. I miss my family and friends there. Now I know I will miss my friends here, but I think it is time. God has shown me in many ways, one of those being I fasted and prayed for two days and I just felt led and decided that it was time. Thank yall for all the prayers and support. It has meant the world to me and others who we have blessed. 

        I of course will continue to work and be involved in ministry, I want to influence as many people as I can to 1. love this earth and treat it right. and 2. Teach people to love a God and to follow him. I have a passion for wildlife and just animals in general, and for God and spreading his word. 

      I am very excited about this decision, it means a lot to me. As always I appreciate the prayers. I hope yall are as excited as I am, and I hope I can excite all about animals and Gods word!

Love yall, 
Cole Rodgers

october post

28 de octubre de 2018

Cole Rodgers

Mission Cocha

Lanza Chuquisaca 

Edificio Vedra Depa 1 A

Dear supporters,

How are y'all today? Hope everyone is well! I am still having ups and downs, but am doing better. I have finally gotten my Visa, on Monday I should get my ID. I talked to Butch about the depression and such, and he recommended to me that I go back to the states to deal with that. I have also talked to a few other wise people who recommended me the same thing. My main worry about that was at first my permeant Visa, but they all told me to not worry about that, then i was worried about moving back to the states and thinking what if i don't move back to Bolivia. But in talking to Richard that fear was calmed. He said, “ well if you dont move back here, you'll go to Ecuador, or Nicaragua, or Mexico, or to a small town in New Mexico, But where ever you go, you'll be serving God and thats what matters.”That made me feel a lot better. 

Now as far as plans go I have 3:

1. Go to Sunset and get a degree in bible, form a team and HOPEFULLY return here,
2. Go to LCU or ACU and get a minor in Bible and a major in Spanish education, and HOPEFULLY return here, or stay in The States and be a teacher and travel summers to mission trips, maybe be a youth minister. 
3. Go to SPC and then to LCU get the same major and minor before mentioned, and go to the Navy Reserve, and still serve the Lord in any way I can. 

Now the hardest part about this is, I have no idea which path to take, although as my mom always says “ the heart of man makes the plan but the lord directs his steps.” ( this is found in proverbs 16:9) I know which ever path I decide to take I will serve God. The most appealing path ( today…) is path 2 or 3.  But which ever path I take I will start school in August. So please add this to prayer lists. 

Now I have decided to move back in December or January, but today looking at tickets its cheaper in December. The other thing is, I committed to go to Ecuador in February, In talking to my mom we both think that I should go, the only problem that this brings is…If i move back the end of December, I would personally want to get a job, BUT It wouldn't be fair to get a job in January and ask off in February, therefore  I would get my job in march when I get back from Ecuador. The good thing is I have a Voucher that is worth $1000 with american airlines, so I have my ticket!!! I will live with my parents so I wont have rent ( Boy i hope not…ill ask..) which makes things easier. 

Thinking about everything I kinda want to stay in the states for a good while, I miss my family, and friends from there. I think this is why plans 2 and 3 look so good to me cause as a teacher I get summers and I could travel a bit, although its kinda pricy…! Also I really miss Mexican food, and living the country. The other day I had a dream that in my apartment I had a milk cow and chickens, and my landlord didn't know!! oh boy! So that will be nice moving back, having chickens and such. 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns just email me at colerodgers333@yahoo.com or whatsapp me at +59160749468 or just Facebook message me Col Rodgers. Also you can ask my mom or grandparents. 

God bless,

Cole Rodgers

Late september post

19 of September 2018



Good morning!
Hope everyone is doing well! todays newsletter is gonna be a little different than the last few. I’m going to be talking about the struggles of the last few months. I’ll start out with saying these last few months have been HARD. Butch and Trish went on Furlough. They got back on friday the 14th. While they were gone life continued as normal. In August my visa expired and I went to renew it. All I had to do was go with all the requirements, easy right? no! I have and have had all the requirements that they told me the first time. A letter from the church in Santa Cruz saying I am working with them, A medical checkup, copies of my last three bank statements, and proof of address. So I went a week before my visa expired to renew it, with all of the above, my passport, and my Bolivian ID. ANNNND got denied. They told me I needed a  contract from the church to say I worked there. OK I went home and emailed the church. A week later I had that. So I went again. And this time I was certain I would get it. My visa had expired so I was illegal, and going to have to pay a fee. I made it to the desk fairly quickly, the gentleman seemed nice enough. He looked through all my papers and everything seemed to be in order! he said “Excuse me im going to go upstairs real quickly because I need to ask about this.” holding up my expired visa.
  “Ok.” I said. and immediately started praying. He came back down about five minutes later.
“ You’re missing a few things.” he said. “you need the tax free paperwork, and a letter from the church here in Cochabam”
I cut in, “ The church here doesn't have legal status, Thats why its with Santa Cruz.”
“Do you live in Santa Cruz?” he asked
“No I live here.” I responded “ Do I need to go to Santa Cruz to do this paperwork?”
“No. It has to be done in the city where you are living. But if you can get all the missing stuff by 2:30 pm today I’ll send it all in.” he said kindly.
“ Thank you. I’ll see what I can do.” I said leaving.

I went home and called Butch. He said that there wasn't anything he could, do seeing as he was in The States. So now it was just to wait and see. I decided to go agin with all my stuff and the tax free form and see if they could or would give it to me. I got the same guy as the last time. He said that I needed the paper from the church here.  So now all I could do was wait for Butch. He also informed me that I only had five attempts, and that I had better be sure the next time.

So I went home and prayed. “Lord if this is what I am supposed to do, please help me. Make this happen.” All this time I had been struggling with my ministries, with depression, and just kinda feeling lost and like maybe I needed to just go back to The States.

So the work in Villa Pagador, has been super difficult. The youth out there say they want to do things, but oney have the weekends free. So saturdays and sundays we planned events to which they RSVPed and we bought food and such. Then when the day came we were there and NO ONE showed up. EVERYTIME! OK so maybe they didn’t like the activity. so we asked what kind of things they liked to do. Food, sports, and leave villa, ok we’ll do stuff in Cochabamba! didn't work either. We are still planning events and such and people still aren't coming, so thats been very discouraging.

Depression, It kinda has to do with everything thats been going on. There have been days where it seems like all I can do is get out of bed. And that is a challenge in its own. I struggle with Insomnia and have trouble sleeping. But in these months its either I get two hours of sleep or twelve. I talked to Butch and my Mom and a few other people about this. They all recommended I try a natural treatment first which helps but doesn't fix. I am still struggling with this, and just wondering if I should go ti a Doctor and get on meds or…? But there are days where I just want to cry all day, and days where I just am angry all day, or I just feel down. Even the days where I feel good and happy I am sad and just down. I am dealing with this the only way I know how, Praying and staying in Gods word.
Feeling lost, I have been felling lost and like maybe Gods plan for me here was to suffer and I know there will be a lesson at the end of it. But not only that, just thing that happen that make me want to pack up and leave that very instant. But I am determined to make it until may and then go back. I want to be a man of my word and keep my commitments. But even with my determination its hard. I have until april on my lease and my internet contract so I have to make that work.

Back to the visa, now that Butch is back, on Monday nights we have family night. So we were just there talking as usual. and Jess (from South Africa) is needing to work on her visa to the states. “Butch, what must I do to get my Visa being here in Bolivia?” she asked in her accented english.
“All you have to do is, go to La Paz and do the interview at the US embasy.” Said Butch in his American English.
“oh thank you.” Jess said pleased.
“Speaking of Visas,” I said “could we plan a time to write the letter for my visa?” I asked hopingly
“Oh, I cant write you that letter.” Butch said disgruntled “We dont have legal status as a church.”
“So, what do I need to do?” I asked a little annoyed
“Get in contact with the Guys’ lawyer.” He said shortly
“ok” I said ending the conversation.

Now I might add that the two new AIMers have a visa lawyer, they are paying him $1000 each!!! I dont think I will be doing that. So I talked to Pablo, one of the leaders if the church, to see if he could write me a letter. He said of course! So we will see how this goes. I have now been illegal over a month. Each day I am here without a visa is a fee of 25 Bs which doesn't seem like much, but I now owe over 1000 Bs…so it adds up. I been praying and thinking about this and if I get denied this time, I have no choice but to go back to the States. Now I could try to apply from there, but I think if I go back to the states now it would be better to just stay? So please add that to yall’s prayer lists. If it is time for me to move home God may be making it overly clear.

When I move back I plan to get a job, study Spanish and education, ignorer to be a teacher. I want to join the Navy or Air Force Reserves, and of course continue serving God in any and every way I can. I would like to come back here and visit, but i don’t know if I would move back here for a while. Although if God were to call me I would, of course, answer that call.

But even through all the struggles I know God is with me. I know he has a plan for me here. And I know he loves me and that I have a huge support group back in The States. I love each and every one of you. I covet your prayers. I pray for y'all everyday and hope to see y'all soon!

God bless,
Cole