Hey everyone!
I am still breathing on this side of the globe! :)
I just wrote a little for an interview that someone asked me to do, so I thought that I would share it with you all! Beware, the little bit turned out to be close to 2,ooo words! :) So, enter at your own risk! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
-RaVonne
P.S. If you are wondering what the GG is about, it is from the interview...I didn't take that part out! :)
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My name is RaVonne Sabrina Rhodes and I am 17 years old/young. (which ever you
prefer) Please refrain from asking too much about my name because I really
don’t know what it means, which is truly tragic, and I don’t know anyone else
that answers to this rare name. But don’t take me wrong, I truly adore my name
that my parents have wonderfully gifted to me!
I am the oldest
of 7 children and the only girl. (which means I have 6 younger brothers)
Life is never boring, and I am continually amazed at how God has blessed me
with lots of young men (for now) in my life and even though I would love to
have a little sister, brothers are just as important.
Before I go into
more details of my current life, let me give you a little history on the life
of the Rhodes family. (my generation, btw) I was born in Minnesota (USA) and
lived there until I was six years of age. Then we, my father, mother, 2 younger
brothers, and I, moved to Grenada, which is a beautiful, small island in the
Caribbean just above South America. We lived there for 4 years before we moved
back to the US of A. 1 year and several months followed of life in Minnesota
and then we made the BIG move to Asia, and that is where we are now!
I currently am
located (live) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which is in Southeast Asia. I have
lived here for 5 years and 9 months. My father is a teacher at a mission
training school and the rest of my family resides here since this is where the
Father has lead.
As I mentioned
before, I have a lot of brothers! J
So let me introduce you to them from oldest to youngest. (at least as much as I
can without you seeing them in person)
Riley Webster (14) is very much of a
leader. He loves telling others what to do and how to do it! J Sports are definitely
a favorite and he continually challenges me to spend more time in the Word. We
often have very random conversations and enjoy teasing each other about random
things. J
<moving on>
RaMont David (12) was born on January
1, 2000, which makes him a very special person. Jokes are a part of his
everyday language and he always makes people laugh! <would make a great
comedian> Once again, sports are a favorite <beware, they are a favorite
of every Rhodes boy>, living life on the edge is not very new, and he loves
to read.
Reid Jamison (9) is the blonde <on
the outside, mind you> among the mix of kids. Very smart and thinks things
through…reading is a pastime and so are <dare I say it> sports! J He loves crafts and
being creative…we are much alike! J
Rodney
Tyler (7)… the little bro. that laughs and teases and makes me smile…Sports
rock his world and I think he likes to live life on the edge…the other day he
fell out of a tree and skinned up his chin…later, at a friend’s house he does
the EXACT same thing…<learning things the hard way?> J He loves to interact
with friends and talk about whatever he finds interesting…he also loves to play
rook <this he learned at a very young age> J
Reggie Andre (4) smart, mischievous,
and naughty at times…playing with legos, singing, and keeping up with his older
brothers are what occupy his young life…I often find him playing by himself and
singing some made up tune with made up words….love him! He also will crack off
with some genius line that makes us wonder where he heard it…kind of scary…yet
it makes us realize that he understands more than we often think he does.
Rylan Elliot (1) is the baby of the
family and in some ways is spoiled..ok, he IS! J
He recently accomplished climbing the stairs, but has yet to walk all by
himself. He tries to sing along with us when we sing...wonder what type of
music genius he will be?! J
My father, Rick, is my lifesaver with homework, a preacher, and a teacher
<guitar, and so many other spiritual things> ….He is a living example to
me of what ‘living a life fully dedicated to whatever the Lord has for me’
looks like. He is…years old. Probably shouldn’t say….He likes to say he is
still in his lower twenties! J
My mother, Renita, is my teacher <not school
work, but many other things> and shows me how to live with soooo <ok, its
not that many> many brothers….She has taught me to be a woman that is
dedicated to what my Heavenly Father has called me to do. Love her!
Hope that gives
you a little look at what my family is like!
GG: What is your
favorite food?
My favorite food
is…….. Well, actually, let me tell you first! I’m not really a person with a
lot of favorites, so I often struggle when people ask me what my favorite food,
color, and hobbies are. J
So I will give you some favorites of mine. J
Probably one of my favorites is a frozen pumpkin dessert that my grandma make. I
really (like REALLY) like fruit! <but I’m not really a health freak> Drinks
<not beer J>
are pretty special and Mexican food is
right up there!
GG: What do you enjoy
doing in your spare time?
I love spending
time with friends <quality time>, so I take any chance I get to hang out
and chat…maybe discuss is a better word! J
Swimming <and tanning J>,
listening to music, taking pictures, playing basketball and volleyball <any
kind of sport really>, reading a good book, rearranging furniture <mostly
my room and it ISN’T a daily occurrence J>,
and some writing/drawing…nothing professional!
GG: What is something
that you are passionate about?
Well, I think
everyone should be passionate about serving the Lord no matter what, but as far
as being passionate about something else? I would have to say that I am pretty
passionate about music.
GG: What are a few of
your favorite things?
A good
conversation with some friends! <one of my love languages is quality
time> A cold Minnesota winter and all that goes with Christmas! <all
holidays really> Dressing up for a
special occasion…well, sometimes my family thinks I make some occasions a
little too dressy! :P I also like a good rough game of some kind with my
brothers….and that usually does NOT include dressing up!
GG: Can you tell us a
little about Thailand?
.Tropical. .Mostly Hot. .Spicy Food. .Mostly Buddhist. .Spiritually
Dark.
It’s a country
that definitely needs Jesus…so much darkness…Lots of Buddhists and lots of
temples. A country that has a lot of foreigners…you can get a lot of ‘American
things’…we really can’t complain!
GG: What are some of
the things that you love about living in Thailand?
I love the
challenge of learning another language. I also love that I can drive a motorbike
(yes, I know that they’re “want-to-be” motorcycles, but they are still a kind
of bike!) J
Swimming can be done year ‘round! <happy dance>
GG: What are some of
the toughest parts of living in Thailand?
Thailand has its
own language, Thai, + I am not Thai = I need to learn a different language. (Now
you are probably wondering why in the world this is under things that I love
AND things that are tough???) Well, there are the times of discouragement and
feeling like a ….. <not sure what word fits> (idiot isn’t quite right!) J
For the most part
I like Thai food, but I have my moments of wishing I lived in a country where I
just LOVED the food! L
So it’s probably a tough thing! J
GG: What are some of
the toughest parts of being in “missions”?
Not having people
to totally understand where you are coming from….I am a TCK (third culture kid)
which means that I am American (first culture), I lived in Grenada and Thailand
for most of my life, combined, but I’m not Grenadian or Thai (second culture),
and that makes a combination of those cultures a third culture…well, actually
four, but it’s called a TCK. It’s hard to find someone that has lived life
similarly to the way I have, so to really have a close friend is very hard…
For me, nothing
has really stayed the same, except my family and my Heavenly Father! That makes
it hard to just live life the same way that a lot of my friends in the US have
lived.
GG: What are some
things you love most about being in “missions”?
I am so blessed
with so many different experiences that many others don’t even have the chance
to experience…getting to know different cultures <which isn’t always
easy>, different languages, being able to travel <I have done this almost
my whole life> and see different parts of the world…Those are probably the
things that I enjoy the most…
GG: What are some of
the things you miss most from the states?
I really can’t
say that I don’t miss much, because I really do….Probably friends and family in
the States are the most important things…Then there are the amazing Minnesota
winters and some strawberry twizzlers that aren’t found here! J Along with some other
foods! J
But we really have it nice here!
GG: What does having
a family “involved in ministry” mean for you personally?
Wow! It makes my
life different, mostly because our purpose is to be here (at IGo) for other
people, not just ourselves…and my parents can’t be with us all the time either
because they are here for other staff and students!
I have a lot of
opportunities to show God’s love to those that may have never heard of Him
before…teaching English to children who need someone to care for them, and
helping elderly women carry their groceries to their house…those are a few of
the opportunities that we have here!
My responsibilities are pretty normal.
<what’s normal?> Helping out at home….laundry, baking, cleaning…things
that each of you probably have to do! L <It’s not that bad!> I study Thai
during the summer and some during the school year. Each day I have my daily
duties such as jobs around the house, but my schedule can’t be super picky
because the rest of the world does NOT
operate around the same time schedule as I do, as an American. I have to keep
in mind that things will come up that you don’t necessarily plan to happen.
GG: What is something
God has been teaching you recently?
Surrender! That my ideas and my plans are
not always exactly what He has in store for me. Being able to say, “I will do whatever
You have for me.”
Disciplined! My relationship with Him is so much more
important than ANY thing else! Knowing how to spend my time wisely, and that goes
for Spiritual and Physical things!
He also has been
teaching me how I can know Him better.
Being able to have a relationship that continues to grow.
I hope this gives you a ‘little’ <never mind that I just
wrote over 1,500 words, no joke!> peak into my life. If you want to know
more, you can visit me at .my house in Chiang Mai, Thailand…just take a plane
there. J Actually,
you can read my blog at www.thespeciallifeilive.blogspot.com
…I enjoy having visitors! May God bless each one of you in the special life
that He has given you! Signing off!
-RaVonne
