As most of you know already, we headed WEST in the months of July and August 2018 for the purpose of safely delivering our oldest son Timothy (second oldest child) to Bible College to learn Missionary Aviation which he had been burdened to do since he was 4 years old. It was an unexpected trip because Timothy had planned to do his first year of college ONLINE (from home) to save money for the next 4 years when he would need to live ON campus. However, policies changed and we discovered that he was required to live there his first year also.
SO, we rushed, rallied, and gathered our thoughts and plans to plan a trip WEST!! God proved Himself SO faithful and we made phone calls and within a half hour, we had our trip planned, and meetings scheduled at various churches we called along the way. Praise the Lord!! We decided to make this trip VERY memorable and special as we traveled West because it would be our LAST trip together as a family (all together). sniff, sniff
It was SO hard saying goodbye to Timothy (to read more about that, look on our previous post – about saying goodbye to Timothy and new baby). Although it was hard to say our goodbyes, it was a SPECIAL trip that we will not soon forget!
We hope you enjoy the posts below that we posted on our FB page as we traveled across this GREAT nation!! It starts in Kentucky (where our first meeting was) all the way to the Oregon Coast to see the Pacific Ocean. Then, we do a little bit of pics, etc. of our trip BACK East. ENJOY!!
Traveling WEST……..
Stop One:
Meeting in Kentucky. 
Still in Kentucky…..
I sure do love this little angel! 
Check out those Mama kiss marks on her chubby little cheeks. You are Mama’s miracle baby, Janessa! 
Post about our week in Kentucky…….
This week at Palomar Baptist Church for their Camp Meeting -in Lexington, Kentucky- has been a GREAT week! 
Souls have been saved and lives changed! Pastor and Kathy Moore, we LOVE you guys! Thank you for your kind, sweet spirits. Church Family, thank you for your kindness and generosity bestowed upon our family! Joseph and Sarah Moore, thank you for all your hard work in setting this up. We are HONORED to have friends like you all! May God richly bless you as you continue to so faithfully serve Jesus! With Care, The Rodrigues Family
On our way to our next stop!!…….
Gateway to the West Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Here we come Washington State!
In our travels, it was a blessing to meet up with some friends (Lisa Hermann and her sweet 3 children) at a lovely park. We love you, Hermann Family!
Kansas City.
Little note about Janessa in our travels….
Okay, what 3 month old do you know can do this (check out the random typing below)? However, after she intensely watched me type on my phone, THIS is what Janessa typed out…with her own little hand. It was adorable! I know this is going to sound weird, but she seems one of our SMARTEST children so far. Your prayers are working and what some doctors may have considered an “abortion worthy” baby, ? has defied the odds and continued to develop at record breaking levels.
People, this tells me GOD knows what He is doing! Trust Him. Rest in His creation as EXACTLY how HE formed and fashioned it…… even if the results had been (or will be) different in the future. Abortion should NEVER be an option! God will provide.
Jesus, we praise YOUR holy Name! You have shown and given us mercy! You have always been MORE than good to us! We TRUST Your design and plan for our little Janessa. God Almighty, you are WORTHY of praise! We lift our arms in worship to You and You alone!
Janessa’s attempt to “copy Mama” in typing. LOL ….
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Stopped at a Culver’s for dinner in South Dakota. Phillip visiting with Janessa while we waited for our food. Also, the landscaping is starting to change.
Wall Drug, South Dakota and Badlands National Park. I LOVE the Indian heritage here. Check out the handmade items made by an authentic Native American Indian lady. What a GREAT land we live in….filled with amazing history!
-Traveling West, The Rodrigues Family
This (below) happened in our travels….
I am a TRULY blessed Mama. The other night, when I ran into Walmart to pick up some groceries, Gabriel (along with 2 of his siblings) went in with me. I walked into another aisle and Gabriel was not with us. 
So, I told his siblings to go get him. They came back and told me he was gazing at the flowers. I thought, “Oh, he must think they are pretty and wants to look at them.” Pretty soon he meandered into the aisle with this beautiful bouquet. He said, “Here, Mama, I am going to buy these for you!” WOW! He went up to the register and paid for them. What a thoughtful 12 year old boy I have! I am SOOO blessed, my heart could burst!
Next Church Stop….
This is the church we visited and sang at Wednesday night in South Dakota. What SWEET people. Come to find out, I had already basically met the Pastor’s wife back when I was a teen in NY. I especially knew her family VERY well!
You know as the saying goes…”we live in a small world”. However, we don’t! LOL. ? So, I would like to re-phrase it to say…”We serve a BIG God!”
About my husband…..
Can’t say enough good about this man! He drives and drives and drives…and does it well! He bears the load and responsibility and financial burden of providing for 15 people PLUS our dog! He empties our sewer on our RV and is constantly fixing things that break. He does it all OVER and OVER and OVER and never gives up. He serves Jesus full time! He loves me and is faithful to me! He preaches truth and righteousness and old fashioned values…a message rarely preached now a days. He dearly loves all 13 of our children and is willing to have more if God chooses to give them to us. He is a GEM! I am one blessed lady! Love ya, Babe. -Your Jillybean
Next Attraction We Visited…..
Right near the church we sang at Wednesday night, they had this museum. So, Timothy, Kaylee and I took a bit of time to go explore. SPECIAL…especially to Timothy- whose heart is aviation.
My FAVORITE site to see on this trip!!!…
To see Mount Rushmore, was TRULY a dream come true for me! I love and respect my forefathers and this monument to them, is truly breathtaking! The Black Hills are quite possibly the MOST beautiful hills/mountains I have EVER seen! The quaint town at the foot of the hills, is a LOVELY spot! God’s creation is beautiful and I am SO grateful to Him for allowing us to travel to see it….on a shoestring budget- nonetheless. LOL. ? However, our God is faithful and is providing as we slowly trek West to drop Timothy off to college for Missionary Aviation! Jill and Rod Family
Every minute, hour, day, week that we travel, I realize just HOW FAR away we are going to be from Timothy! ? This is NOT easy! 
We FINALLY made it! God was especially good to us! Going through the Rocky Mountains with 15 TONS of weight, was NO easy task! We had to pull over several times to allow our engine to cool down…but we MADE IT! The views were quite literally awe-striking! If you look close, you can even see snow capped mountains! ? Our hearts have been renewed at the beauty of God’s creation and His faithfulness in getting us here safely! Now, to learn the area and settle Timothy in.
This was our caravan the entire way to Washington State…special. We will be minus Timothy’s car (red caboose at the end) going home.
We spent a lot of time ministering at Timothy’s Church in Washington….singing, helping with the VBS, etc. It was a BLESSING getting to spend that time at the WONDERFUL church Timothy will be attending and getting to know these DEAR folks. It was also nice being able to get Timothy all settled in his new place of residence.
105 degrees in Spokane, Washington today! ? However, we are headed WEST (through Washington’s desert) to the Pacific Ocean and one last “meeting” we have scheduled together as a complete family at another church this Sunday. We officially leave Timothy this coming Tuesday – August 14th. I have to say, I can’t wait to see the Pacific! ??
Another fun post about our cutie – Janessa!
Janessa has been marked by her older sister- Nurie. LOL. She wears a onesie labeled- “Current Family Favorite”. LOL. SO true!
The Pacific Ocean in Oregon! Literally on the OTHER side of our GREAT Nation! What a dream come true this trip has been!
Next Church we ministered at…..
It was a TREMENDOUS honor it was being with this church yesterday! They treated our children extra special (which was such a blessing for them) and Pastor Rose, his dear wife and family and church were precious!
Wow! What INCREDIBLE friends we have met here on the other side of America!
What fun it was for the children to play volleyball at the Pastor’s house after church.
The last photo is me *Jill* with Mike (the Pastor and Pastor’s wife son) who is a quadriplegic due to malpractice at birth. It was a blessing to my heart to meet him and I told him about my dear sister Amy Foster.
A VERY thoughtful post by Kaylee…
This is Kaylee (number 3 in our family) and I just wanted to praise my WONDERFUL Mama. My mama is the most encouraging person I know, to me and so many others around her. She is VERY caring and kind all the time. I love you so much, Mama. Thank you for being such a good mama to me. You are the BEST!!!! Here is the poem that I wrote.
A mama who’s there to hold my hand and listen and always understand. A mama who forgives me time after time and is so caring and kind. A mama who loves the Lord and fights and fights with her sword. A mama who’s there to wipe my tears away and will always be there to pray. A mama who will not loose the fight, but press on with all her might. ( written by Kaylee Rodrigues)
I love you, Mama. You are the BEST!!!!
Enjoying slowly working our way back East in this BEAUTIFUL country we call the United States of America! Although I must admit I missed Timothy SO much the first day after we left, it was hard to pick back up my spirits and go on in joy. I felt like crying and crying! ? However, when I remember that Timothy is happy following God’s call upon his life, I am comforted. I thank God for the memories we form along our journey of life.
More about our little Janessa….
Can’t believe our little sweetie is already 4 months old! I thank God each night for my treasure! You know, my husband and children are my GREATEST earthly treasures I own! I am abundantly blessed!
(Check out the big, red bow my sister Angie made for Janessa.) LOL.
We enjoyed spending time at Basswood Baptist Church in Minnesota for Revival Services. David Preached and we sang. It was a LOVELY week and the church took SUCH good care of us! We also had fun swimming at a couple of folks’ homes on the beautiful lakes there in Minnesota! Then, we FINALLY headed home!!
Our cuties and more odd and end pics we had from the trip….
So thankful for the good, quality, family time we had on the road. 
West Virginia bound! ????? “Almost Heaven, West Virginia….blue ridge mountains”…..????? HOME.
Let us end with this thought below….
In ALL of our travels, work, play, ministry, etc. – our DRIVING force is to serve Jesus Christ with a passion and to spread the news of the GLORIOUS Gospel! This is a sobering verse below…
Is YOUR name written there? I sure hope so! If not, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, trusting and believing that HE is the One and Only True Way to Heaven! Settle it today! Today is the day of salvation! With Care for Your Soul, The Rodrigues Family …speaking of God’s desire for YOU!
