Thankfulness Found in the Gospel

Blake and Claudia Rhudy1 Comment

On January 2nd of this year, Claudia and I received news that changed our lives and tested our faith. We were told that Claudia had breast cancer. Right away, I began devising a plan and a scenario of how we would overcome this challenge. I reached out to an acquaintance whose wife had faced the same type of cancer. I also looked to my mother-in-law, who is a breast cancer survivor, to get a plan to overcome this problem. We got in contact with the doctor that was recommended, and I also got details of what my mother-in-law’s journey was like, and I felt encouraged. It was going to be difficult, but I had a plan. I was confident that, like all other challenges I had faced in my life, with the right plan we would get through it. I have always prided myself on being able to overcome anything that is in front of me with a solid plan and hard work. I have always been thankful to God for giving me the ability to push through and conquer any difficulties in my life.

A few weeks later, I went to the oncologist with Claudia to get the plan from the doctor to face this challenge, so we could to go on with our lives. I felt that I already had the plan, and if the doctor would just listen to me I could tell her, based on what my mother-in-law faced, what needed to happen. To my surprise and shock, my plan was not the doctor’s plan or God’s plan. The wise words of Solomon tell us, “We may make our plans, but God has the last word.” (Proverbs 16:1). The plan the doctor had was just awful and the prognosis seemed uncertain. I asked the doctor what the success rate was for overcoming this and she stated, “Most breast cancer patients are survivors.” I said to myself, “Most?” I don’t know about you, but when I come up with a plan the word “most” is not a word that gives me confidence in the way forward. My plan would have been so much better! Leaving the doctor’s office that day, knowing Claudia would face chemotherapy, surgery, and more than likely radiation, was more than I could take. I was completely broken and scared that my wife might die. I am thankful for friends, family, and mostly to God for the strength he gave me to make it through that day.

This year has been a nightmare and a blessing all at the same time. It is crazy how God can quickly change our perspective and plans in life. Yet, God has said to me over and over again this year, “For I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). I gathered my family around the kitchen table when we got home that day. I let them know that their mom had cancer and that we were sad, but that we trusted that God would see us through. I spoke those words with doubt in my heart, but as we continued to meet daily to discuss Claudia’s health and read God’s Word, my doubt began to change to trust and hope in Jesus. I am thankful that God has used this trial to lead my family into a closer relationship with him and a deeper understanding of his Word and promises.

I thank God for putting amazing people in my life. I am thankful to my mother in-law who has been a support to my family and her willingness to drive eight hours weekly, if needed, to help and support our family. I am thankful to Talia Jernigan who has been such an amazing help with our children. I am thankful to Jennifer Sharpe who has been an amazing support with encouragement and prayers for both Claudia and me. I am thankful for Josh Rollins who has faced cancer and could understand my fears and struggles. I am thankful for Ron and Ebony who were battling cancer right beside us, for their friendship and support. I am thankful for Willis Davis, a 99 year old man I met when taking Claudia to treatment, who sat and prayed with me while Claudia was in surgery. Willis always tells me “Be still and know that God is with you.” (Psalm 46:10). I am thankful for our church family, for the fundraiser they organized to support us financially, for the amazing meals that the church family brought during Claudia’s treatments and surgery, and for our small group for being an amazing weekly encouragement. I am also thankful for how my love and appreciation for my wife has grown this past year.

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Willis and I at the hospital during Claudia’s surgery.

I am thankful for what God has taught me through this struggle. He has taught me that he is in charge, and that his plan, as confusing as it may seem, is always better than mine. I am thankful that he has given me a challenge that I had to just fall on my knees and put it all into his hands. As I am writing this, Claudia has only one more treatment of radiation but four more months of chemotherapy ahead. I am thankful that I have felt the power of God through prayers and his Holy Spirit every step of the way. I am thankful that I know we have victory over cancer because we put our hope and trust in Jesus. I am most thankful for the gospel and that I have learned through this struggle that no matter what I am facing, I should never go beyond the gospel, the Good News of Jesus, but only deeper into it.

I am so thankful for my relationship I have with Jesus. Addison, my youngest daughter, would almost every day ask her mom “Are you okay?” when Claudia had lost her hair and started looking sick from the chemotherapy. And Claudia would say, “Yes, honey, I am okay.” So, unsure of her mom’s answer Addison would come straight to me and say with concern, “Is momma okay?” I would reassure her that mom was okay and she seemed to find comfort in her father. I am so thankful that I find the same comfort when I speak to my Heavenly Father about the same concern my daughter had. God has shown me again and again through his Word and his Holy Spirit that he is in control and I have nothing to fear.

Claudia and I are thankful that this struggle has not pulled us away from the Good News of Jesus but to a deeper understanding and hope in it. We know that because of Jesus, we don’t have to fear cancer or death. My prayer is for complete healing of cancer and many great years and memories ahead with Claudia. Although, I understand that life is not found in beating cancer but only in a relationship with Jesus. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” (John 10:28a). I pray that when you read this post, it will point you to a relationship with Jesus or a deeper relationship with him. A relationship with Jesus, is the only way we will never have to fear death. (John 14:6). I am so proud of what Jesus has taught me during this season in my life. I pray that my trials encourage others and point them to Jesus.

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Claudia and I at NC State Fair 2018

 

Pursuing Him

Blake and Claudia Rhudy1 Comment

In May of 2012, Claudia and I found out that we were going to have our third child. We were renting a small house in Nashville, NC at the time. We decided that we needed something larger and began to look for a house to buy. At the time, I was overseeing 7 drugstores that covered an area from Zebulon to Roanoke Rapids. We looked at houses central to that area. We decided to place a bid on a house that had been foreclosed in Wilson and our bid was accepted. We told our landlord that we would be moving out at the end of the month. It got near the end of the month and the closing on our home kept getting pushed back. The house that we were renting had already been leased by someone else, so we had to be out. Even though we had lived in Nashville for two years, we were not very connected in that community and did not have any family or friends that lived close. I began to get very worried about where my family would live until our home was ready.

I made a visit to my store in Roanoke Rapids, and I was in the office with the manager of the store. I made a call to realtor about issues that were delaying the closing. In a rant of yelling and cursing I voiced my concerns about the delay and where my family would live until the closing. The manager of the store overheard my conversation–there was little way she could have kept from it–she informed me that her church had a vacant (?) parsonage and we could stay there until our house was ready. Relieved, I discussed the offer with my wife and we happily accepted the generous offer. At the time, Claudia and I were not attending a church and had only discussed the possibility of going to church because we felt it would be good for the kids.

Our Lives Changed

We moved into the house in August 2012 and stayed there for about a month until the closing of our house. We were kind of in a dilemma: we were staying in a parsonage free of charge, next to a church, so we felt obligated to go. We met some of the kindest people we had ever met at that church. We began to see what true followers of Jesus looked like. The love that the people of that church showed our family caused us to seek a relationship with this man Jesus. The people of this church helped us move into our new house, and supported Claudia and I when our baby Addison arrived in January of 2013. We were especially drawn to one particular family in the church that we consider the most instrumental in our desire to grow in Christ.

In June of 2013, we began searching for a church that was on fire, as we were, for Jesus. We visited one other church but we fell in love with Wilson Community Church and made that our home. After joining the church, we joined a small group, and began to serve in the church. As I first heard said by J.D. Greear, “Our ’yes’ was on the table.” We were willing to do anything God wanted us to do and go anywhere he wanted us to go. During that summer when we began attending WCC, the lead pastor, Gary Combs, was on a sabbatical with his wife, but, as I love say just to kid him, it seemed like way too long of a vacation. I heard a lot about him, and heard that we had a lot in common, and that turned out to be very true.

Pastor Gary was a district manager for a drug store chain and we can talk for hours about the retail business, strategies, and challenges of the business. We are both very driven and have type A personalities. I am so grateful to God for placing Pastor Gary in my life. He has been a great teacher, and has influenced my life and my spiritual growth. In November of 2013, Pastor Gary ask me to start a community group with him and I was honored to do so. That year, which we led the community group together, was a huge growing experience for me.

The Call

In June 2014, I went on my first mission trip, which greatly influenced my growth in Christ. I began to feel the call to serve as a missionary somewhere–anywhere God wanted me to go. I had been out of school for over 20 years and in order to pursue the calling I would have to earn my bachelor’s degree before I could begin my Masters of Divinity. I had never been a good student and had always been content with just passing. I worried that I could not succeed in school. How could a person with limited intelligence possibility go to school while working full-time? I struggled with doubt, but received great advice from my pastor. He encouraged me by explaining that he knew what a hard worker I was, and how hard he knew it had been to achieve the success I had in my current job. He said treat school just like you treat your job. He said, “Just, work it like a job.” As simple as that seems, that was the best advice I could have received.

School

In August 2014, I enrolled at Liberty University Online full-time and began to work toward a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries. My GPA was so low in the few college classes I took after high school that I had to be granted admission under a special status called Acceptance on Caution. It was very challenging to work full-time, go to school full-time, have time for my family, and serve at church. Yet, it was God’s will, and he gave me the strength to succeed. It is amazing how even while up at 4am a lot of mornings and not going to bed until after midnight, God helped me value every minute of time with my wife and kids. These last 3 years I have become a better husband and father, and spent more quality time with my family than ever before.

More that I Could Ask or Think

I just completed my Bachelor’s Degree with a 3.8 GPA and I give all the glory to God. As the Apostle Paul explains, we can do far more that we can even think when we are doing the will of God (Eph. 3:20). I am so thankful God put people in my life that helped me reach this goal and to be able to continue to pursue the call God has placed in my life. I have already been accepted in the Master of Arts in Global Studies program at Liberty and will begin my first class in the next few weeks. I would like to thank, my wife, Claudia for all her support and helping proof my papers late into the night and into the morning. She is my best friend and an amazing mother to our children. I’d also like to thank my dad, who gave me my work ethic. He is the hardest working man I know. He still inspires me with his desire to continue to get up and go even now that he is hindered by Parkinson’s disease. If dad did not work another minute in his life, no one could out work him. They would all be just trying to catch up to my father where hard work is concerned. I’m also thankful to Tim and Jennifer Sharpe for being role models of Christian parents and for being amazing friends. To my pastor, Gary Combs, who has been a wonderful mentor and encouraged me to continue going and to keep my eyes on Jesus, even when it was tough and it seemed impossible. Most of all, I give all the glory to God, “For nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37). I am proof that through God we can accomplish anything if we work hard and put him first in everything we do.

I am in awe of God’s amazing grace. Like the Apostle Paul, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:12-16 ESV).

Our Story

Blake and Claudia RhudyLeave a comment

Claudia and I have been married 12 years. God has blessed us with three wonderful children. I am proud to say I am from Independence, Virginia, and she is proud to say she is from Orizaba, Veracruz. We were born a world apart, but we have no doubt that it was God’s perfect plan that brought us together. When Claudia finished two years of college, she moved from Mexico to the United States to be with her mom. She is her mother’s only child, and they are very close. Her mother was working in Independence, Virginia at the time Claudia moved to be with her. Because of work, I had moved to another city and put my house up for rent. Claudia and her mother rented my house. That is how I met Claudia.

We got married while I was living in Graham, North Carolina. Our marriage looked like most other American families. Yet, my wife was different, not really by appearance, because she doesn’t really “look” Hispanic. She was different because she was hiding a secret. And as her husband, I was hiding her secret too. This secret that could tear our family apart. You see, Claudia was one of those appalling “illegal Mexicans.” If anyone found out, it was possible that she could have been deported from the country.

Claudia’s Journey
The year of 2001 will be always an important year that marked the life of many people in United States and throughout the world. I (Claudia) am one of those people. For most Americans, they would say that 9/11 is what comes to their minds when they think of 2001. For me, 2001 marked the year that I came to the United States illegally. There are many reasons why people come into this country the way I did, but let me tell you my reasons. My parents didn’t have a godly marriage and due to many abusive situations that we faced, my mom was forced to start a new life for us for our safety. She was living the single-mom life even though she was married, and we moved in with my aunt before I finished high school. My mom later moved to the United States to get away from an abusive relationship. Then, I attended two years of college in Mexico from 1999-2001. In the beginning, everything seemed to be fine. But as the months passed by, I made several choices that affected my academic performance. I chose not to take the opportunity that God and my mom were giving me by attending a private university. My life was out of control, and I needed the support of my mom—support that was not possible because we were separated by thousands of miles.

Due to the situation with my dad and missing my mom, I decided to come to the United States and live with her. I tried to apply two times for a U.S. Visa while I was in Mexico, but both times I was denied. So I looked for another option: to hire someone to take me across the border—one of the hardest and most difficult decisions I have ever made. Not knowing anything about the person and how he or she was going to get me over the border and into this country was terrifying. Looking back on that year, I realize without a doubt that God was always with me. He kept His promise that He gives in Matthew 28:20b: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Even though I was living a life not worthy of His grace, He poured so many blessings upon me. He offered me comfort and safety, and He even handpicked the people whom I would interact with throughout my journey to this country.

Our Journey Together Continues
Two years into our marriage, Claudia and I began to seek legal advice on how we could “correct” the wrong that Claudia committed by coming to the United States illegally. We looked for the quickest, cheapest way to fix the mistake and make it right with the government. We sought advice from a person we were told could help and give us sound legal advice. After about a year, he advised us to go to Mexico and gave us direction on where to go and what to do. We got our passports in order and even had plane tickets. Thank God, who we were both far away from at the time, led us to seek advice from the local congressman. The congressman pleaded with me to not leave the country with Claudia under any circumstances. He said, “Yes, they will allow her to leave, but she will not be allowed to return. It is a trap; please do not go.” We were disheartened but took his advice and did not go. I asked him how I could make things right so that Claudia could be legal and not have to live in fear. He told us there was nothing we could do but that maybe new laws would be passed in the future that would make a way.

Through the years, we sought legal advice on many occasions. We paid different lawyers counseling fees and even paid to have them build cases. Again and again we were told we did not have a strong enough case to win to get Claudia legalized. I would plead our case by saying to them, “We realized it is wrong to enter the country illegally, and we are both very sorry it occurred. We are willing to do whatever and pay whatever to make it right. Just help us.” We were told to not worry; unless Claudia committed a serious crime she would not be deported. Yet, this was still something my wife and family had to live with, the uncertainty of what the future would hold.

We tried to live a “normal” life, but sometimes it was not easy. Claudia and the entire family had some hardships to face like after her driving license was expired, she couldn’t renew it anymore due to her legal situation in the country. She also couldn’t get a library card, which was devastating for our 5-year-old daughter who loves to read. She couldn’t get a job, she couldn’t go into a bank and cash a check, and she endured derogatory comments even from the ones who called themselves friends and Christians. But most of all, our entire family experienced fear, the fear of being separated from her if she was deported.

Blake’s Thoughts
Claudia is one of the most loving, caring, and giving people I know. She has the gift of serving others. There are so many examples I could give, but one really stands out to me. One evening, our family went out to eat and a young girl was cleaning up tables. She had cleaned up a table and had everything from the table onto her tray. But somehow she dropped the tray, and the food and dishes went everywhere. The restaurant became silent, and everyone began to stare at the young girl like she had just ruined their night. Before I could even comprehend what had happened, Claudia was on her knees beside the girl helping her clean up the mess. I saw Claudia smile at the girl and say to her, “It’s okay; we will get it cleaned up.” I am so proud and blessed to have Claudia as my best friend, wife, and mother of my children.

Messed Up for Jesus
Four years ago, we made Jesus the Lord of our lives. Our lives were completely turned upside down. The way we viewed the world and everything in it began to look completely different. We put our “yes” on the table for Jesus and began to seek his advice in every part of our lives, including Claudia’s legalization. We were called into the ministry, and I enrolled at Liberty University Online because we wanted to serve as missionaries anywhere in the world God called us. We continued to seek advice about Claudia’s legal matter and understood our missionary field would be in the United States until God arranged differently. We are missionaries in Wilson, North Carolina right now and happy to serve Him in this wonderful city.

Then a change in the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver process helped our case, and we sought legal advice once again. We were told that if we could establish that it would cause an extreme hardship on our family for Claudia to have to move back to Mexico, we could get a pardon for her coming illegally. We were hopeful we could establish this extreme hardship. It seemed like it would be easy, yet it could not be based on my having to work and not having anyone to watch and care for our kids. I had to have a serious medical condition or one of the kids. This was very disappointing. Since everyone in the family was healthy, we were once again told we did not have a strong enough case. We told the lawyer that if anything changed to let us know. On August 29, 2016, the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver process was revised, and the lawyer finally thought we had a strong enough case. It seemed like having three children, Claudia not even having as much as a parking ticket, and being married for 10 years to a U.S. citizen would be enough.

We began once again to build our case under the revised law and got the paralegal every document, picture, and sanity test that she ask for. We were once again very hopeful that this time would be our time. After about three months had passed and thousands of dollars spent on fees and counseling, we still had not heard from the lawyer. I finally called and requested the lawyer to give me a call. The lawyer called me and apologized; it seemed that our case had somehow gotten lost in the pile. She assured me that she would make Claudia’s case a priority and would review that case and personally call me within the next few months.

She later called me with an excited tone and informed me that she thought our case was strong enough. If I had the money needed, she would like to send my appeal for a pardon to the consulate. She stated, “I will send you your appeal to read; it will not sound like you. You will even think this is not me, but that is what we have for you to win.” I said okay, and our call ended. The next few days I could just not get her words out of my head. Claudia and I discussed what she had said and fervently prayed about it. We knew that we could not honor God if we were not honest. We were doing it so we could serve Him and it could not be based on a lie. I called and requested to speak to the lawyer once again. I told the lawyer that our case could not be based on anything but the truth. I told her that before the appeal was sent to me, she needed to review the facts. I also told her that if I read it and found any parts that were not truthful, we would not accept it or move forward.

One month or so later, we received the final draft of my appeal and we were satisfied that it was truthful. We once again paid a fee and got the appeal sent to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services in Chicago. A few months later, the waiver was approved. This was a day of great celebration! Once we got the waiver, we requested an appointment date at the U.S. Consulate in Mexico for Claudia to return to Mexico for a Visa interview so she could enter the U.S. legally. We finally got her appointment date for August 22, 2017. There were so many weeks of spiritual, mental, and physical preparation for this appointment. We had so many friends and family praying for us. Many people asked us, “Are you sure you want to go to Mexico? Are you sure Claudia is going to be able to come back to the United States? Haven’t you heard all the bad things happening in Mexico? Is it safe?” Most of the answers for these questions were “No” or “I don’t know,” but the only thing we knew without a doubt is that this was God’s plan and that He was in control of everything. He was going to be with Claudia, right by her side. People couldn’t comprehend the reason for our Hope. God gave us the opportunity to share with people the true Hope which can only be found in Jesus.

Claudia’s Visa was approved, and she was able to return to the United States in under two weeks as a legal resident. We are so thankful to God for His faithfulness. During the time Claudia was in Mexico, she was reunited with her family, which she hadn’t seen in 16 years. Relationships among them were restored once again through the love and grace of Christ. She was able to see her dad and spend time talking to him about her new life in Christ. Her entire family seemed very interested in knowing more about the new relationship she has now with Christ. God gave Claudia the opportunity to plant a seed in their hearts. From now on, our prayer is they may come to know Jesus and surrender their lives to him. God also has shown Claudia the need to use the gifts He has given her. Claudia’s first language is Spanish, and God used her journey back to Mexico to convict her to share her love for Jesus with Hispanic people in our community.

Conclusion
We are grateful for our story, and we want to share it with the world. This story would not be complete if we did not give God all the glory for it. We are thankful for every painful minute of the process. We believe that this process gives us more grace for everyone around us who is different and most of all gives us even more hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are grateful for the relationship we have with this man named Jesus. He gave us life by His death on the cross and if He did not give us anything else, we still would have more than we deserve. Hope in Christ “is a confident expectation of a guaranteed result that changed the way you live” (Paul David Tripp). Our hope in Jesus has given us a desire to go tell others of the true hope that can only be found in Him. It is amazing to see God’s plan and perfect timing come together. Currently, I am taking my last two classes to complete my bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries and will begin my pursuit of a Masters of Divinity. Claudia will be able to seek employment as I focus more time on my schooling and toward our call to ministry.

Our pastor, Gary Combs, preached a sermon on exiles last November that speaks of what we become when we have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus explains that His followers are not from this world (John 17:14). Once we are saved, we become children of God and no longer belong to this world. We become a sojourner, which is someone just passing through. This world is not our home. We place our hope in Christ and not in a politician or political system. We do not place our hope in being an American, a Democrat, or a Republican but in being Christ followers. We are thankful to live in America and for all who have fought and served so we can live in a free country. Yet, we do not find our identity in being Americans, we find it in Jesus. We are “Christians that just happen to live in America” (Gary Combs).

We pray that each day of our lives we are able to come to the realization of this truth: “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30). We pray that as we go to places, such as Wal-Mart on the weekend, we begin to have a different view of people who are different from us. Everyone is looking for hope; they may just not know where to find it. As C.S. Lewis explained, “We are the dot; God is the paper.” God has put everyone on that paper and has put them where He wants them. As Christ followers, we are commanded not to judge anyone but to tell them that they can find hope and rest in a relationship with Jesus Christ. We give God all the glory for giving us our amazing story to share. We would like to thank our friends and family for their love and prayers throughout this journey.