Jared Rodriguez

It's crazy amazing that I get to use my passion for playing the drums to serve others. The best part is coming together in a worship band where we get to reach people of all ages through music. My family is pretty amazing too! I'm so blessed to have their encouragement and support!

This was my first Men's retreat! I not only had the chance to participate by serving on the worship band but my whole father-son-legacy group were together on this retreat. Plus my grandpa was there too! So much love for my family and brothers in Christ!

It's pretty awesome to be part of my church worship band at our Sunday services and other events, but drumming for 600 kids at a Vacation Bible School for an entire week was an experience that went way past my expectations. I can't wait to do it all over again!

Everything about the CLI was awesome! It sounds unreal but I made some solid friends in just four days of the program. What will be even more unreal is if we can all be together next fall. I hope I get the chance to be involved in the CLI program again, but next time as a small group leader.

This was a special trip for me. It was not only my first hunt for white-tailed deer, it was three generations hunting together, my grandpa, my dad and I (in Mason, TX). It was an incredible time, eye opening for sure. Eating venison burgers and sausages was pretty incredible too!

I received a merit scholarship and was able to experience life as a college student -dorm living and a full schedule (classes, lessons and rehearsals)- with over a thousand student musicians from all over the world! Another highlight was exploring Boston and reuniting with my awesome music teacher!

Leone, my exchange student, spent two weeks with us attending school with me and then I spent two weeks attending the International School of Milan with him. This brief exchange was a once-in-a-life-time experience and I can't wait to do it again through a study abroad program!

Football was mentally and physically tough. There were highs and lows, but the overall experience was great. It's hard to compare this level of commitment, discipline and team work, which is what makes football so exciting. I know it's shaped me and prepared me well. (I'm #47 in this picture)

Building homes in Mexico was hard labor! But by the end of it, I felt it was nothing compared to knowing that a homeless family would have a place to call home. Even though it's not 'home' by our standards, what amazed me was how thankful they are for it.