The Adventure Begins
Where does one begin to write about our last days in Austin? As I sit on a plane somewhere over the Sahara desert, which left hours ago from our layover in Amsterdam, there is finally some time to reflect on the flurry of the past week. One friend asked if we would look back on this time with a blurred perspective. My first inclination was no. However, it is hard to sift through even what yesterday looked like, let alone the days preceding it. So, yes, the flurry is now a bit blurry, but don’t worry, we’ll still pick out some key points to share. (See what exhaustion brings?!)
The best description of our last weeks is ticking away at a long list of to do’s. Just packing alone was a monumental task. Most people move in an 18-wheeler. We are moving in 18 Rubbermaid tubs (Interestingly, it was 18 people that took us to the airport in Houston yesterday!) I often compared our to do list with the one Santa deals with and this year I think our list was longer. Ha. Wrapping up Phillips Inc. stateside was NOTHING short of hard, convoluted and a time killer. While we wanted to be wholly focused on being with people, the urgent invariably crowded out the important. We kept trying to do things different (i.e. work into the night hours) just to be with people but while we were “with them” we often felt tired. Even in our exhaustion, with our list of to do’s scrolled miles long, Yet God was good to give us some precious moments with family and friends. Those are the things that are NOT a blur and will carry us a lifetime.
Many ask what we will miss the most…oh, how that list could go on and on, BUT what would top any one thing would be people. Whether it was leaving our dear church family at Southwest in October after visiting there, or Brent’s family a month later, or the strand of good byes over the past week+…there has been nothing harder or sadder. Sure we hope and believe we will see many faces again. However, there is nothing like the ability to be near to those you deeply love. Life will never be the same. Oh, the costly part of leaving our “peeps” behind. The six of us will for-ev-er feel the loss of what we once had, while clinging to those same people and the love we share. We praise God for a plethora of AWEsome relationships and will commit to digging in and staying connected.
So, I end this entry with one word – adventure. If I had a dollar now for every time I have heard this word, we would be wealthy. God clearly wants us to have this mindset. For some in our family the adventure excites them, others it scares them and others have no idea what that really means. God does…and we are on the ride of living out The Phillips Next Big (Colossal) Adventure. Our prayer is that we will embrace all God has for us. In addition we pray this: To expect nothing and appreciate everything. To love out loud all we come in contact with (including one another). To draw nearer to Jesus and as a family as we live desperate for Him to care for us. To be a sponge soaking up this new culture. and to connect with people ASAP. (Friends, a Faith Family, Ministry Partners, etc) and stay connected with those beloved left in the U.S.
Thank you for being part of the story God is writing. Ironically, we feel He has penned The End with our Austin story (not chapter, definitely a new book) and is The Beginning to pen more of our new story. My hope is while the scenery is clearly different (along with everything else) that those key characters will weave in and out of our story for a lifetime.
3 comments
Loving you…praying for you…missing you…proud to know you…excited for you…such a plethora of emotions as I grieve and celebrate at the same time. HUGS and so very much love to you all.
Brent, I am so happy for you guys. What an adventure indeed. I will certainly keep you in my prayers and I wish you nothing but happiness and success.
I just recently came in contact with a young lady that lives in Nairobi and she adopted me as her daddy. What an honor. We exchange such nice letters and I feel my heart getting connected to the African mission.
Right now God has me working in prison ministries but I often wonder what he is preparing me for next.
God bless you guys in mighty ways. I love the pictures of your family and some of those beautiful kids you are serving.
I just can’t say enough how happy I am for you!!!
Scott Remy
“The Phillips Next Big (Colossal) Adventure”… what an AWESOME movie that would make! I know we’d all watch it with loving tears in our eyes! Love you guys so much.. (I know you hear that alot from so many people… because that’s how lovable your family is!). I love reading your story… and what God is teaching you all, as you are sharing his Love! God Bless!!