I know a secret...

Corpus Christi: Day 19

Cameron called the embassy today and they informed him that our visas are still in the application process. If the embassy schedule is true to their forty business day timeline then our visas should arrive by November 19th and we can process our flight arrangments.

We have enjoyed our time with family but it has also been exhausting going from house to house. After this weekend we will take some much needed time to rest and pack. Some highlights during the last two weeks were beginning a house church ministry to shut-ins in my grandparents neighborhood. Our first meeting was beautiful and we had scheduled to meet the following weekend, however my grandfather was placed in the hospital in San Antonio and we spent some time driving Granny up to see him. Another highlight has been reconnecting with churches in the area that were instramental in our christian growth. I have been attending a Bible study during the week at one of these churches and it has been a tremendous blessing.

During this third week in Corpus, Cameron and I have shifted to what we call "survival mode" and have needed some rest and attitude adjusting. We said quite frequently this week, "When we get to Bulgaria..." "When we have a house of our own again we will..." "When we have a schedule again..." and the "When we" goes on and on and on. God has revealed to us that there will always be those "When we get there" or "when this or that happens" and that we need to rest in the shadow of His wings here and now. We are called to live each day in the present and not look to tomarrow. God's grace is sufficient for us today and God reminded us of the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13
"...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content-whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who stegthens me."
In times of exhaution God reminds us that He will not give us more than we are able to carry, however we "super-humans" can add to our load when we choose to take on more than He has given us or when we do not set boundaries in our lives. We serve a God that tells us to dwell in the shadow of His wings and he will lay us in the green pastures, He will lead us beside quiet waters, and He will restore our soul, EVEN in Corpus Christi on Day 19, 20 or 30.

Be Blessed,
Jennifer and Cameron Phillips

Goodbye

 
We arrived to Corpus Christi on October 3rd and we have started the process of saying our goodbyes with family. We were given the priviledge of staying with friends as we travelled and getting to say goodbye to them along the way. We have put alot of miles on the car and all that driving gave me time to reflect on the relationships we have left behind. Each relationship added so much to our lives. Every mile on the road was filled with a thought of what we left behind and a prayer that we added to their lives the knowledge of God's love. My heart is squeezed when I consider what I "added" to their lives. I cringe at the thought that I might have failed some of them by only leaving behind laughter, good memories, or a sweet friendship. All of these things are great, but if I didn't add to their lives a knowledge of Jesus and His gift of salvation to them then I have failed them as friends. So as we drove away from each home I knew I could reflect and regret or reflect and remain striving towards purposeful relationships that lead our friends to a knowledge of eternal life through Christ.

We are spending the next two weeks dividing our time between our parents and waiting for our visas to arrive. We do not have an exact departure date but we have been told that we could receive our visas in two weeks or two months. So with a time frame like that we are living as if we only have two weeks left with family and should extra time be given to us then we will embrace it and use it! We are thankful for so many things in our lives and mostly thankful that we serve a God who is leading us on a journey to share His love with everyone we meet!
Thank you for praying for our family!
Jennifer Phillips