It's been a month and a half now since our move to Kansas, and it's been a different season God has us upon. Rather than rushing into the community and running multiple ministry events per week and jumping into full-fledged youth ministry, we did exactly the opposite. We were graciously given the right to ease into the community and take our time assessing things as we got familiar with Kansas and Fort Leavenworth.
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Amy and I with her cousin, Katelyn and her folks
at a KC Royals game together. |
I believe what was saddest about my time in Georgia was that I owned a fishing license with
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Peace on the pond fishing.
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Kyle and I grabbing food
and catching up together. |
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The Ackles' with CH Trogdon and his
wife, Connie with us eating some BBQ
together during their stop in KC!
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If that wasn't enough, God was starting to give us a slower paced breath of fresh air so that I could get back into walking and running on a regular basis, something I've always enjoyed in personal reflection time with Jesus. Just walking along the 20th street corridor, I've had the wonderful opportunity to reflect on the beautiful Kansas blue skies, fields of corn, rows of alfalfa being cut to harvest along with the feel of country living outside of Kansas City - everything to enjoy of God's majesty all around me. Add into the situation some phenomenal humidity-free and cool mornings and God was speaking right to my soul about being back in the heartland of the country.
Although we had been relaxing quite a bit, reconnecting with some amazing people who had moved to Fort Leavenworth was also a joy. The Ackles, Ayers, Blumenfeld and Gwin families all were folks we were anticipating getting to see when we arrived to Kansas. God had amazing plans to reconnect the Ayers and Blumenfeld families back to us as we had previously served alongside one another as leaders with our good friend Damien over 5 years ago at Leavenworth and the Ackles and Gwin families were stationed at Fort Stewart during our time serving in Georgia.
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We helped pick up my brother, Nick and his son,
Logan from the train station as they returned from a long trip to Philmont, NM. |
Finally, it's just been a peaceful entrance back to Kansas which was forced upon myself with a recent phone issue. Now to most, this isn't a big issue, but if one asks my wife Amy, you'll hear differently. My own cell phone went on the fritz for a period of 5 days where I was unable to do anything from it. Again, most folks wouldn't see much of an issue at all, however I do just about everything from my smartphone. Although it wasn't something I originally enjoyed, I noticed the freedom of just 'being' in moments in front of me that were starting to matter. I noticed that I could leave the phone (since it didn't work) at home and it wasn't any of a big deal at all. Conversations mattered more and were more fruitful overall with the people I was in front of regularly in this time.
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Amy and I with the Ackles' girls.
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So, as we are sitting in Kansas, pray as we follow what God is calling us to do with military teens throughout this area of Leavenworth County and Fort Leavenworth. Pray for the amazing leadership team that exists and new folks who will come into the fray to love on these teens just as they are.
Humbly thankful in the field, working for His Glory!
Phil & Amy
Please join us in prayer:
- For all the new students who will come join us this school year at Club
- For all of our new leadership team members who are ready to help reach every military teen throughout this community
- For our continued settling into the community, as we look for a home to live along with connect locally in strategic ministry partners all around.
- For our fellow staff, SaraBeth as she leans into staff work in transitioning from leadership as a volunteer and raising support for her position.
