It’s finally here… time to announce the big news!
Life is full of opportunities to take big steps. Going on the World Race was a big step for me. Moving to Georgia, yet another.
My friend Jen says that when God wants to take you somewhere new, He calls you to surrender something else. Whether that’s the old way of things, or a comfort, or an old habit… it moves to make room for the new thing.
God is doing a new thing with me!
While I’ve been warring with myself, my schedule, and my heart for wanting to go in a million directions, God’s been constant. Many times, I picked up the phone and called my closest friends, venting that I didn’t quite know what to do with the growth of Phylla House and the transitions coming my way. It was a great answered prayer, blowing up all over my life. Thank You God? =]
I moved to Gainesville, GA in January of 2013, fresh off the World Race, still spinning from jet lag. Unlike most of the CGA apprentices, I came with a very specific dream to bring to earth: women’s ministry to divorced and widows. These women are falling through the cracks of The Church, and we’re ignoring their pain. Not okay with me. Not okay with Jesus. Calling? Check! So I came to Georgia to learn everything I possibly could from Adventures in Missions.
What did I learn?
- How to manage a website. Had phyllahouse.com up and running within the first month of being in Georgia. Stacy Chew fixed everything I broke, praise the Lamb for her.
- How to better manage social media. People contact me regularly saying “found Phylla House through twitter/insta/fb” so there you have it, it works.
- How to do ninja-like stuff with fusion tables, mapping, connecting, spreadsheets, Google Drive, tracking, metrics, I don’t even…. I can’t even. It’s Excel-lent.
- How to take a vision and simplify it to the bare-bones necessity, and start there. Like this…
- How to ask for help.
- How to put worship first.
- Myers-Briggs, Myers-Briggs, Myers-Briggs
- Strengths Finder, Strengths Finder, Strengths Finder
- That I’m an Exhorter and Ruler at the core of who I am.
- That sometimes having lunch with Karen Barnes can change your whole life, especially when she says the most obvious stuff like “start a Bible study, start there” and makes it all seem so possible… and then it ALL happened from there. Good God.
- How to star in baller videos, such as…
- What a sacred circle is, and what it means to guard it. This is a shout-out to my homies, you know who you are.
- That people willingly let you take their children overseas for a month, to Uganda? And I can never thank them enough, because their ‘kids’ blessed me more than I can explain.
- That a “short-term trip” can easily build long-term relationships.
- That God can open doors of mansions, churches, and homes. Much more, God can open hearts.
- That people who have been on the World Race have a special bond that not many people can understand. Getting to know more and more of these folks has been the biggest blessing.
- That you have to leave the nest in order to fly!
So here it is:
I’m leaving the nest of Adventures in Missions
My department wasn’t affected by the recent restructure they’ve done, but it is time to devote myself to the thing I came here to do, and do it well.
Phylla House is real now, seriously thanks to Adventures in Missions.
Don’t worry Gainesville, I’m staying until further notice. I’ll be helping with logistics at both Project Searchlights this summer!
Meanwhile, I’ll be working at the hospital and running a ministry, and enjoying the pollen, the lake, and love!
We’ll see how things go in the fall.
I can assure you, I’ll be living a great story and writing all about it.
Very cool! Also, I love this blog layout! Also, I’m following you now. Bye bye.
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Haha thanks, Mac!
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Beautiful! Simply beautiful. Blessings to you as you gracefully move into your vocation. Inspiring to see. BE in your life. Let your life speak.
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Mama Betsy, that means the world to me! Thank you for the blessing and I will be in my life, just as you’ve taught ♥
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Yay, love this! So excited for you!
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Thanks, Sheila!! I am pumped 🙂 I’ll be coming and bringing the Phylla House women to all the Burns, so keep me in the loop!!
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So there was this one time we sat together and I said “Start under someone else’s umbrella. Let them do the business while you do the ministry.” And you rocked it. Now… Do it. Launch. Go. Big… it’s huge and it’s time. You’re doing an amazing job… you’re more than capable. “it’s gonna be wild…. it’s gonna be great…” And it will definitely be full of Jesus. With you all the way…
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So there was this one time that you left me a comment on my blog that gave me chills and made me cry. Thank you. It is time, and it is big! Thank you for your wisdom and powerful words, Laura!!
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Girl, I’m so glad that our paths have crossed! You bless me so! I love your heart for God, and for His people and am so excited to be your new friend in this upcoming leg of the journey. Way to go, stepping out in faith, taking the leap… you’re in great hands! Love you!
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Becca!! You are such a treasure, thank you 🙂 so glad we’re friends and get to see God’s big adventure unfold in each other’s lives! Someday I think we’ll go to Uganda together! 🙂 love you too!
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Good work, chick. Awesome news and so excited for you.
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Thank you, Carl! I am definitely excited too!!
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This is WONDERFUL. You are such a treasure and an inspiration to me. Keep doing what you do! Love you!
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Meggs and Bacon! 🙂 thank you for reading, for snapping, for keeping me in your loop. You’re a sweet blessing to me! Love you too, girl!
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Lovely! May our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in every step you take! Love you, Mamae 🙂
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Amen, mamãe! A gloria é só Dele!! Beijos, te amo! ♡
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