4. Christmas 2017.
What a year it has been! We have been living and working in Austin for 6 months and it feels like so much longer. This holiday season was unlike any other Brenna and I have had. It was the first Christmas we did not celebrate at home with family, but it became very clear we have a family here in Austin!
On Christmas Eve I had the opportunity to produce 3 services at the North Campus. This team and volunteers have quickly become our closest friends and community. It was very different to only have one day of services when I have become used to multiple days. The 4pm was the biggest it has ever been! The production booth was literally pressing against the wall because there were so many people. It was incredible to see the room packed full of people wanting to praise and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Brenna and I sat down earlier in the week and talked about what Christmas traditions we want to begin for our family. We decided to continue traditions from both of our childhood. After services on Christmas Eve, we went out to Chinese. It was pretty much just the two of us in the entire restaurant haha. We found this awesome "hole in the wall" place that is right around the corner from our apartment! Then we came home and watched my all time favorite Christmas movie, The Santa Clause. Brenna and I enjoyed the first movie so much that we watched the second Santa Clause too! In the future when we have kids we definitely want to continue these. It was so special to be able to begin traditions that we will carry on for decades to come!
We spent Christmas day with a couple from our missional community. We enjoyed opening presents with Will, Sarah, and their 2 year old daughter Charolette. That night Brenna and I continued the tradition of going to see a movie on the night of Christmas day. We saw the new Star Wars movie and it was awesome!
All in all, we are so thankful for the support of those around us and how the Lord has provided. We are looking forward to what 2018 holds!!
Also, we are still in need of financial support! We have reached the final lap with about $900 a month still needed. We are praying for 4 people to partner at $100 and 10 people to partner at $50 a month. If you feel called or want more information about partnering, please head over to www.reliant.org/mitchell.phillips to donate. Thank you SO much, we truly cannot do this without you!
