a new job!

Well, friends, it happened. I am no longer employed by Lisa's Cleaning Service!! As you may know, I have been on the search for a full time job since I left the CCO in July of last year. I had grown angry and frustrated with my current situation, and was feeling pretty hopeless. I had been keeping track of jobs applied for and was well into the 40s. I applied for a job @ my home church (Asbury UMC, York) a few weeks ago and didn't get it.

THEN: Last wednesday around 5 I got a call from the church saying that they'd like to meet with me. Long story short, we met @ 8:00 that night after my small group, they offered me the job, I took it, went it to Lisa's thursday morning and worked, met w/ Lisa @ noon, offered my 2 weeks notice, she said that that day could be my last, and I started @ the church on Friday!!!!

It is a full time administrative position, preparing all the documents (bulletin, newsletter, promotional), and other administrative things that happen at a church. They are very supportive of me and I am excited and thankful that God opened the doors that he did.

Thanks for being my friends through this frustrating time in my life... I apoligize if all that I have done is whine about life @ lisa's cleaning. I am thankful for the work that they provided me when I needed it, and am thankful for the path that I am on now.

On another big note, I turned in my literature review for my research class on Friday, it had been consuming all of my spare time the last few weeks. I have 3 more assignments for this semester, and then will only have 3 more classes to go before I am a Master.

Just thought that you'd be glad to hear this cheerful news!!!

i went to jubilee....

this past weekend, I attended the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh, for what I think is the 8th time. I attended for 3 years as a student, 4 years as a CCO staff member, and now this year, as, well, a rogue. I went with CCO staff member Billy Ferrell and 2 York College students who have been attending our (friday night) Bible Study (more about that another day). It was a strange place to find myself in- not being a student or a staff member, but having lots of students and staff members, from what seems to be another life, that i wanted to connect with. As if that wasn't challenging enough, there was all of the stuff that God seemed to throw at both me and my students.
I came with a pretty good understanding of what Jubilee is about- a Kingdom vision for the glory of God. I knew some of the ideas that would be shared- glorifying God in all that we do- and it met and exceeded my expectations. However, (and I knew this coming in), that my students were coming from a different place. They are new to Jubilee, and to CCO ministry for that matter- Billy only being @ York since the fall, and our Bible study having only met 3 times. They seemed to take it all in- better than I maybe did at my first Jubilee- and I pray that seeds were planted that we can see continue to grow.
I am not yet sure what all God will bring out of this weekend- but I am thankful for some of the things that were taught and learned- community, justice for the world, seeking to glory God in places we might not expect to, and seeking Him to grow us to leaders that will change the world. Stay tuned for thoughts as they unfold...

graduate school and some fun in WV

It's again been awhile since I have written anything....I think that I like this blog world, but it takes a bit of getting used to...

Last week I spent 5 days in Wheeling, WV for "winter institute," which is my winter session for the Geneva HED Program. I spent about 5 hours each day in class, several more in fellowship with members of the program, and the other days visiting with my friend Katie, who was gracious in her hospitality, and her friends in Wheeling. She is recruiting me to move to the "city of lights" (as I think they call themselves), and while I don't have a job or anything to move there, the week proved richer than I thought it would.

I realize that the thing that I miss the most about life after the CCO, particularly being at a place like Lisa's Cleaning Service, LLC. is community. It is a very tiring (physically), but also emotionally, place. I do not realize how much my spirit is beaten down until it is build up again being surrounded by HED and CCO folks. Being in class again was quite life giving, good to just be around folks with the same goals and questions and passions and to wrestle with some ideas that I seem to leave behind while I am scrubbing houses. It was also a good time to get to know some new folks, but my time with Katie was by far the most life giving. We met at CCO training almost 5 years ago, and she has just been a fun person in my life. She lives in the big old house in downtown, with a wine shop in the first floor. I helped stock wine, enjoyed some reading and relaxing time, and just fellowshipped with her and her friends, as she let me in on her life there. It was truly a blessing. I leave now to send her a thank you card. :)

It is good for God to send me times like this, where I remember that there is more to life out there than what I am experiencing now, and that hopefully he is preparing something even better for the future.

blessings to you this new year, may you find rich experiences as well....