i got a job!

(In Sept. I moved out of my parents house to a place with a friend in East Memphis. It has been so wonderful to have my own place. I appreciate it more than I ever would've before if i hadn't had to move home again after spain)

So the theme of this year, or really since I got back from Spain in Aug, 08 has been looking for a job. Reflecting over this year I remember so much confusion about where I should look, what I should do. I asked God for guidance/direction every day. I filled out so many applications, got really good at writing cover letters, tailoring my resume to suit each job I applied for. Literally hundreds of times. I walked into places with my resume, I had certain interviews where I thought surely I would get it, only to be let down.

In March I went to Africa and had a very memorable and profound moment with an African Pastor we met there. He laid his hands on me and prayed in a powerful way for God to provide a job for me that would be better than I could dream by the end of this year. He then told me he would pray every day that I would get a job.

You know what is funny, the job I got had nothing to do with any of the cover letters/resumes/online job searches and everything to do with what I was doing when I wasn't looking or trying. I wrote a couple of blogs ago about the ministry a bunch of us started at my church, Hope. That's where I was investing and pouring myself into as I was looking for jobs. A few weeks ago I met with the pastor and the COO and they told me they want me on staff. They told me that they have created a position for me, so I could work part time with the young adults (until it's big enough then I could do that full time) and part time work with the small groups.

I am thrilled to have a job, not only a job, but the job I have been doing as a volunteer because it is what I enjoy. A job where I can use my passions and gifts and work with people I love. It is quite amazing to see how God has exceeded what I had hoped for.

Friday was my first day. ANd I got sick, really sick. I have been sleeping like 14 hours each night and trying to get better all weekend before I go in on Monday. It is so interesting how each time I am about to start a new phase of life, I get sick. Like traveling to Spain to live there for the next year and a half of my life, I threw up in the plane as we were landing and was SO sick the first week or so. But as I read back over all the prayers, it is so cool to see the door finally be opened... at just the right time, just the right place. I know it will be challenging, but also rewarding just as this past uncertain, crazy year of waiting has been.