God got me a sweet job. I wasn't even looking for a job! My sister told her old high school friend that I was interested in working with refugees and immigrants (which is what she is currently doing), and asked if she could possibly give me some contacts or some kind of guidance in that regard. She said, well actually we are looking for some one right now! So within about two days I applied, interviewed and got the job!! I will be helping refugees find jobs! I am so excited. There were some other commitments that I had to get out of. I still feel bad about that. But I know that God has really worked this out especially in my favor. I went for the job without knowing what I'd do for a car or where I'd live. But I still went for it and knew that if it was God's doing he'd take care of all that. And he is taking care of it Royally! He loves me too much! After I got the job, I told a few people and randomly my friend who lives in St. Paul said she needed a roommate as soon as possible! God, how could I have ever doubted your goodness? His love is undeniable. Why do I doubt him? Praise the Lord. He is so good to me. He provides Royally even when I have been unfaithful to him. I don't understand his ways. But I humbly rejoice that he loves ME!!
Anyway
I start tomorrow now. I better get some shut eye so I can have a good first day. Just worried about the drive there in the morning. Other then that, I think it will be great.
Tell you all about it.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Etc.
I started working at the Salvation Army Northwoods Camp this week. I’ve spent most of my time there this week. Mom works in the kitchen there, so we can go to a from there with each other. This is their first year of holding summer camp so things are pretty disorganized. It’s only a few miles from our house! I feel a little guilty cause it’s like I’m betraying Grindstone where I’d been a loyal camp counselor for five years! It’s all good. You’ll never guess what position they’ve given me at Northwoods. I’m the camp nurse! It’s so funny. I’m the least qualified person to be the nurse. All the counselors and staff there were required to take a 3 hour first aid course. Now the only person without experience or training is doing the job! All I’m really doing is taking care of the campers’ meds. If anything really serious were to happen there are plenty of people I could ask, including an LPN who’s helping out in the kitchen. The Lord has such a sense of humor to open up this position for me. I’ve yet to see what his purpose in it is.
It’s been good to be home, but sadly I’m quickly forgetting about China almost as if it was simply a dream and not reality. I don’t want to forget it, but I feel so strangely about talking about it. I haven’t talked about it much, cuz I’m asked very few questions about it and I feel like people are tired of hearing about something they could never truly share with me. So I just let it go, and with it go some memories. Sad! I’ve got to get over that and just talk. There’s other things I’ve got to get over. Here comes the part where you learn more about my issues. In China I’m the cool foreigner who can do no wrong, so I feel very comfortable to talk and initiate friendships and be myself. But when I’m around these crazy American’s I shut down. What’s the deal? Jesus, free me from the fear of man! Seriously.
I’ve finally started to be able to breathe lately. Allergies be gone! Since I’ve started to sleep in the tent I wake up without sneezing and going through a box of klenex. It’s awesome. It even rained buckets last night and I slept right through the storm.
I’m enjoying going out into the field with my Dad and Grandpa and watering the baby apple trees. In the next few years I’ll have to learn to start calling it the orchard. There’s about 40 trees out there. And then there’s the raspberries and blueberries to pick. It’s really good for me to be here. I must apologize to all my friends whom I love dearly who haven’t heard much from me since I’ve been home. I just haven’t felt ready to be entirely social quite yet. August is my designated friend month. I am planning a Tour de Amigos. Then in September I am off to start something new in North Carolina.
I admit its been a struggle for me spiritually since I’ve been home. Being so secluded and disconnected from a church body for so long had really dried me out. It’s been so hard for me to keep up with every one here. The first couple weeks home I started to get really angry with God as I compared myself to others and where they were at with the Lord. But He’s slowly getting to me, teaching me that I’m in a different place and it has nothing to do with any one else. And the big picture is, it’s not about me. It’s so elementary, but for where I am right now, it’s like hearing it for the first time and it’s hard. Please pray for me as I press on and let the Lord gently draw me back into fellowship.
It’s been good to be home, but sadly I’m quickly forgetting about China almost as if it was simply a dream and not reality. I don’t want to forget it, but I feel so strangely about talking about it. I haven’t talked about it much, cuz I’m asked very few questions about it and I feel like people are tired of hearing about something they could never truly share with me. So I just let it go, and with it go some memories. Sad! I’ve got to get over that and just talk. There’s other things I’ve got to get over. Here comes the part where you learn more about my issues. In China I’m the cool foreigner who can do no wrong, so I feel very comfortable to talk and initiate friendships and be myself. But when I’m around these crazy American’s I shut down. What’s the deal? Jesus, free me from the fear of man! Seriously.
I’ve finally started to be able to breathe lately. Allergies be gone! Since I’ve started to sleep in the tent I wake up without sneezing and going through a box of klenex. It’s awesome. It even rained buckets last night and I slept right through the storm.
I’m enjoying going out into the field with my Dad and Grandpa and watering the baby apple trees. In the next few years I’ll have to learn to start calling it the orchard. There’s about 40 trees out there. And then there’s the raspberries and blueberries to pick. It’s really good for me to be here. I must apologize to all my friends whom I love dearly who haven’t heard much from me since I’ve been home. I just haven’t felt ready to be entirely social quite yet. August is my designated friend month. I am planning a Tour de Amigos. Then in September I am off to start something new in North Carolina.
I admit its been a struggle for me spiritually since I’ve been home. Being so secluded and disconnected from a church body for so long had really dried me out. It’s been so hard for me to keep up with every one here. The first couple weeks home I started to get really angry with God as I compared myself to others and where they were at with the Lord. But He’s slowly getting to me, teaching me that I’m in a different place and it has nothing to do with any one else. And the big picture is, it’s not about me. It’s so elementary, but for where I am right now, it’s like hearing it for the first time and it’s hard. Please pray for me as I press on and let the Lord gently draw me back into fellowship.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Home!
Hey!
I finally made it home after 36 hours of flying, changing planes four times, and layovers. It's good to be home. But I haven't had much time to recover from jet lag so I am still really tired.. I've been really busy every day since the day I got here. And probably will be busy for another week at least. I'm finding it hard to keep up with every one. I'm still so tired and haven't really had time to process what all has happened.
Well, Happy July 4 to you all. I just came in from watchin a great fire works show with my family. My nephews are just now getting old enough to really appreciate it. It was great fun.
It's good to be home, but also really weird. I feel like I've never left. I feel like I've been home all along, but somehow I've downloaded all kinds of new memories. While I was in China it felt like a long time to be away from home. But now that I'm back it felt like no time at all.
I miss my students a lot. And now that I'm no longer with them, I keep thinking of all kinds of things that I should have done or should have done better. I guess there's no use in that.
I look foward to seeing all my friends again. Hopfully this jet lag will fade out really soon. I want to have as much energy as possible as I see every one and prepare for what's next.
For the summer I will live at my parent's home and will work with my mom at the new Salvation Army camp just a few miles from home. So hopefully I can make some cash this summer before I head down to North Carolina.
I can't tell you how grateful I am to all of you who have been praying for me. It touches me deeply. There's not a doubt in my mind that it's because of your prayers that I remained safe and healthy while in China. The Lord that blessed me so much. I am humbled by your faithfulness and ministry. GOD BLESS YOU!
I've had requests to keep this blog going. I will try. You know, being in China was a great expereince and there's no doubt that I needed prayer throughout that time. Now that I am home I humbly ask that you continue to pray for me. There are some battles I face that don't disappear simply by getting on a plane and flying away (although I wish it were that easy). I'm not one to talk about myself very openly, so it's hard when I'm given the oportunity.
It's late and the pillow beckons. Good night wishes to you.
I finally made it home after 36 hours of flying, changing planes four times, and layovers. It's good to be home. But I haven't had much time to recover from jet lag so I am still really tired.. I've been really busy every day since the day I got here. And probably will be busy for another week at least. I'm finding it hard to keep up with every one. I'm still so tired and haven't really had time to process what all has happened.
Well, Happy July 4 to you all. I just came in from watchin a great fire works show with my family. My nephews are just now getting old enough to really appreciate it. It was great fun.
It's good to be home, but also really weird. I feel like I've never left. I feel like I've been home all along, but somehow I've downloaded all kinds of new memories. While I was in China it felt like a long time to be away from home. But now that I'm back it felt like no time at all.
I miss my students a lot. And now that I'm no longer with them, I keep thinking of all kinds of things that I should have done or should have done better. I guess there's no use in that.
I look foward to seeing all my friends again. Hopfully this jet lag will fade out really soon. I want to have as much energy as possible as I see every one and prepare for what's next.
For the summer I will live at my parent's home and will work with my mom at the new Salvation Army camp just a few miles from home. So hopefully I can make some cash this summer before I head down to North Carolina.
I can't tell you how grateful I am to all of you who have been praying for me. It touches me deeply. There's not a doubt in my mind that it's because of your prayers that I remained safe and healthy while in China. The Lord that blessed me so much. I am humbled by your faithfulness and ministry. GOD BLESS YOU!
I've had requests to keep this blog going. I will try. You know, being in China was a great expereince and there's no doubt that I needed prayer throughout that time. Now that I am home I humbly ask that you continue to pray for me. There are some battles I face that don't disappear simply by getting on a plane and flying away (although I wish it were that easy). I'm not one to talk about myself very openly, so it's hard when I'm given the oportunity.
It's late and the pillow beckons. Good night wishes to you.
