Sweetest Thing...Thank you!

Let me start off by saying, I have the best small group ever!!! These girls are so supportive, and encouraging, and I love them so much.

The day after I got the call from PDA with the offer to head down, I got to hang out with Rachel one on one at her place, and we were talking about whether or not I was going to take the position. Her husband Corbit sat and listened too my "delima" too. The following week when our group met at Rachel's house, I brought a bottle of sparkling cider to celebrate my decision to go down to New Orleans. I was in the kitchen opening the bottle while all the other girls were in the living room. Corbit asked me about my decision then quickly said that he could wait to hear it from Rachel. I smiled at him and told him that I was going. He then took off for his small group too. His group of guys are amazing. We have done game nights and bowling together, so I've at least gotten a chance to meet them and talk with them, and they are just a great group of guys.

Tuesday night at UPC, a couple of the guys from Corbit's small group came up to me and told me that they are keeping me in their prayers as I take the steps for this journey. It hit me how sweet that is. Just knowing that there is others out there actively praying for me, PDA, and this decision. I thank them so much and am very blessed that they are praying for me, and the organization.

God's Calling...is it worth it?

I was telling this tale to a friend/mentor from church, who I work with too, and she asked a very interesting question: "Is all of this worth it?" For the first time in my life, and without hesitation, I threw up my hands and said "It is God's Calling." And that really is what it comes down to. This is God's Calling on my life, right here, right now, and no matter what I have to go through, it is what I'm supposed to do. There is no doubt in my mind about my decision to go. That is a good feeling. There are only a handful of times in my life where I've been this sure about doing something. So here I am Lord, Send me!

I feel like this whole process to work with PDA has been filled with drama. Or at least drama in my head. So here is a story for you:

I received the paperwork on Monday for the drug test...like any job, I have to go pee in a cup. One of the labs I could go to was right around the corner from work, so I thought "great I'll go after work today". I chugged water for the whole afternoon. Walked in with the print out of the paperwork that was supposed to be all that I needed to get this thing done. When it was my turn the woman at the desk said she couldn't administer the test because I didn't have the employer's address. Well the funny thing is, is that PDA is using another outside company to get this done so I have no idea which address I'm supposed to use. So the woman told me to come back the next morning.

I got up Tuesday morning, and showered without going to the bathroom first! And went back to the lab that was right around the corner from work. The woman that was at the lab that morning said that all I needed was the paperwork, and that i really didn't need any other information. But her computer wouldn't open the program she needed to successfully do this type of drug test. But she'll take my sample anyway and can still get the results. So when I get to work, and the power came back on, I e-mailed the 2 women involved in all the logistics of me being able to go down and rebuild New Orleans.

I got out of office replies from both women who are in the Midwest and their offices were closed due to ice storms. At about 3:15pm I got an e-mail telling me that that lab I went to that morning shouldn't have taken the sample and that I had to find another, yes a different lab from the list to go to and do it all over again!!!! At this point I was livid! My time is limited as it is on Tuesdays, I had no idea how I was going to fit it in.

Needless to say I got it done, and everything will be okay!

My News

Lots of things are changing in 2009! And I'm super excited about it. I knew that 2008 was going to be my year of change, and it certainly was. I feel as though I really changed how I view the world, myself, and God. All in good ways! As 2009 quickly came upon me, I realized that this would be the year I had to pull myself out of my comfort zone A LOT!

First things first: I'm up and moving to New Orleans, LA at the end of March. This is a decision that doesn't come lightly, but quickly. Last summer I applied to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to rebuild full time. 9 months later they called me and offered me a position. Although I spent that Wed crying, being so overwhelmed with the last minute of it all, I decided to take it.

Now comes the hard part, and that is raising the support I'll need to not fall behind in my bills while I'm down there. I do get a small stipend, but it isn't a lot. Between now and the time I leave, my goal is to raise 3,000$ for the 3 months I'll be down there.

This three month commitment is enough for now. I will still be applying to Teach For America, and if I get in (as I really really hope I will) then I will transition right into that. If I don't get in, then I will most likely be signing on to stay with PDA.

Like I said, I'm excited about this change and being pulled out of my comfort zone! This is the first of many blogs to come, and I've created this site for all to read as God guides me through this journey for who knows how long...All in God's timing as I'm slowly starting to understand...I think. Feel free to add your comments and questions to this, and I'll do my best to respond in my next blog. Isn't technology amazing?

Isa. 6:8 "Here am I"
Jen