Sunday, March 26, 2006

Finally an Update

First of all I am going to apologize for those of you who actually stop by this semi-abandoned site every once in a while. It's been a crazy couple of months, but things are finally starting to "simmer down nah" (SNL reference).

Well, I got out of the job I hated. It felt great to walk through those doors for the final time. Unfortunately, afterward, I spent several weeks as a driftless wanderer. I applied and interviewed for several jobs and did not get any of them. But a wonderful thing happened. I went out to Camp Yamhill for Winter Retreat as a chaperone. I spent the weekend with some of my favorite teenagers in the world. They encouraged and uplifted me in a way that I hadn't been in a long time. It was there, as I was praying and journaling that I started to feel a God-nudge.

That nudge has led me in a new direction that I am so excited for. In September I will be attending Concordia University part-time as I study to get my Masters of Arts in Teaching. I will be studying to get my endorsements at the Jr. High and High School levels. I always knew that I wanted to work with this age group in some capacity, I just didn't know how. At Cascade youth ministry was really the only option for a major that had to deal with this. Now, even though life has done a 90 degree rotation on me, my education will not be going to waste. It will become a valuable tool for the next stage.

In the mean time, the lease on my apartment in Salem is almost up and I have been working and living at Camp Yamhill full-time. They offered me a position back in February that will take me through late August when I will move back up to Portland to find a job and attend classes. The situation is actually perfect. I'm living in a three bedroom house with one other girl RENT FREE! That is going to enable me to save some money for the next move. The one downfall is that I won't be able to counsel at any of the camps this summer. But for those of you that will be counseling, you can count on me to have your meals ready for you...and I do accept tips in the form of cash, Starbucks gift cards, and Arizona Iced Sweet Tea (88 cents at WinCo).

As I read over my last post I have to sit back and sigh as I realize God really has taken care of me. I am so grateful for the many blessings, encouragement, and directions he has sent my way during a time when I had so little faith as to how things were going to work out.

***By the way...yes, I do have internet out at camp...so maybe this will be updated a little more often...keep stopping by***