Minorly Big News...

Well, about a month ago Pete Greasley, the senior pastor here, offered me a position working at the reception desk in the church office and continuing to work with the teenage girls at Christchurch for another year after the GAP Team was over. Ya... Took me about a week to get over the shock; I'll give you a couple seconds.

...

So, after lots of prayer and really helpful counsel, I did accept the job officially last Tuesday.

Part of my job will be to work myself out of a job for next year. Replacing myself with University students who are able to care for these girls in an on-going way. We'll be going through Janelle Bradshaw's "Young Women's Discipleship" which I don't think I could possibly be more thrilled about!

THIS is the reason I got facebook. Several of the pastors encouraged me that it is a great way to see how the girls are doing and communicate with them in ways they're already communicating with their friends.

Christchurch is providing me with a car for the year- so kind of them. (ha! learning to drive stick- which I don't know how to do- on the left hand side, mind you, while driving on the left side of the road?! I am grateful to have been able to be a passenger for a year to "get used" to the differences a little bit- even if being a passenger means risking my life with Toms as the driver! ;)

I plan to live with one of the families in the church- so excited about doing that again. My job is a paid position, so I don't have a need to raise financial support.

The pastors have thought of everything to ensure I'll be taken care of. They have been so generous throughout this entire process.

I am so excited! Indeed, it is bittersweet as I do miss the States and all of you very much, but I am thrilled and humbled by this opportunity and what God is doing over here!

My hope is to visit the US of A for the month of August (this year) and see as many faces as I can before returning to begin working here in September. I then hope to be back for a couple weeks around Christmas, and then maybe another trip next Spring. Maybe some trips in between there (or substituted) if close friends get married or something. (I'd love to do some hair in those trips!)

My parents are the most supportive parents in the world, and they are behind me 110%- excited for me and with me, praying their hearts out.

...just wanted to keep you posted!