Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Long Overdue Update!!

Alright blog, so I epicly fail at writing entries. It's something that I'd like to be a lot more...disciplined in. And and and! I think I may have the motivation now. That is my hope, at least.
So, the last time you and I were united was just after I'd gotten another "no." Boy do I have lots of things to catch you up on.
Naturally, I was bummed about getting a no from Chicago, but they were really positive about everything and I continued searching and I knew that if I hadn't found anything before then, that they'd be hiring for the spring. Wellll, I ended up reapplying with them for the spring and I was invited for a site visit in Chicago at the end of November.
Let me just tell you, the work that CSM does is amazing. I fell in love with the work that they are doing the first time that I checked out their website [back in Novemberish of 09, after a lovely friend told me that I should check them out]. The site visit to Chicago just made it that much more REAL. I had such an amazing weekend...I still can't accurately describe it in words. There's just something about being in the city [the meaning any large city] that makes me feel so...alive. I'm a small town girl, and I love living out in the country. The stars, the crickets, the smell of tobacco barns and friendly neighbors that wave at you every time you drive by. Those are just a few of the things that I love about the country. But the city...oh goodness. I guess it still holds a bit of magic for me, but it's not even that! Walking down the streets, surrounded by all these people that you don't know a single thing about. Buildings towering over you...watching over you. You'd think that you were more likely to feel alone with all the people and all the buildings. But I don't.
Anyways, rather than sit here and ramble about how much I love cities...I'll go back to rambling about how amazing CSM's work is :)
The site visit was incredible. I even enjoyed the lengthy drive there and back. The group that I shadowed was an amazing group of junior high kids and wow, did they shine! They had such an outstanding attitude the entire weekend, and I really miss the "party van." I was so glad that they were the group I shadowed! They immediately welcomed me and Sunday came too quckly! We went to 3 ministries on Saturday: a food pantry, a soup kitchen, and senior housing. Ah, but they were so much more than that! Outside the food pantry stood a long line of people, some who had been out there since 1:00am. All had smiles on their faces, smiles in their eyes, as they told us thank you as we walked towards the house. Greeted us with good mornings and compassion. The soup kitchen, a community of people who all had lifetimes of stories to tell. Stories that matter. Two men, joined together, changing the world. Changing my world. One of these men made me blush more than I ever knew I was able to. Talking about my smile and the hope I was bringing people. Grabbing the whole room's attention to introduce me, the girl with the bright smile, to everyone. Not realizing, that while he was telling me that I was making a difference, that it was him that was making the difference. His smile that shined so bright. Senior housing, a community of people from all over the world, brought together to be dedicated at bingo. Their excitement and enthusiasm.
We ate at a Mediterranean restaurant that night. I'm a fairly picky eater, so I was a bit hesitant, but it was good! One of my favorite parts of the weekend was Sunday morning, when we went to a local church. There was so much passion in the worship!
There's no way that the words I type in this blog are going to do that weekend justice. I loved it.

Anyways, I got an email from Chicago a few weeks later letting me know that they were still interviewing people and that it may be February before I found out if I was hired or not. They also told me that I may be contacted by other cities with CSM. Sure enough, I was asked if I would be interested in being considered for the same position in Philadelphia. Of course I was! So, we planned to talk on the phone that coming Friday. Friday comes, and about an hour before I was supposed to talk to them on the phone, I recieved an email from someone with the GBGM, telling me that a school in New Mexico would like for me to come work with them. It was a tad overwhelming. I'd gone from zero [known] options, to 3! One was a definite yes, and the other two were still possibilities. Craziness, I tell you. I love how God works. His faithfulness never ceases to amaze me. Anyways, I talked to Philly and they told me they would let me know early next week [just before Christmas!!] Lots of praying followed. Do I accept the offer at New Mexico and don't wait to hear back from Philly or Chicago? Do I wait, and possibly have to give up the offer with New Mexico? I decided to wait to hear back from Philly and go from there. Well, I got the best Christmas present I could have ever received. So, blog...

EMILY IS GOING TO PHILLY!
To be a City Host with CSM. In 5 days, in fact. The last month I've been filling out paperwork, getting recertified in CPR, reading, and packing, amongst other things. Right now most of my things are packed away. It's so close! I can hardly wait! I'm flying out on Monday. This weekend is counselor reunion at camp and I am SO looking forward to that.
I'm just so blessed. I don't know any other way to put it. This opportunity, wow. God showed me the door to walk through, and you better believe I've walked through it.
Now, I need to introduce you to someone...

Mr. Sanchez [who doesn't have a first name]...and some crazy girl named Emily holding him ;)

He will be headed to Philly with me, and he will be assisting me in my blog writing adventures.

So, blog, I hope that I won't neglect you anymore. I'm going to try really hard!
More later, hopefully :)