is all about trust

The past two weeks my boss, Anita, has been out of town. Since she and I are the only two staff at OCCCDA, that made me the boss. Since I had only been working for two weeks, this was quite daunting. My prayer for this time was that nothing that I couldn't handle would happen. Not that my week would be a breeze, but that I could handle whatever came my way. So, every time I was confronted with a task that seemed overwhelming, I had trust that I could handle it; because that was our deal, God's and mine.

Every Monday morning I attend a women's Bible study at Jen Leaman's house. (I lived with Jen when I worked here four years ago.) We study women in the Bible and I am really enjoying it. I am always the youngest one there and usually the only unmarried one and I feel that I am gaining a lot of wisdom from these other women. I also attend a small group every Wednesday night. I, again, am the youngest and the only unmarried member of the group. I like being a part of a group of adults and feeling like a peer (to an extent) and not just a little kid at the grown-up's table. It also just feels good to really plug in to my congregation.

Lately I've been feeling really good about being in Philadelphia. Not just in the sense that this is where God wants me to be, but in the sense that I really love this city and feel like I belong here. Like I want to settle down here for a long time.

Also, the Phillies have been whooping the Mets lately and that makes me happy and proud to be a Philadelphian.

So, in conclusion, work is hard but fulfilling, I love my congregation and being a grown-up, Philadelphia rocks and the Phillies are a spectacular team. Oh, and Chase Utley is a super-cute.

is being sure of what we hope for

In July of 2008 I visited Oxford Circle Mennonite Church (OCMC) in Philadelphia, where I had interned two years before. While there, I felt God telling me, very clearly, that this was where God wanted me to go after graduation. Now, after nearly two years, I am finally where I was always meant to be. There were many struggles and obstacles in getting here; but, through faith, I have overcome them all to be here.

I am here to work with Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association (OCCCDA); a non-profit that the church started the same summer I was interning. I am working as the property/office manager. Basically, I’m doing all of the clerical work that the director, Anita, doesn’t have time for. I will also be working for OCMC as Pastor Leonard’s assistant. I work two days a week. In addition to my paid work, I will also be volunteering one or two days a week; doing whatever needs done.

I’m living with an older couple from the church, Ron and Arbutus Sider. (You may have heard of Ron before.) They have graciously opened their home to me free of rent. I have felt very welcomed by them and we seem to already have a good rhythm.

We live in Germantown, which is a neighborhood on the other side of town from the church. So, my commute is a bit of a trek. I walk a little over a mile to the bus stop and then take the bus for 30-45 minutes across town and then walk a little less than a mile to the church. This takes about an hour to an hour and a half. It’s a challenge, but it gets easier every day and at least I’m getting good exercise.

Okay, hopefully next time I'll have pictures.