Two exciting things happened this week! The first is related to work. Kara asked me to go to lunch yesterday to talk about my job. These lunches don’t come around too often, so I knew it was pretty significant. Yesterday morning I just prayed that God would direct me and that if I should ask for a promotion then He would give me the opportunity. I haven’t been promoted since I started this job four years ago, and I think the main reason is that we are a small office and in four years, no one above me has left. But also I haven’t asked.
At lunch she asked me how I was feeling about things and I told her that things were fine, but that I would be interested in taking on more responsibility and that it was easy for me to just run on auto pilot. She asked me what I had in mind. We had a good conversation and I feel like she kind of created a new position for me, which I’m pretty excited about. I felt good about the job, but I also felt good knowing that she cared about my happiness and apparently wants me to stick around.
Basically, I’ll be doing a lot more public speaking and presentations for groups in lieu of my boss, and I’ll be doing it around the entire district, instead of just the four counties that I cover now. So it’ll be awesome public speaking practice and I’ll get to travel to some new areas and it will just give me something new to do. I’ll also do some more writing and researching. I even have a fancy new title: director of community outreach and field operations. J
I really felt like it was God’s way of telling me that I really am where I need to be right now. Who knows how long I will stay in this position, but for right now, I think this is where He wants me. It was reassuring.
The other exciting thing to happen is tonight I met with a few people interested in starting a new ESL class for the refugee community in east Austin. The classes would be held at this apartment complex that is only a half mile from my house. It is filled with refugees. Tonight we met at the complex and it was my first time to visit. Walking around, I really felt like I was in another country. It was so cool! I must’ve seen people from a dozen different countries. It seemed like a really happy place, there were a bunch of people outside and kids playing soccer and swimming.
I just think it’s cool how I’ve really been wanting to go to another country and God just provided this opportunity. It’s like He brought the other countries to me. I really feel like maybe this is why He brought us to this neighborhood. Brittney wants to do it too. She is already helping an Iraqi boy with his English once a week.
Our group is supposed to meet again next week. The classes won’t actually start until July or August, so that will give us plenty of time to recruit volunteers and get the curriculum ready and let people know about the classes.
I feel like this also gives me some direction as far as where to live after our lease is up this summer. I think I want to stay in the same neighborhood so I’ll be close to the apartments.
We will see what happens but I just feel good knowing that God IS opening some new doors for me and that there are exciting opportunities all around me.
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11
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