i'm sure some of you are curious how chicago has been treating me lately...well, i will try to give you a mini-update.
first of all, i moved here under the pretense that i would be working as an Assistant Director of Counseling at a pregnancy center. i didn't realize at the time i was hired that my boss, the Director of Counseling, would soon be taking a 3 month maternity leave. so, i hit the ground running--learning my job as well as hers. then, we lost one of our employees unexpectedly. another one had a baby. so, we're running 3 pregnancy centers with a skeleton staff. and...by the way, another person is leaving soon. wow. that's a lot of change since August! (by the way, i work at a lovely place of employment--please don't think all these people are leaving b/c it's horrible!)
so, needless to say, i have learned a lot professionally...and it's only just begun. i have been forced to think outside of the box and be resourceful. i have tried to navigate a lack of resources and done my best to keep us afloat. everyone has pitched in and made it a team effort. i am so grateful to work with such gracious women of God!
i guess you could say that professionally, i've gotten a crash course in non-profit work. personally, i've had my own crashes to deal with as well! i have had to adjust to a new way of living and a new city. i have sought to build friendships and find community...while not losing the ones i already have. i have gone church-shopping and service-hopping. i have been challenged relationally, theologically, and emotionally. wow. that's a lot of change since August!
however, through all of this, i am blessed because i know i am learning...and hopefully changing for the better! change is a wonderful, painfully beautiful catalyst...a surgeon's scalpel at times, but one that helps remove some of the cancers of our lives (or at least forces us to wake up to the reality that they are there).
so, that's just a small slice of where i've been over the past 8 mos. i'm sure there's even more ahead for me to look forward to! thanks for all of you who have prayed for me or supported me through this process. i am so grateful for you.
