Some of you may have heard me talk about my missions trip to Vancouver back when I was a student at CBC. If you haven't, here's the brief rundown: I flew out to Vancouver with a group of seven or eight other students from my Bible college in Regina during our "intersession" week. We did a number of things while we were here, but by far the thing that had the biggest impact on me was working with "mom" on the streets at night. "Mom" is what all the kids on the street called her, though her real name is Ellen. She went out every night from 7pm to 2am-ish with a wagon full of food. She fed the street kids. She loved on them. She built relationships with them. They trusted her, respected her, and looked out for her. She didn't preach to them, rather she daily lived out Jesus' mandate to love and care for the poor and broken. That week in Vancouver working on the streets with her impacted me more than anything else in my life. That is the one week that I still look back on as probably the best week of my life. The most meaningful. I've often thought about that week over the last 7 years... often wondered. I think in some ways, God used that week and the experiences that came along with it to begin a process in me... start me on a path... begin to develop a passion in my heart. Now seven years later, here I am, back in Vancouver.... unfolding dreams. I've wondered since moving here (or even before really) whether Ellen was still working on the streets and if there was a way to find her. With all that has happened over the last five months, I still hadn't pursued that. But for some reason, this week I felt ready. I went online (Good old google... What in the world did we do before google? Google puts Sherlock Holmes to shame!) and was amazed at how easily I found a phone number for Ellen. I also found a couple of really great articles about what she does. Here's the links for those of you who are interested in reading more:
http://www.vancourier.com/issues02/123202/news/123202nn3.html
http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/OldWebs/2002/20020308/womenMother.htmlf
So, today I called Ellen. I'm meeting with her on Saturday afternoon. I'm SO excited!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
New job :)
I had my second interview today at E-Comm. It went well. I got the job.... provided that the RCMP doesn't dig up any kind of skeletons in my closet that I am unaware of :) Hopefully I will get into the week of training that starts on June 11th. If I can't make it into that training week, I will have to wait until July 30th. So, I guess I just need to wait and see. I'm a little freaked out now that I actually have the job... but I think it will be a good thing. I hope so :) That's all for now. Thanks so much for praying.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Two steps closer to a really cool new job...
I just got home from the information/screening session at E-Comm. There were indeed a couple of people who didn't show, leaving enough room for me to be tested. I passed the testing and had my first interview, which went really well. They asked me to come back for a second interview. It is scheduled for Thursday May 24th at 1:00pm. Yippee!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Exciting job opportunity :)
So I know I mentioned a job possibility a while ago and said I'd fill you in when I knew more... so here's the filling for those of you who haven't talked to me recently:
The company is called E-Comm. They are a private company that is contracted by a number of the police, fire, and ambulance services from cities in the Greater Vancouver Area to answer 911 calls. Every time someone calls 911 in the area, it goes to E-Comm's call centre and is then transferred to the appropriate call takers and dispatchers based on location. The company is currently hiring. Reine's friend Ryan (who is one of the managers) offered to give me a tour and let me listen in on some calls in order to help me decide if I thought that this might be a job I would like. I went in last night to do this. I spent 2.5 hours there. I found the entire operation absolutely fascinating. I learned so many interesting things just in the short time I was there. After sitting with one of the call takers and dispatchers, I decided that this definitely seemed like a fun job. I decided to go ahead with the process of applying for the job. Tomorrow they are doing their information/testing sessions. At these sessions, they do the critical testing and first interviews. If you didn't get this done at the info session, the process would take a few weeks... this way you knock out three steps all at one time. If you pass the testing and make it through the first interview, an RCMP security clearance is started. The sessions for tomorrow are all full... however there are usually people who drop out at the last minute. Ryan told me that if I come to the 11am session, there is a good chance that I will be able to be tested, although he can't guarantee it. So tomorrow morning at 11, I am going back, hoping to get a spot in the testing. I am really excited about the opportunity that this job presents, and trusting that if this is where God wants me next, there will be an available spot in the testing and that I will pass (only 50% of the people who test actually pass). There would be so many really good things about this job: the pay, the benefits, the location (w/in walking distance of my house), the experience dealing with crisis and trauma, and the fact that it would be a great way to get to know the city and the needs in the city better, among others. Any of you who read this before tomorrow afternoon, please pray for me... that I would get to be tested and interviewed and that it would go well. I'll let you know the results ASAP :)
The company is called E-Comm. They are a private company that is contracted by a number of the police, fire, and ambulance services from cities in the Greater Vancouver Area to answer 911 calls. Every time someone calls 911 in the area, it goes to E-Comm's call centre and is then transferred to the appropriate call takers and dispatchers based on location. The company is currently hiring. Reine's friend Ryan (who is one of the managers) offered to give me a tour and let me listen in on some calls in order to help me decide if I thought that this might be a job I would like. I went in last night to do this. I spent 2.5 hours there. I found the entire operation absolutely fascinating. I learned so many interesting things just in the short time I was there. After sitting with one of the call takers and dispatchers, I decided that this definitely seemed like a fun job. I decided to go ahead with the process of applying for the job. Tomorrow they are doing their information/testing sessions. At these sessions, they do the critical testing and first interviews. If you didn't get this done at the info session, the process would take a few weeks... this way you knock out three steps all at one time. If you pass the testing and make it through the first interview, an RCMP security clearance is started. The sessions for tomorrow are all full... however there are usually people who drop out at the last minute. Ryan told me that if I come to the 11am session, there is a good chance that I will be able to be tested, although he can't guarantee it. So tomorrow morning at 11, I am going back, hoping to get a spot in the testing. I am really excited about the opportunity that this job presents, and trusting that if this is where God wants me next, there will be an available spot in the testing and that I will pass (only 50% of the people who test actually pass). There would be so many really good things about this job: the pay, the benefits, the location (w/in walking distance of my house), the experience dealing with crisis and trauma, and the fact that it would be a great way to get to know the city and the needs in the city better, among others. Any of you who read this before tomorrow afternoon, please pray for me... that I would get to be tested and interviewed and that it would go well. I'll let you know the results ASAP :)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
My trip
Hi all! I made it back safely from Virginia last night, but was too tired to even think about writing then. My trip was wonderful... AMAZING! It was well worth flying across the continent for the weekend. God knew how much I needed this trip and over the course of four days He blessed me in so many ways. I could write a REALLY long blog sharing every detail of the weekend, but I'll try to keep it to the Reader's Digest version, since some of you may have other things to do today besides read my blog :) So, here are some of the things that stood out from the weekend:
1. Walking almost 20 minutes from work to the bus to Seattle with my rather large, overstuffed, very heavy backpack. I felt like a mule (not so good).
2. Missing the Canucks game (everyone in the airport was watching basketball), only to find out later that they lost, eliminating themselves from the playoffs (the most disappointing part of the weekend).
3. Free champagne on my 11:30pm flight from Seattle to Cincinnati (they say it was in honour of Delta's 100th anniversary, or something like that, but I know that it was really in honour of my graduation and trip back to Virginia. How thoughtful of them).
4. Meeting and talking to two girls around my age on my flight from Seattle.
5. Getting two hours or less of sleep and not brushing my teeth in 24 full hours... yup I felt pretty gross by the time I arrived in Norfolk.
6. Flying in over Norfolk... sigh... I cried.
7. Being met at the airport by friends.
8. Commissioning service for the School of Psychology and Counseling. This is where they hooded us, prayed over us, and commissioned us... sending us off into the world. It was very special... a beautiful service. Lots of tears and lots of hugs. A chance to catch up with professors and friends. Definitely a highlight of the weekend.
9. 1830! I had a chance to go to the young adults group that I was part of in Virginia Beach on Friday night. It was so great to see my friends there again and just enjoy spending time with them and catching up on life.
10. Graduation... It was long... maybe even a little bit boring at times (if you're really interested you can watch the entire thing online on Regent's website), but good none the less. It was a cooler, cloudy day, which in some ways was nice. It almost started to rain right before the counseling graduates had our turn, but it held off.
11. Going to VBBBC on Sunday morning. How wonderful to see my church family again! This particular Sunday was a going away service for a couple in the church who I love dearly. I am so grateful that God allowed me to be back at just the right time to see them before they move and to be there for the service sending them off.
12. Spending time with friends... laughing, being silly, playing games, talking, hugging, reminiscing, and making new memories. In some ways, it was like I had never left. My friends are still my friends and spending time with them felt as natural as ever. For those brief few days, life felt normal and right. It didn't feel like I was "visiting", it felt like I belonged.
13. A new suitcase with wheels... the graduation gift that saved my shoulders on the journey back to Vancouver.
14. Very little sleep.
15. Unexpected encouragement and blessings.
So, to wrap it up... my time in Virginia was spectacular. I wish I could have stayed longer, but even after only a few days, I felt like I would be coming back much better off than when I left. I can't even begin to describe how encouraging it was... or how necessary. God knew. He knew that I NEEDED physical touch in the form of hugs. He knew that I NEEDED to laugh. He knew that I NEEDED to be encouraged. So tonight I am thanking Jesus for a weekend that seemed to be absolutely heaven-sent.
1. Walking almost 20 minutes from work to the bus to Seattle with my rather large, overstuffed, very heavy backpack. I felt like a mule (not so good).
2. Missing the Canucks game (everyone in the airport was watching basketball), only to find out later that they lost, eliminating themselves from the playoffs (the most disappointing part of the weekend).
3. Free champagne on my 11:30pm flight from Seattle to Cincinnati (they say it was in honour of Delta's 100th anniversary, or something like that, but I know that it was really in honour of my graduation and trip back to Virginia. How thoughtful of them).
4. Meeting and talking to two girls around my age on my flight from Seattle.
5. Getting two hours or less of sleep and not brushing my teeth in 24 full hours... yup I felt pretty gross by the time I arrived in Norfolk.
6. Flying in over Norfolk... sigh... I cried.
7. Being met at the airport by friends.
8. Commissioning service for the School of Psychology and Counseling. This is where they hooded us, prayed over us, and commissioned us... sending us off into the world. It was very special... a beautiful service. Lots of tears and lots of hugs. A chance to catch up with professors and friends. Definitely a highlight of the weekend.
9. 1830! I had a chance to go to the young adults group that I was part of in Virginia Beach on Friday night. It was so great to see my friends there again and just enjoy spending time with them and catching up on life.
10. Graduation... It was long... maybe even a little bit boring at times (if you're really interested you can watch the entire thing online on Regent's website), but good none the less. It was a cooler, cloudy day, which in some ways was nice. It almost started to rain right before the counseling graduates had our turn, but it held off.
11. Going to VBBBC on Sunday morning. How wonderful to see my church family again! This particular Sunday was a going away service for a couple in the church who I love dearly. I am so grateful that God allowed me to be back at just the right time to see them before they move and to be there for the service sending them off.
12. Spending time with friends... laughing, being silly, playing games, talking, hugging, reminiscing, and making new memories. In some ways, it was like I had never left. My friends are still my friends and spending time with them felt as natural as ever. For those brief few days, life felt normal and right. It didn't feel like I was "visiting", it felt like I belonged.
13. A new suitcase with wheels... the graduation gift that saved my shoulders on the journey back to Vancouver.
14. Very little sleep.
15. Unexpected encouragement and blessings.
So, to wrap it up... my time in Virginia was spectacular. I wish I could have stayed longer, but even after only a few days, I felt like I would be coming back much better off than when I left. I can't even begin to describe how encouraging it was... or how necessary. God knew. He knew that I NEEDED physical touch in the form of hugs. He knew that I NEEDED to laugh. He knew that I NEEDED to be encouraged. So tonight I am thanking Jesus for a weekend that seemed to be absolutely heaven-sent.
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