Bri K

So the Lord’s timing still confuses me most times and I’m still learning to trust that He’s got it down…probably will keep learning the rest of my life! So He decided to surprise me with calls two days in a row for interviews –one from an organization I had submitted a resume to the day before, and the other for a position I applied for almost two months ago. So next week I’ll have two interviews after having very few possibilities for months!! Praise the Lord! So here’s the low-down:

1. Tuesday or ???? I’ll have an interview with a mission agency called Forward Edge International whose mission is to share Christ’s love with those effected by poverty, disaster and sickness around the world. The position is Team Coordinator, which is pretty self-explanatory, but basically I’d be coordinating administrative and logistical details for short-term mission teams and building relationships with colleges, churches, etc to recruit and send teams. Sounds super cool! I have no idea how much is pays though and if it’s enough to cover my expenses.

2. Wednesday at 12 noon I’ll have an interview with 7 committee members (whew–usually on the other side of the table for that =) at Clark College for the position of Director of Student Life and Multicultural Student Affairs. The job is very similar to what I’ve done at Multnomah, but has the multicultural piece that I think could be really cool to develop (if I actually had opportunity to develop). This job pays very well and I don’t want to be motivated just by the security and relief it would bring from financial stress. Though the truth is, it would remove a lot of pressure with my condo and free me to get a new car and end my 12 year relationship with my slowly fading ‘93 Corolla!!!

3. Teach for America is a non-profit organization that partners with public schools systems in rural poor and urban poor areas, targeting schools with low achievement and graduation rates and with smaller resources financially etc. It’s highly competitive, but if accepted I would get to be a Teacher in an inner city public school for two years!! This is the job I’ve been focused on for a bit and the one I’ve stayed most excited about over the last month. The possibility of really diving into hands on work with urban youth is really the closest thing to what I’ve been waiting to do as I waited to be release from Multnomah. Out of everything I really think that this would be most challenging and would give me the opportunity to explore other areas of my gifting on a routine basis, whereas the other jobs sound pretty similar to things I’ve already done. Here’s the hard part…Tuesday I will find out whether I proceed to an interview. I will either be offered a phone interview, or there is a possibility they will invite me directly to the in-person day long interview. If I were to proceed all the way through I will not know whether I am accepted until April 19th AND I won’t know what city, grade or subject I will teach until (if) I am accepted.

But…as I’ve spent time thinking, processing with people, etc. this is what I’d like concerning TFA: I’d like to teach in San Antonio (and though I started with 3 cities, now I honestly don’t know if I’d want to teach anywhere besides there, though LA is still semi-interesting). They are starting the site there which, as a lot of you know, is always something that excites me–to innovate, be an entrepreneur etc. The thought of getting to be part of a team starting a site, building foundational relationships, navigating the difficulties and making decisions for the most effective way to build the partnership would be super cool. It’s also one of the highest rates of pay and lowest costs of living out of the other cities TFA works in. It’s also sunny 300 days of the year!!! And it’s also a change, which seems to bring excitement and a sense of fresh possibilities to my heart right now! I’d love to teach high school English and Literature, maybe even History. My second choice would be elementary school kiddos. I would love to get back into inner city ministry and think that teaching day in and day out would really stretch me outside of my experience, but in alignment with my gifting…and that it would reveal whether this is something I would enjoy and am good at (as it’s something I’ve considered doing for some time).

So as you can see, timing makes things I bit complicated and I would really really really appreciate your prayers for the Lord’s CLEAR direction!!!! Clarity is one things I haven’t felt now for months.
What with the complications of unemployment (I can’t turn down a job or I’ll lose benefits), my mortgage (covering the payment, or if i move, trying to find a buyer or renter) and the timing of how everything will need to fit together, I really will need wisdom as I interview for these two positions next week.

First, to know if the job is a job I actually want (versus being safe, well-paying, etc.) I really really want to move in faith even when all these financial things hang in the balance. I don’t want to be foolish or arrogant in taking myself out of an interview process, but I also don’t want to put myself in a position where I have to take a job that I don’t want and that the Lord isn’t calling me to.

Second, I am willing to pull myself out of these interview processes at a point if Teach for America is on my heart, but this is risky as I could do so and then not get accepted to TFA and be back to square one having turned down some good opportunities. Clark hopes to hire in two weeks.

Third, I could play both situations out, but this means I need to be ready to take the job. So I could just bank on the Lord guiding through the organizations, either to close both doors and leave me with TFA or to open a door and trust that the Lord is directing me that way and take myself out of the process with TFA.

So anyway, my mind runs the possibilities out, but for now I’m going to interview and pray that the Lord would really clarify what I WANT and that I’d have to courage and wisdom to know how to proceed in light of that. Knowing what I want concerning jobs has been really difficult because most things don’t sound compelling to me right now. TFA is the only thing that has, but I also have spent more time considering it than the others.

So that’s a glimpse into my crazy mental process! I would love for you to pray for me, but I would also love to hear if you have any insights or if, as you pray, the Lord speaks something to you to speak to me! Thanks so much! Love!