bad day at the office

Sometimes at work I spend a lot of time on the phone trying to explain the intricacies of financial aid to prospective students. It can be a challenge, but usually I can effectively communicate the appropriate information in 4 or 5 minutes. Not so today.

This prospective student just didn't get it, but wanted to keep talking and talking. And then he wanted my opinions about random, non-financial-aid-related matters, but he kept interrupting me when I would try to answer him. He would start a sentence, then before finishing he would ask, "Do you know what I mean?" I never knew what he meant.

This was perhaps one of the most painful conversations I've ever had to endure.

This is me after 8 minutes:
After 15 minutes:After 30 minutes:Finally after 34 minutes and my 4th offer to send him an email with all the appropriate information, he decided he got what he needed.

These are actual scenes from the conversation, they are not a reenactment. My work study, Chad, was so entertained by my dramatic painful facial expressions that he decided to start taking pictures. All I can say is that guy better take some classes.

financial aid

Little did I know when I left my financial aid position at Emmaus to pursue counseling, that I would just wind up back in financial aid. It's funny the things you have to go through in order to appreciate what you've already had. Truth is, the two schools (Emmaus and DenSem) are stark contrasts to each other in relation to this job, but it's still a funny irony.

This job was an answer to many many prayers.....from personal finances to health insurance to school debt to the actual job duties. While the learning curve will continue to some degree or another over the next year, the job duties fit my personality well. As an introvert with decent people skills, I enjoy the balance of student interaction and data processing. Plus it's a plus working at a grad school as opposed to undergrad because there's not as much parental interaction required. Most grad students take care of their stuff on their own. It was shocking how little Emmaus students did for themselves.

Anyway, still a lot of learning to do, but it's been good so far.

Next up...a review on The Shack, by William P Young. It's been an interesting book...

done and done

I got the financial aid job at Denver Seminary!!! I'll write more when I've got the umph. Thanks again for your prayers.

tick tock

I know I've been blogging non-stop on this waiting game that God is playing with me. It's therapeutic. It does not, however, make the waiting part any easier. It is comforting to know that waiting is supposed to suck, because going through suckiness builds your character, perseverance, blah blah blah. Why can't you just inherit those things? My parents are pretty good at that perseverance stuff. Actually I'm glad you don't inherit it, because Mason would be screwed...

Thank you so much to all of you who have been praying for my job situation at the seminary. Your questions/comments/prayers have been very encouraging. I find out Wednesday or Thursday. I've gone from not-knowing-what-the-hell-I'm-going-to-do if I don't get it, to being fairly calm and confident that something else will come along if necessary. The issue is that there doesn't seem to be any other options.

I'll go back to windows if I must. Some days I actually miss that job. But it's certainly not a career for me. On the flip-side, if I do get the seminary job it's going to be a very hard first year in terms of adjusting to what the position requires (in comparison to my very limited experience in financial aid). Either way I'm looking forward to some rest. I'm learning to embrace what I'm becoming while playing the waiting game, but I won't mind getting a time-out.

My lunch break is over.

interview

The interview went well...thanks to all of you praying for me. I made it to the next round, so please keep praying. Through the interview I also became more excited about the job and now I want it even more. =) I'll try to give updates as I'm able.

windows

I have an interview tomorrow for the job that I'm currently doing .... the Financial Aid Director at Denver Seminary. I'm currently the interim until they hire someone permanent. I'd like to be there permanently. The transition into this job has been hard and stressful, but once I know my stuff it will be a great job. Plus I don't really want to go back to windows.

Thanks for talking to God for me.

work

The Beast

Crazy Mark...up there with no ladder

decisions decisions decisions

Boy am I tired of making decisions that affect the rest of our lives. My current quandry is once again in relation to school. To make a long story short, I am currently in the Counseling Licensure program at D Sem, but strongly considering making a slight change to the Counseling Ministries program. I'd be shorting myself the ability to counsel in a clinical setting (the mental health arena), but availing myself to be trained more deeply in spiritual health, the arena where my heart truly lies. The logical advice I receive is to go for the licensure anyway and keep my options open. The "heart" advice I receive (and am most drawn to) is that Kari and I have taken leaps of faith to even get to this position, and to take one more small step and follow my passion. The downside: I'd be less marketable. The upside: I'd be on the road to doing what I truly feel called to do. Is this a trusting God issue? or a taking-the-easy-road-out issue? I await the Holy Spirit's direction. In the meantime I covet your prayers and welcome your words (since that is often how the Spirit manifests his own voice).

moving out

Well, we're moving out of our apartment this weekend, only to go back into my in-laws basement. =) The plan is to be there for 3 months or so, save up some sweet mulah with Uncle Rico, and look for a house to purchase in Parker (about 10 min. east of where we live now). Parker is close to our beloved church, as well as to some family.
Also, I finally sold my sweet Chevy Cavalier and bought my boss' old truck for work. From one beater to another...but at least the truck is a bit more manly. Plus now I'm more official as a window and door installer guy. It wasn't much fun showing up to construction sites in my tupperware-mobile.