yes I did just move across the country...

I think I've teared up at least once every day at work so far. My new job is just that awesome! Every day, a picture, a number, a sentence, a story... something brings it home to me - again - what I'm doing and who I'm serving, and I realize that I'm just so overwhelmedly blessed. 

"What ARE you doing?" you ask? That is a good question, considering I up and left for Chicago very abruptly two weeks ago and didn't bother to explain!

Well, I got a new job. And it's pretty awesome. Awesome enough to move to Chicago for. Awesome enough to ask Ryan to move across the country (again!) for. I am the Communications and Resource Development Manager for Paul Carlson Partnership - which means I run marketing/communications and general office management for this really cool organization you've maybe never heard but will hear about constantly from now on.

Paul Carlson Partnership is named after Dr. Paul Carlson. He was a medical missionary to Congo and was kidnapped and killed by rebels in 1964. Not long after, the "Paul Carlson Program" began. In the beginning they had one hospital and a lot of passion for medical care in Congo. Now we support 5 hospitals and over 100 clinics, and some micro-financing/economic development. Our work is in the Equateur province, which is the poorest province of the poorest country in the world. We're talking about 8 cents a day for many of the families. 

Where do I come in? Well, this job uses my bachelors in media/communications, my masters in theology, and my years of administrative experience. I wasn't even looking for a job that would use all three, I couldn't even imagine what it would look like! Now I'm here - still not really sure what it is going to look like, but really excited and blessed to be figuring that out. If only I could figure out a way to add in quilting... ;) nah, I'll keep that for my down time. 

Not going to lie though, this month has been pretty stressful. I was offered the job and had two weeks to pack up and get to Chicago. I spent my first week here working 9-5 (with jetlag) and apartment searching. I'm about to sign a lease on a perfect little place by my office, and close to public transportation so we can explore the city! My dad is going to bless us by flying down to Pasadena and driving over with Ryan. They are bringing just a van - it's hard to imagine starting over in a household with just a few boxes! But, stuff is just stuff. Though it would have been great to have more than two weeks to decide what to keep. In all of this, lots of little things have been going wrong. Lots of details have gone awry, sicknesses have gone around, and I didn't even get to say goodbye to everybody. On the other hand, I've been blessed with a beautiful place to stay and car to drive for these few weeks of transition. Not to mention, everyone here is so nice! Kind, welcoming, thoughtful... just plain nice. 

Right now I'm mostly looking forward to living in the same house (and time zone!) as Ryan again. Once that happens, we'll be able to think about refurnishing a home and discovering our new city. I'm excited to share more with you in the future!