I'm suddenly and heavily struck with the humbling and amazing value of life. as i sit in the living room afraid to go into our bedroom to check on our sick ferret molly, i'm shocked at the emotion and compassion i have for this animal. all logic and reason tells me "she is simply an animal" and "death is the way of life." but i'm struck at the error of this thought. we were never intended to die. i am reminded we are made for more, and in moments of grief like this, i know, deep within my being, that i was made for more. not that i was made to accomplish "great things" in this life, but i was made for MORE. for another world, another life, another way of being. i was made for LIFE, like i've never known. all i and we as people have ever known is death, this is the legacy of this world. but i am built for more, and i know this without a doubt due to the resonence in my being that tells me there must be more, there is more...and in these moments, i no longer doubt, all insecurity and the dark corner of my reason that fights against the unknown truth of God are gone for this moment. i see heaven in life and love. i don't see streets of gold, i don't see mansions. i see the faces of strangers that i know. i see joy. i see LIFE. and suddenly i am no longer afraid. i no longer fear the passing of this death. i understand Paul when he asks "death, where is your sting?" suddenly i am surrounded by the joy and life of friends like i've never experienced.
the other thing that i am shocked by is the amount of compassion and love i can scrounge up for a furry weasel, but the stunning lack of compassion and love for people around me in the world that i have carried for almost 27 years. i care less about the life of the homeless outside, the neighbor whose name i don't know, or the kids in my buildings courtyard, than i do for molly. and i wonder how is this possible? how far am i from who i was created to be i wonder...i hope and pray i am back on the path that leads me home, to the home i've never seen or experienced, but that i know.
so to my pet molly. i have loved our time together and pray we will have more. but if this is the end of your life, thank you for using yours to teach me about mine.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
What's the word?
Nada
Not yet anyway. I'm very eager to start work and use healing as apart of my ministry... so this waiting thing is for the birds. I am being patient and it is hard when all I want to do is throw a tantrum, but I want to be in the place God would have me. So, I'm keeping my heart open and attentive. I decided tantrums don't with help the whole open and attentive heart thing.
Last week, I strolled into St. Lukes Hospital and heard this guy say, "I'm here for the nursing open house." Then i walked up to the secretary's desk in human resources and said,"Me too!" We were ushered back to fill out an application which was amazing to me. About 10 mins later I was sitting down with the senior nursing recruiter there having an interview. She sent out emails to nurse managers throughout the hospital that had open positions and she told me if I didn't receive a call back by Monday(today) to come back in on Tuesday.
I really didn't want to come back in, but that is what I am doing tomorrow because I did not receive that call... unless someone calls within 5 hours...
Anyway, Victoria, the recruiter is going to email more managers for me tomorrow. Hopefully, this week I will have my nursing position!
It is amazing how God is providing during this time though. Jon does not have a paid position with Citivision, but through grants and support our needs have been met. We are definitely living Matthew 6 during this time and growing more and more in our faith. I'm lovin' it. A continual reminder that God is our provider, not a 'job' and we are ever encouraged by the Body of Christ that is supporting us.
Lots of love to you all~
Tammy
Not yet anyway. I'm very eager to start work and use healing as apart of my ministry... so this waiting thing is for the birds. I am being patient and it is hard when all I want to do is throw a tantrum, but I want to be in the place God would have me. So, I'm keeping my heart open and attentive. I decided tantrums don't with help the whole open and attentive heart thing.
Last week, I strolled into St. Lukes Hospital and heard this guy say, "I'm here for the nursing open house." Then i walked up to the secretary's desk in human resources and said,"Me too!" We were ushered back to fill out an application which was amazing to me. About 10 mins later I was sitting down with the senior nursing recruiter there having an interview. She sent out emails to nurse managers throughout the hospital that had open positions and she told me if I didn't receive a call back by Monday(today) to come back in on Tuesday.
I really didn't want to come back in, but that is what I am doing tomorrow because I did not receive that call... unless someone calls within 5 hours...
Anyway, Victoria, the recruiter is going to email more managers for me tomorrow. Hopefully, this week I will have my nursing position!
It is amazing how God is providing during this time though. Jon does not have a paid position with Citivision, but through grants and support our needs have been met. We are definitely living Matthew 6 during this time and growing more and more in our faith. I'm lovin' it. A continual reminder that God is our provider, not a 'job' and we are ever encouraged by the Body of Christ that is supporting us.
Lots of love to you all~
Tammy
Sunday, July 22, 2007
hippies, latino family meals, and fairy tale dreams
I came to a realization on saturday, well...a few actually. For instance, i decided i like modern hippies because they are into people regardless and often put us christians to shame for their giving hearts. Another realization i came to is that subway seats stink for 1.5 hour rides...they get a little uncomfy. but i think the largest realization i came to this weekend is still ringing in my heart today. for many of you this won't come as a huge suprise or shock because you know the path of my struggles over the last few years, if not life time. And thinking on it, i can see now so many elements that played a role in this being "born again...again" experience, there's the obvious things like how i was reared, my wife, God (duh!), the move to NY, but i seem to see the ochestrations of the Divine Hand through the smaller events in my life. Some things stand out in my mind such as my 3 years at seacoast, books from my chicago seminary graduate turned coffee cafe manager friend kaite, emails and discussions from my buddy carl, venting frustrations and seemingly idealistic views to my honey bunny tammy while laying in bed, and theologically shaking moments with mentors like my mom, Dr. Kebede, Mac, G-money, my Christian ethics classmates and their passion to change the world...and after saturday i see now how i will never be the same. it wasn't a grand marching band chorus of angels kinda moment, it was a sweet release after years of struggle and fighting myself and my presuppositions, it was tears for people i don't know in body but i know in spirit that released me, it was wrapped in the tales that paint hope in my mind for the Body on the long train ride to Coney island for free music with mordern hippies. i have finally come to the precipice of choice and fallen free. but with these as of yet still unstated words, i feel intimidation and fear of the significance that lies behind them...
Today, well saturday, i realized...i'm through with the american church. i'm through with religion and the way i was shocked to see i believed "it" is supposed to be "done." i'm finished with the arguments of theology, i'm through with the arrogant assumption that the salvation story will "make it better," i'm through offering canned jesus and being concerned with the afterlife and ignoring the realities of this one, i'm through thinking religion and polotics don't match and being afraid to be "liberal" or thinking that social justice is immoral. i'm through with the polotics of the American church and the consumerism of American Christianity. i am through with the ideaology and priorities of the mega-church, i am through being angery and complaining about everything but never being something to change it, i am through with being satisfied wanting.
i want Jesus to walk in my shoes, give through my hands, speak through my lips, love through me. now i'm sure you may be thinking, "well of course so do i, don't all christians?" But now i am beginning to see that living in Christ entales so much more than the standardized self-consumerd fluff we have called Christianity. i can no longer live for me and my priorities while 150,000 orphans reside unloved in short term care, while countless unique and beautiful people go homeless and hungery while everyone on the train and street turn deaf ears and hide behind iPods, freshly brewed starbucks, and designer clothes with the tags still on them. i welcome the conflict of self fullfilled and self righteous people who satisfy themselves that a "coin in the coffer rings and a soul from purgatory springs" mentality about their role in the church coming to wrestle with a greater calling than our own comfort.
i desire beyond all things in me for the church, the True CHurch, the Body of Christ, to live again in this world. to me it looks like no more homeless individuals, no more degrading of people because of their ethnicity, educations levels, or orientation. it looks like no more orphans. it looks like community where we look out for our neighbor, not because we feel it's the "right" thing to do, but because we are involved in their lives and love them for who they are, not what they can offer us. it looks like social justice, like conservation of our resources and healthy responsibility in their use. it looks like bi-vocational people in the ministry, not relying fully on the "church" to support them so they can be cloistered away in their church office from 9-5, but that they have another job, in the community, where they can "labor with thier own hands so they will have something useful to contribute to the community." it looks like church organization's that don't use only 30% of their annual 16.5 million dollar budget for the community. it doesn't look like misappropriation of funds. it doesn't look like pastors with $80,000 salaries.
it is a community founded on and bound by love. a love that is genuine and that exists deep within the individual, elemental to who he or she is. not to tack on another salvation knotch on the belt. but a love that dares to say, i love you for no means of my own, for no goal of my own, for no qualification of my religiosity. i love you because i am so loved i want you to be loved. a love that says, dangerously, i will give all that i have for you. i want to know you. i want to be known.
i do not put this before the digital world lightly. i have thought and wrestled with this these last few days, so much so i started this post sunday morning and still am working to finish it today, tuesday. but i place this as a call, for you to discover the Christ that activly loved and whose greatest accomplishment was not going to a cross and raising from the dead, but whose legacy is that of a love for a people regardless of station. my friends and brothers and sisters, this is a hard path that i have come to. this life is something so foregin to me...but deep in the resounding depths of my being, i know this is right.
if we as an organic and holistic movement of love accept that we will all never agree on everything, but the major point is Christ and his love, then we, the Church, can forever do away with "how to become a relevent church" seminars and pop christian culture, and change the world. i once was told fairy tales aren't real, things are impossible, you'll never change the world. and now i know i don't have to. all i have to do...all i want to do, is love the person next to me on the subway. that's all i was ever asked to do. and if we do, we can change the world, we can make this world better for our children, and they can know that fairy tales do come true...
Today, well saturday, i realized...i'm through with the american church. i'm through with religion and the way i was shocked to see i believed "it" is supposed to be "done." i'm finished with the arguments of theology, i'm through with the arrogant assumption that the salvation story will "make it better," i'm through offering canned jesus and being concerned with the afterlife and ignoring the realities of this one, i'm through thinking religion and polotics don't match and being afraid to be "liberal" or thinking that social justice is immoral. i'm through with the polotics of the American church and the consumerism of American Christianity. i am through with the ideaology and priorities of the mega-church, i am through being angery and complaining about everything but never being something to change it, i am through with being satisfied wanting.
i want Jesus to walk in my shoes, give through my hands, speak through my lips, love through me. now i'm sure you may be thinking, "well of course so do i, don't all christians?" But now i am beginning to see that living in Christ entales so much more than the standardized self-consumerd fluff we have called Christianity. i can no longer live for me and my priorities while 150,000 orphans reside unloved in short term care, while countless unique and beautiful people go homeless and hungery while everyone on the train and street turn deaf ears and hide behind iPods, freshly brewed starbucks, and designer clothes with the tags still on them. i welcome the conflict of self fullfilled and self righteous people who satisfy themselves that a "coin in the coffer rings and a soul from purgatory springs" mentality about their role in the church coming to wrestle with a greater calling than our own comfort.
i desire beyond all things in me for the church, the True CHurch, the Body of Christ, to live again in this world. to me it looks like no more homeless individuals, no more degrading of people because of their ethnicity, educations levels, or orientation. it looks like no more orphans. it looks like community where we look out for our neighbor, not because we feel it's the "right" thing to do, but because we are involved in their lives and love them for who they are, not what they can offer us. it looks like social justice, like conservation of our resources and healthy responsibility in their use. it looks like bi-vocational people in the ministry, not relying fully on the "church" to support them so they can be cloistered away in their church office from 9-5, but that they have another job, in the community, where they can "labor with thier own hands so they will have something useful to contribute to the community." it looks like church organization's that don't use only 30% of their annual 16.5 million dollar budget for the community. it doesn't look like misappropriation of funds. it doesn't look like pastors with $80,000 salaries.
it is a community founded on and bound by love. a love that is genuine and that exists deep within the individual, elemental to who he or she is. not to tack on another salvation knotch on the belt. but a love that dares to say, i love you for no means of my own, for no goal of my own, for no qualification of my religiosity. i love you because i am so loved i want you to be loved. a love that says, dangerously, i will give all that i have for you. i want to know you. i want to be known.
i do not put this before the digital world lightly. i have thought and wrestled with this these last few days, so much so i started this post sunday morning and still am working to finish it today, tuesday. but i place this as a call, for you to discover the Christ that activly loved and whose greatest accomplishment was not going to a cross and raising from the dead, but whose legacy is that of a love for a people regardless of station. my friends and brothers and sisters, this is a hard path that i have come to. this life is something so foregin to me...but deep in the resounding depths of my being, i know this is right.
if we as an organic and holistic movement of love accept that we will all never agree on everything, but the major point is Christ and his love, then we, the Church, can forever do away with "how to become a relevent church" seminars and pop christian culture, and change the world. i once was told fairy tales aren't real, things are impossible, you'll never change the world. and now i know i don't have to. all i have to do...all i want to do, is love the person next to me on the subway. that's all i was ever asked to do. and if we do, we can change the world, we can make this world better for our children, and they can know that fairy tales do come true...
Monday, July 16, 2007
so i actually do do work...
Okay so to take a break from all the life lessons here in NY and to move to the pervading question most of you may have, “What is it exactly that I do here?”
Well the answer to that question I’ve found lies down a dark and mysterious path…sorry, my creative writing is coming out. Anyway what I am doing currently is three days a week teaching a martial arts class for the kids from Post Ave. For 7 weeks of the summer we are closing down an entire block from 9-5 every day. As part of this program we are taking the kids on trips, working on English and health education, playing games with them, doing Bible Clubs, crafts, martial arts, and generally just loving on the kids.
In addition to the martial arts I have taken on the mantle of administrative organizing boss man! Basically this means I have been working with our director to help establish some stronger levels of administrative organization in the ministry here which includes various detailed assessments of our programs and ministries. I have also as a part of this been included in a number of grants training seminars that help us in the approach to holistic ministry and in better preparing us for grant and funding research. As such it has also fallen to me to be the gimmie money guy. I have been busy pursuing sponsorship and private\ public grant funding for our programs that are currently in place and those we have been eagerly waiting to pursue. So there is a lot to be accomplished here and we have simply needed the extra person to achieve most of this.
Non – Citivision related, I have decided to pursue putting together a worship team for the young adult ministry at Manhattan Bible Church (MBC). This won’t be a heavy time commitment because we will only be playing once a month or so with occasional rehearsals. The challenge here is just finding the musicians and individuals willing to play. In this at least I can call upon some of my education, whereas I would have been better equipped perhaps with an MBA or Sociology degree rather than one in Religion, but who ever uses their degrees anyway…except Tammy…and Dru…and Daniel…well maybe that’s a weak point after all.
Any who…life is good and flexible, just the way we like it. In the future after all the wonderful quality assessments are through, we are looking eagerly forward to pursuing a community center in the Inwood area that will holistically minister to the people in our community. This is the purpose of all the busy work, and that’s why I hold on +)
Love to all,
Jonathan
Well the answer to that question I’ve found lies down a dark and mysterious path…sorry, my creative writing is coming out. Anyway what I am doing currently is three days a week teaching a martial arts class for the kids from Post Ave. For 7 weeks of the summer we are closing down an entire block from 9-5 every day. As part of this program we are taking the kids on trips, working on English and health education, playing games with them, doing Bible Clubs, crafts, martial arts, and generally just loving on the kids.
In addition to the martial arts I have taken on the mantle of administrative organizing boss man! Basically this means I have been working with our director to help establish some stronger levels of administrative organization in the ministry here which includes various detailed assessments of our programs and ministries. I have also as a part of this been included in a number of grants training seminars that help us in the approach to holistic ministry and in better preparing us for grant and funding research. As such it has also fallen to me to be the gimmie money guy. I have been busy pursuing sponsorship and private\ public grant funding for our programs that are currently in place and those we have been eagerly waiting to pursue. So there is a lot to be accomplished here and we have simply needed the extra person to achieve most of this.
Non – Citivision related, I have decided to pursue putting together a worship team for the young adult ministry at Manhattan Bible Church (MBC). This won’t be a heavy time commitment because we will only be playing once a month or so with occasional rehearsals. The challenge here is just finding the musicians and individuals willing to play. In this at least I can call upon some of my education, whereas I would have been better equipped perhaps with an MBA or Sociology degree rather than one in Religion, but who ever uses their degrees anyway…except Tammy…and Dru…and Daniel…well maybe that’s a weak point after all.
Any who…life is good and flexible, just the way we like it. In the future after all the wonderful quality assessments are through, we are looking eagerly forward to pursuing a community center in the Inwood area that will holistically minister to the people in our community. This is the purpose of all the busy work, and that’s why I hold on +)
Love to all,
Jonathan
Nothing As of 11:23 today
Just to fill eveyone in, Jill the recruiter did call me back. The nursing management at New York Presbyterian "wouldn't budge" on their standards. Which, is why they are the best I suppose. This was a dissapointment to me, but I still believe that Our God is the God of impossisble situations. I believe that He still moves and above all is in control of my situation.
I did call Lenox hospital to reschedule my interview today... the secretary said that two of their managers are out of town and I should receive a call by Thursday. I also faxed my newly revised resume to New York Presbyterian, just for giggles... still hoping. Our friend Walter has been praying since Friday that I would have a job by Monday. It's still Monday, so I just wanted to fax that over;) I left a message with Myra Franklin at NYP about their graduate nurse internship program that begins in August to see if anyone has dropped out. I spoke with her two months ago and she said that the application process was closed at the end of April. Maybe they will have an opening.
I also called Harlem Hospital as well as St. Lukes Hospital and they both accept resumes / applications Tuesday through Thursday 9am to 3pm. That's what I'm doing tomorrow... so be in prayer for me please. These hospitals are also affiliated with NYP residents and physicians which I like a lot.
Love you guys~
Tammy
I did call Lenox hospital to reschedule my interview today... the secretary said that two of their managers are out of town and I should receive a call by Thursday. I also faxed my newly revised resume to New York Presbyterian, just for giggles... still hoping. Our friend Walter has been praying since Friday that I would have a job by Monday. It's still Monday, so I just wanted to fax that over;) I left a message with Myra Franklin at NYP about their graduate nurse internship program that begins in August to see if anyone has dropped out. I spoke with her two months ago and she said that the application process was closed at the end of April. Maybe they will have an opening.
I also called Harlem Hospital as well as St. Lukes Hospital and they both accept resumes / applications Tuesday through Thursday 9am to 3pm. That's what I'm doing tomorrow... so be in prayer for me please. These hospitals are also affiliated with NYP residents and physicians which I like a lot.
Love you guys~
Tammy
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Soon and Very Soon... hopefully
Thank you guys so much for praying about my job. There still hasn't been a definite "yes" yet, but I love that there is not a "no." Yesterday (the 10th) I waited all day and literally until 9pm for a phone call from Jill, the recruiter. She usually contacts me in the evenings, but around 8:45pm I called her and just left a message. No answer. Ugh.
So, this morning, I wanted to wait for her day to calm down a little and give her time to call me back. I could only wait until 1:15pm until I called her again:) I did get in touch with her this time though. Horray. She was apologetic that she didn't call me back last night... I appreciated that. Then she tells me that she and her manager have a conference call about me with a few other people this afternoon! Sill not a no!! Praise to God!!
Now, I am waiting. Again. She will call me back tonight or first thing in the morning. I am just estatic that God has more time to work. If nothing else guys, I have grown spiritually through this process. I keep telling Jon though, how amazing it would be if I did get this position. There honestly would be no other explaination except God. We have been praying for favor and it is working. I have no clue why this recruiter, Jill, wants to help me. Maybe a bonus in pay for her or something, but she seems so sincere in helping me.
Please keep praying about this for me:)
lots of love to you all!
Tammy
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Lessons in NY: Part 1
Oh boy! i say that as i sigh and lean back in the chair, gently caressing my ever growing forehead.... so we're here...it's hot...and i'm learning alot. Unfortunately i'm not learning much spanish yet, but Tammy and i are looking in to the Rosetta Stone program but that's a lot of money for our current budget =) and that's something that's amazing, how God continually provides for us. now that makes me sigh in relief...
so the move from my eyes, i won't retell all the stuff Tammy already informed you about, but i will tell of things i have learned from the 16 hour uhaul ride with my buddy Steve...
First on the line is thank God for Moms who over supply you for your supposed 12 hour ride. My mom was kind enough to give us 2 big thermoses of coffee that i'm not sure even made it past Virginia...that and cookies, and napkins, and fruit, and peanuts (those went fast too), and hand sanitizer and chap stick and on and on and on in my mom's maternal fashion. There was so much that this one gets 2 numbers.
Third, thank God for Magellan GPS.
Fourth, Don't trust Magellan GPS too much or it will end you up being pulled over by NYPD for having a truck on the freeway...
Fifth, Argue the ticket.
Sixth, Consider seriously before deciding to make the last 3 hours of the trip, they sometimes turn into six on a dead stand still on the interstate, which leads me to my next lesson.
Seven, Whatever you do never assume...that there will be no traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike at midnight on a Sunday, because you may wind up sitting 10 minutes from your destination (according to Magellan) for 3 hours in bumper to bumper traffic coming into the City.
Eight, I learned that Walter is very gracious but not much of a conversationalist at 2 in the morning when we finally arrived at his house to spend the night.
Nine, Victoria (Walter's wife) isn't a big fan of ferrets.
Ten, the kids (Sophia and Luciano) are =).
Eleven, Studio apartments are smaller than they look on the internet.
Twelve, We have two friends that must really love us or have no sense whatsoever in them for spending 3 homeless days with us and then help us move into a 3rd floor walk up.
Thirteen (and i promise the list is coming to an end soon), get to know the locals, they help you move when you're trying to be tough and not let anyone know how tired you really are.
Fourteen, you never really know how much stuff you have until you've tried to fit it into a NY apartment.
Fifteen, Bookshelves make great pantry's and places to store your pots.
Sixteen, Despite what Angel my NY real estate friend tells me, you really can fit a king sized bed into a NY apartment...so there!
Seventeen, next time...use a moving company.
Eighteen and finally, you can make anywhere feel like home with enough love and help from friends and family.....
Next time lessons from one month in NY and an update on what i really do here, because i'm sure you all want to know...we didn't just move here for the coffee...although that is a good reason to consider it.....Peace.
Jonathan +)
so the move from my eyes, i won't retell all the stuff Tammy already informed you about, but i will tell of things i have learned from the 16 hour uhaul ride with my buddy Steve...
First on the line is thank God for Moms who over supply you for your supposed 12 hour ride. My mom was kind enough to give us 2 big thermoses of coffee that i'm not sure even made it past Virginia...that and cookies, and napkins, and fruit, and peanuts (those went fast too), and hand sanitizer and chap stick and on and on and on in my mom's maternal fashion. There was so much that this one gets 2 numbers.
Third, thank God for Magellan GPS.
Fourth, Don't trust Magellan GPS too much or it will end you up being pulled over by NYPD for having a truck on the freeway...
Fifth, Argue the ticket.
Sixth, Consider seriously before deciding to make the last 3 hours of the trip, they sometimes turn into six on a dead stand still on the interstate, which leads me to my next lesson.
Seven, Whatever you do never assume...that there will be no traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike at midnight on a Sunday, because you may wind up sitting 10 minutes from your destination (according to Magellan) for 3 hours in bumper to bumper traffic coming into the City.
Eight, I learned that Walter is very gracious but not much of a conversationalist at 2 in the morning when we finally arrived at his house to spend the night.
Nine, Victoria (Walter's wife) isn't a big fan of ferrets.
Ten, the kids (Sophia and Luciano) are =).
Eleven, Studio apartments are smaller than they look on the internet.
Twelve, We have two friends that must really love us or have no sense whatsoever in them for spending 3 homeless days with us and then help us move into a 3rd floor walk up.
Thirteen (and i promise the list is coming to an end soon), get to know the locals, they help you move when you're trying to be tough and not let anyone know how tired you really are.
Fourteen, you never really know how much stuff you have until you've tried to fit it into a NY apartment.
Fifteen, Bookshelves make great pantry's and places to store your pots.
Sixteen, Despite what Angel my NY real estate friend tells me, you really can fit a king sized bed into a NY apartment...so there!
Seventeen, next time...use a moving company.
Eighteen and finally, you can make anywhere feel like home with enough love and help from friends and family.....
Next time lessons from one month in NY and an update on what i really do here, because i'm sure you all want to know...we didn't just move here for the coffee...although that is a good reason to consider it.....Peace.
Jonathan +)
Monday, July 9, 2007
Tammy's Job Situation
So, I've found that there are many monumental steps in the nursing career. The first test. The first class that is passed and crossed off the list. The first semester. Clinicals are victories alone. Then, before I knew it I was taking the NCLEX and that seemed monumental. It was of course, but now these things seem so long ago and forgotten because now I am in the middle of the job search. Really, it has only been 2 weeks since I passed boards, became licensed here and started looking for a job, but it feels like 2 months.
But, just like God provided for our move, I feel Him orchestrating events for my job.
My friend Jessica in Charlotte, NC, who I haven't spoken with in about a year, left me a message on myspace. It is amazing because I haven't been on myspace in about a year as well. The message was posted only 2 days before I checked it. If that wasn't cool enough, my friend Jeanne had been telling me I should get back on myspace the week prior to this.
Jessica told me she wanted to pass on some information about a nursing recruiter who contacted her and asked if she knew of anyone in NYC who might need an RN position since she was happy where she was. So cool. The nursing recruiter contacted me and said that her client hired her company to hire 100 RNs for ICU positions so their patient ratio would be 1:1. In doing this they would be offering an $1800 housing stipen and tuition costs of up to $10,000!
I asked who her client was and she said New York Presbyterian! This is definietly my dream hospital that I have been oogling for about a year now. It is so hard to get on there because they are the best.
I know that God is doing something really cool here. They receive 9,000 applications a month and 1,500 RN applications alone. With the help of this recruiter, Jon and I are praying that God will give me favor and a job here. I know that what I want is not always what God would want, so I'm also praying that my heart will match His if this is not the place for me to work. I don't want to be presumtive that God is going to arrange the position for me, but it seems like He is really orchestrating something at NYP.
The nursing recruiter is going to give my application to her manager tomorrow morning (Tues, 10th). Please pray that God would grant me favor in the eyes of them and NYP. Thanks so much for taking time to read this. I love you guys.
Tammy
The Move Expounded
This move was crazy with God’s provision. In Matthew 6 Jesus says God knows our need before we even speak it. Amazing. When Jon and I were both struggling with understanding why God had not given us the knowledge about the apartment He had for us the week of the move, we were scared and stressed out all the while saying, “We’ve given it to God.” If we really had done that, we would not have been scared and stressed out. I began to wonder if we were really supposed to move on the date originally planned. I didn’t have a job, a nursing license, hadn’t even taken my boards to get my nursing license. Jon wanted to have all of the answers for our supporters and our parents, and friends. We wanted to look like we had it all together. He struggled with being the “provider.” On top of it all, our furniture that we bought 4 months ago had not come in because it was on back order. We were unprepared. Or that is what we saw. 
The Friday before the move, which was Sunday the 3rd, we also found out that the plane tickets originally purchased for Jane and I were wrong. We purchased a 10am out of Charleston with arrivals in NYC at 12. Well, we ended up on a 6am flight that had a connection in GA with arrivals in NYC at 10am. Jon and I didn’t understand why we didn’t have an apartment when we had been looking for 3 months, we didn’t understand why our furniture wasn’t in when we purchased it 4 months ago, and when our plane tickets were awry it was just one more thing that made us feel we didn’t have any control of our situation.
So, what did God do? He sent two guys that we had only met the previous week to come pray for us. It was 9:30pm on that Friday night when everything was so stressful. These two guys prayed for us about all of the things we were struggling with. Even when we didn't even convey our feelings to them. This was God using the Body of Christ to strengthen one another. We were estatic. We didn't have to have all the answers because we serve the One who does. We didn't have to have provision because we serve God who does. We were 'kicked in the butt' by God and reminded of these things.
Saturday morning, we loaded up the U-haul to find that all of our stuff fit in so tightly and exact, if we had our furniture delivered on time we would have had to get a bigger U-haul. We couldn't afford that. God knew. My ticket along with Jane's was changed because our original ride couldn't pick us up due to circumstances, but another set of friends could, but only before 12pm. Amazing. God knew.
By Monday, we were looking at apartments and by Wednesday night we were moved in. God provided. While we were looking for a place, we stayed with our friends Walter and Victoria Sotleo who both works with CitiVision. Praise to God alone. Our close friends Steve and Jane Brown helped us move up here. Took a whole week off of work and helped us through this process so much. They were homeless with us for 3 days:) What friends. When we were moving in on Wednesday afternoon (the 6th) I remember Steve saying, "We can't do this alone. We need help." Our apartment is on the 3rd floor of a 6th floor walk up (no elevator)! As soon as he finished that statement this guy, about 17, walked up to us and asked if they could help! Of course with a price, but that's not the point really. Within two hours we had all of our stuff moved in just before it became really dark. Serving God is so much fun. Definitely an adventure if we allow it.
So, I am eager now about what God is going to do with our ministry. He did so much just getting us up here. He is still providing too. I've found that only God provides for me. Not my husband, my family, my job or my friends. Only God.
I'm excited to start working so I can use what I make to further the kingdom like so many of you have helped us. Thanks for taking time to read this. More to come and lots of love to you all:)
The Friday before the move, which was Sunday the 3rd, we also found out that the plane tickets originally purchased for Jane and I were wrong. We purchased a 10am out of Charleston with arrivals in NYC at 12. Well, we ended up on a 6am flight that had a connection in GA with arrivals in NYC at 10am. Jon and I didn’t understand why we didn’t have an apartment when we had been looking for 3 months, we didn’t understand why our furniture wasn’t in when we purchased it 4 months ago, and when our plane tickets were awry it was just one more thing that made us feel we didn’t have any control of our situation.
So, what did God do? He sent two guys that we had only met the previous week to come pray for us. It was 9:30pm on that Friday night when everything was so stressful. These two guys prayed for us about all of the things we were struggling with. Even when we didn't even convey our feelings to them. This was God using the Body of Christ to strengthen one another. We were estatic. We didn't have to have all the answers because we serve the One who does. We didn't have to have provision because we serve God who does. We were 'kicked in the butt' by God and reminded of these things.
Saturday morning, we loaded up the U-haul to find that all of our stuff fit in so tightly and exact, if we had our furniture delivered on time we would have had to get a bigger U-haul. We couldn't afford that. God knew. My ticket along with Jane's was changed because our original ride couldn't pick us up due to circumstances, but another set of friends could, but only before 12pm. Amazing. God knew.
By Monday, we were looking at apartments and by Wednesday night we were moved in. God provided. While we were looking for a place, we stayed with our friends Walter and Victoria Sotleo who both works with CitiVision. Praise to God alone. Our close friends Steve and Jane Brown helped us move up here. Took a whole week off of work and helped us through this process so much. They were homeless with us for 3 days:) What friends. When we were moving in on Wednesday afternoon (the 6th) I remember Steve saying, "We can't do this alone. We need help." Our apartment is on the 3rd floor of a 6th floor walk up (no elevator)! As soon as he finished that statement this guy, about 17, walked up to us and asked if they could help! Of course with a price, but that's not the point really. Within two hours we had all of our stuff moved in just before it became really dark. Serving God is so much fun. Definitely an adventure if we allow it.
So, I am eager now about what God is going to do with our ministry. He did so much just getting us up here. He is still providing too. I've found that only God provides for me. Not my husband, my family, my job or my friends. Only God.
I'm excited to start working so I can use what I make to further the kingdom like so many of you have helped us. Thanks for taking time to read this. More to come and lots of love to you all:)
Tammy
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