Getting into the groove... I think

Movie: Ironwill. Will is a teenager getting ready to compete in a cross-country dog sled race, and the local Native Americans are helping him learn how to survive not only the wild, but the wild men he will be interacting with. "How do I know who to trust?" he finally asks. "Trust the dogs. Trust yourself." the old chief tells him.
Except I don't have any dogs, I just have a FISH!!!! At least dogs are fluffy and look at you with big understanding eyes. Fish just glub at you! lol
No its cool its just a little overwhelming, because almost every time I've met a new person in this church for longer than five seconds, they are pulling me into a hallway giving me some 'helpful information' i.e. pushing their agenda. Aaaaaand it kinda sucks because they seem so NICE at first and then its like, aHA, so THATS your angle!!!
But the youth pastor did pull me aside and said, "there's a psalm, I think its Psalm 2, where it says 'the nations cry out.' The context is that a new king has just taken power, which means there is a power vacuum. A new king means new policies, he's a new personalities, no one knows what to expect, everyone is vying for power trying to push their own agenda. I just want to encourage you that David survived, so will you. I forgot how frustrating it was moving into a new ministry till I saw your face last night and then it all came back to me. Don't worry, you'll learn the names and faces and politics of this church. Don't be discouraged.As much as everyone wants to tell you what THEY think ought to happen, God didn't call them to this position He called YOU and this is YOUR ministry right now. If they wanted it that bad they could of applied for it but they didn't. So just remember that. God called you here. You've got muscle so don't worry to do what you need to do."
And I had a meeting with one of the elders of my previous church as a last 'hurrah' before moving membership. He asked lots of questions and best way to describe the church I'm in now is  that its a country church with inner-city dynamics. Brother Andy, the elder, is in his 60's, has a Ph.D. in Josephus or some ancient historian like that, and told me today he has worked with drug addicts and homeless people for several years. 'Listen to people, hear what they have to say, and learn to use phrases that buy you time so you can consider what they are really saying underneath the words they think you want to hear. Trust your gut. Find outside sources you can trust to bounce ideas off of and for objective opinions."So I think today was God saying, 'breathe Rachel its okay."
I've never been part of any church for more than a couple of years at a time. The longest was probably the First Church of the Nazarene in New Mexico, and it was kind of chopped up as we went to another church for a while as well. But all that time, Baptists were kind of the special cousin in Christendom that we were just so glad we weren't part of. I've heard of scary tiny southern baptist churches, and now I am not only part of one but a leader in one! And its exciting but somewhat terrifying.
At first I was like, "I'm gonna grow this ministry and it will be awesome!" Which I still hope for, but I guess I'm tempered down a little to, 'I want this to work for several years. And I want this ministry to grow. But if all I do is make an eternal difference in the lives of the ten kids that are in the ministry now, that's more than enough for me right there.'
In other news, worked in what will be my office but is currently the 'children's ministry resource center,' a.k.a the dump spot for anyone who gets a good deal on crayons. Or the place where all the cardboard backs to pads of paper end up (instead of the trash can!!!) just in case they might be needed for a craft. The secretary and the pastor want to leave all that stuff in there after it becomes my office, and the youth pastor said "Oooooh no. They tried to do that to my office and then its not an office its your desk and phone in the supply closet. MOVE IT. Do not budge on that!"  Which quite frankly there are enough unused classrooms that there is plenty of space for the two bookshelves to go besides my office. Speaking of which,
I HAVE AN OFFICE!!!
I have absolutely no office furniture to put in there as of yet. But I have decided that I am going to have a cool office. I don't know what exactly that means yet, but... anyway :-)
Going to meet the WMU ladies tomorrow morning and work a banquet back on campus for some pocket change ;-)
Enough for now. Going to bed :-)
~Princess Ouch~

rather randomness

I have handwashed three loads of dishes, eaten brunch, caught up with my american and taiwanese roomates, and read an article in the 'country living' magazine that was sent here to try and get us to subscribe to it. I also read an article on yahoo! news about fish dying in the northern midwest high plains states (hows THAT for a detailed description!). My taiwanese roommate is bemoaning the fact that fish prices will probably go up at Kroger. She is vegetarian except for eating fish. (does that still count as vegetarian?)
And now I'm ready for a nap.
The church personnel meeting is going to vote tomorrow night about if they want me to work for them or not. The pastor is very optimistic that I will get hired, so right now I've done all I can do as far as being visible, displaying my skills with kids and adults, and voicing vision and plans for programs to leave alone or start in the church. Now its just waiting.
Another roommate spent the summer in England doing an internship and she had one girl stay in her spot for the month of June and other in July. I think the June girl washed the sheets but the July girl definitely didn't. So right now I'm debating: do I drive across town and do laundry for 'free' but spend gas money, or spend the same amount in gas in quarters to use the washing machine and dryer downstairs?
Aaaand I work at 5 in the dish room on campus.
So a good day.
I still want a nap.
I know the reason why I want a nap is because my allergies are going nuts and its making my head all fuzzy.
I should go outside and play with my plants.
And then go wash sheets.

This is a very boring post, but I figured I really should write SOMETHING. Hopefully I didn't cause you to fall asleep by the end of it. I really don't know why I picked this picture, either, but I am apparently in a very random mood. So hopefully you enjoy the picture of me playing international dress-up with my boyfriend ;-)

update

I realized the other day that I hadn't posted anything since May (hey that rhymed!) and a lot has happened since then.
 I'll confess I felt a little lost after graduation. My boyfriend was awesome at bearing with me through my mood swings of feeling completely carefree and liberated to raw panic and desperation of 'what do I do next?!'
He is very good at finding the balance of listening while I vent, offering sage advice, holding me and encouraging me, and finally just distracting me from whatever crisis (perceived or real) I'm currently reeling from by just going out and doing something fun.

]So for example we went to Mammoth cave, and we bee-bopped around visiting friends and family. Its been good to be able to keep in touch with so many different people. We had dinner with my good friends Sam and Svitlana Gantt. Kyle's met them but never for very long, so this was the first time for all of us to hang out. We had a blast, which was awesome because it was one of the first times for him to have a really good time hanging out with friends of mine from the Seminary. He's hung out with friends of mine from Boyce, but not the Seminary. So this was good on a lot of different levels.

I've also been able to see family a whole lot more this summer which has been GREAT! And my grandpa and I danced together at a friend's wedding anniversary. That was one of my most favorite memories of this summer, and maybe of this year. Yes, including Graduation. :-)

AAAAAND I have a job offer!!! To work as a Children's minister at a small church on the outskirts of Louisville. Its nothing glamorous but it has a LOT of potential and a lot of what they are looking for and open to are direct answers to prayer. Kyle and I visited a church and were visiting with the pastor afterwards who made an offhand comment about the need in the church. I said I was looking for job/ministry opportunities and the pastor said to send him my resume. I got it to him the next day and by the end of the week he was calling a committee in the church to consider me for the new Children's minister!!!!

 Its not final yet so prayers are still appreciated. But it is looking very positive!!!! So thats been a huge relief but also somewhat intimidating. I've never done anything on this kind of scale, but I know that if God wants me to do it He will give me the grace and discipline to do it well!
Kyle and I have been talking on a more serious note about future plans but no dates or blings as of yet for those who are curious ;-) Belieeeeeve me, it will NOT be a secrete if/when a big question gets asked ;-)

And that is all the news I have for tonight :-)
~Princess Ouch~