My Job in Ministry

For eight years I worked in the banking industry. I counted thousands of dollars, bundled it up, told people no Helped them apply for loans and became friends with many whom I wished I could have done more for. I pondered how they could live their lives in the hole that is a life without financial freedom, while living in that same ever gaping hole myself. I spent every day checking my account, watching the balance deplete itself and paying my bills on time. Then, I woke up one morning and decided that I was so unhappy there that I just couldn't go back, but of course: I had to In January I left that job, in search of a new venture. After much prayer, for the right job, I still haven't finished my degree, still a work in progress at San Antonio's UIW: my dream school. ( I used to pass UIW on the way to my grandmother's house and dream about being a "college kid." It would take some time, some effort and at lot of hard learned lessons, but I'd finally figure out on my own that getting into a private university is really not all that hard, no one EVER told me I could do what I wanted to do.)

So that brings me here, working in Ministry. I applied for a receptionist position with a Temp agency, they told me I was "wholesome" looking and that I would make pennies compared to my old salary. I needed a job, so I took it. My first day was odd, it was so far from our house, about 30 minutes away, and that to me is quite a drive. I was quite lost my first day, as the girl whose position I was taking was still here and had to train me, an aspect she didn't quite understand considering that she was 30 minutes late that day. My first street friend or homeless person encounter was, well nice as far as I recall. I was confused, because this was not in the job description. We welcome the new and visiting members of this huge, very old and amazing church, handle everything in between from keeping records, taking appllications for other positions, spreadsheets with budgets, reports, and reservations, and oh, the ever important assistance to the homeless.   This is the biggest part of the job, and to me, the most important.