2008 - year of new hope

Hi Pals,

I have a lot of renewed hope in my heart for this year and a few goals that will keep me out of "trouble" (ha, ha). One goal is the evening college program I'm enrolled in that I've mentioned here before. The course is going very well by the way.

Another goal is around my job. Eight years ago I made a decision that unfortunately set me on a path of years of financial hardship. In 1999, I left a good salary, full-time, permanent job to go to Guatemala as a missionary for 3 years - believe me I prayed about it for months and it seemed to be God's will at the time. The short story is - the organization did NOT fulfill their end of the bargain - I was left hanging...out of work and no missionary destination! Boy did I gain some wisdom from that experience. Since then I've been on temporary contracts full-time, part-time and a full year of unemployment at one point! As a single person trying to feed, cloth and over $800 in rent for a decent place, it has not been an easy road at all. I know God sustained me, however, it was still scary and very, very lonely at times. I often felt I was two steps away from living on the streets.

Finally, after years of walking on "egg shells", in April of this year I will have two years continuous service with the City of Ottawa and will be re-instated as a full-time permanent - praise God! But I still have 3 months to go before this happens, so please pray nothing terrible happens in the next 3 months! The job I'm in will remain temporary (not on the books so to speak), even though I will be considered permanent. Basically, that means even if the position was dissolved due to budget constraints, as a permanent employee, Human Resources would have to place me in another position.

Anyway, even though I like my job, I am ready for a new challenge this year. And so, I recently applied for a more senior admin job with Fire Services (still within municipal government). Problem is, it's a unionized position and I am in a non-unionized job - unionized employees always get first consideration for positions (equitable....I don't think so, but that's the way it is). However, with God ALL things are possible and if he wants me there - IT WILL HAPPEN. With over 18 years admin experience, I'd like to move back into a job where I have a direct report to senior management and more responsibility. So, please keep this in your daily prayers.

Thanks so much.

Julie (LM)