Sojo Shout Out

Laurel Mathewson (formally Stewart) wrote a kick a@# article in July's issue of Sojourners. Check out this link http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.home, look for Laurel's article, and read. You'll have to register but it only takes a minute and you can opt out of future emails. Laurel's story is thought provoking, well written (of course), and from the heart. Enjoy.

So close but yet so far away...

I didn't get the South Africa job. I have a good Jeopardy show analogy that expresses my feelings. I got on the Jeopardy show, which in it's self is exciting. But, I blew it in the finals by waging my whole total and getting the answer wrong thus loosing the game. But, thankfully I have the great parting gift which is hanging out with buddies on the east coast.
I wish I would have gotten the position but I'm starting to see why maybe it wasn't the best for me. The organization was totally disorganized and consistently late in getting back to me. The icing on the cake was that the organization didn't even have the courtesy to call me and tell me that I wasn't chosen. I had to call them. Needless to say I'm a bit bitter about the process but I am hopeful that there is a better possibility out there.

The craziness doesn't stop once stateside

Greetings from Flint, Michigan! What? How in the heck did you end up in Flint? Good question. There is always a story...
This Monday I had a job interview in Chicago for the position I've been talking about in South Africa with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). It was my first "business" trip where I wore a suit, stayed in a hotel, and had paid travel. I can't lie, it wasn't bad. As far as the interview went, I think it went ok. They are interviewing two people for the position so I should hear at the end of the week or beginning of next week if I got the position. Well, actually that isn't true, I also have to go through a rather lengthy psychological evaluation. FYI - everyone has to do this evaluation not just me. That process will take a month. But, I have faith that I will pass. I'll mention more about the position if I actually get it. The interview process took about 5 hours. I met with many different people at the ELCA and we talked about the challenges of working in South Africa and my motivation to work there.
After the interview I jumped on a train to Flint to visit my friend Nina and her husband Alex. Nina is a friend that I met in Chile. I've been in Michigan a couple times to visit her. I planned on flying back home to Eugene on Thursday but then Colleen Donegan, a friend from high school, invited me to work catering a party in New York City on the 14th of June. This opportunity seemed too good to pass up. To make a long story short I did some playing with my schedule so I'll be heading to DC this weekend to visit some friends and then jump up to NYC for the week before heading back to Eugene on the 16th of June. Being unemployed aint bad. Maybe I should keep it up.