I mentioned in an earlier post that I got a job at a production facility for Granato's deli and Vosen's German bakery. I actually wasn't going to go to the job interview because the owner was actually looking for an early morning driver but I decided to go anyways because I felt like God was telling me that the owner was going to offer me a different position. And he did! Thus began my time working with the production crew. The work is hard and the other people on my team are a lot older than me and most everyone is Mexican. We make everything from sandwiches to salads to scones, muffins, croissants, cookies, biscotti, among many many other things. There's so much to do and I'm pretty much running around the entire time. Two weeks into the job, I got an email from the owner of Jade's Market, a hipster-ish specialty convenience store located in downtown that has everything from rows and rows of Talenti gelato to kombucha tea and specialty chocolates. She wanted to meet with me and so I went to the interview and actually got the job on the spot. I accepted the job at the Jade and approached my supervisor Guillermo this past friday (super scared, super nervous) with the intent of telling him that next week would be my last week. From the start, he was so incredibly gracious and he basically said he wanted the best for me and that he wanted me to go after my dreams. He gave me a hug and told me to come back for a free sandwich and pop in and say hi to the entire team. And then? He told me that God loved me and that God was alway with me. My jaw seriously dropped to the ground and I didn't know what to say. I know God wanted me to have this job for a short time because I was able to meet men and women who work blue-collar jobs and who are incredibly hard-working. So this week is my last week working with RosaMarie, Bell, Guillermo, Jose-Emmanuel, Sharon and I've gotta say, I'm going to miss them. I have so much respect for them and I'm honored to have worked alongside them. My last day is this friday and I'm going to buy pizza and bring it to them because as far as I know, I'm the only one that actually eats lunch and takes a 15-minute break. I was so surprised with my conversation with Guillermo because usually, he's a bit tough to work with. I received so much support and grace in my conversation with him and I definitely didn't expect him to throw out references to God. Another thing God taught me from this job is how hard my mom works - I definitely got some first hand knowledge of how much she has sacrificed for me physically, emotionally, etc. etc.
So.. Last week I started getting trained at the Jade and I love the job. Including the $11/hour pay! My coworkers are in their later twenties and are very cool. There are definitely some weirdos in downtown and we get a lot of homeless people because we accept food stamps. That being said, it's refreshing and I actually feel like I'm in a city. We also get a lot of upper class business people and everything in between. I'm excited to work here, and I feel like God opened this opportunity to remind me that Salt Lake City is my mission field this summer. The only thing that I'm kinda worried about is the potential midnight shift which involves working until midnight and closing up. Pluses to the job include eating as much produce while working, sweet organic products, 10% discount, and free parking. Also, specialty brands that you can't find elsewhere. Basically, Jade Market is like the Whole Foods of all 7/11 convenience stores. The owner also sells peonies and other flowers and Rosie's Deli is located inside the market.
Ok. Enough about jobs. This past week was especially busy because I was a tribe leader in the Vacation Bible School held at church. I was incredibly blessed to lead a group of little boys and girls and I feel like the simplicity of the theme "God is with us, so trust God" was one that I needed to marvel at once again. Such simple, basic messages but those are the ones that are the hardest to grasp - especially for Christians who have been Christian for a long time. I'm thankful for the new friends that I've made and the developing relationships and once again, I'm surprised because I haven't been really close to my home church here in Salt Lake.
Classes are going great, I'm trying to find the right balance and usually homework involves squeezing it in here and there. I'm tired, but in a happy sort of way. I feel like God is telling me that I don't have to be in Amsterdam or Hawaii to have a mission mentality. It's here. It's right now - in my interactions with coworkers and at church and other volunteers and people who stop by the Jade. One thing is that I would keep on praying for people here and for HNGR friends abroad. Oh! And YHMers.
I guess this is a good enough update for now. Quick thankful list:
-Ice cream after ice cream. Yes, we had drumsticks at church yesterday after VBS and as I was driving home, I stopped by and got a frosty at Wendy's. hehe. But it was nice eating that and listening to Jazz music whilst driving at night.
-Today, I saw a circle rainbow. Is this possible? It didn't rain, and it was an actual circle around the sun.
-Thankful for the production crew and for good biscotti.
-The Jade Market
-Andrew's laugh. Well, mostly him laughing at himself.
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