when dreams actually do come true

I know with that title you are probably expecting me to have some big news...to you, this may not be...but for me, it is amazing

While we were in Rwanda working with Azizi Life, I helped Christi and an artisan group overcome a major design challenge...the product order that we needed to fill for a company called Global Mothers included a wood carved lion that a child could play with...the samples that the artisans were bringing to us though looked like an astronaut Martian lion or a lion with a bad case of helmet hair. It was not looking good for our order...

I was sitting at my desk when Christi came to the realization that we had hit a roadblock in communicating what we needed from the artisans to make this figurine actually look like a lion. To put it nicely, Christi was frustrated :) I don't know what made me think that I could contribute something, but I got up and inserted myself in the confusion. After a while, Christi and I had created a prototype of what we wanted as far as a mane went...it was a pen with a paper lion head and mane...but I guess it got the point across...

The next week, the artisan returned with a lion that was almost exactly what I had envisioned! It was a miracle! And as of this month...they are being sold through Global Mothers...just amazing.

If you understood the barriers that international social entrepreneurships have to go through to be successful, you would be celebrating just as much as me.

This time, everyone wins...especially the lion...

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

the story of a job

After four months of praying (by me and my entire network of love), I started work at Cossatot Community College University of Arkansas as Recruiter and Admissions Advisor. Although the news of getting a job is WONDERFUL, the best part of this whole situation is the story of how God worked.

Rarely does God give me a clear direction...He usually gives me peace about my choices if I am fervently seeking His will. I feel like He says, "You are in my will, therefore, go and live and I'll take care of you wherever you end up!"

Over the holidays, Jon and I spent some time with his family in Little Rock and I began applying for jobs. The one job that I found that I really wanted was this recruiting job...so I applied, interviewed for a committee of like 10 people, and then waited for the call. Before the interview in January, I really felt like God told me to be confident and positive in the interview...and I was...but I saw some other interviewees and lost my confidence a bit...But I knew that God had me and my next job all sorted out in His time. So when I was told that I did not get the job, I was sad but still at peace.

The job search continued with no success...interview after interview...I had to tell myself that nothing was wrong with me...and that God had a different plan than whatever job I wasn't getting. At the same time, I felt some relief in thinking that God would make it clear to me what job I should take since I would probably only have to choose between being unemployed and taking one certain job.
Then, I decided to check the Arkansas Department of Human Services website one evening and found a position that would essentially allow me to interview individuals for food stamps, Medicaid and temporary financial assistance. So I applied, interviewed, and waited for the call...while I was waiting for the call (after being told that I would receive a letter if I had not been offered the position) and checking the mail for disappointment, I got a call from the CCCUA about the recruiting position. Apparently the position was open again and they wanted me to come in the next morning at 10am to interview again. That alone was amazing to me! I agreed and was pumped for my interview.

I interviewed for a committee of only four the next morning, felt SUPER confident, and was on my way home from CCCUA when I checked my phone. At 10:15 am I received a call from DHS...meaning that I was being offered the job as a case worker...and then I knew...I was going to be offered the job as a recruiter, too...and I was going to have to choose. I started lauging...it was like an inside joke between best friends. The way God worked it all out just tickled me to death, and I knew that waiting on Him was THE best choice I could ever make.

Ultimately, I chose the job that fit my personality and experience the best...the one with the most marketing :) I am now happily housed in an office of smiles, hard work, and appreciation...which contributes to a relaxed atmosphere. Glory to God...He knew exactly what I needed and what I wanted...and He gave it to me...amazing.

I found out later that a woman in our church was praying that whoever got this job instead of me in the winter would leave so that I could have it...yeah, I know...that is a story for another day :)

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth