Journal entry: Roller coaster ride, 18th September 2009

After a roller-coaster ride of being stressed out and tired, emotionally and phisically, which led to being sick also, I finally can say, 'Praise you in the storms, Lord. And praise you for taking me out of it too'.

This short and intense journey started when my first boss in Montreal, which is the manager of the Language school I had been studying in (6 months) and working for (10 weeks), told me they had no budget to rehire me.

On the Friday, the 28th August, I had my last French lesson and my last day at work. That same afternoon, while hunting for new jobs, at 17:30, I received a job interview offer. The coming monday, I went for the interview, had the second interview the day after, and got the job.

I started work on Thursday the 3rd of September. It was a full time job, in which I worked as a sales associate for a company, that organizes National executive forums, in the health and legal sector. 

Though I was very grateful for it, I found that the nature of the job is not really suitable for me, and therefore causing me unnecessary stress and pressure. So at the end of Friday the 11th of September, I decided that I would quit the first thing Monday morning. At this stage I was feeling rather defeated, very stress, literally feeling sick in my stomach. Not to mention, feeling guilty for 'letting go of the job that many have prayed for me'.

I decided that I had to do at least something that very weekend before telling my boss about my intentions. On Saturday, prepared with my CV, I went around the Montréal city to ask if people are hiring...

Beyond my faintest expectation, all the stores that I approached were hiring, I mean, EVERYBODY! I spoke to all the managers and received good feedback about employment opportunities.

To summarize and describe this week fairly to all of you, let me show you my schedule this past week:

Sat   12 Sept     :Dropped CVs

Sun  13 Sept :Worship God in church as usual

                    Received an interview offer from American Eagle

Mon  14 Sept    :Quit my job

Tue  15 Sept  :Rest at home and try to recover from flu

                   Received an interview offer from BCBG 

                              (Bon Chic, Bon Genre-high end fashion boutique)

                       Received a job offer from Evangel Church 

                       (which i did not apply for)

Wed 16 Sept   :Interview with American Eagle

                   Received job offer from American Eagle

                   Received possible opportunity to work for FOSSIL

Fri   17 Sept    :Interview with BCBG

                   Accepted Job offer from American Eagle

                   Received interview offer from GUESS 

                       (half hour after I accepted my job)

Yeap, so in short, at the end I have decided to work for American Eagle full time, the company that was the first to offer me a job, as a sales associate. The beauty about this company is that they reminded me so much about Australian culture, very relaxed and casual, but at the same time organized. I can wear anything I want to work, includes jeans, T-shirt and even flip flops. It doesn't feel like I'm about to work, it feels like going out to meet with my friends :O)

I am also trying to work part time for Evangel church. Hopefully it could work out with my timetables they will give me next week. I see this as an opportunity to learn from a Montréal church and having first hand access to the way they do church here.

This past one week has been so amazing, and it thought me a lot about my God too. It proves to me that God does care about my well-being. I could just living with a 'barely' surviving mentality, but deep down inside I don't think that I glorify Him much by living this way, barely surviving, gasping for air, and longing to escape. In my case, He did pull through at the end of the day. I can sincerely say that I feel very happy and contented with how everything has turned out. I do feel looked after at all times. He made me feel secure like no one else or nothing else could. This scripture really strengthened me and gave me the courage to differentiate between the good and the better, between what I think is sufficient and what God CAN offer me.

I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

Psalm 37:25

Well, it seems that I will be working for American Eagle for the time being, while trying to complete my Interior Design Diploma. 

I am also continuing my self study in French now, Je parle Français maintenant, mais pas trés bien. J'ai vraiment besoin beaucoup de practiquer. In english: I can speak French now, not very well yet because I really need lotsa practice... I think this job will help better my conversational skills. Fingers Crossed!!!

Also, if I haven't told you that the winter here is terribly cold, try to imagine how -40 deg will feel, and you would naturally sympathize with me. BUT and it is a big BUT too... since 4 weeks ago, God had provided us with an apartment that is only about 70 steps (I counted) from the Metro station, or about 35m. It is incredibly, unbelievably close by.

Talking about winter, the best thing about working for American Eagle is that, I would only have to endure that 70 steps of outdoor living, during winter, because my shop is located in the underground shopping centre. YUP, no need to surface at all... Woohoo... What a relief, or in French, Je suis soulagée!!!

I would like to thank my friends and my prayer partners who have been a great support during this interesting period of our stay here. All of you who prayed for us, keeping in touch, we really appreciate it. Thanking my personal support team, Doyin Bademosi, Thea Magdalena (my sister), Karen Gaffney. Thanks for my girlfriends, Melissa Ke, May Cheung, and many many of you who read this. I love you all and God bless you...

A man of many companions may come to ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Thank you for sticking to me closer than my own family. I sincerely couldn't have done it without you. I hope I will have the pleasure of your friendship for a very long time to come :O)

Love,

Mel