Belair (this is a long one)

Now, this is the story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute
Just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became the [au pair] of a place called Bel Air

For those of you who understand the reference and are laughing right now, good on ya! For those of you who haven't a clue what that was about, hang tight. I'll try to make sense of it by the time I reach the end of this post. While this post is actually about some really serious stuff, I couldn't help but start off with something light and if you read this to the end, you'll understand why :)

I haven't blogged in a while and here's why. I was asked to leave the family I was staying with. Yes, basically I was fired. There's no easy or nice way to say it. In the end the result is the same. I'm no longer with the family I flew over here to be with. In fact, I've been out of their house for almost a week and a half now. I couldn't bear telling anyone right away because I was just trying to understand it myself and trying to collect my thoughts and feelings. On one hand, it's a long story, and on the other hand, it's not. I'll give you the watered-down shortened version here and if you have questions or want to know more, you are welcome to email me.

I arrived at the family's house and the first couple of days were great. Shortly after my arrival, the dad in the family began making inappropriate jokes and comments to me. At first I tried to let it go because he said he was only joking and that he wasn't serious. However, the subject matter of his jokes began to make me increasingly uncomfortable. I had a very civil and peaceful conversation with him about it, letting him know that I was offended by the comments and I requested that they not continue. He agreed to stop the crass jokes, and I thought all was well.

After my shift ended that day, I went to hang out with some of my friends from church. I returned home to a letter under my door that basically said that the family wanted to joke however they felt like joking and that they thought I should leave if I was offended by their jokes. In the end, the letter left me with a choice to basically tolerate the jokes and stay, or leave willingly. I was heartbroken. I cried and prayed almost the entire night. I decided that the best thing to do was to sit down and have a conversation with both parents the next morning. I showered and went downstairs to talk with them and I was met with an unexpected message. The dad in the family told me that they changed their minds, the decision was no longer mine and I had to leave. No room for discussion. He got my bags out of the attic and put them outside my door. I was shocked and confused to say the least. I was also told that I was not to watch the children that day. I spent the day with the pastor and a friend, trying to collect myself and figure out what to do. Later that day, I went back by the house to grab all my stuff and I left.

A couple from the church graciously took me in for a week. They literally met me in church that Sunday, and moved me into their house Wednesday evening. If there was ever a picture of the body of Christ taking care of one another, it was Anna and Tyrone taking me in. The amount of love and support I received from everyone at Calvary Waterford blew me away. People that for the most part, knew nothing about me other than that I was a sister in Christ, took care of me as if I was family. I can't even explain how great my new church family has been. If it weren't for them, I would be home right now. Had I not met them, I would have jumped on the first plane home. I had nowhere to go and the church rallied together to take care of me.

During me week at Anna and Tyrone's, I began madly searching for another au pair position. I felt called to Waterford and I was determined to stay here. The church prayed for me daily, as did a number of people back home. God came through and answered my prayers in ways I literally could not have even dreamed of! I got a job 5 days after I was asked to leave. Yes, it felt like 5 years to me, but it was only 5 days! God is good! I have not started yet, but I will be moving in and starting on Monday. I am currently staying with the pastor and his wife, as Anna and Tyrone needed their guest room back (and they had already been extremely generous in letting me stay a whole week!!)

Now how the heck does the Fresh Prince of Belair tie into all of this? (for those of you who missed the reference earlier, that was the lyrics to the beginning of the theme song from the show...check it out on youtube) I found a family in the Waterford area, Tramore to be exact, and I went to meet with them to see if they liked me and vice versa. I had no idea what God was getting me into. To say He blessed me and surprised me and shocked me doesn't even begin to cover it. I arrived at their house and found myself staring at a gorgeous, huge, mansion named Belair. Naturally, the Fresh Prince them song popped into my head. Why wouldn't it? Haha. The family is just as incredible as the house. I have a view of the beach from my room and it's just a few minute walk down the hill. I spent close to 3 hours at their house and I feel like we will be a good fit for each other. This family has 3 kids. 1yr, 3yrs, and 5yrs old. 2 girls and 1 boy.

How did I hold it all together during all of this? I didn't. God held it together for me. Never in my life have I had to depend on God for absolutely everything. I've always had a place to live, food on the table, and money in the bank. This time, I had nothing. I was homeless, and jobless in a foreign country. My only option was to trust God. It has been the hardest week and a half of my life, but I have grown so much. God reminded me that He is in control of absolutely everything. He knew that I'd lose that job. He also knew that He was orchestrating a perfect network of friends to take care of me during this in-between period.

I want to leave you with two things. One is a list of some incredible things that God did in my life in the period of one week or less. The other is a chapter from Psalms that helped me through this rough time.

In 7 days or less:
-God brought me more than a dozen amazing friends
-I went from being asked to leave one job to being hired at another (much better one!)
-God used strangers (now my friends) to show me his love and provision
-I went from homeless, to not
-God forced me to trust him more than I ever have before, and He showed me that He is taking care of me, much better than I could ever take care of myself
-During one of the hardest weeks in my life, my best friend was having the best week of hers. God used this to brighten my day and remind me how precious close friends are. And even though we're all at different points in life, we can still encourage each other and be there for one another.
-I saw the body of Christ take care of a sister they barely knew as if they'd known her forever
-I learned what trusting the Lord really means.

God used these verses to keep me going:

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
Now this I know:
The LORD gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
LORD, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
[Psalm Chapter 20, NIV]

Thank you to all of you who joined me in prayer during this time, it means the world to me.