2023 May Newsletter

I was laid off in January from Wayfair. This was in many ways a shock as I have been there for just under 6 years and was thriving in my role tech leading my team. After the initial shock of the moment, my first emotional reaction was feeling freedom. 40 hours of my week have freed up. My feet were free to roam. So I spent some time traveling with most of my family in Vietnam and Taiwan in March/April.

After various confirmations, I decided on April 15 that I will be leaving the Boston area at the end of July/early August to travel around for a bit before settling in Chicago beginning of 2024. This was not remotely on my radar entering 2023, but part of the joy of being a Christian are the steps of faith that God lays out for us to walk in. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Here's a little insight into my decision making:

• Fall of last year, my dad mentioned that I should have a sabbatical off of doing ministry stuff to focus on enjoying the life that God has for me and reclaim joy and delight in life. (not that the two are mutually exclusive, but sometimes when you overindex in one direction, there needs to be course correction)
• Jongsoo-a dear brother in Christ-suggested around winter that it could be a good idea to leave Boston for a season to cross-pollinate with what God is doing in other parts of the world.
• I got to see that in Asia, seeing what God is doing in and through people there was eye opening. It's one thing to hear about God being pursued and sought in other places, but it's another to see it firsthand.
• In Asia, I saw a picture of a tree being uprooted-I believe it to mean that I was being uprooted and transplanted from where I was.
• I also saw a couple of signs for Chicago and then 3 for Boston, I believe that to mean that I'll be in Chicago for 2 years and then back to Boston for 3.
• In February, Michelle, another dear friend from church prophesied/spoke some wisdom to me to be aware of the season I'm in and that when it's gone that it's gone.
• After coming back from Asia, I still was on the fence about leaving Boston, but then Bea reminded me about the previous words about sabbath and adventure. Her coming around to me leaving also meant a lot as she was initially hesitant at not being to see each other for a few months.
• Lastly, I was reading The Bait of Satan by John Bevere and it just so happens to mention leaving churches and how to leave well and not in offense.

After making the decision, the next day at church, the pastor announced a change to the direction and focus of the church to one that was not one that I felt as strongly connected to pursuing as the previous one. Also after, some things became clearer like being able to get to Chicago 6 months earlier and Bea being able to use my car for the fall semester.

Now I am aspirationally, spending my time 50/50 on ministry and programming projects. Though God is teaching me that "interruptions" with people can be the main purpose of that day like it so often was in Jesus' ministry. Each person who needed help or situation that needed resolving was an opportunity for Jesus to display the power of God.

• LOTS of travel in the coming months
• Finishing off strong and setting people and my area of community up for success best I can.