Just Check the Box!

It was just a simple flick of the wrist.    A checkmark made on a form for a job search. 

It was a last-minute choice, and little thought went into it.  It was certainly not part of any long-term strategic plan.  

At 2:00 in the morning, while on break at work, a friend helped me out.  She made an “outside-of-the-box” suggestion.  I reacted.  Then, checked the box.      

And, God used this friend, and a tiny little checkmark, to profoundly impact the direction of my life!    

While attending Biola University, I had a five gallon glass jug in my apartment.  Every night before I went to bed, I would empty the loose change from my pocket into the jug.  I called it my Middle East Fund.  It was an easy way for me to save for a trip overseas.  When, anyone would ask what I was going to do after I graduated, my automatic reply was, “I am going to go to Egypt, Israel, and the Middle East.”      

Without clear direction, this was my “backup plan” after graduation – unless something else came up.

After I had completed my degree in 1982, I was primed to go live overseas again.  I had learned a lot about God, myself, and missions while I lived in the Dominican Republic.  I had visited Haiti and Mexico as well.  All these experiences whet my appetite to live in another culture again.  But, I needed to work a year first, and put some money back in the pot.

In May of 1983, summer was approaching.  I was ready for a change.  So, I decided to use Intercristo.  Intercristo was a well-used Christian computer job referral organization.  It matched job openings of Christian organizations worldwide with individuals who were searching for a position anywhere in the world.      

It was a lengthy application, and for several days in a row I diligently worked on filling it out. 

At 2:00 in the morning, I was on a break at work in the warehouse.  I was contemplating the most critical section of the Intercristo application form.  The section was “What Types of Jobs Do You Want?”   There were lots of categories.  Most of them I could rule out because I was either not interested, or I was not qualified.  With a bachelor’s degree in History, and two years of experience in the Dominican Republic, I realized that I had limited options.  But, I thought that I would try and see if there were any Christian organizations out there that could use someone like me.

As I was sitting at work in the breakroom at work, I agonized over how to fill out this Intercristo form.  I decided that I need some input.  I called a friend. Nancy was in the middle of her nursing program the year I graduated.   As a night owl and a nursing student she was often up late and didn’t mind calls late at night.  We had an interesting conversation.  This is how I recall it. 

“Hey, Nance.”  I said.  “I need your help.  I’m filling out this Intercristo application, and I don’t know what type of jobs to check.  You know me, I want to go back overseas and do something like I did in the Dominican Republic.  But, I don’t see anything that really fits.” 

“What kinds of jobs have you checked so far?”  Nancy asked.

“I’ve checked teaching, youth ministry, and full-time camping.  But, there is one more box available to check if there’s another type of job that I would like to do.  I don’t know what else to choose.”  Then, I added, “Do you have any ideas?”

Without a lot of preamble, Nancy said, “You should think about teaching ESL.”

“Huh?” “What are you talking about?  I’ve never heard of ESL.  What’s that?”

“It’s teaching English to as a Second Language to international students.” 

My exact words were, “I hate English.”  “Why would I want to do teach English?”

“But, you’re good at English.  You help people correct their papers all the time.  By the way, it’s also a way to work with other cultures, and be a Christian witness at the same time.   

“I don’t know.  I don’t mind researching and writing papers, but I don’t know what to think about teaching English.”

“You know what?” Nancy encouraged.  “Just check the box!”  Then, she continued, “Look, you have an extra box to check, so just go ahead and check the one for Teaching English as a Second Language.  Let it be one of your choices. You still have the others.  What can you lose?”

So, with the flick of my wrist, I checked the box.  I completed the form.  I mailed it in, and waited. 

About two weeks pass, and I received a large packet in the mail.  It had a printout with lots of opportunities “especially designed for me”.  (At least I hoped.)  There were lots of matches. 

But, every match was for Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).  There was nothing else!

I was clueless as how to respond.  I barely knew what ESL was.  I was primed to go somewhere, and do something – but I was stumped.  I had no idea what to do next.  I, certainly, didn’t think it would have anything to do with teaching English!

It was now the middle of June, and the summer was upon me.  I needed to do something – ASAP.  I was ready for a change.  I had this packet from Intercristo with a list of contacts.  Yet, I didn’t really know what to do with them.  I was disheartened, and lost. 

The historian in me began to seriously think about seeing the Holy Land and spending some time in Egypt.  So, I started to regroup, and got ready to implement my “backup plan”.  

Then, the phone rang….

NEXT TIME:  The Phone Call