Well, I got a job. We’re moving to Austin in a couple weeks!
These last ~two years in Houston have been some of the hardest and best years of my adult life. It’s hard to describe what it’s like to enter a career/ministry that is so demanding and yet so rich. Two sides of the same coin, really.
I was on a two-year contract here in Houston, and it was inevitable that I would need to leave my position. But it’s certainly not easy to leave.
This time has been marked by transition, illness (I had Covid three times and Daniel recovered from a serious hospitalization), and painful discernment. But it has also brought delight, rootedness, and rapid skills development. I am deeply grateful for the community we found here, and relieved that a lot of our relationships will be able to endure since we’re staying in Texas.
As for staying in Texas, I imagine some of you are surprised. I certainly was. But I’ve come to love the people here and I can’t give up on them. There is work to be done and there are people committing their lives to making things better. I never question whether my advocacy and ministry matter here. They unquestioningly do.
Daniel and I will miss the delicious and varied food, and the cultural, racial, and religious diversity of Houston. But we won’t miss the terrible infrastructure! I’m looking forward to a more walkable neighborhood, proximity to nature, and a more eco-conscious community.
But don’t worry, Houstonians. I’ll still celebrate 713 Day from afar.
I’ll (probably) share more about my new position after the move. In the meantime, any Austin recs?