The story of how Joel Durrwachter and I came to be scrubbing the floor of a house together is kind of wild. It's also quite like my summer - a whirlwind that sucks up you at one point and spits you out somewhere else before you've had a chance to understand what's happening.
When I did my campus visit in the spring I spent the night sleeping above the community center where they have rooms for just such an occasion. This meant I could spend a good amount of time just hanging out in the community center late at night, after all the classes are over. I was ion the couches reading something when I saw a guy mopping the floor. I offered to help.
This guy turned out to be Joel, and not really needing any help. The one who did need help was me and Joel spent the next forty minutes or so talking to me about seminary, about paying for seminary, about classes, why this was a particularly good seminary, about God, about life, etc. I wouldn't say he's the only reason I decided to come to Covenant, but he's defiantly on the list.
One of the things he talked about was how blessed he felt to have his job. He was working for a company called "King's Cleaning" and was part of the janitorial team in charge of keeping the campus clean. His schedule was flexible, his hours were consistent, the pay was decent, he got to be on campus, etc, etc. It's a small team that worked on campus, if I were to work for Kings Cleaning I might not get the same perks (I'd probably be off campus, rigid hours, by myself, etc).
When I did my campus visit in the spring I spent the night sleeping above the community center where they have rooms for just such an occasion. This meant I could spend a good amount of time just hanging out in the community center late at night, after all the classes are over. I was ion the couches reading something when I saw a guy mopping the floor. I offered to help.
This guy turned out to be Joel, and not really needing any help. The one who did need help was me and Joel spent the next forty minutes or so talking to me about seminary, about paying for seminary, about classes, why this was a particularly good seminary, about God, about life, etc. I wouldn't say he's the only reason I decided to come to Covenant, but he's defiantly on the list.
One of the things he talked about was how blessed he felt to have his job. He was working for a company called "King's Cleaning" and was part of the janitorial team in charge of keeping the campus clean. His schedule was flexible, his hours were consistent, the pay was decent, he got to be on campus, etc, etc. It's a small team that worked on campus, if I were to work for Kings Cleaning I might not get the same perks (I'd probably be off campus, rigid hours, by myself, etc).
So, I end up coming to Covenant Seminary. I end up getting a job washing windows from a company named "King's Cleaning." I wasn't part of the janitorial division and wasn't assigned to a specific team, but it was great work for the summer. Got me outside. However, the words that the window washing guys use to describe the work is: "Feast or Famine." Some weeks I got lots and lots of hours. Some weeks I got very few. I could only imagine that as the weather gets colder that the work would get sparser.
One day, as I was in the community center doing some work I happened upon Joel. We caught up. I told him my joys and concerns about my job. He was sympathetic and again confirmed how blessed and uncommon a job like his was - most seminary students deal with some of the same concerns I had. Without any optimism, but with lots of kindness, he promised to keep his ear to the ground and if something came up he'd let me know. We shook hands, I went back to my work and he went to sit down at his team meeting.
Moments later, a team member walked up to their table and shared with the team that because of his wife's pregnancy he'd be leaving his job and would ideally like to get out as soon as possible. Excitedly, Joel called me over. Within minutes I was on the phone with the boss. Within days my payroll was switched over. By the next week I had a coveted on campus janitorial position - I was a "rest-room specialist." Instead of working every day of the week, like the position usually entails, I only work three nights - which everyone says is a much better idea for someone taking as many credit hours as I am. The hours are consistent, the pay is good, the schedule is flexible (I can start early or late as need be, I can swap days, I can take breaks if I need to, I can walk to work, etc).
The job has been great. I was able to pick up lots of extra hours in the weeks between classes (cleaning campus housing, cleaning the chapel that hadn't been used all summer, cleaning the retreat center, helping Joel with his work load, etc.) As Joel and I were scrubbing a kitchen floor together we just had to laugh and marvel at God's goodness in His provision.
One day, as I was in the community center doing some work I happened upon Joel. We caught up. I told him my joys and concerns about my job. He was sympathetic and again confirmed how blessed and uncommon a job like his was - most seminary students deal with some of the same concerns I had. Without any optimism, but with lots of kindness, he promised to keep his ear to the ground and if something came up he'd let me know. We shook hands, I went back to my work and he went to sit down at his team meeting.
Moments later, a team member walked up to their table and shared with the team that because of his wife's pregnancy he'd be leaving his job and would ideally like to get out as soon as possible. Excitedly, Joel called me over. Within minutes I was on the phone with the boss. Within days my payroll was switched over. By the next week I had a coveted on campus janitorial position - I was a "rest-room specialist." Instead of working every day of the week, like the position usually entails, I only work three nights - which everyone says is a much better idea for someone taking as many credit hours as I am. The hours are consistent, the pay is good, the schedule is flexible (I can start early or late as need be, I can swap days, I can take breaks if I need to, I can walk to work, etc).
The job has been great. I was able to pick up lots of extra hours in the weeks between classes (cleaning campus housing, cleaning the chapel that hadn't been used all summer, cleaning the retreat center, helping Joel with his work load, etc.) As Joel and I were scrubbing a kitchen floor together we just had to laugh and marvel at God's goodness in His provision.
It's not the kind of thing you can plan for. It was about being available and asking for help even when the odds seem stacked against.