networking

Starting the fund development process has been a cool way of seeing how different people, places, and organizations have become connected to one another, and have each given me different tid-bits of knowledge, experience, and concern, that have shaped the things that I care about now. If find it hard sometimes to really take to heart the often tossed-out verses of Jer. 29:11" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And Philippians 1:6 "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Ironically, hope in the future can be firmly founded in God's faithfulness in the past, and the "plan" and "good work" has really always been taken care of and grown. At the most basic level, raising support in San Diego [which has really just barely started], is like connecting the past with the present. The fact that I am even in contact with this many people form pre-Penn life is a testament to the hope/future/plan for completion. It is fun to look back [and forward] and see how the people and places here in San Diego have changed me and to return to those people and places a very different person, and show them concretely what has changed and even how they've had a part in that.

A few examples...

In high school I worked for San Diego Youth and Community Services. Next week I'm meeting with their CEO, who was just a board member like me 5 years ago, to talk about IV and them maybe supporting me. Turns out that Dr. Ross, the CEO of the California Endowment and my general hero [look down a few posts], is the biggest financial supporter of SDYCS, and so he's going to join Walter, the SDYCS guy, and I for that meeting. I only met Dr. Ross because of being an RA in Ware, and because of being on Helen Davies floor. Dr. Ross went to Penn and worked for Helen as a freshmen. It is also Helen that gave me a TA job next year for her Infectious Diseases class, and an academic job like that is one of Howard's requirements for letting me defer. So anyway, in high school when I was on the SDYCS board, one of the board members introduced me to the president of San Diego's Soroptimists chapter. They gave me a scholarship for Penn, and are actually based in Philly, and are also potential donors. SDYCS showed me the incredible brokenness of the inner city for the first time, but I wouldn't have applied for their student spot on the board if I hadn't already been interested in social justice type stuff. That part of life was influenced largely by Girl Scouts and Sue. Girl Scouts taught me about leadership and Sue, along with a few others, taught me about the importance and joy of living out the Gospel. She also gave me the application for SDYCS. The Meinert family, who are good friends with Sue and took me to church, gave me a picture of Christ-centered family and community. That community became the image of what I wanted to find in college, and that landed me looking for Christian fellowships, which brings me full circle to IV. So now, I return to San Diego, with new connections like Dr. Ross, and old ones like SDYCS and Sue, but they're all connected. And really, I could keep going with the connections.

So while the Jer 29:11 words are very true, I actually have been connecting most with a different part of Jer. 29. Before promising the exiles hope and a future, God says this: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

All of these people and organizations are seeking the peace and prosperity of the city, and they have taught me to do the same. They all address different facets of city peace, and so looking at them as a whole [though they don't all know each other], is beautiful. And these people HAVE prospered, oh so much, because of what they are doing. They have fought for peace, and lived out Micah 6:8 and placed their hope in Isaiah 65; they have sought God and lived because of it.

The network is intricate. More intricate than I could have ever planned out, or than even the best career services seminar on networking could imagine. It emerges from an economy of grace.

16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ~ Colossians 1

God could have chosen other people and places to teach me about Him [and being infinitely good, I'm sure those other paths would have been fine :)], but I am oh so glad that He gave me the people and places that He did. Many of these people had no idea that they were moving me towards God, and while my initial reason for meeting up with them in the next three weeks is to talk about them supporting me on IV staff, pretty solidly connected to that is the chance to tell them how they've been important in my journey of faith for the last several years. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. ~1 Chronicles 29