Ever since last year, when my husband was laid off from his brand new job of only 8 weeks, and Wal-Mart became our main means of income, we have both done temp jobs as available. When he started a new job a few weeks ago, he no longer had time to do the temp jobs along with what he did at Wal-Mart (now pt time) and the new job. We are thankful for this new job, curious of how God may use it since it is so different from what we had in mind of where we were headed, curious still if its just more provision in the here and now. Probably a combination of both somehow. We do however still feel very much right where God wants us, so are thankful.
This brings me to yesterday. The temp agency hasn't called in a long while here to offer me anything. I was starting to get a complex almost....and had almost given up trying to call to offer my availability each week. Well just did it on a whim (God thing I know)and low and behold they called. The only jobs they have ever sent me on are the model home attendant jobs. Model homes have sales agents there pretty much 7 days a week. When they need a day off, and one of the regular fill ins cannot come, they call a temp agency, and then they call one of their temps. So I get this call to go to a place in Archdale NC. Archdale is probably 40 minutes from my home. I said YES, and rearranged my Friday so that I could go. My kids had dental appointments that morning, that I was planning on taking them on. My husband sacrificed some sleep so that he could take them instead so I could go. I also had to cancel a friend time as well so I could go....I would have rather seen the friend, of course...but I saw this as provision-so wanted to do it very much!
I went with my husband to get settled at the dentist. This was a new to us dentist, so of course they want your life history in the process. I went, not because my husband unable to do the paperwork, but just to make it easier on him since he was sacrificing sleep so I could go. Anyway...so left the dentist and drove the additional miles to the model home in Archdale. It was raining hard yesterday. Everything was wet and messy! I found the model home with ease, and walked to the door with my handful of things to do while sitting there. Usually, this builder leaves a key under the mat for the temp. So I was there, in the pouring rain, holding all my stuff-and pulled back the mat. No key. I pulled the mat up the other way, no key. I was baffled. This had happened to my husband once before at another model home. I went back to my car, dropped my stuff in the seat and walked back to the model. I rang the doorbell and looked under the mat again and again. I also checked the door to see if it was unlocked somehow. Nothing. So I went to my car and drove to a pay phone. I intended to call collect to the temp agency to let them know what was going on and so they could get me inside somehow by calling one of the people from the company. Well, the pay phone didn't work right. I went inside and asked about it, and they just shrugged. They did give me some quarters though...so I went back out there and tried again this time trying to call direct. Phone still didn't work right. Oh and may I mention, I'm still out in the pouring rain?
I do not wear rain coats. I do not know if I own a rain coat. I may own a jacket, that could double as one, but I hate coats and since I was only going to be darting in and out of places supposedly, I didn't feel I needed one. Our umbrella thankfully was under the seat. I pulled it out about this time as to not get more wet. It was broken. I do not remember it being broken, but apparently sometime along the way-it broke. I used it anyhow.
Well I drove down the street to a tire store. I went inside. I didn't see a pay phone nearby, but they did have a regular phone. I asked if I could use it. I called the temp agency. I explained that I was soaked, and couldn't get inside of the model home. They said they would call the agent. I would have to call them again in a few minutes to find out what was happening. Now it sort of irritated me that here I stood, wet...yet willing to still do the job...and the temp agency lady said, You will have to call me back. I felt on borrowed time already on that phone. Why she couldn't have called the agent from another line there at the temp place, while putting me on hold, I have no idea. Maybe they don't do things that way, I don't know. She also asked me what I wanted to do. (meaning was I intending to stay there and do the job being I was now wet) I said, "I want to do the job, I just need to get in!" So she called the agent, and I called her back. She said "well he didn't answer, so all I could do was to leave a message on his voice mail". No that isn't ALL she could do! She could call the company-someone...to assure me that at some point SOMEBODY would be there to let me in.
Anyway , with my hands tied, I told her I would go back to the model and sit in the parking lot to see if someone showed up. While there, I decided to try to cut the heat on full blast-hot to see if I would dry. It helped. If nothing else I was warming up again. I decided that since I was hungry, I would delve into some of my food that I had brought. When you do these jobs-you have to bring everything you might need for the day-including food. I brought some chicken salad, so put that on my bread, and proceeded to eat. I got about half done with my sandwich, when the builder pulled up. I don't know if someone called him. I definitely see it as God's hand getting me inside though regardless of how he found himself there at that moment. So I gathered my bags and went inside with the builder. He was talking on his cell phone (I hate those things) a mile a minute. He then got off the phone and started talking to me. He asked how I was, I responded by saying I was wet . He asked me if I would let a few people in if they came by that day ... plumbers etc, and would I lock back unit 105 before I left for the day. Not a problem. Another man showed up (still not the agent...and still not necessarily because of any phone call the temp people made) He had yet another key for me-the one for the homes that were for sell. They had 8 left. Usually when I do these jobs, they just require that you answer the phone and take messages. This sounded like more fun if someone actually showed up. Anyway. This guy wanted to show me where the homes for sell were, so I went down there with him. He just was easy to talk to, both were...nice and friendly people. Definitely took the edge off of the morning of rushing , becoming soaked, and the key not being there in the first place. I started to dry out some about the time they left.
About an hour into my first arriving, finally I was there-alone and ready for the day at the model. I called the lady at the temp agency to tell her I was there, but only could leave a message on her voice mail at that time. (I also hate voice mail...do you see a pattern of my aversion to modern technology?) I looked around to see if they had a microwave. This was a unit my husband had temped at once, and he couldn't remember. I forgot about that fact as I packed my foods, and so planned thinking there would be a microwave. Sadly, there was not. I had no way to heat anything. There was a coffee pot, but it was nasty. I could have cleaned it to heat water-but just still didn't feel so certain that I would "feel" it was clean. There was a stove, but my foods were conveince type things only designed for the microwave or heated water. So I was stuck. I finished my sandwich (thankfully I had that!) and then proceeded to open the soup thing. I drank it cold. Sighz. I had some grapes....
I tried to decide of the things I brought to do, what things I wanted to do. I pulled a book out of my bag and started reading it. It was ok, nothing to rave about. It kept my mind occupied at least for the day. I wonder if I can sell it now on eBay? It certainly isn't one to keep around forever.
I had packed papers and things to make this thanksgiving thing ....
http://www.papercraftsmag.com/paperparties/category.ihtml?idx=44 , but then decided against it. I just wasn't in the mood anymore after all the morning's activities. Only the plumber and one other lady (just there picking up a box) showed up all day. No phone calls, nothing. Oh to top it off, when the plumber came, they went to the construction office, not the model office looking to get into the home they needed in. When they didnt find anyone, they called the builder-who then must have tried to call the temp agency or something, because then they tried to call me to see if I was still there. Sigh-I called them to say I was here. Do they think Im just going to leave thereafter? OK I know some people probably do-but I am not that kind of worker. I was just put off by the agency that day-but thankful for God taking care of details in between as He provided so graciously for us yet again.
It continued to rain that whole day. I was glad to be done and back home when all was said and done. I was thankful for the provision the job brought, as well as how God took care of each detail. Thankfulness remains in my heart as I sit here today-for all He has done and continues to do in my life. He knew each of these details yesterday would happen, and took care of each one...even providing hot food in the end.
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