Melissa Reyes

After an insanely wonderful trip to Tanzania in Africa, much soul-searching, a bit of seminary browsing, a lot of traveling around the U.S., a lot more soul-searching, a few heated discussions with my loved ones, a brief stint as a hostess at a local Disney fine dining restaurant, a few interviews, and a giant leap of faith... I have finally landed my first real official job here in the bustling city of Orlando.  I have been hired to be a researcher/reports writer for the JESUS Film Project, a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ International, which I'm sure many of you have heard of. 

This didn't profoundly hit me until recently, but I realized that my passion has always been for communication and raising awareness.  I realized that all of things that I have derived the most pleasure and enjoyment from--singing, playing guitar and piano, songwriting, traveling, speaking, writing, small group discussion, even trips to the local coffeeshop--all of these things are primarily forms of or means for facilitating communication.  Most of these activities have been centered around a ministry or non-profit of some sort, whether it be Desire Street Ministries, Justice Road Productions, Hananasif Orphanage Center, Invisible Children.  These different projects have caught a piece of my heart along with them, and (as many of you know;) I've always been (notoriously;) caught up in the vision of a 'project' of some sort;) 

That is why I am extremely grateful for this new chapter in life.  This job will allow me to exercise and develop my research and creative writing skills, I will stay constantly connected to the international scene (my job lets me travel overseas!), I can stay close to home for the time being and save some money, and most of all I have a job that deeply aligns with my beliefs and personal core values, specifically including the art of communication for the purpose of raising awareness...

Not to mention, I still have time on the side to pursue musically creative projects as well!  (For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting a sophomore album release.. well, I'm not making any promises or anything.  But things are in the works..  Don't give up on us yet!

Overall, I have been extremely humbled and basically in awe at how God makes all the pieces fall into place, especially after long, dry seasons of confusion.  I felt as though I'd been in a constant state of flux, of not really having a clue what was going on.  It is extremely encouraging to see things beginning to take shape, and the only response I have right now is gratitude.  The past month of my life has been literally blessing upon blessing.  And I'm not talking about money, although of course that doesn't hurt;)... I'm just talking about those moments when you intuitively realize--or maybe God truly reveals--a bit more of himself and how he is working out his purposes in you and those around you...