It was a beautiful sunny April day which felt so good after the horrible snowstorms we had had for the last several weeks. It was Friday and I decided to go to work early, so I could get some odds and ends cleared up before the day started with the phones ringing at 8:30 a.m. As I entered the office, I was surprised to see that my boss, John, was already in his office.

I had just removed my sweater when he called me, “Audrey, will you come into my office, please? And close the door.”

I thought this is strange, I wonder if he’s going to give me a bonus for getting the 1958 tax return completed and mailed. I had worked diligently all week and was elated that task was done for another year.

“I hate to do this, Audrey,” he said, “But I have to let you go.”

“Why?”

“It has nothing to do with your work. We are all very satisfied with your work, but I have been getting pressure from the town council to fire you. As you know, the council is one of our most important clients.”

“Who from the council wants me fired?”

“Specifically, Ralph Watson, the chairman.” he said.

“I don’t believe it. He is the one who has been calling my house20all hours of the night to try to get me to go out with him. I have turned him down, because he is a

married man. I guess this is retaliation.”

“I’m very sorry, but you know this is a small town and people can make your life rough,”

“I know, I have just become divorced and my ex-husband has been drafted so it will be weeks before we can get an allotment for the children. Men have harassed me all hours of the night, and I have had to get an unlisted telephone, but the calls don’t stop. I don’t think there are any secretarial jobs around here, are there?”

“Why don’t you try Minneapolis? They have many large law firms and you should have no trouble finding employment. You have the equivalent of a four-year college education with the skills you have acquired since you have worked here. I will write you a very favorable recommendation letter.”

I was so stunned, I just sat there. My mind went back to the day he had hired me. I hadn’t applied for a job at this office, but I had sent my resume’ to the school district. John had examined my records and said he was impressed, so if I wanted the job, I could start Monday morning. That was three and one-half years ago. I had been very happy working there and had studied to advance as quickly as possible. In addition to being the legal secretary for the senior partner, I20did all the office accounting, tax preparation, and took care of the insurance underwriting and real estate search reports.

I was in shock. I bit my lip, trying to keep from crying. It was just so unfair. I had worked hard and applied myself to every situation without being told. My whole world was shattered. My husband and I had built our house here and I thought my

employment was completely secure. How would I make my house payments? Even if I found work right away in Minneapolis, that was over 200 miles away and I would have to find housing and someone to watch my children while I worked.

“I am going to pay you through the end of this month, John said, and you don’t have to come back to work. That should give you time for your job search.”

I walked out of the office in a daze and went home. I made reservations for a hotel room in Minneapolis, for the following Monday, and I called my brother, who was living there and told him I would be in town for a few days, looking for work. I drove to Minneapolis and called several large law firms, but I couldn’t get any appointments. I knew this was a lost cause, because I didn’t have an address in Minneapolis and I didn’t really want to work there, so I came home. For the next three weeks, I tried to sell my furniture and lease my house, because I had decided to take my children with me to California, where friends had=2 0told me I could find a good job. I couldn’t find a tenant for my house so I left the keys with my parents and had the rest of my furniture stored at their house.

Two days later I was on the Northern Pacific train headed for California.

The click of the wheels on the track lulled me. and I fell asleep. Suddenly, I woke with a start. Where were my children? We were traveling together and my two children, Terri and Holly, ages four and two, had been sitting beside me. Now they were missing. Frantically I looked around the day car, and then headed to the viewing car. There they were, looking at the scenery. It was ten p.m. and everyone around us was asleep. I was so tired, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I was traveling to San Jose, where I had some friends. I had only $300 after paying for the train tickets and I worried how I would survive. I had to find housing, a job, and babysitter. My ex-husband had been drafted and the Army had not begun the allotment payments.

When I lost my job, I went down on my knees and prayed for an answer to my dilemma. The Lord comforted me and brought to my mind the verse, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Phil.4:13.) I was 22 years old, with two small children, traveling 2,000 miles from my home and family. My friend, Joe, was supposed to pick us up from the train depot in San Francisco, and drive us to San Jose, about 50 miles away. I would just have to take it step by step from there.

We arrived in San Francisco at midnight, and Joe was there to pick us up. We drove to San Jose, where I registered at a residential hotel down town. It was one room with a sink in the corner and a toilet down the hall. The next day, Joe picked us up and we rode around a neighborhood, where he had seen some “for rent” signs. We found a cottage on Vine Street. The neighbor next door, Myrtle, was a Hispanic woman, who told me the house was available for $80 per month, but she was unable to give us a lease, because the owners were trying to sell the house. I was delighted, and immediately paid her the first month’s rent. I asked her, “Myrtle, do you know anyone who does child care around here?”

She replied, “I do. I will be glad to watch your children for you while you work. My fee is 50 cents per hour.” She had two boys of her own, and was living on welfare, so she appreciated the extra money.

The house was fully furnished, right down to the dishes, pots, pans, bedding, linens, towels, soap, and all the necessities. The house had a fenced-in back yard with beautiful roses and other flowers. The children could play there without my worrying about them. All we had were the clothes we were wearing and in three suitcases. We were so fortunate to get a house fully equipped for living. I believed that the Lord had selected th is place just for us, since it fit our needs exactly.

That afternoon, Joe drove me to the Bank of America building, where he had been told there was a lady who handled the Legal Secretaries Association employment. I went up to see her and she gave me the names of five firms, that were looking for a legal secretary.

On the second day of our arrival in San Jose, Myrtle arrived at my house early and picked up my girls, while I walked the eight blocks to downtown. I had set up several appointments, and they were all within an eight-block radius of downtown. The first office was a two-man operation, M & M Associates, with one secretary, but they were looking for a second secretary. The interview went well, and they told me that since I had so much experience, I could start right away if I wanted the job. I told them that in fairness, I would keep the rest of my appointments to get an idea of what jobs were available. After checking all the other jobs, I decided to take the one at M & M. My

hours were nine to five, and the pay was $65 more per month than I grossed in Minnesota. I planned my budget and found that I would net $280, of which $80 was committed to the babysitter, $80 to rent, and $120 left over for food, utilities, clothing and everything else.

I praised the Lord. In two days I had found affordable housing, good child care, and a job within walking distance from home. The church was only eight blocks away, so we could praise and thank Him on Sunday mornings. How was it possible that the Lord had provided for all my needs so perfectly? I was totally in awe of Him.