Crucial point

Guam or Glendale?

I am in a tough situation right now. Let me tell you the short history.

On the last Friday of June, my principal at Glendale Adventist Academy called and gave me some not-so-good news. She said the school may not be able to employ me again for the next school year which starts in August because of low enrollment. Because I am the last hired of that school (and the youngest too!), I am the easiest target. I felt sad, of course, but I got on my feet and started jobhunting big time!

I love Glendale. The school is home-y, comfortable, and I love my co-teachers. They may be way older than me but they are supportive, caring, and helpful. My students too are awesome. Their parents are so involved. I taught at a public school in 2011 and I could truly see the difference. My students in Glendale are way better. Other advantages of this job are: the benefits are awesome (dental, medical, vision, health savings, retirement) and professional development is superb (they pay for our summer school at the university and send us to places to attend teacher conferences). Even if my employment is not certain, the principal and I have been in constant communication. She is updating me on the enrollment. Little by little, the number of students grows in a month and that means, I can be secured with my position. As they were about to tell me (according to her) about my sure employment, an informer told them there's a problem with the visas of the Chinese teachers (who are accompanying the 60+ Chinese students who attend our school yearly). If there are no Chinese teachers coming to our school, there will be no Chinese students.. and that is a big chunk of the school budget! More teachers will be in jeopardy. The principals of my school are working it out with the US Embassy and they will update me again as so where I stand. Again, when this works out, I am in for sure. This brings me to the disadvantage of staying at this school. Until when is the security? Will I still stand on the same status next year? Will I still be jobhunting like crazy next year? This situation is crazy. Do I really want to go through this again?

While Glendale was sorting things out with their finances and enrollment in the month of July, I was in constant communication with Guam Adventist Academy for a possible employment. They called me 4 times for interviews and, finally, last Saturday, they told me I am hired. They gave me the go signal to buy the tickets of my whole family and they will reimburse the cost when we get there. Here are the advantages of this opportunity: It offers rent-free apartment and free car for easy mobility (so bills are just food and gas), it offers free fare for the three of us to and from the US every 2 years (Since it is cheaper to go through the Philippines to Guam from the US, we can hit two birds with one stone! I could go to my two homes for free!), simple life (It is an island just like Palau!), it is a US territory and Alex is a US citizen so he can get a job there, and I can still apply for my citizenship which I am already eligible for since June because Guam has a USCIS office. My friend who teaches there for 4 years now said, unless I mess up big time, my employment is pretty stable. The only issue I have with Guam is the low pay (1/3 of what I am getting now) and I have bills to pay back here in the States, plus I send money home for my dad's dialysis. If Alex gets a job over there, we will be fine, so he has to step up (if and) when we get there.

This is tough. In the past weeks, I was fine. But since yesterday, I have been a mess. It hit me that I had to make a wise decision soon. Guam's classes start on August 13 while Glendale's start on August 16. These dates are soon and I have to make a decision soon. My priority is still my current employer and I will wait until they say a clear Yes or No but I informed them that it would be unfair to keep Guam waiting that long. The principal understands that.

This week will be crucial. Lord, where will we be? Where do we fit best? Which one is best for my family in the long run? Please guide me. Please lead me.