PhD Journey Check-In

and a new job...

Recently I’ve been told by two women (you know who you are!) that because I have been sharing about my PhD journey I’ve encouraged and inspired them to go back to school. This fills me with such joy and thanksgiving.

I wrestled with whether or not I should be vulnerable in sharing about my PhD journey (I believe I spoke about this in my first post), but if God is using it to encourage others to take the next step (whatever that next step may be) in faith and to do a hard thing, then thanks be to God! I’m thus encouraged to keep sharing.

Before I give my latest updates on the PhD journey, I’ve had another big life update. I left my job at B&H Academic at the end of June for a new job at Baker Academic this month. I’m still doing the same type of work as before—acquisitions editor—but for a different company. It was not an easy decision to leave. I had been treated very well by B&H Academic; I loved my team and felt very supported. I was not searching for a new job when Baker Academic came along nor did I seek out Baker Academic. But when Baker did come my way, I gave it serious consideration and prayer primarily because of Baker’s reputation as an academic publisher.

As I tried to discern which company was the better fit for me both now and in the future, I chose Baker because of its reputation, its solid and successful publishing program, its broad Christian reach, and the opportunities to learn from some of the best people in the field of publishing. I hope to be at Baker for a long time.

As it relates now to my PhD journey, I will be able to work on my PhD part-time as I work at Baker (great news!). However, whereas Lifeway provided a small education stipend to employees pursuing higher education, Baker does not provide the same benefit.

So where do things stand on the PhD journey?

1. As it relates to my tuition, I received one scholarship of $4,000 last month (PTL! 🙌). Between two financial gifts and this scholarship, I have $11K of the $17K. We will either need to pay $6,000 out of pocket or take a loan. For reference, because we live in a failing school district in Birmingham, our son Philip is in private school. His tuition this year is just over $10,000 (not including books and uniform costs). This is why the PhD tuition has been a big source of prayer and need.

2. Because of #1, I put together a PhD book need list on Amazon and shared it with friends and family on Substack and Facebook. I was a little embarrassed to do this and worried that it could send the wrong message to folks, but I thought this would be a smaller, tangible way to help me as we put aside money for #1. I was surprised, floored, and humbled by the response. I had packages show up at my door for the last month, and one friend sent me some money to buy whatever book(s) I need (see photo of books I’ve received below). I cannot tell you how loved I felt, especially as I received books from people I first met more than 25 years ago and people with whom I’ve only spent a short time in person. I thank God for these people (and if you are one of them, I thank God almost every day for you).

3. My progress on my paper is slow. Due to end of the school year activities for Philip and interviewing for and starting a new job, my progress has been much slower than I had hoped. Also, I had to stop my Latin studies mid-spring and I haven’t resumed them yet.

4. Because of #3, I’ve already wondered, “Can I do this? Should I even try? Am I PhD material?” I find that my greatest enemy is myself. I tend to self-sabotage and it usually begins in my thoughts. In my fear and anxiety of not being able to do something, instead of pouring myself into the work, I look for an escape—anything but the work I’m called to do! For this I need a LOT of prayer!

5. Our family is planning to go to Durham, England next summer. Osvaldo wants to attend a New Testament conference in Durham, and thankfully he has faculty funds to use to cover the cost of his travel. I want to go so that I can meet with my supervisors in person, meet other PhD students, use the library, etc. Also, since I’m studying Julian of Norwich, I feel it’s important for me to visit Norwich while I’m there. I’m still looking for grants that would help cover the cost of such a trip. Please pray as we try to set aside money or find funding for this trip.
   

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus tells us to ask our Heavenly Father to “give us this day our daily bread.” I am grateful that we have enough money from our income to buy our daily bread, so the force of such a request has not been felt concretely in my working adult life. Until now. The PhD for me has become my daily bread request. The Lord has graciously provided $11,000 for my first year. But what about next year and the year after that? What about for the next six years? Where will this money come from? Through the PhD, God is calling me to depend on him. I don’t know where my “daily bread” will come from as it relates to paying for this degree; I must ask and trust Him. Thus, this prayer has been on the tip of my tongue and at the front of my mind and heart.

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”

One last note…

A friend from seminary who lives in Silicon Valley is allowing our family to stay in his house for free while he and his family are away the month of July. Thanks to him and Southwest frequent flyer miles, we’re leaving next week for San Fran for a fairly inexpensive vacation. I want to thank him for his hospitality (you know who you are!). Next week we want to turn off all work, focus on each other, and rest before Philip starts high school, Osvaldo begins a new semester, and as I go full force into a new job. And yet…I may smuggle Julian into my luggage. We’ll see!

Thank you for your words of encouragement, support, and most of all prayers!

How can I pray for you? Comment if you have a prayer need. I’d love praying for you in my daily time of prayer.

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Thank you for the books! 😭