Peterson Update: the end is near?

Here is an email that I sent out to our email list this week. Let me know if you want to be added to the list.

Hello all, just wanted to give you the latest on the job search. Two weeks ago, I received via email an official job offer from the University of Cape Town, which is very exciting. They decided to open up a second experimental position and offer it to me. I think that their first offer to Andrew is still open, but he is wanting to delay it two years, presumably prompting the second offer. Anyway, they have given me 3 weeks to decide, which ends on April 30th.

In the meantime, I have been corresponding with the chair of the Physics Dept at the University of Nairobi and the process has been progressing and looks promising. The Physics Dept agreed to consider me for a Lecturer (professor) position and has submitted the request to the Principal (Dean of Science) who has in turn passed it on to the Vice Chancellor. So, we are now waiting to hear back from him.

These are both exciting possibilities and we are constantly weighing the options, Cape Town vs. Nairobi. Baring a huge breakdown in Nairobi, it looks like we will be making a decision this week about where we will be moving in August. We currently are unsure of where God is leading us to go, with both being very good options. Please pray with us this week as we consider the two locations and seek God's direction. We appreciate your support and will keep you posted, Steve & Diana

PS. Our baby has reached full-term! We just hit 37 weeks and are less then 3 weeks from the due date. It is hard to believe our baby is almost here. Pray for Diana and the baby as we near this amazing and slightly terrifying event. (And maybe pray a little for me too :)

Peterson Update: the Job Search Continues

Here is an email that I sent out to our email list last week.  Let me know if you want to be added to the list.

    Hello friends, I just wanted to give you an update on the job search.  There have been quite a few developments and we would love if you could pray with us as we wait and discern God's direction.  I also apologize for waiting so long to let you know what has been going on.
    First, the University of Cape Town (UCT) emailed me soon after I returned from South Africa, telling me that they had offered the position to another candidate.  I was discouraged when I heard this because I felt the interview went quite well.  Although, they did tell me that if this initial offer was declined, then they would extend the offer to me.  Now, four weeks later, the chair of the UCT Physics Dept. emailed me today informing me that they could possibly be extending me an offer in the next week or so.  This is exciting news, but is tempered slightly by another opportunity that we have been pursuing in Kenya.
    Second, the University of Nairobi (UN) became an exciting option a few weeks ago when my sister (Joy) contacted a missionary friend in Nairobi on my behalf to ask about connections to the university there, specifically in Physics.  She forwarded me the response she got, which read: the head of the Physics Dept at the University of Nairobi is in our REAL Group. His prayer request every week for over a year has been for the staffing shortage in his dept. He keeps trying to hire from everywhere, and business keep poaching his talent. Can I forward your email to him?  Needless to say, we just about jumped out of our skin because of this incredible connection that had been orchestrated by God.  In the midst of the disappointment from UCT, this was such great news and we immediately felt this is where God wanted us to go.  So, I contacted the chair of the Physics Dept. and sent him my CV.  He responded with a email saying that he has initiated the process to consider me for a position.  (I know, kind of cryptic, but really just academic talk for this might take a while).  Now, three weeks later, I am still waiting to hear more from UN and getting a bit concerned.
    Third, it looks like we will have an impending decision to make concerning the job at UCT and although Diana and I both want the security of knowing where we will be moving to, we want the assurance of knowing God's direction more.  We would ask for you to pray with us to seek what God's wants before our own wants and that his direction will be clear.  We appreciate your willingness to pray with us.  Sorry for the length and I promise to keep you posted more frequently.  Thank you, Steve & Diana Peterson