Free Count It All Joy by Ashea S. Goldson Page B

new wing was being built in honor of the benefactor, Dr. Joseph Calholm. Then there was talk of a commercial and a new Bible radio show headed up by Dr. Harding himself. That would really put a new spin on Missionary.
    Marisol didn’t seem to be interested in either. She was too busy watching for tall, eligible bachelors on the registrar’s list. And I do mean that she was seeking them out literally.
    There should’ve been a law against what she was doing, and, in fact, there probably was. I stayed clear of her and her plans.
    Marisol came over to my desk with the registrar’s list in her hand. “Here is one registered for a full-time credit load, studying for his master of divinity, and he paid his tuition in full.”
    â€œGo on with that foolishness, Marisol. You shouldn’t be digging through people’s personal business.”
    â€œOh, please, it’s my job,” Marisol said.
    â€œNo, it’s your job to check for certain items on the list. Not to scrutinize people’s lives.”
    â€œOkay, whatever.” Marisol put up her hand. “Either way, I’m going to be seeing the same information.”
    â€œBut not to use for your own benefit.”
    â€œAll I’m doing is keeping my eyes open, that’s all. You never know who I might run into.”
    â€œMarisol, you’re a mess.” I shook my head. “Now get off of my desk with your work before we both get in trouble.”
    Marisol hunched her shoulders, gathered her papers, and left with a smile. “I’ll catch up with you later, chica .”
    â€œNot if I see you first,” I laughed.
    Marisol nodded and pointed at me as she was leaving. “Oh, so it’s like that. Okay, I got you, girl.”
    With all the work we both had for the new year, we never did catch up with each other.
    By the end of my shift, I was tired.
    After work, I drove down the highway with the wind in my hair, noticing the snowcapped trees and the icy walkways. I hated driving in that kind of weather, especially when I was in a hurry. An old coworker of mine lost her life because she skidded into the side rails on the highway one winter evening. I was determined not to fall into that trap, so I prayed for God’s divine protection over my life, and I kept my speed to the bare minimum.
    I was almost late for the meeting with Mr. Bowman, the business attorney who filed my not-for-profit status for Giving Life Ministries. Surprisingly, parking turned out not to be a problem, and I caught the elevator going up just in time. Mr. Bowman and I completed our business in a timely manner, and I was on my way with all the paperwork I needed.
    Up to now, the group and I had been meeting at the church, but in a few months when the renovations to Taylor and Keith’s fitness center were completed, our group would be holding our meetings there. At least that was the plan until Joshua and I started our own church.
    The whole project was scheduled to culminate at the Push It Fitness Center’s official grand opening. Since Taylor and Keith had purchased the center from its former owner, they had kept everything the same, both the décor and the policies. The much-needed changes would give them the opportunity to show off the new management and the new ideas they would soon implement.
    I was just grateful that Giving Life Ministry could come along for the ride and could be separated from Missionary. It wasn’t that I didn’t love Missionary, but I needed this separation for two reasons. The first was so I’d be able to qualify for the donations and grants necessary for my programs by having a 501(c)(3) of my own. The second reason was that my vision was big, and I knew we’d already outgrown Missionary’s place for us. Pastor Martin was generous enough to put me over the program, but I knew he had no idea what he was getting himself into.
    I was still amazed that I was delivered and was now able