It gives me great pleasure to announce that in mid-May I will begin a new job as a software engineer with a communications company in downtown Seattle, Washington. Generally, Andrea and I have gotten two responses to the news of our move.

1. Cool! Can we come visit?
2. Why?

I will address the latter in more detail.

1. New job. I have grown increasingly unhappy with my current position. I believe that it has failed to utilize my full potential and essentially reduced me to a mindless coder drone. My new position will allow me greater creativity and a chance to really shine. We also hope that Seattle will provide a full-time teaching position for Andrea. Central Pennsylvania is saturated with elementary school teachers, making it nearly impossible for her to find work (even as a substitute).
2. Seattle Metro Church. Planting a church in Seattle is a dream that Justin and I both share. I hope that our presence will be both strengthening and encouraging to our friends in SMC.
3. Grad school. The University of Washington has one of the top ten computer science graduate programs in the country. Lord willing, I hope to enroll in either the masters or doctoral program in the not so near future.
4. It’s a tech hub. Thanks to Microsoft and others, Seattle has become one of the premier tech hubs in the United States. People here are not just cranking out mass produced, mediocre applications. They’re being creative and innovative — taking the American IT industry where it needs to go. With tech jobs becoming scarce in other parts of the country, Seattle is definitely a great place to be.
5. City/Wilderness. I’m a little weird. I love the urban lifestyle and the cultural opportunities it affords. I love its tastes, sounds, smells, and crowds of the people. On the other hand I love the outdoors. Backpacking, rock climbing, and skiing make me giddy. I love to go to the most remote wilderness I can find and be absolutely alone. Seattle perfectly blends these two loves.
6. It’s different. I was in a position where I could have easily settled in Pennsylvania and lived the rest of my life there. But I didn’t want that. I want to move, travel, experience. And now is the time.
7. We’re following our dream. Have you ever simply known you’re doing the right thing? Yeah, me too.

Andrea and I are both incredibly excited! Keep us in your prayers if you think of it. There is much to do between now and then, including a 3000+ mile drive across the country. Also pray for our parents. They are supportive, but very sad to see us move. Thanks so much for your support!