Cassandra Flynn – Ambassador of Positive Change

Cassandra Flynn – Ambassador of Positive Change

 

One sunny afternoon during the COVID-19 pandemic, we were swimming at my sister’s pool with my mom who already had a job at Lighthouse, and she asked me, “How would you feel about Lighthouse?” Prior to that, I was working at Ephrata AreaRehab Services (EARS) full time, and I felt unsure if Lighthouse could hire me with my mom already working there. But there was an opening, they had a spot for me, and it just fell into place!

When I first started working at Lighthouse a few years ago, Leah trained me in the Vocational Training Program, and I started out making corner boards. Now I’m continuing to work in-house doing a lot of different jobs like fire safety kits, and I also work on a Small Group Employment team at Levi’s Building Components.

Transitioning is always hard no matter what kind of transition it is and no matter how much you analyze it or dwell on it, but I have grown a lot since I began. I am learning to advocate for myself as I know what jobs work for me and what jobs don’t. I am learning to choose what jobs allow me to implement more of the skills and gifts that contribute to making me feel good about what I do and are in line with my identity as a person.

I like to be able to use my gifts like organizing, cleaning, sorting, putting things in order—those are my gifts; they are things that I don’t just enjoy—I LOVE. So when I can do those things, I feel better about the job I am doing. When I work atLevi’s, I’m learning to stay focused so I can achieve what needs to be completed for the day.

One thing God is showing me is that when we go through tough times, instead of going towards the things that are easy and simple, I can ask: What can I learn about the challenges that God wants to teach me and how He will use me? Because everything we go through is only for a season.

This is where I’m supposed to be, and God is going to use me as one of His ambassadors to change the world around me.

One of my desires is to volunteer and help with a Garden Club. I love hydrangeas! They’re so pretty in all the different colors, and I would love to be involved in starting a garden with vegetables and flowers at Lighthouse.

A scripture the Lord gave to me to share with you is Proverbs 3:5-6. It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and he will direct your paths.” Even with the state of the DSP crisis right now and so much going on, we can trust in God.

Being at Lighthouse feels like I am part of an extended church family; there is no judgment or comparison which is very important to me, and I am so grateful to be on this journey.

~ Cassandra Flynn, Participant with Ashley Hankins, Program Associate