Each month we like to highlight an employee who exemplifies the mission, philosophy, and values of our organization. This month we are delighted to highlight our Laurel House development manager, Anna Song, as our Employee of the Month.
Anna’s heart for the girls of Laurel House is transparent in her grant writing and presentations sharing about the mission to keep teen girls off the streets of Orange County. Since the Orange County Rescue Mission adopted the Laurel House program under our umbrella of services last summer, Anna has continued to further the work of Laurel House and expand the reach of the Rescue Mission in the process. We are blessed to work alongside of you and grateful to have you on our team, Anna, thank you for your devotion to this cause.
Age: 42
Where did you grow up? Fullerton, CA and I still live there!
Hobbies: Rock climbing, playing softball, reading, going on dates with my husband, watching my daughter dance and my son play baseball.
How long have you been at the mission: Exactly one year!
How did you hear about the job opportunity at the mission: When the Orange County Rescue Mission stepped in to save Laurel House from closing its doors, Jim Palmer called me and asked if I would be interested in continuing to be a part of this ministry to which I replied with a resounding “YES, PLEASE!!!” Or at least it was that loud in my head. I think I tried to maintain my composure on the phone with Jim.
What do you love most about your job: There’s so much, from the people I get to work with to the new things I get to learn, but what I love most is that I get to be a part of restoring the young lives of broken teen girls. I am humbled and blessed to be a part of something much bigger than myself.
How have you grown since coming to the mission: I have learned so much from the people around me. I have been challenged to break out of my comfort zone and gain new skills (still working on the public speaking thing). I am inspired by the faithfulness and discipline of those around me.
Church: Living Hope Community Church in Brea, CA.
Favorite Verse: It changes from time to time, but my fall back is “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:6-7. Prayer is not about asking God to answer you the way you want Him to, but about relinquishing control to God and yielding to His will. When we are able to surrender our wants and ideas of what we think is best for ourselves, He is able to prepare our hearts and equip us for whatever comes our way. Then we are able to experience an amazing, supernatural peace from the Holy Spirit, and trust in knowing that God, our Father, loves us and ultimately wants what is best for us. Sometimes that means being refined in the fire. Other times, it’s granting us our hearts’ desires. Bottom line – I need to pray more!
