For those of you who know me well, you know I have been looking for a job in my field (social work) for many many months now. The whole reason I went back to college 3 years ago was to work as an adoption case worker. Little did I know back then how difficult it would be to "break into the field" after I graduated. Adoption is a very competitive field because it is the "happy side" of social work. In addition, most agencies will not hire you unless you have previous experience with adoptions or if you have gone through the adoption process yourself. Long before graduation I began calling all over Louisville and the surrounding areas asking if agencies were hiring. I sent out my resume countless times and made so many phone calls over the period of 2 years.
This past April, I happened to send my resume out to a certain local Christian agency. I had actually contacted them two years before and they were not at a place where they could hire anymore people at the time. Well, I got an email back saying they were looking for an additional case worker and would be starting the interview process within the next few weeks. So, I went in for an interview at the beginning of May-- I was so nervous because I was 17 weeks pregnant and afraid they would rule me out immediately because of the pregnancy. Days and weeks went by with no word-- I was worried they had found someone else for the job. I had even seen the job posted in the newspaper over the summer, which convinced me that they had probably found someone else. Amazingly, three months later, I got an email from the agency asking me to come in for a second interview. I was floored! I began earnestly praying for this job. But, I was also at peace if the Lord had someone else besides me He wanted for the position.
At the end of August I went in for my second interview. It went really well, but I was concerned because they were wanting to hire someone right around the time Greenlee was due. I prayed that God would work out all of those details if this really was the job for me.
Well, the Lord did just that! I am happy to share with you that I have been officially hired by the agency to be the new part-time adoption case worker! They are giving me 4 weeks maternity leave, which is so incredible. I am so relieved that I won't have to be stressed about trying to balance a new job AND a new baby right away.
Due to the fact that this blog is completely public and anyone can read it, I haven't mentioned the name of the agency. But, I will say that it is a Christian agency based out of St. Louis, MO. They do both international and domestic adoptions. They can do adoptions from any state except New York, so if you or anyone you know is interested in adopting from a Christian agency, please contact me.
Adoption is such a passion of mine and this is truly my dream job. The fact that it is part-time and I can predominantly work from home is such a blessing. I get to spend the majority of my time with my little girl, yet still do work that I am passionate about and make an impact for Christ. I couldn't ask for more...my cup runneth over. I am so humbled that God would find me worthy for such a task.
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.