I decided to post a blog about this new adventure God has me on and to include others in the process. Keeping a blog has been on my heart for several months now and I had even attempted to keep one earlier this year with children's ministry. Unfortunately, that didn't work out, but now I can see why!
Beginning in January, I plan to move to the Dominican Republic to teach and serve alongside an amazing missionary family. This decision was one bathed in prayer for over a year and I know without a doubt that the Lord has called me to this mission.
To give you a brief story of how I was led to the mission field, it all begins January 2010. I had been working in children's ministry with 3rd-5th grades at my church, preparing lessons for the following week when I was told there was a spot open on our church's mission team traveling to the D.R. The team had 2 weeks before they were going and they were running out of time. I was approached about filling that spot on more than one occasion, so I went to the Lord and prayed... and prayed some more! Then I discovered that the spot had been filled.
I felt relieved knowing that I didn't have to interrupt my schedule for a week... then wouldn't you know, a few days later, another spot had opened and I was approached again! "Alright, God... how do I respond?" Needless to say, God placed the burden on my heart to go and I had no idea why...
It was the greatest leap of faith I had taken at that point in my life. One week I was working and teaching in Florida, the next week I was traveling hundreds of miles to a land I didn't know with people I didn't know to do God knows what!
I reached a point of complete surrender to the Lord and committed my spirit into His Hands that trip. He has been so faithful and I knew I didn't need to worry about what lies ahead. It was the most freeing and beautiful moment that filled my heart with an indescribable peace.
It was on this trip I met the missionary family and shared my heart. God had me there for a reason and I couldn't shake the feeling that I would be back in the D.R. again soon. The very last day of that trip, the missionary family invited me to return and spend time with their family to seek God's will... and the praying began!
The next year and half was a period of seeking the Lord and waiting. God used this time to prepare my heart, mind, and soul for this new season as I remained faithful and obedient to what He had called me to in children's ministry. The timing felt right when I made it back down to the D.R. this June, and the Lord confirmed the desire in my heart to teach missionary children and serve on the field.
This is only the beginning and I cannot wait share what God will do in the days ahead!
Beginning in January, I plan to move to the Dominican Republic to teach and serve alongside an amazing missionary family. This decision was one bathed in prayer for over a year and I know without a doubt that the Lord has called me to this mission.
To give you a brief story of how I was led to the mission field, it all begins January 2010. I had been working in children's ministry with 3rd-5th grades at my church, preparing lessons for the following week when I was told there was a spot open on our church's mission team traveling to the D.R. The team had 2 weeks before they were going and they were running out of time. I was approached about filling that spot on more than one occasion, so I went to the Lord and prayed... and prayed some more! Then I discovered that the spot had been filled.
I felt relieved knowing that I didn't have to interrupt my schedule for a week... then wouldn't you know, a few days later, another spot had opened and I was approached again! "Alright, God... how do I respond?" Needless to say, God placed the burden on my heart to go and I had no idea why...
It was the greatest leap of faith I had taken at that point in my life. One week I was working and teaching in Florida, the next week I was traveling hundreds of miles to a land I didn't know with people I didn't know to do God knows what!
I reached a point of complete surrender to the Lord and committed my spirit into His Hands that trip. He has been so faithful and I knew I didn't need to worry about what lies ahead. It was the most freeing and beautiful moment that filled my heart with an indescribable peace.
It was on this trip I met the missionary family and shared my heart. God had me there for a reason and I couldn't shake the feeling that I would be back in the D.R. again soon. The very last day of that trip, the missionary family invited me to return and spend time with their family to seek God's will... and the praying began!
The next year and half was a period of seeking the Lord and waiting. God used this time to prepare my heart, mind, and soul for this new season as I remained faithful and obedient to what He had called me to in children's ministry. The timing felt right when I made it back down to the D.R. this June, and the Lord confirmed the desire in my heart to teach missionary children and serve on the field.
This is only the beginning and I cannot wait share what God will do in the days ahead!
The blog looks GREAT Lauren!!!! =)
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