With only 1 more day before I fly to the Dominican Republic, I've been reflecting on my time in the states. Some days it has felt like I've been here FOREVER and a day, when in reality it has only been 5 months. And what an incredibly blessed 5 months it has been...
It seems like ages ago when I woke up at 3am to drive 2 hours through mountainous roads to Santiago for the flight into Miami. I flew back with my dear friend Shayna on Valentine's day as she and her new husband prayerfully made the decision to have their baby in the states. Though it was a tearful goodbye for Shayna to leave Luis, it was such a blessing to be able to travel with her.
Shayna's friendship is so precious to me and an answer to many prayers. I was able to drive over to her home in Lakeland a few times since our return and even met their new little baby, Isaías, in May before they flew home to be reunited as a family in the D.R.!
So you may have been wondering, "what has Lauren been doing all this time?" Well, to say I've been busy would be an understatement!
The purpose of my return to the states was to begin raising support for this new chapter God has opened for me. I will be living completely off of the financial sacrifices of others and am always amazed at how God brings people into my life to make this possible.
Since my return in February, I have transitioned to a different mission organization in New Way Missions and began reaching out to friends and family to share what the Lord has placed on my heart. These past few months consisted of sending out letters, meeting with past supporters, and sharing my testimony and what God is doing with anyone with ears to hear.
In April, Mike Williams came to my church to share about the Cups of Cold Water Project and I was able to share my role in this project to encourage and empower the young girls and children in Zion. My jaw has not lifted off the floor since that day... I have been in constant awe of God's faithfulness in providing me with the financial support needed to do His will.
June began with a trip to Illinois to visit extended family and to attend my cousin's wedding. I had the opportunity to share about Zion Village and the program for at-risk girls with my grandmother's bible group (at 6:30 in the morning, no less!) and was humbled by their generosity and support. Some of the women in this group had even compiled recipes for a cookbook which they sold to the church community, and they decided to send all the proceeds to help me in the DR. I am still overwhelmed by their love and eagerness to support this mission!
It was so thrilling to be "back in the classroom" again! To share with the children about how God has called us all to be His hands and feet in the world fills my heart with such joy. I knew God was moving in their little hearts when one girl anxiously pleaded, "how can WE help!?" One boy even came up to me and matter-of-factly shared, "my family likes to donate and I have $20... I can bring that in."
Shayna's friendship is so precious to me and an answer to many prayers. I was able to drive over to her home in Lakeland a few times since our return and even met their new little baby, Isaías, in May before they flew home to be reunited as a family in the D.R.!
So you may have been wondering, "what has Lauren been doing all this time?" Well, to say I've been busy would be an understatement!
The purpose of my return to the states was to begin raising support for this new chapter God has opened for me. I will be living completely off of the financial sacrifices of others and am always amazed at how God brings people into my life to make this possible.
Since my return in February, I have transitioned to a different mission organization in New Way Missions and began reaching out to friends and family to share what the Lord has placed on my heart. These past few months consisted of sending out letters, meeting with past supporters, and sharing my testimony and what God is doing with anyone with ears to hear.
In April, Mike Williams came to my church to share about the Cups of Cold Water Project and I was able to share my role in this project to encourage and empower the young girls and children in Zion. My jaw has not lifted off the floor since that day... I have been in constant awe of God's faithfulness in providing me with the financial support needed to do His will.
June began with a trip to Illinois to visit extended family and to attend my cousin's wedding. I had the opportunity to share about Zion Village and the program for at-risk girls with my grandmother's bible group (at 6:30 in the morning, no less!) and was humbled by their generosity and support. Some of the women in this group had even compiled recipes for a cookbook which they sold to the church community, and they decided to send all the proceeds to help me in the DR. I am still overwhelmed by their love and eagerness to support this mission!
My sister and me with my grandma and her mother! I can't believe Grandma Great is 97 years old!
What perhaps has been the most inspiring event during my furlough occurred the final week in June. Nancy, the children's director of my home church, as well as my mentor and friend, invited me to share about the Cups of Cold Water Project with the kids for Vacation Bible School and announced that I would be their fundraising project for the week. I was speechless.
All 255 kids and their awesome adult and youth volunteers!
It was so thrilling to be "back in the classroom" again! To share with the children about how God has called us all to be His hands and feet in the world fills my heart with such joy. I knew God was moving in their little hearts when one girl anxiously pleaded, "how can WE help!?" One boy even came up to me and matter-of-factly shared, "my family likes to donate and I have $20... I can bring that in."
Oh, the lessons we can learn from children... God is constantly teaching me about true, life-giving faith through the words and actions of children. I know I've written this before, but this is why Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:17).
The kids were keeping track of their progress through the week!
By the end of that VBS Friday, the children raised just under $900, including last minute donations!
The CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES raised this money! I started crying when Nancy and Kimmy presented me with the check... on my birthday of all days! What a blessing!
I'm the type of person who doesn't believe in coincidences, but divine appointments. The Lord has made several of those appointments in these 5 months. From the financial advice of new and old friends to others who have also felt that tug on their heart for a life of missions, the Lord has placed these people in my life for such a time as this. God brought me brothers and sisters who have encouraged and discipled me, and brothers and sisters whom He gave me to encourage and disciple. Isn't it funny how He does that?
I close these 5 months treasuring all these things in my heart. Words will never begin to express my deep gratefulness to everyone who has encouraged and sacrificially supported the work God has called me to do in Zion and the D.R.
One more day before I will be on a plane headed home to Zion... the hymn "We're Marching to Zion" comes to mind and I part you with this refrain...
"We're marching to Zion,
beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
the beautiful city of God."
See you in Zion!
Wow! God is doing amazing things through and for you. That's so encouraging for whatever he has in plan for you next. I'm excited to explore and follow your blog. My heart beats for mission work, but for the time being, my mission field is low-income families in a small city in Washington. I get really excited hearing about how God is at work in the world. May He guide you, protect you, cover you in his loving embrace, and challenge you daily to become more like him.
ReplyDeleteElena
Amen! Thank you Elena for you empowering and kind words. I said a prayer for your God-given passion for the low-income families in Washington and know He will sustain you! God bless you!
DeleteLauren