Dear family and friends,
Growing up, I had always believed in God. I knew the general Sunday school stories and attended church somewhat regularly. But the past few years, I have really been wrestling with the Lord. My reputation in small town Oconee County, Georgia was a bit of a roller coaster. I wasn’t the “party girl” but I also wasn’t the “church girl”. I honestly had no idea who I was, but I let the whole town tell me who they thought I was. After high school, I started college at a small Christian school called Emmanuel College in an even smaller town Franklin Springs, Georgia. I went there to play soccer, and that was about it. During the first game of the season, I tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus and had to have knee surgery. My plans had fallen apart. I believed many terrible things about myself and I was so mad and upset. For a long time, I had a pretty negative attitude about almost everything.
About 5 months ago, I was at my breaking point. I knew I needed help, I just didn’t know how to ask for it. I was at a convocation service at my school called New Beginnings when I met Jesus Christ. I had absolutely no idea how lost I was before and how incredible having a relationship with Him is. Since that service, I have been asking the Lord: What next? What am I supposed to do with my life? After being asked what I want to do countless amounts of times during my freshman year of college, I still had absolutely NO idea. I had come up with some sort of plan in my head, but as I have learned, my plans don’t match up to what God has planned for me. So after my new “plan” for myself had completely fallen through, I desperately needed the Lord’s guidance.
I believe that deep in my heart, dying to get out was a passion for serving. When I was in the 4th grade, I went to Costa Rica on a mission trip and although I vaguely remember it, I believe that the Lord was planting a seed in me. For as long as I can remember, my heart has always ached for those who are hurting. I knew I wanted to do something drastic to change my entire life, but also hopefully change the world while simultaneously having the opportunity to travel it. I sat down and googled “long term mission trips” and came across The World Race. After reading about it, I felt so strongly in my heart that I needed to be a part of this. Within a week, I had applied and about a month later, I got accepted. I know that my job in this world is to be faithful to the message that I have been given of the Gospel. God is working through me to serve others by calling me to serve with Adventures in Missions on the World Race.
The World Race Gap Year is a 9 month mission trip to 3 different countries. The countries that I will be serving in are El Salvador, Malawi, and the Philippines. My squad and I will be serving in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and spread hope of the love of our Lord throughout the nations.
But I cannot do any of this alone! With your love, prayers, and support, YOU can help make this trip possible. My goal to reach is $12,500 by September. Yes I know, that sounds like a LOT. And it is! But I truly believe that the Lord will provide. I am asking you to consider becoming a partner with me on this journey through financial and prayer support. If you feel called to or are interested in supporting my trip, you can click the “support me” tab on the left to donate! You can choose to give a one-time gift or you can choose to give monthly. If you would like to send your contribution as a check, you can send it with the support card included in this envelope. Be sure to make the checks payable to Adventures in Missions with my name in the memo! Anything will help! You can also subscribe to my blog to get notified of whenever I post a new blog from on or off the field! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me by clicking contact on the left!
I am so excited to be able to share with you all and looking forward to this big adventure to find out what God has planned for me!
With love,
Lauren Barfield
