HEY EVERYONE!! I hope all is well 🙂
It has been quite a journey since I came into relationship with Jesus in 2010. Life has definately had its struggles, but I have been filled with joy and awe along the way. The past 5 years of my life I have asked God many questions about who he is and to show me who he is. A frequent one is “what love is?”, and He has used children and families to do just that. While going to ministry school, I’ve been serving others babysitting and doing odd jobs on the side. If I could be of any help I would try to meet the need, and I have learned a lot of cool, new things along the way. I’ve learned that I love kids, I love people, I can climb mountains and rock walls, how to drive stick, I like teaching, telling stories and reading, I really enjoy yoga and cooking, I like dressing up in costumes and painting faces, and that I can conquer my fears of any sort. But what I’ve really learned is that love is unconditional and sacrificial, nurturing and generous, healing and forgiving, overflowing with mercy and grace. It is relational, gives room to grow, and is stronger than anything it comes up against. Love is God and God is love.
When I went on my first missions trip to Costa Rica in 2011 I knew that missions was my calling. I was created to share the love of Jesus, help the poor and serve those in need, whatever that looked like. Two years ago, I heard about the World Race which is 11 countries in 11 months of living out of a backpack, sleeping on the ground, rarely showering and more importantly, sharing the story of Jesus and serving whatever the need is. The World Race is also a discipleship program that calls us to embrace our specific place in the Kingdom of God. Through the World Race, my team and I will serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, vacation Bible school outreaches (YAY!), work in orphanages, help kids with school work, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring hope of God’s love to many broken places. It sounded too good to be true!! I applied and was accepted immediately, but was recommended to do counseling just in case there was anything that would distract or hinder me from the work that God would be doing in and through me on the trip. So I embarked on the journey towards healing myself. It has been hard, but totally worth it. I feel more prepared, more firm in my relationship with Jesus, and stronger than ever in who God designed me to be.
Even though I have faced many challenges, I know there are more to come. A current challenge is my financial support. Like most other missions organizations, World Race participants are required to fundraise financial support. In order to leave fully funded on June 28, 2015, I need to raise $16,277. This money will cover all of my field expenses for the 11 months of the trip. As I take this large step of faith in trusting the Lord, would you please prayerfully consider joining me at $100 monthly or some other amount? If you can’t do a monthly donation, would you consider a one time gift?
If you have any questions please touch base with me and I will answer any them. You can also visit my blog at ( LaurenMitchell.theworldrace.org ) to find out more about me and follow my journey through out my travels or you can email me ( [email protected] ).
THANK YOU so much!!! 🙂
Grace be with you,
Lauren Wilde Mitchell
