Two months ago, after filling out lots of paperwork, multiple phone calls, and interviews, I received a call saying I was accepted to take part in the World Race. With a pounding heart, full of faith, I accepted the position on the October team and paid the deposit!
I’ve shared a little bit of my story before, how this was not something I wanted to do. I was hesitant and fearful. Yet, time and time again the Lord continued to give me a peace about it that I couldn’t understand. Time and time again, I would mention it to people I believed had very similar worldviews to me, hoping they would shoot it down, and time after time they affirmed me in it. The Lord’s peace washed over my fearful mind and I finally surrendered to it. I shared about how moments, after accepting the spot and paying the downpayment fear, took over yet again, and the Lord used people like Jake (#JakeFromJesus!), to remind me of the Lord’s great love and faithfulness.
These last two months have first of all flown by! FLOWN BY! Honestly, it feels weird that I accepted that two months ago, it kind of feels like two weeks! They have certainly been a whirlwind, with many highs and quite a few lows. I’ve had to trust the Lord and lean on Him like never before. I’ve seen Him provide in some incredible ways like I shared about on my World Race blog HERE and been blown away by His faithfulness.
In the last two months, I’ve been able to raise $3,123.91 for my World Race! A lot of this money coming from people I hardly even know or have never even met. It’s mind-blowing! I’ve sold 17 t-shirts to help fund my trip! I’ve sold 226 bracelets, 28 lanyards, and 33 keychains to 12 states within the United States all through my little online shop! I’ve had so much encouragement, support, and so many people reach out in prayer.
I’ve come a long way, but I still have a long way to go. In order to meet my goal to be able to go on the World Race, I still need to raise $14,776.09. Which is a lot of money! A LOT. Frankly, I’d be lying if I said, I wasn’t a little concerned about how I was going to raise the money. I certainly am, I have no clue how to raise $15,000. BUT, I also am very confident in the God I serve and I truly believe that when He calls us, HE will equip us with all me. What that looks like, I’m not sure, but I’m excited to find out in the months and weeks to come.
The Lord hasn’t just been providing for me financially thought! I think that when I think of preparing for the World Race, the two things that pop into my head & most peoples heads are being financially and spiritually prepared & for obvious reasons. But, physically and mentally, there is a lot that goes into it as well, that I never considered until I committed to the race (which might be a blessing!) I’ll be traveling for 11 months with just a backpack. Everything I need for 11 months will be carried on my back. That’s a lot to wrap my head around. BUT, I’d say that the Lord has been helping me learn to prepare my mind and my spirit for what it will look like to leave everything behind and embark on this journey. I’ve come a long way mentally in these past two months!
The last 2 months haven’t been easy, but I’ve been SO grateful for them and all the blessings they’ve held! I am so excited about all that the next few months have to hold as I continue to prepare for the race and then leave.
That being said I’d love to share with you some ways that you can help out and be involved in what God is doing in my life. The best and most important thing you can do for me right now is praying for me. There are three things I’m currently praying for me and over my world race right now. First I am praying the Lord continues to give me a passion for the Gospel, a passion for people, and a passion for the nations. I know, that the enemy does not want me to do this nor does my sinful nature and they will do everything they can to try and stop me. Pray that I would continue to seek Jesus and realize that He is greater than all else! Secondly, pray that the Lord would continue to teach me as I prepare to go on the World Race. My prayer is that I’ll always be teachable and allow the Lord to shape and change my heart and mind, just as He’s already been doing so much in the last year. Pray that I’ll be humble and willing to admit when I might not be right and change my way of thinking to a way that reflects more of His glory and love, not just for me, but for all people. Finally, I am praying the Lord would continue to bring people into my life who are passionate about Jesus and missions and who are able to support me financially and partner alongside me.
If you’re willing to support me financially I’d be eternally grateful. There are a number of ways you can help. The easiest is paying online. You can find that link HERE or click the button above that says donate! All of the money goes directly towards my trip and you’ll be emailed a receipt directly after. All donations online are tax-deductible and 100% of the money goes to my trip. Secondly, you can contact me directly if you’d like to support me financially and I’d be happy to meet up with you or get in contact with you and tell you more. Finally, you can shop online at my site HERE. Everything is 100% fair trade and half of all the money spent goes directly to my trip, while the other half goes to the people who created the items in the Philippines. It’s super easy to shop online and I can ship anywhere in the United States.
I’m trying to create ways to keep people up-to-date on how things are going, what God is teaching me, and ways people can pray. So if you want to follow along on this little journey of mine, I’d love for you too! I started a page on facebook to update family and friends on how they can get involved, be praying, and hopefully to just encourage people! Frankly, I’ve never done a Facebook page before, so I’m not 100% that I’m doing it right, but anyways you can find it HERE! Secondly, you can follow along here, on the blog! Simply click the little orange button below my name and picture and every time I post you’ll get an email letting you know. I’m not posting a ton now, but once I leave for the World Race, I’ll do my best to update the blog to keep everyone in the loop of what’s happening and how people can be praying!
So there you have it, a little glimpse at where I am after committing to the World Race two months ago. I’m SO grateful to everyone who has supported me financially, purchased a bracelet or keychain from my little store, written a sweet letter or note of encouragement, and prayed for me in these past two months. Every deed big or small hasn’t gone unnoticed and in this past season of life, it has meant the world to me. I’m so grateful. SO grateful!
I’ve said it before, but I’m constantly in awe of the love and faithfulness of the Lord. He is so good and is so faithful. Following Him has been the single-handed best decision I’ve ever made in my entire life & if you’ve never made that decision or have questions about what it means to follow Jesus or even just wondering why someone would want to follow Jesus, I’d love for you to message me. I’d to share a little bit of my heart with you. I certainly have a testimony of great, great grace, but I also have followed Jesus in some hard seasons of life, where I faced a lot of heartache and many challenges. Yet, never once, in the good or the bad, has He failed me yet & I promise you that He won’t fail you either!
“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths!” Proverbs 3:5-6
Much Love & Many Blessings, Lauren
