5 years ago I remember standing in the local mall of my hometown Traverse City, Michigan talking with my friend Bridget about a journey she was preparing for called the World Race. 11 countries in 11 months?! THAT is THE mission trip I’ve always longed for in the deep parts of my heart since I was a little girl. Little did I know that a seed was planted that day. From there there were two other encounters I had over the years that involved the World Race. In 2016 the Lord planted another seed, Kenya. For 2 full years everywhere I went, church, conversations with others, overhearing someone saying Africa or Nairobi. I kept praying and asking the Lord, “What do you have for me in Africa and Kenya specifically?” As I continued to wait on the Lord, (something that I’m still learning) he revealed himself through scripture (shocker). Isaiah 6:8 and Jeremiah 1:4-5 are the big ones. Then one night at work, my manager asked me, “Lauren, what do you want to do?” and I said hesitantly, “Well, I would like to work with young girls and women but I’m in a waiting period and I see the end but I’m waiting for an opportunity.” and he immediately says, “You want to know what you do about it? You research.” So that night I went home and the World Race came up again. I looked at the routes for January 2019 and one of the countries that’s on that list is of course, Kenya. While I was filling out the application the bible verse Isaiah 48:17 was the verse of the day “This is what the LORD says– your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” When my interviewee was on the phone with a mentor, I got on my knees completely in surrender telling God, “I don’t want anything I desire if it’s not in your will. I just want to be radically used by you. If this is what you want, then make it happen. If not, it will hurt a lot but I know you are still good.” The next day I was accepted!
There are many other signs, revelations, and doors that keep getting knocked down that he’s telling me to simply go. And while there are many questions and unknowns that I have as I start preparing for this incredible journey I’m going to embark on in a little over 6 months, I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord will take care of it all. Every. Single. Day. He continues to make it KNOWN to me in ways I can’t even explain. I just want to share with the whole world what his love, grace, and kindness has done for me.
Please continue to keep myself and other squad members in your prayers as we prepare for this journey into the world, arms open and wide fully engulfed and immersed into what the Lord has called us into.
Thank you for reading,
-Lauren
