Welcome to the “About Me” section of Me! ….Lauren Erb
–Where am I from? I am from Marshall, Wisconsin. I have never lived anywhere else in my life. I love that it is a small town with people who wave to you as you pass by.
–What do I do? I will graduate from The University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point in December 2010 with a degree in Physical Education and minor in Adventure Education. I got into the major just hoping to be able to play games as a job with children. Now I realize helping youth form as a class/team through physical activity is something that gives me enjoyment. Although I am not sure that God has called me to be a teacher just yet or even at all. As for Adventure Education (what’s that?) , it is education focused around camping, high ropes courses, hiking, basically wildreness extreme activities.
-How did I come to know God? I was raised in a loving home where we went to church every Sunday but it was not until college when God captured my attention and heart. I began the first 3 years of college living a selfish life full of partying. I struggled with putting my worth in what others thought of me and a slight dependence on alcohol. As I started to feel guilty and ashamed of this lifestyle I did what I thought was right…went to church! After sometime of continuing a partying lifestyle and church God had set me up to break down.
On October 31, 2008 I was drunk in the main bar area of Stevens Point, WI. I heard someone yell “Free Hot Dogs.” I ran over and sure enough it was my new church doing an outreach to people who had lost their way (You got me good with those Hot Dogs, God!). I sat down with one of the men there and he helped me to see I was not truly living FOR God. I pledge to give up alcohol for one year(within that year I lost most friendships and a relationship but found my Creator!). Now it has been 2 years and I have been sober since.
That was where God started to work more in me until I fully handed my life over to Him on January 1, 2009 at a winter confernce put on my Campus Crusade for Christ. It has been a beautiful and broken relationship with God ever since. When I gave my life to God, He took it and used it right away.
– Why did I choose The World Race? In the summer of 2009 (3 months after giving my life to Him) I went to Lake Tahoe, California for a Summer Project through Campus Crusade for Christ (which is like a summer long mission trip geared towards building up leaders for Christ). One night we had a dinner focused on the need for the gospel in other countries. My heart broke and all I wanted to do was fly to a country right then and there to tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ! But where would I go….? A night or two later that summer we had chinese food for dinner and my fortune cookie said ” YOU WILL STEP ON THE SOIL OF MANY COUNTRIES.” Some of you may think it is odd, but I know that was God calling me to a mission that went to many countries (called by a cookie… oh yes). God lead me to this website through asking me to support a racer. I got to see how a world racer is to serve God in the world through this mission and how God pushes them to rely, trust, and pursue Him on the trip. I can see how God has been preparing me for this time for this trip.
– What random facts I can share with you?
- I can fit 30ish grapes in my mouth
- I like to worship in the bathroom best
- I play guitar
- I have ripped my pants in public 8 times (talk about awkward and unfortunate)
- My favorite game is “Sorry” (I really believe it teaches manners and forgiveness)
- I started a Women’s Wednesday Wrestling Night as an outreach from my apartment
- I enjoy playing basketball
- I am a certified Wildreness First Responder (like a paramedic in the woods with limited supplies)
- I have climbed to the top of Longs Peak in Colorado (14, 259 ft.)
- I fell in love with God ( like heart racing, palms sweating, head of heels in love with Him) when I was reading my bible, sitting on a basketball court, in Lake Tahoe, CA ,on what I call “Jesus and mines first date” 🙂 …. best day of my life!
