Hello Friends,
I just want to say that I am so grateful for the friends that I have. I have sometimes felt like I was walking this strange path alone getting ready to go to China but I realized tonight that God has always and is always providing people to surround me with encouragement.
Let me explain myself. My roommates (I have 8 amazing roomies) wanted to have a hang out night at our house lead by our friend Matt. He agreed to come tonight and we invited whoever we thought would show up. We have gatherings like this at our house a lot and we never know who is going to come but God always plans it just right. Tonight we had a great group of people that God destined to be there in more ways than just one. We started out the night with some songs on guitar and piano and reading some good stuff. Some of the verses were perfect for things I had been struggling with and the songs spoke to my heart. God can do so much through the power of music and tonight was no exception for sure. The blending of voices is enough for me to have a great night but it gets better!
Later my good friend Dave that I talked about yesterday asked if anyone needed prayer. We set out a prayer seat and prayed over people and whatever situation was going on in their lives for the next three hours! If you want to really get to know someone ask what you can pray for in their lives and you will find out. God has a way of making you vulnerable when you ask for prayer and pray for other people. Another girl in the group said her prayer request and I was put to shame. She talked about how she needed to raise thousands of dollars to work in Mexico for a year and I realized that with God how could I question his work in my life. I was so encouraged by her spirit of faithfulness that I almost felt like I couldn't even bring my requests to the group because her situation was way bigger than mine. I didn't want to say anything when so many other people had circumstances that are so important and of course I can pray on my own if I need it ( Lame excuse) but I got called out by my roomie Emma who said everyone needed to pray over me. It was exactly how it needed to happen and I am grateful to her for saying something when I don't know if I would have had the courage.
When they prayed it was God speaking to my heart and to all my fears and insecurities to cast them out. I was crying like I normally do when I pray or get prayed for but it was tears of joy to share this burden that I had been carrying by myself. I have so many friends and family willing to help that I can't be afraid to ask and I know God will give me the peace I need to make it through the next three weeks.
I ask that you seek the Lord with me and lift me up in prayer and remind me that I am not the only one wandering in fear and doubt alone. A wise person recently said if it's his will it's his bill and as corny as that sounds I believe the truth behind that statement.
Still on the course towards Christ,
Lauren B.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It's Just Like Ohio!
Hello Friends,
A very wise person gave me some really solid words of wisdom recently. We were sitting in a small group where I am the youngest person learning from some very wise, experienced, amazing God followers and as I related my feelings about going to China and from across the room I heard this phrase, "It's just like Ohio, don't worry." As I sat and thought about the weight of truth to that statement I realize that it really has no truth in it at all or at least I hope China is better than Ohio and it just released a lot of tension that I had been feeling up until that point.
I am continually amazed at what God has done through this experience so far and I haven't even left the state yet. In such a simple statement made as a joke it lightened the mood I was in and allowed me to give up some stress and control of the situation because what if it is like Ohio? The point is that I don't know and I need to trust that God has his hand on this trip and in my heart.
Another cool thing that happened was in my finances. I have not made even near the amount that I need but God has still shown up in big ways. I got a list of people that have so far donated to my cause and the small amount gave Satan a stronghold of fear and worry right away that God did not want to be there. The next few times I was in my car I was praying or talking on the phone to my mom and Sarah from Church to hopefully get things figured out there. As I prayed by myself I still felt peace that I should be going but I need to have faith about my finances and I really wanted someone to pray with me about everything but didn't have the time to talk to anyone specifically about it. Tonight on the way home from moving some of my stuff to Hudsonville where I will be living next year my good friend Dave called me about something completely unrelated to China finances and then ended the conversation lead by God by praying specifically about China and my finances!!!!
A very wise person gave me some really solid words of wisdom recently. We were sitting in a small group where I am the youngest person learning from some very wise, experienced, amazing God followers and as I related my feelings about going to China and from across the room I heard this phrase, "It's just like Ohio, don't worry." As I sat and thought about the weight of truth to that statement I realize that it really has no truth in it at all or at least I hope China is better than Ohio and it just released a lot of tension that I had been feeling up until that point.
I am continually amazed at what God has done through this experience so far and I haven't even left the state yet. In such a simple statement made as a joke it lightened the mood I was in and allowed me to give up some stress and control of the situation because what if it is like Ohio? The point is that I don't know and I need to trust that God has his hand on this trip and in my heart.
Another cool thing that happened was in my finances. I have not made even near the amount that I need but God has still shown up in big ways. I got a list of people that have so far donated to my cause and the small amount gave Satan a stronghold of fear and worry right away that God did not want to be there. The next few times I was in my car I was praying or talking on the phone to my mom and Sarah from Church to hopefully get things figured out there. As I prayed by myself I still felt peace that I should be going but I need to have faith about my finances and I really wanted someone to pray with me about everything but didn't have the time to talk to anyone specifically about it. Tonight on the way home from moving some of my stuff to Hudsonville where I will be living next year my good friend Dave called me about something completely unrelated to China finances and then ended the conversation lead by God by praying specifically about China and my finances!!!!
GOD IS AMAZING!!!
God has so exceeded my expectations unspoken or spoken that I can't fathom serving a God that does not know and understand my needs before I do.
May the light of truth reflect in my life,
Lauren B.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Penny for my thoughts.
Hey Friends,
Time for another update about my life before China.
Lately I have been having mixed feelings of excitement and stress of all the things I have to do before I leave. My first feelings is the stress about getting everything ready to go, dealing with leaving half way through the summer, fear about going to another country, walking out of my comfort zone teaching by myself to students who's language that I can't speak in any way shape or form, not being ready for such a big task and probably many other fear and stresses that I can't name or comprehend right now.
The things that I am excited about are so much more though because God is Faithful and Just. I am excited about having new experiences in another country and working with a team of people that not knowing very well have been on my heart the last few months. I am amazed at the peace I feel despite not having very much of my finances taken care of yet and struggling to even live my normal life let alone a month long trip across the world. I am grateful to the people that I have talked to that I know will support me in this experience in any way that they can. I had many conversations this week that have encouraged me through this time of preparation. I get a huge smile on my face when I think about the students I will be teaching and all the ways that I will be able to use what God has taught me.
In a packet that I got about my packing list and tips and there was one thing that I thought was really cool. The information said that I should find a good body spray from bath and body works and wearing it everyday while I am in China then not wearing it for a month and when I smell it again it will bring back so many memories about my experience, my students, my team, and the country. That was such a cool idea to me to have memories impacted so much by smells and to use that purposefully to bring the experiences and stories back to my mind. I am definitely going to do that and to try and journal everyday that I am there so I can look back and what I learned to better relate it to the people in the states.
I hope this all made sense and I am hoping for your support and prayer as all these feelings hit me at the same time. Feel free to make any comments or helpful hints if you have had similar experiences and feelings going on a trip.
May his face shine upon you and keep you
Lauren B.
Time for another update about my life before China.
Lately I have been having mixed feelings of excitement and stress of all the things I have to do before I leave. My first feelings is the stress about getting everything ready to go, dealing with leaving half way through the summer, fear about going to another country, walking out of my comfort zone teaching by myself to students who's language that I can't speak in any way shape or form, not being ready for such a big task and probably many other fear and stresses that I can't name or comprehend right now.
The things that I am excited about are so much more though because God is Faithful and Just. I am excited about having new experiences in another country and working with a team of people that not knowing very well have been on my heart the last few months. I am amazed at the peace I feel despite not having very much of my finances taken care of yet and struggling to even live my normal life let alone a month long trip across the world. I am grateful to the people that I have talked to that I know will support me in this experience in any way that they can. I had many conversations this week that have encouraged me through this time of preparation. I get a huge smile on my face when I think about the students I will be teaching and all the ways that I will be able to use what God has taught me.
In a packet that I got about my packing list and tips and there was one thing that I thought was really cool. The information said that I should find a good body spray from bath and body works and wearing it everyday while I am in China then not wearing it for a month and when I smell it again it will bring back so many memories about my experience, my students, my team, and the country. That was such a cool idea to me to have memories impacted so much by smells and to use that purposefully to bring the experiences and stories back to my mind. I am definitely going to do that and to try and journal everyday that I am there so I can look back and what I learned to better relate it to the people in the states.
I hope this all made sense and I am hoping for your support and prayer as all these feelings hit me at the same time. Feel free to make any comments or helpful hints if you have had similar experiences and feelings going on a trip.
May his face shine upon you and keep you
Lauren B.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Journey Begins
As I start this blog I would like the first few months to be dedicated to my trip to China. I will be heading to China on July 8th, 2009. Before going I will be on a plane to Denver, Colorado to train with my team from Cornerstone University. I have 10 teammates from my school that will be traveling and teaching with me in the Sichuan province. I still have lots of finances to raise for the trip so the next few weeks will be spent preparing for the trip.
Before my trip I will be working at the Creative Learning Center Day Care in Grand Rapids and Chuck E. Cheese. At the day care I work with the infants up to one years of age and love it! They are so cute and though they only eat, sleep, poop, and put stuff in their mouths they are some of my favorite company :) I know what I am doing when I get around kids and teaching in some form is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have gifts and talents that I can use in the classroom and I am excited to teach the Chinese high school students I will encounter.
I will be writing about where I am in the process and letting everyone know any prayer requests that come up. I want to hear any comments and prayer requests that you have or tell me what is going on in your lives.
Thank You
Lauren B.
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