Of Humbling Beginnings

I'm starting this blog at a time when my life is basically starting over. My name is Lauren for those of you who don't know me. I graduated from college December of 2005 and immediately in January of 2006 started working at the church I had attended all of my life. I have been working there for the last 3 1/2 years as the Director of Public Relations and then as the Missions Director. My plan was to go to law school this fall and pursue a career doing International Law, working as an advocate for human rights. But, God had another plan.

The doors literally slammed shut! How humbling. It is pretty awakening when we think we are doing what is right, just to find out we are pursuing our own dreams instead of God's plan for us. We should be careful what we ask God. When I asked Him to take my life and I would do whatever He asked of me, I probably didn't realize I was laying down my own agenda. Most of the time we figure we love Him so our agenda will just match His. So, on to what He was really asking me to do with my life. In October, a group of refugees, mainly from Nepal (originally from Bhutan) and some Africans from the Congo and Burundi, showed up at the church. As the Missions Director, I had spent a great deal of time with them and my heart was captured. So, when I sought after God in the midst of my confusion about my big law school plans, He showed me what He had in store.

I was walking through the apartment complex where most of them live, the sun was shining through the clouds and on my face. The dust was kicking up on my flip flops, waves of curry were stinging in my nose, kids were running barefoot on the concrete pushing tires as a toy and every face looking at me was dark skinned with dark eyes. God spoke softly, you asked me to give you the nations, here they are! Oh, it all made sense. For years I had known God had called me to the nations as a missionary and humanitarian. Those nations are people and here they all were. Two blocks from where I worked everyday. Like I said before, be aware of what you are asking of God, He may just give it to you!

So, in August, I quit working at the church to start a non-profit organization called Hope Rise International. It is an organization that helps assimilate refugees into American society through education, job training and service! Yikes!! It actually sounds like I know what I am doing, but please do not be fooled.

This blog will be about what I am doing, what I am learning and how a young girl felt a call on her life and is trying to discover what to do with it. I'll try to share the journey with you!