Past 8 months, wrapped up!

8 month wrap up.......

I decided to take a look at the past 8 months of my life and do some reflecting. I see a time of God really going deeper in my heart and teaching me more about his character. As most of you are aware, I went back to Kona to staff a Discipleship Training School, which is a 5 month missionary training program. I was blessed to lead a team of 7 other men and women, with  a co-leader. 3 of our team members had a Korean background and the rest of them were from the States. I love how the Lord brings people together from all over the world, to follow him. I had a good time learning more about Korean culture, but did find it challenging at times.

During the beginning months of the school, April through June, God was teaching about time management and how to keep him close with a busy schedule. People have told me prior to doing my DTS that staffing is one of the most time consuming things, you can do and you die to yourself a lot. I thought yea, no big deal, I've go God I'll be fine, probably challenged but okay. Well I shortly found out what people were talking about. It felt that every second of my day was spent on other people. Which allowed me to take my eyes off of myself and to have a view of other's needs before mine. I thought that I was a selfless person...well maybe a selfish person with a selfless mindset is a better way to put it. I can't think of a more beautiful example of what it means to lay your life down for another. My prayer life was highlighted, in a way that exposed the power of my prayers, along with the area of praying that I need to grow in. Every day I needed God.

After the busy school schedule was wrapping up, my co-leader and I were preparing the schedule for our time with the team overseas in London first then France. We were all looking forward to a change of scenery for 2 months, along with reaching souls for Christ. We began our journey, along with 25 other students from our school to a place called Harpenden England. There, we joined a training school called Circuit Riders, with 80 other hungry believers.We spent time worshiping together, praying, and searching our hearts for those little stoppers in there masked as fear, unbelief etc. that hold us back from opening our mouths to share the gospel and Christ's heart with people. Being in a room full of people who are passionate about God, and tired of not obeying his commands, leaves for a momentum that can't be stopped! During our time in Harpenden, we did street evangelism 2 days, and saw 129 people give their lives to Jesus, 52 people got healed of physical aliments. God is on the move in England!


From Harpneden, we traveled to another town call Crouch End, which is located outside of the city of London. There we were working with YWAMers, assisting their church services on Sunday mornings, local women and children's home shelter, and other church festivals, sharing our testimonies and playing games with the kids. It was a full time of traveling around and being the lights that Christ has called us to be. We had the privilege of speaking at different churches, on simple topics such as faith, or the love of God or a testimony. It was a powerful thing to share a simple story and to see other people, get encouraged by what God has done. We even got to speak to a  college aged group of students from all around the world, and it turned out that a minimum of 9 people gave their hearts to Jesus and numerous healings took place as well. One of the last few weeks there, we re-located to a town called Romford and helped with a first ever vacation Bible school program for several churches in the area. 99 kids raised their hands to receive Christ! And kids were praying for each other and seeing them get healed!

Concluding our time in England, we were all filled with such hope for England! Shifting countries, we then made our way a bit more south ending in France. Since we were coming from England we thought it would be nice to stop through Paris and at least see the Eiffel tower. We made a short day trip out of it, to see Paris and get a taste of France, before we planted our roots there for a month. After a long day of traveling, we finally arrived in a town called St. Hippolyte Du Fort.

In St. Hippolyte Du Fort, we were staying on the YWAM base, that just got settled in a few months prior to us coming. As they were in transition time for their location and staff members, there were a lot of foundational blocks to be built. They wanted us to help them scout the area of the town, to get a sense of the Lord's heart for the people and to see what connections with the locals could be made to begin building relationships. Every morning we joined with worship and prayer for the town, then would go out on the streets. We didn't have many conversations with the French speaking people, but did a lot of prayer walking. Our main service in France, was not what you think of when you are on a mission trip, which typically looks like reaching the lost souls and ministering to the unsaved. We had the privilege of serving the YWAM base. It was a joyous challenge to set our day to helping cook and clean the venue, and other household work that needed to be done in order to be ready for the DTS to begin that coming September. The Lord did a great and deep work in our hearts as we were there. We had a great taste of team building, and allowing the Lord to strengthen our character to look more like Jesus.

Thank you again to all of you who have supported me and pray for me!

Blessings!
~ Lauren

Thank- You

I can't say thank you enough, for each one of you. All of your encouragement, love, wisdom, prayers and financial support have been huge blessings in my life. As the body of Christ, we need each other, thank you for letting me lean on you when I don't have the words to pray, the wisdom my heart needs or the funds to keep going.

Being in YWAM, there are a lot of sacrifices, that are made. There is a lot laid down and put aside to obey what God is speaking in order to be here. Knowing that I have a body of people who know where I come from, have watched me grow in the Lord, take steps of faith toward, heard my pain and seen me cry, means the WORLD to me! Just as a child can rest in his mother's arms, so can I rest in knowing that I have each of you in my life.

Most of you know my journey and some more than others know my life down to the detail, and I am so great- fully blessed. I have walked through many trials, been up on the mountain top, and knowing that I people who have loved me through it all, brings my heart so much peace and rest. Thank you for being there in the past, and thank you for being here for me now, and for believing for the future!

We are in the last week of lecture phase of the DTS, which means we are almost half way through it all! I can't believe how FAST it has come and gone! We leave exactly one week from tomorrow, Tuesday June 19^th. My team will leave on Tuesday June 26^th, at 12:00pm out of Kona airport.

As I am preparing to depart, would you consider standing with me in the place of prayer?

If so, here are some prayer points :

• Communication for my co-leader and I
• Unity in our team
• The rest of our finances to come in $7,000 total- $2,000 being mine.
• Wisdom from God
• My heart would stay submitted to God
• God's will not mine
• Ability to love my team, even when it's hard

Thank you for taking time to read this! I pray that God blesses you where you are!

Blessings!

~Lauren

:)

Fire and Fragrance DTS : May update!

Faithfulness of God.
Approaching the month of June, my mind is having a bit of trouble keeping up with the fast
pace schedule I am on here in Kona. Meditating on the fact that I have been out here since
March, is hard for me to wrap my mind around. It feels as if I have been out here for
a lot longer that 4 months.

       When I ponder my time here thus far, my heart can't seem to get away from being undone at the character of God. I don't ever hope to get away from being in awe at how faithful he is. Back in August, when I had felt God speaking to me about staffing DTS with Fire and Fragrance, I was convinced that I was going to be in Harrisburg PA, and that it was highly unlikely that I would venture back to Kona. But, when God speaks and wants something to happen he makes sure it gets done, at least I have witnessed him doing that for me. In my time with the Lord he had begun to reawaken several different dreams in my heart, along with certain things that I am passionate about. One of them being, my heart to see this generation raised up and walking in our full identities, completely free by the blood of the lamb. I desire to give all of the love, testimonies and anything else God does in my life, away to those who are hungry and willing to learn. I by no means have any kind of scholarly certification to teach, nor do I have years of experience under my belt, but I do have Jesus and a story of him radically breaking into my darkness and turning my world upside in him.

         What had led me back to Kona, is Fire and Fragrance. Yes i have done my DTS here in the Fire and Fragrance department, in 2010, but it goes much deeper in my heart than just a DTs department. Fire and Fragrance carries a DNA for :


I. Consecrated communities- Set apart to holiness, loving Jesus, the lost and each other. Intentional discipleship and a deep commitment to relationship as the foundation of the kingdom.

II. Living centered around the person, teachings, and presence of Christ- A passion for worship, prayer, intercession, and the study of the scriptures.III. Revival- To see the lost saved and the bride awakened to live in the fullness of what Jesus died to release into the life of every believer

IV. Cultural Reformation- To see a reformation of individual lives, ways of thinking, the body of Christ and society all based on the life and teachings of Christ

Which are all a part of the DNA I feel God has given me since I met him the summer of 2007.  It has been utterly amazing to be here and on the same heart page as a group of believers. More importantly it is amazing to obey the father's specific will for my life, and knowing that God's will is the safest place for me to be, mentally, physically and spiritually! 

I have been, waiting on God and spending time with him, to help me unravel all that he has done in me since March because I feel like a totally different person. Something I keep coming back to the faithfulness of God. His faithfulness to follow through with the vision and dreams he has spoke to me. I believe he is fulfilling his promises in my life and giving me open doors to live the dream of God that is inside of me and was created when he knit me together in my mother;s womb. In this season, more specifically is, him allowing me to mount on wings like eagles and soar to new places. It has been an amazing time of going to new heights, and a beautifully broken time of going to new depths, I have been experiencing God like never before! :) The mountain top times have been unbelievable, and the valleys have been.....well the valley, I don't think there is anymore to say.

My fight has been to press into the Lord with all that I have ALL the time. And I have
been challenged with that. It is something that sounds really nice, and even easy, but I have
been put to the test. And what a beautiful test it has been!
My soul rejoices! My lips sings praises! And my heart is glad, in the Lord! He is my redeemer, my strength,
my fortress and father!

As, we are getting farther into the month of June, so is the time coming up for my team of 9 and I to head off this Island and into Europe! We leave on the 26th of this month for London, and will be there August 2nd, attending the Circuit Rider School. There we will have teaching on preaching the gospel and leadership sharpening skills along with a local community outreach.  Then from there we will proceed to the south of France to a YWAM base. We will be located just north of the city of Marsielle, working with a ministry called YWAM bridges. It is an organization run by a couple, Dudley and Janet Weiner, who operate in the treasure hunt ministry, for those of you who are unaware what that may be, it is simply a prayer focused form of evangelism. More to detail what it will look like, before hitting the streets to share the gospel, we wait on the Lord and ask him for specific people he would like us to pray for, it usually is very random or detailed words / pictures that people get, then we go out and find them. Dudley and Janet, also carry a heart for the gypsy people that live in the area, so we will be partnering with them in that ministry as well.


         

Thank you to all of you that have been praying for me, staying in contact and supporting my financial needs! You all mean so much to me :) I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your obedience to God, thank you. I pray that he continues to bless you and guide and direct your steps!

MANY BLESSINGS!

~Lauren

Dreaming with God.......

Dreams,
When you hear the phrase dream bigger, does it take you a long time to think up BIGGER or does your mind jump right to it?
For me, it takes a little bit of time for me to actually dream BIGGER. 

Around the beginning of the month of March, I began to ask the Lord what was in store for the April Fire & Fragrance DTS that I would be staffing for the first time. I had NO idea what I would be getting myself into, so on my face I went. As I spent time with him, I began to hear a whisper in my heart..... this is the season for dreams! I want to breathe fire on dormant dreams inside of people's hearts AND I want to birth NEW dreams!
I thought, okay that sounds cool and I would love for this to be the season of dreams. Espeically because there are a lot inside of me that I have allowed to grow dim. And dreaming with God is a favorite of mine, so to only imagine the MORE, just blew my mind and set my heart up for a GREAT challenge with him.

Joyfully and thankfully, I have found out that, this really IS the season for dreams! And it is one of the most humbling, heart surrendering times of my life. Apart from staffing a DTS, God's plans for my life have never felt so accessible, touchable tangible and POSSIBLE. I feel that I could honestly do anything that aligns with God's will and his perfect timing, that there are no limits for my life. Which I believe is true and biblical. The word states at least once that "nothing is impossible with God" ( Luke 1:37)
For me to put limitations and boxes around God and his dreams for me, would be complete foolishness on my part. But that is where you come into play. Confession : I am human. I make mistakes and I cripple under fear at times, but am walking into deeper freedom in that area. I need the body of Christ. I need people to pray for me and to remind who I am in God's eyes. We all fall short of the glory of God ( Romans 3: 23 ) including me.

If you would kindly consider lifting me up, when I come across your heart, that would be so wonderful!

I cherish those who are close to my heart and have been lights to me and pointed me closer to God. Thank you for all of your wisdom and love you have imparted to my life.
May our God of heaven, release his blessing and divine favor on you in a greater way!

~Lauren

Spring time is here, with the changing of the weather, also comes the changing of the heart and a greater step toward the plans God has in store.

I have been here in Kona for 2 months now, one month as a DTS staff. Our DTS ( discipleship training school) started April 5th, as 55 students from all over the world arrived on this rock in the middle of the ocean, all to know God more. I worked the registration area when they arrived, and I then proceeded to take them to their rooms and pray for them. I have already seen the hand of God working mightily in some of their hearts, and that is the most rewarding thing I could ever do with my life : watch people go for God! Praying with people and believing with them is the greatest reward. I am in awe of the Lord and so honored to be here in Kona walking alongside 54 hungry hearts and souls for Jesus Christ.

I was getting a sense from God before I arrived that this was the season for dreams, God to breathe life into new and old dreams deep inside our hearts. Even some dreams we thought were from our flesh, that are really from God. That is what he has been speaking to my heart, and now seeing how he has been speaking that to us here as well, is amazing.

God is faithful, his love never fails us and nothing will ever be able to separate us from him. In Christ we are, and in Christ we will remain. It is a done deal.

Thank you to all that support me being here! Having you in my life, means a lot to my heart. Thank you!

~Lauren

End of March update :)

Hello there friends,

Things are have been going so well in Hawaii. God is doing s many new things on the YWAM base, it is really amazing to see how far things have come since I have done my DTS. Very encouraging.

Every day, I wake up on cloud 9, and keep going higher as the days go on. He is always at work inside my heart, but this season he is going deep and allowing me to walker in greater heights and levels f his love and presence and power.

This past week, we had staff training, which was from 8-12, every day, then 2 days out of the week we went from 8-12 then 2-4. We had a lady named Jill Bills, who is Joy Dawson's daughter, teach us. We went through the YWAM core beliefs and such. How to staff a DTS, what to do and what hasn't worked out so well in the past. Lots of practical information, all good information to have. :)

This next week, will be our planning time for the school. Which will include our speaker schedule, " team building time" etc. Oh and decorating our classroom. I am looking forward to meeting the students and to see what all the Lord is going to do in their hearts. As the time is getting shorter for their arrival, I have found my heart going through a mix of emotions, with excitement and nervousness. I am mostly on the edge of my seat, with joy- filled expectation!

So far we have 50 students coming! Along with our Fire and Fragrance DTS, there are going to be a performing arts DTS, photogen X DTS, Sports DTS, Cross Roads and Asia Pacific DTS' as well. Our quarter won't be too filled but definitely a good number of schools running.

I just have to boast on what God is doing with the prayer room on campus. :) He is really showing up in a fresh way every time! The corporate times of worship and intercession have been so joy filled and fun! :) It is 24/7, the times I have been in there, there is always at least 4 or 5 other people in there as well, which is new for a YWAM base. Not all bases have a prayer room, let alone 24 /7.

I hope you all are ding well :)

Blessings and favor!

~Lauren

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, hello there :)

I have been in Kona almost one week now. What an amazing time I have been having so far. Ever since I arrived, God has been meeting everyday in such a beautiful new way. I can't help but smile from deep in my heart.

I have been in the offices on campus the first half of the day, checking in with the students that have applied to do the school. Phone calls, praying over the phone, e-mails all that good stuff. I live 5 other amazing girls!

3 of them are staffing a Sports DTS that is starting in April as well....

One of the other girls, works in the offices everyday all day.

And last but not Least, Emily, who will be staffing with me in April!!!!

hah, so our room is full of first time DTS staffers. Which is comforting, so we can all have our first time freak out moments together.

Then other than that, I have been in the prayer room, when I can make time for it and working with the Leadership Track. With the leadership track, we have meetings with teaching and fellowship, and then local outreaches.

I went to the salvation army's afterschool program on Wednesday. There were about 10 of us with about 20 kids, playing games and helping them with their homework. I loved it, even just talking with some of the girls there was uplifting and refreshing.

STAFF TRAINING for our School begins on March 19th.

Please remember to lift me up in prayer when you think about it.

Right now I could really use covering with rest. There is ALOT of people getting sick on campus, there is a BAD flu virus going around..... So far i'm okay, just feeling tired and fighting off a head cold. Other than that, Things are great!

Keep in touch!

~Lauren

Eyes locked on Jesus....

" Jesus said come. And Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But when Peter saw the wind and waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He shouted Lord, save me!." Matthew 14: 29-30

God has been speaking to me about this story. How Pete took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink, and fear rushed into his heart like a flood. But when his eyes were on him Fear, couldn't come in. I believe that focus of where we have our eyes and heart play a key role, in living a life submitted to God. Though the wind and waves may be increasing around us, if we simply come to Jesus and put our eyes on him, the intensity that we thought was there, seems to simmer.

At least I have found this to be true in my life. That when the waves of this world seem to be swallowing me up and the storm is increasing, when I come to Jesus things calm down. It doesn't dismiss the trial and things that are actually happening, it just causes me to re-direct my focus : Jesus.

I have been trying this out this past week, that when things are shaking and rough all around me, to look at Jesus. Whether it is in his word, sitting with him, worshiping or talking to him, he centers me. When my eyes are locked on him, it seems that anything is possible.

Well friends, to cut the suspense!

****I AM GOING TO KONA TO STAFF A DTS WITH FIRE AND FRAGRANCE****

{ the school starts in April}

Ever since last December my heart has been burning with the question there has to be more! I had no idea what the more was / is for my life at the moment. There is always more of God to be had. What I was feeling, is that God has some other place for me to BE.

I've been home since last December, then was back in Kona for a training seminar, then attended my brother's wedding and finally home @ the end of September! My face was set on seeking God's plans for my life and coming time of being at home. Most of you know, I was feeling called to staff and felt God wanted me in Harrisburg PA, but he re-directed me steps. I was then burdened with the father's heart for being home ( Hartville Ohio) and NO idea what to do next. I plugged into my church, but didn't have full peace about getting a full time job or jumping on the train here with full time ministry...yet. hah

One Friday evening, I took a trip north to hear a speaker - Bob Jones. Afterword, some friends of mine stopped off for some food, you gotta re-fuel after being in the glory.....

I received some words about me working with YWAM in a STAFF position....hmm....this hit the mark for my heat pretty deeply, but was this just my heart or God's crafty working...? So to my knees I went. And the eating stopped for a lil while, hah. And I still didn't have clarity, so I decided to take a few days to NOT think or pray about staffing. Those few days, God showered my heart with peace, to rest in him and follow my dreams. He reminded me that my heart is set purely on him and that sometimes he puts desires on our hearts that are his plans.

I made contact with the base, and things have been falling into place since then!

I am filled with loads of PEACE and excitement! But very humbled and in awe of God. Coming from a time of doubting him being near, he came and showed me how to dream with him again and to trust!

So right now, I am in the works of getting my plane ticket so I can join them out there.

There will be more updates, as things progress, so please keep your eyes open on here :) Thank you for walking with me and being a part of my journey with God! Blessings and favor of God upon you!

~Lauren

When the new year approaches, often times we think of the things we accomplished in the year past, and look ahead to new goals. Some opportunities that I got t be a part of last year, were key markers and road signs, in a sense pointing me to what God as next for my life. I had the privilege to check out the house of prayer in Canton Ohio, and to even sing on some of the prayer sets for a few months. It was an amazing time for me to step out of my normal Jesus bubble and let him lead. I also, had a job at Chipotle Mexican Grill in North Canton Ohio, which was a blessing! Then, the past summer, God led me back to Kona to attend a 5 week training seminar. Out there, our weeks were jammed packed with outreaches, lectures, preaching opportunities, small group bible study times and leadership building teachings. My mind felt like a balloon, and as the weeks went on so my ability to learn increased! I got to run under some amazing men and women of God who have worked with YWAM, and some who haven’t worked in YWAM before. I then was led to California, for a 2 week outreach, to pour out some of the skills I learned. We were in Orange county, sleeping on the floors of 4 local churches and were walking Hunting beach during the day praying for people, sharing the gospel. What at an amazing place it is there, and how the Lord loves those people! I am in awe and humbled greatly that I got to be a part of what God is doing out there! I saw, people get healed and, experience the deep love f God! The scripture comes to mind, “You are the light of the world,. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” I believe that God originally created California for his glory! What an opportunity to pray for people and the state, and declare God’s word in that land!

As I journeyed home, I didn’t have too much vision for what had for me here. I began to have a heart to sow into my friendships and see what God has been doing in people’s hearts. That, begun my time of spending with my family and friends. It has been a challenging, yet restful time. It has been so good for my heart to be at home and see God working in my family’s lives! My oldest brother, has started his walk with God, and it has been so fun to watch him discover the goodness and truth of God! I have learned that God is faithful and always listens to our prayers and desires.