Captivate my thoughts

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete." -2 Corinthians 10:5-6


As many of you know, I will begin my journey to Gulu, Uganda in the morning. My first flight will leave at 12:30 from Atlanta, and I will not offically arrive in Gulu until friday afternoon. My thoughts going through the final preparation and time at home are very centered around this verse. As I am thinking about how long a month really is and thinking about the things, family, and friends I am leaving behind, I am focusing and seeking God to speak to me through this verse in particular. I am desperately asking the Lord to captivate (I love the power and boldness in that word) my thoughts and redirect all doubt and worry back to him. Although there is worry and nervousness filling my thoughts tonight, I am meditating on this verse to allow myself to see the bigger picture. I am realizing that a month is a long time, but it is so short in the actual span of my entire life. I am also realizing that the people who have invested time, love, and energy into my life and particularly my faith have gotten me to this point right here. There is no where else that I would rather be than in Gulu, Uganda for July of 2013. 

The journey will be a long one, but I ask for prayers of support and prayers for safe travels through the next couple of days. Once I arrive in Uganda we will be spending the night in Entebbe, then driving 7 hours north to Gulu. Currently, prayers of travel and prayers for strength is all I need. I will be sure to update again whenever I arrive in Gulu. I am absolutely so grateful for the people who got me to this point and made this trip happen. Thank you for the prayers, donations, love, and encouraging words. 

~Lauren 

Lord prepare me

I truly believe that preparing your heart and preparing yourself before hand for a mission trip is more difficult than actually arriving and spending your time there. Two weeks from today I will be on the first leg of my trip to Gulu, Uganda. My trip will start with a 2 hour flight from Atlanta to Newark, followed by a 9 hour flight to Brussels, then finally arriving in Uganda after a 10 hour flight from Brussels. We will spend the night in Entebbe and wake up the next day and start the 7 hour drive to Gulu in northern Uganda. Considering how much I do not like flying, it has been very difficult for me to get my mind off the traveling and onto actually being there. 

I think that so often people come back from a mission trip not exactly getting what they were expecting out of it, and sometimes I think it is because we are not always fully prepared for the depth of the work that the Lord has planned for us. In preparation for this trip I have read the book "When Helping Hurts" and it has greatly expanded my mindset for the reasons we do missions and the most efficient ways to do missions. Although this book is very strongly opinionated, I do agree with parts of the book and disagree with parts of the book. I do not want to go into full detail about it, but if you have time to read it I would definitely encourage it because it does give great insight to the things that Four Corners Ministries is doing in Uganda and the ways that they are making an impact. 

But the point is, I have been trying to prepare my heart for what is to come. I know that some people may call me crazy for graduating high school and wanting to spend half of my summer in Africa with no one that I know right before leaving for Ole Miss, but regardless I could not be more excited and ready to experience the Lord in a new way. I am desperately seeking the Lord and his strength because although I am excited, I also am nervous to be across the world for so long. I am praying that the Lord will calm my heart and give me the courage I need to get on the plane ready to live out the great commission. As the next two weeks come to a close and I get ready to depart for Uganda on July 3rd, I really ask you all to pray for my heart so that I will be fully able and ready to boldly proclaim the Gospel with every word I speak (Ephesians 6:19-20.) 

~Lauren