First Trip Update :)

Dear friends,

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. I am so excited to share this opportunity with you all.

In high school, I’d always dreamed of going to Africa to help those less fortunate than myself. At that point, not yet understanding the full weight of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, I never imagined serving a greater purpose in Africa--going to share the good news of Jesus, that God loves sinners so much that he would send his perfect and holy Son, Jesus Christ, to give His life on the cross, so that sinners may come to know Him and have life in Him. While meeting people’s physical needs are an important part of our trip, a large part of what the Cross Cultural Project involves is being able to share with South Africans the joy that is found in Christ (Matthew 13:44). Jesus has dramatically changed my life over the past year and a half, not because of anything that I have done, but solely because of God’s love for me and His abundant grace. How could I not share that with others?

I’m learning so much already and I haven’t even gotten to South Africa yet! The support process has been so joyful for me (something that is clearly a gift from the Lord). I’ve enjoyed sharing with others the vision for the trip and what God has been doing in my life. He is so faithful and it has been so sweet to see His provision with support over the past few months. The more opportunities that I have to share about my trip, the clearer and more powerful the gospel is to me. What a blessing from the Lord!

Here are some prayer requests for my team and myself:

-That God’s glory would be known throughout the World and that He would continue expanding the team’s vision for the ministry

-Unity for our team

-That the Lord would prepare the hearts of the students at the University of Johannesburg to hear the Gospel and that we would be bold and faithful in sharing it

-That I would be faithful with raising support and dependent on the Lord’s provision

Thank you again for all of your support. I will update you again soon on what I’m learning, the details of the trip, and everything that the Lord is doing!

With love,

Lauren

“He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” -John 11:51-52