Triumphal Tragedy

Two hundred and eleven days in the desert, one thousand five hundred and three miles to travel. Freezing temperatures, ice, and snow to endure. I am exhausted, yet I tell myself, “Just make it home Lauren, just make it home.” One day until arrival…

Well half a year is over and that means half my internship is done. Who would have thought six months would transform my life more than any other time in my twenty-three years of existence? I knew I would face spiritual warfare, but I did not know it would be so deceiving. I knew I would not know a single soul, but I did not expect it to be so lonely at times. I knew money would be scarce, but I did not expect God to provide in countless ways.

I knew God wanted to teach me life lessons, but I had no idea it would mean my life being stripped of everything. I knew I came down here to serve the girls, but I had no idea I would first need to taste true humility by being served by you, the people who pray for me and support me financially. I knew I could not do this on my own, but I had no idea God would break me of my stubborn independence and instruct me to trust and be dependent on others in a God honoring way.

I knew I came down here to love the girls, but I had no idea God was going to tenderly rip all control from me and teach me what it feels like to be loved for who I am and not for what I do. I had no idea… no idea what the FULLNESS of Christ honestly looks like. But today I believe I am well on my way to seeing His fullness come into full fruition in my life.

I can honestly say that I am trusting God and holding on for the ride of a lifetime. The funny thing is that I know it is only the beginning. But no matter how many times I want to surrender, no matter how many times I feel like I am not going to make it, I know this one thing- I am held by my Father. I am right where He wants me and that makes the sacrifice worth it all.

CCV Update:

Every Thursday I am serving at Christ’s Church of the Valley in the mission department. In the next few months I will be helping plan a trip to Cambodia to serve at the Rapha House in March . I am also starting the paperwork to begin ministering at a women’s prison while in Arizona . I will help lead a church service with these ladies 2-4 times a month. God continues to burden my heart for the prison, victims of sex slavery, and for prayer. I continue to strive to be faithful in whatever ways I can. Please continue to pray for me.

StreetLight Update:

Since early November I have been serving as the office manager at StreetLight . I continue to work with our director of human resources along with the director of volunteers, while also teaming up with the director of operations. This partnership with the director of operations is an answer to prayer, as I desire to learn from her since I might open another StreetLight in the future.

God continues to bring the final puzzle pieces together for StreetLight as we hired our last paid staff member, the director of residential services, two weeks ago. We also have our final inspection next week. After passing this inspection we plan to open in January. It has been a difficult journey, but God continues to provide the courage and perseverance needed. We have been hit hard time and time again. Countless times it would appear that we were not going to survive, but this is God’s work and thus we know we will prevail!

Life Update:

The hardest hit happened two weeks ago. As an eighteen-year-old girl stuck in child sex trafficking since she was sixteen died. (Speculations still surround her death.) Her funeral was devastating, yet impelling. Would her future have been different had StreetLight been open? Pain and questions surrounded me as I watched her family grieve; yet I knew her death would not be in vain. Her death would forever change me and would spur me on in my fight. Her life would be an example of the triumphal tragedy that echoed through the life of my Jesus. For this triumph I press on…

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel. God with us, not me with God. You see I was unable to get to God, but He came to get to me. He came into this dark, sinful world and suffered. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). And the only reason He was triumphant was because He endured tragedy. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18a).

Christ suffered to bring us to God, yet the darkness has not understood. Because I stand as a child of faith in that Great Light, the darkness will not overcome me. This is why I know I will persevere to make it home tomorrow. This is why I know StreetLight will open. This world is full of darkness… but get ready world, StreetLight is about to shine. The darkness better start running.

You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

Merry Christmas! May you remember that triumph comes after tragedy. Hope came into the world on Christmas day, cling to it.