the seventh day

"...and at the end of the sixth day, God looked at all he had made and it was very good... and on the seventh day, He rested." - Genesis 1:31 & 2:2

Home has been many long awaited things but the one thing I felt the need for when landing with butterflies in my stomach and a knot in my throat on American soil. Rest. Undisturbed, revitalizing rest. The rest that makes you want to curl your toes up in the warmth of a blanket. Rest that says, "Your home." The kind of rest that let's you sit free of distractions. From all you've seen, experienced… and even faced in your world and in my case, around the world on my World Race.

I love my home. I used to see the word "home" and consider it a synonym for the word "Egypt" and all the history that Egypt holds within its' grasp and meaning. For years I've felt that my return home would be going back to where I came from… returning to the place I was in… giving up the identity that I am and choosing my past as the present and future. Do not confuse my loved ones as cause for fear because they too lived through tragedy to become what they are now, Overcomers. No, it's not them at all. It's the idea. The thought that what was and was horrible as it was might somehow become my way and will again. Egypt was not an option. For the last 6, going on 7 years, I have been pursuing the Promised Land.

My car was named Moses last year! I've mentioned this in a past blog, I know. It humors me to think of the drive in which we have to pursue what we want… what we are passionate about. I am passionate about FREEDOM.

Just shy of one year ago, I said "see ya later" to those loved ones and a few new ones (Okay, one new one in particular ;), in effort to follow HARD after the will of my Savior. He said "go" and I simply said, "yes." 

(Above pics by Ali Kendrick)

(Team 1: Aletheia)

Month one (Ireland) was a shock, not at all what I hoped for and yet exceeded my expectations of community in incomparable ways. 

(Above pics by Ali Kendrick)

Month two (Ukraine) was busy, exhausting, and fulfilling… a real difference maker for so many children, and us. It was about becoming a team member, instead of an individual. 

(Above pics by Ali Kendrick)

(Above pic by me)

(Flag pics by Christian Norris) 

Month three (Moldova) often left me quaking with the newness of the spiritual realm and how real the presence of darkness can be. It also put a fight in me as a daughter of the most high King that I had never experienced before. I want to write more about Moldova… it seems to be the most productive work I did in the kingdom this year visibly and I couldn't even converse in the same language as most I encountered. 

(Above pic by Daniel Whited)

(Above pics by me)

(Above pics by Ashley Francis)

(Team 2: Team Team Ignition)

Month four (Kenya) rocked my world and my worldview and even my confidence in the life that I am capable of enduring and even enjoying. Prayer and deliverance. Hope and inspiration. These were the important "things" that I did in month 4. 

(Above pic by Diane LaCour)

(Above pics by me)

Month five (Tanzania) makes me weary just talking about it but I know Papa worked in ways I can not see. 

(Above pic by Ashley Francis)

Month six (Malawi/Mozambique) seems like a blur because of the randomness of our work, the focus being taken off of our ministry and on to us, and even the way in which God used simple conversation to change my life. 

(Above pic by Tyler Lee)

(Above pic by Diane LaCour)

(Above pic by me)

(Above pics by Ashley Francis)

(Above pic by Meghan Tschanz)

Month seven (Nepal) was long awaited because of the words given to me the year before about its' great significance in my life. I learned month seven, stricken with sickness and incapable of "leading" as I thought I needed to do, that I don't want to be needed by the world. I just want to be a part of it. Moving, changing, living, and mostly loving. I led better that month than I ever did the rest of the year as a Team Leader and then a Squad Leader… because I rested in the presence of God and left the results up to Him. I began to be greatly humbled.

(Above pics by Ashley Mueller)

Month eight (India), I was busy again. Maybe busier than I was month two, if possible. Planning for month nine (Womanistry in Thailand!) with my accomplice and fellow Team/Squad Leaders, we also determined our minds to focus where we were and as Jim Eliot commissioned long ago, be all there. It wasn't difficult because the precious children at the deaf school we served at reminded us of why we were where we were by the very groans they produced to praise our King as they could. We were indeed all in. 

(Above pic by Rachel Ritsema)

(Above pic by Deon Vanstaden)

(Womanistry. Pics by Georgia Dewey)

(Above pic by Ali Kendrick)

(Above pic by me)

Month nine (Thailand) was a blessing. Working in the Red Light, a coffee shop, and clearing brush in the village, all the while looking after the hearts of all of our World Race girls with two other Squad Leaders, created a month of great joy and challenges for me personally. God began to confront the deepest parts of my identity and to rock my world in relation to what His plans for my next season following the Race really were. 

(Above pics by Georgia Dewey)

(Above pic by me)

The tenth month (Malaysia) of the World Race brought difficulty as I had not faced as each day became a fight to stay honoring in a degrading society. Women were not treated well in the town we lived in and we were no exception. Our contact was incredible, however, and I did in  fact meet me in eighteen years in the form of a special Chinese lady. We became besties and it redeemed a month of silence, forced to remain quiet about the hope that leapt inside our hearts each day. Religious and gender persecution were nothing to play around with that month. The team I was visiting with that month really banded together and we grew because of it. 

(Above pics by me)

The beginning of month eleven came with a great surprise!!! I went home (US of A!) to celebrate my Mama's graduation and was blessed to see Sheldon baptized as well as to celebrate one of my sister's bdays with her for the first time in ten years! What a blessed seven days! Seven days… hm. I returned to the Race to finish. The rest of month eleven (Cambodia) could not have been more memorable. Incredible youth, orphans, rescued women and amazing squad mates ended my World Race with a celebration of what God can do when you just say yes.

(Above pic by me)

(Above pics by Georgia Dewey)

(Above pic by Deon Vanstaden)

 

(Above pic by Diane LaCour)

And that's that. My World Race in summary! As I look back on what could be compared to days 1-6 of creation (eleven months, actually!), I do now as my Creator's daughter as He did then. He looked back and smiled… so do I.

There will be days where I think back to this month or that one and think, "I could have done more or something different," but God (as my example in all things) did not do this. He looked at his work and he said, "It is very good." I now choose to do that too.  This summer really is my day seven. It's time to rest. Not just because the World Race is over but because my Life Race has only just hit a stride and for me to not tire out, I must take a breather, a sip of Gatorade (I actually prefer PowerAde), if you will. It's time to let go and release, time to be, and time to gear up. It's time to be fed properly and to soak up the presence of my Father in an uninterrupted way. It's time to process the war zone I've returned from. The spiritual battle is not over, it's just shifted and for me to be in fighting (aka LOVING) shape, I must recharge.

(Above pics are a glimpse into this summer's rest. Day 7.)

My Papa has not led me back to Egypt… nope! He has moved me forward towards the Promised land, which looks a lot like Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where He wants me to start again. It's a new season in an old place and it's going to still be here when day seven comes to a close. So for now look back at what God did last year in and through me as I rest in His promise that He's not finished with me yet.

I'm looking back at my World Race… It sure was good.

Now rest.

beLOVED.,

Lauren!<><+

PS Just returned from Project Searchlight (A re-gathering of Racers fresh off the field for reentry information, counseling, and refreshment in community and worship at the main office in Gainesville, GA). I highly recommend every Racer go to their own PSL. WORTH IT!!!