Hi there!
My name is Lauren, I’m currently 21 years old, and I’m a student at UCLA. I’ll be graduating in June with a degree in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies. I’ve had the opportunity for the past four years to study things like ancient history, recent history, political theory, Arabic, the history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the science behind black holes, and nuclear strategy. But I am SO excited to begin a new chapter of my life, and learn what the Lord wants to do with it.
I grew up in a teeny-tiny town in northern California called Twain Harte. I have two wonderful parents and three great siblings. My mom is a stay-at-home mom, and my dad has worked as a firefighter for over 25 years. I have an older sister, who is in Portland studying in a medical program. One of my younger brothers recently completed the fire academy and is working on an internship at the local fire house. My other brother is in elementary school, and this spring will be on our local trap shooting team. We did a lot of traveling growing up, road-tripped all over the country. It was amaaaaazing, and some of my favorite family memories are from the trips we went on together.
I grew up going to church on a weekly basis, as well as going to church camp for a week during the summers (Hume Lake Christian Camps). I remember always believing what I was learning in church and from the bible, but it didn’t feel super personal until I got to high school. Even then, my spiritual high points were at church camp, but I was really never to stay 100% committed to putting into practice the commitments I made at camp. That spiritual high just didn’t seem to last very long after camp, because of all the distractions that life has to offer.
Then I went away to college. My freshman year, I joined a bible study on campus, but wasn’t really able to find a home church. Towards the end of the year I felt less and less motivated to go to bible study, then I stopped going. Sophomore year, I stumbled upon University Bible Church here in LA, and went there most Sundays. Although glad to have a church, I didn’t really feel like I was making connections with other Christians until later in the year, when I started going to the college bible study that they host. I experienced a lot of growth during this time, but looking back I realized that I wasn’t all in, and there were some areas of my life that I was holding back from God. I had been praying, and praying hard, that God would open a door for a summer internship so I could have a better chance of finding a good job after graduation. That didn’t come to pass, and in this, my last year of college, I started praying for a job. It was all about finding a job.
And then, in October, I was just hit with how much I’ve tied myself to things, that are good things, but that I now see are unnecessary and were holding me back from what God had planned next. Once I committed to letting those things go, I did an internet search for Christian volunteer opportunities, and the one that really stood out to me was the World Race. Almost an entire year of leaving behind everything I know, seeking God and having the chance to be his hands and feet. Being in a place where I have no other option than to trust him to provide for my needs. Being in a place where I have to rely on him like never before. Living with abandon. Seeking and building the kingdom in Jesus’ name. I’ve heard from other racers that this is the hardest thing they’ve ever done. I have little doubt that this will be true for me as well. But I also know that this will be the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. It will be challenging, but it will be worth it. Because God is worth everything I have.
Well, thanks for reading this sort of long-winded and probably more-detailed-than-it-needs-to-be introduction, and if you’d like to stay up-to-date on where I am in this journey and the amazing things God is doing, please subscribe!
Blessings,
Lauren 😀
