Dear Lauren,
In less than a month you will be walking new streets in Cambodia. You will see things that you have never seen before and experience things that you will never forget. You will have the opportunity to live and work with beautiful women of faith and you will all impact each other. You will be faced with gut wrenching injustice and you will feel so small. You will meet people who are in pain and you will want to give them the world but when you have to walk away you will experience heart break. And yet you will have an opportunity to understand hope when surrounded by darkness.
When confronted with all of these things you will have two very important choices. Will you despair in your weakness and leave frustrated or disillusioned? Or will you choose to hold on to truth and find joy in the midst of pain and ultimately choose Christ? If you go to Cambodia thinking you will change the culture you will be disappointed and discouraged. BUT if you go knowing that Christ in you can change the culture you will find great joy and great peace. If you go thinking you are going to accomplish great things (selfishly) then you will wear out quickly. But if you take each day and walk by the Spirit you cannot go wrong. If you look at every face as an opportunity to show God’s love it will be worth the hard times you will encounter.
When you miss loved ones and home see that as an opportunity to choose Christ. Embrace the pain but be thankful that God has put people in your life that you love so dearly that you would miss them. Know that that is a rare gift. Take that love for your family and pour it on your team and on all of the people around you. Use every opportunity to make war against the enemy. Remember what Christ did for you on the cross and the power of his blood.
Every day will be a struggle to have the right attitude and heart. Every day you will need to start face down at the cross clinging to Jesus. Recognize your dependence on the Spirit and how God wants to work in you. Don’t become passive when you don’t see immediate change but stay rooted in truth and know that all things all possible through Christ.
When you see suffering hold fast to God. Remember how much the suffering hurts his heart and don’t become bitter. See the suffering as an opportunity to share Christ and see the power of restoration. Never ever forget that you are fighting a battle on the winning side. No matter what happens you are a part of something bigger and more powerful than you could every imagine. God is on your side.
If you ever doubt why you are in Cambodia read your journals and remember all of the amazing things God did to get you there. Know that it is not a mistake and that God has a plan. You are part of his story. When you grow weary remember…
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.
Lamentations 3: 24
Never loose your excitement and joy. And always hope in Christ.
With love,
The Pre- Cambodian Lauren
Wow, this is a powerful tool for you girl… hold onto this letter!
Great letter, Lauren.
This would be a good exercise for everyone on the team to do. So often we can be overwhelmed and wonder why in the world we ever chose this course of action.
Cool letter Lauren. Thanks for sharing. Your letter is pretty right on. I’m excited for you–how you will experience God in crazy new ways in Cambodia. And have a ton of opportunities to choose Him and see Him show up when things are hard. One month! 🙂
Lauren,
This was so uplifting and encouraging, I’m going to print it and put it on my refrigerator! Wonderful, wonderful words of wisdom and truth.
God bless you,
Kathy
Beautiful and powerful. So true that sometimes we need to be reminded of the “why’s” and what better way than to be reminded by yourself.
Lauren,
This is beautiful. Magnificent. A best response to the heart cry that I just posted.
Thank you,
Allie