Meet Lauren Jersey: she overcame her fears, watched the Lord change her plans, and realized that His plans truly are the best plans.
Did you have any fears in saying yes to your mission trip?
When I first saw the Haiti mission trip at service one Sunday, I immediately knew that it was the trip for me. But just as soon and sudden I felt sure and certain that God was guiding me there, I felt Satan sweep in and strike fear in my heart. Fear for my physical safety, fear for the language barrier, fear for not being able to raise the money, fear for my parents blessing, and fear of surrendering my comfort completely to surrender and serve the Lord.
All things considered, I chose to go for it and commit to the trip, knowing it was where God was calling me. One month later and I finally received my parents blessing to go to Haiti after revealing my heart to them time and time again. And one week after that I was left overwhelmed by the cost of the trip and uncertainty of how I would meet the money demanded.
I had heard of Fund the Nations since some of my friends partnered with them to sponsor their mission trips and wanted to learn more. After browsing their website, I decided that I totally wanted to work with them and actually saw a way to raise the money for my trip. For my first order I was overwhelmed by the people who were willing to support and ended up selling over 110 shirts. All the while I was preparing my heart for Haiti and was being reminded of God’s faithfulness and plan to get me there.
I submitted my shirt totals to Leslie to order on Tuesday July 10th. I also found out on Tuesday July 10th that I would no longer be going on my mission trip to Haiti. The Haitian government had just raised the price of gas drastically and the nation was in uproar, rightfully so. There were violent protests in Haiti, an approaching Hurricane, and cancelled flights. The trip I prayed for, planned for, and prepped my heart for was not going to happen. But then our pastoral staff informed us that within 48 hours they had completely booked and planned for us to go to Honduras instead.
How did this change in trip plans affect you?
My heart hurt for the Haitian nation and was confused with the circumstances but felt the strangest peace about our change in plans. Proverbs 16:9 says “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps”, and that couldn't have been more accurate at the moment. Knowing that the Lord called me to commit to Haiti and he knew all along we wouldn't go allowed me to find security knowing we still had a purpose there and he still had a plan.
I packed my bags, prayed, and headed to the airport in complete surrender and awe that the trip had come together so smoothly in such a short period of time for almost 30 travelers. Upon arriving at the airport my team and I took a pic which I then posted to my Instagram account. A little while later I received a message from Illyssa who had bought a shirt from me a couple days before. She had asked if I was with the Woodlands church, which I was, but I was unsure how she could know that. I instantly knew what her message meant, but I didn’t believe it. I immediately went to her profile to see where she was for her mission, and sure enough she was serving in none other than Honduras.
I messaged her back confirming that I was with the Woodlands church and awaited her response. I still couldn't confirm possible what I was thinking in my head. She messaged me back in awe claiming that our church was now coming to work at the orphanage she has been living at all summer. I myself was also in awe. I was going to meet Ilyssa, a random stranger from the internet who saw my shirt and wanted to support me, who also loved the Lord and was selflessly serving herself, who was my affirmation that Honduras was exactly where God wanted me.
At this point I was still waiting to board the plane to go to Honduras and was overwhelmed by the love and presence of our kind, detailed, personal creator. That he knew when I thought I would be in Haiti that I would actually be in Honduras. That he knew when both Ilyssa and I thought I was going to Haiti that we would actually be serving together in Honduras. That he knew I would be confused and concerned that I was within His will and provide affirmation to me so wildly unlikely of happening that I knew it was Him. Of all the shirts Ilyssa saw and could have bought instead of mine, of all the other countries we could have traveled to instead of Honduras, of all the orphanages in Honduras we could have gone to instead of Ilyssa’s. Our God is alive, active, and intimate.
And to think this is all just leading up to the trip.
What’s one way you saw the Lord at work in Honduras?
Touchdown in Honduras and I was already in love with the people, the color, and the culture. Our first day we set out for the orphanage that Ilyssa lived at and I could not be more excited. When we got off of our bus we were immediately greeted by smiling faces and hugs all around from the children at the orphanage. They loved strangers better than I had ever loved anyone ever, and I learned so much from the children there.
A little while after being there when we were being introduced to the staff my eyes locked on Ilyssa and I ran to her and gave her a hug. Two strangers from Houston and Palm Beach Florida that got to connect in another country all because of our awesome God. We knew there was some divine intervention in our meeting. Ilyssa and I were able to connect throughout the day while we were there and able to share some of our stories and all that God had done in our lives. At one point she was saying how she’s never bought a shirt from someone random after following Fund the Nations Instagram for quite some time but for some reason she just really liked my shirt and thought she’d go for it, and I sure am glad that God prompted her to.
That day at the orphanage we helped build a wall surround the perimeter to help keep our livestock and unwanted visitors. We weren't able to finish the wall and maybe only added two layers of cinder blocks but I also learned a lot through the process. My friends and I were talking after and realized even if we didn't got to Honduras or not the wall would still get built, and it was so cool realizing that God will do the work someway, but he invites us to join Him in that work which is so awesome.
What’s one challenge you faced in serving?
We also visited countless schools throughout the week and were able to interact with kids from all ages, from babies to teenagers. At one of the outreach events we were at my pastor charged me to get up in front of everyone and share a bit of my story and my heart, and I immediately was completely excited and completely terrified. Having struggled with anxiety all my life public speaking is one of those things that i would just rather not do but God was calling me once again. In Matthew 26:41, it say “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” and I pressed into that truth at the present moment. I stood up in front of a crowd for about 60 and shared some of my story, about how God had brought me away from my anxiety and depression, and that he can rescue anyone from anything. It was so liberating but even cooler to understand that it was all God, and not me at all.
What thoughts do you have about serving internationally since returning home?
Coming home from my mission trip I am humbled, filled with love, and charged to be bold. I realized that I can be just as tune to the spirit at home than I was in Honduras. That I can respond to the promptings on my heart and step out in faith. That people in America and our modern day society need a savior now more than ever, and we need to be willing to risk rejection to share the message of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I am so so Thankful that the Lord chose me to go to Honduras and work with him and the ministry he’s created there, and I’m also so thankful for Fund the Nations for helping me make my trip a reality.
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