I wanted to give you an update on Lauren Lognion…one of our Love, Action, Faith Scholarship Recipients.  She is about half way through her 11 month journey to 11 different countries.  She has been to Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia and is in India right now.   She has had many new life experiences and gotten to meet the “locals”…learn their cultures and ways…while she gets to show the love of Christ in different forms.  She has taught English to children at night, subbed in a Christian School during the day, worked in a coffee shop…where she was able to be meet the locals and share when God presented the opportunity.  In Australia she preformed community service by daily picking up trash in the community and held bible studies, worship services and sing alongs at night with the aboriginals and so many more unique life experiences.  She, and the team she is with on The World Race, are giving 11 months of service… an opportunity of a lifetime…with lessons on community service and love in action.  We think she and this trip represent what this particular scholarship was intended for.  In her thank you note she said she was going to carry our Lauren’s beautiful smile and love to all she meets…and we are honored for her to do so.

Below you will see one of her latest posts from her journey.

Lauren is on the right… in the purple shirt. Stuck! Posted in General Posts by Lauren Lognion on 1/15/2013  I am in INDIA. It is month five of the race and starting to set in… Im away. Away from family, friends, target, the gap, comfort food.. Anything I would normally do when bored has been removed. Our internet access is very limited and going for a run is not an option. (unless I want to run with one of the men from my team and in pants.) All that being said.. it is worth it. Im a planner, always have been. Always wanting to know the next step to take and don’t want to waste anytime getting there. So as God continues to make my love and passion for the children and youth in America more and more clear I find myself wondering why wait until I return in August to begin. Why am I still here? on the race.. traveling around the world, when I could be back in the states working with the youth? I am almost 24 and no where near reaching any of the “goals” I had set for myself. What am I doing? I am Stuck! and God said.. yep! That is exactly right! You are stuck and finally sitting still. You, Lauren, don’t have the answers, you don’t even know all the questions to ask, and that’s exactly where you should be. “Be Still and know that I am God” As badly as I would like to skip ahead and get to the next step, start working and begin, God has me exactly where he wants me. It is uncomfortable and confusing but because I cant answer the questions I find myself going to Him even more. So this month on the race has been hard and not because of the squatty potties and bucket showers but because that control Ive talked about giving up for so long.. is gone. I have spent more time than ever listening to God and allowing him to be my teacher and comforter. This race is one unique journey and I am blessed to have such a patient God walk along side with me and point me in the right direction when I find myself stuck.