Least of these...

I have been in Uganda for 5 days. All of those days I have been sick. So a lot of the ministry I haven't been able to do because I have been resting.

Yesterday I took a short trip to the village (the rest of the team has been there for 3 days). Even in Uganda the poverty level between the city and villages is staggering.

Making the long drive to and from the village, I saw the thing that will never stop breaking my heart: children taking care of babies. Hundreds of them. I don't know each situation, whether each child had a parent who was working, whether they are orphaned children, whether they are runaways. I will never know.

But what I do know is that every time I see a baby on the back of a 5, 6,7,8 year old it breaks my heart that they have no one taking care of them and it takes all that is within me to not bring every single one of them home with me.

All I can do is pray that the Father to the Fatherless will take care of them. That He will sustain them and that He will bring them into His loving arms.

Until all have heard,
lauren michelle gross

Finally in Africa

Well, I made it. I'm finally in Uganda. Spent the last couple of hours sleeping, now meeting the Empower a Child team and other missionaries.

It was a rough journey: Got sicker and sicker the more I traveled, I didn't have internet or phone access any of the times I thought I would, I now have an eye infection, and my luggage didn't arrive (supposedly it will be here tomorrow).

All of that being said, God is faithful and I was forced to rely on Him every step of the way. Thank you for all your prayers. I am hoping to report in a couple of days that all of the above issues have been resolved. Love and miss you all!!

until all have heard,
lauren michelle gross

He is Bigger.

3 days from now, I will be leaving for Uganda. It doesn't feel real. As I sit in my mostly unpacked room I am thinking over how incredibly blessed I am.

I shared with my church on Sunday that when God began me on this journey, I told Him all reasons I couldn't do what He was calling me to, I told Him how many people would be better at it. As I listed off to Him why He had picked the wrong person, He told me repeatedly that He is enough. He told me all the reasons why He could. The things God does don't make sense to me. The way He operates astounds me. His ways are far above mine and His thoughts are far above mine.

God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and if He uses foolish things, then He definitely has the right girl.

If God is calling you to something and you're telling Him all the reasons you can't, ask Him to tell you all the reasons He can. His reasons far outweigh your excuses. His truth will shout louder than the lies of the enemy. Be encouraged that when you aren't enough, He is!

until all have heard,

lauren michelle gross

Then What Could Stand Against?!

Well, it's coming fast now. I leave for Africa in 12 days. Less than 2 weeks. This has to be the biggest step of faith I have ever taken. I am heading to a third world country for 4 months, leaving my life behind to follow the cross.

A few days ago I was listening to Chris Tomlin and his song Our God. For those of you who don't know, for the past 6, almost 7 months I have been dealing with some pretty serious health issues. I have now been diagnosed, had surgery, and have begun a treatment plan. All of this has been unnerving because at the beginning of the year I felt God calling me to Uganda on a long term trip. When you're in constant pain and for months have no idea where it's coming from or what it means... It makes you wonder... Is God really calling me there? Can I really handle it? Does He know how hard this is for me? 

Well, as I was listening to "Our God" this line struck me: 
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.

God is for me, because I am following Him. If I am following Him, nothing can stop me, but Him. No one can conquer me, no one can hurt me, because God is for me. Even though my health is confusing and hard, God is faithful and HE is not the author of confusion. Health issues can come against me, but they cannot stand.

Many people are worried that I am headed around the world when just a few days ago I was in the ER with extreme pain. I am less concerned, because I know who God is and I know who I am. God wouldn't send His daughter somewhere without preparing the way. So whether I'm completely healed and without pain in 12 days, or not, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He's got me. He's not worried. He's in control and He will give me the grace to walk through whatever He's called me to. 

I trust Him and I lay down my fear. He has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Thanks for the prayers. They mean the world to me!

Until all have heard,

lauren michelle gross