A message from
I recently went on a 7 day mission trip to the Dominican Republic with a FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) soccer team. I went into the trip thinking I was an atheist; however my life has drastically changed since. One of the greatest men I have ever met told his testimony to about 25 of us girls. His name is Mr. Bob Wiedemann. He said something about how he wasn't a true believer until he was 45, and this made me realize that you don't have to be a follower of Christ since birth. It can happen whenever your faith comes upon you, and that you don't need proof. You only need faith. That day when he told his testimony I broke down into tears, and if you know anything about me I don't show emotion (until now!). It was just like everything he was saying and the way he felt seemed almost identical to what I was feeling just 2 days before. Lost, wondering if this is really it? Do we just die? I had so many questions. That day sitting in that room I found Christ. I was saved. I became a true follower. That week in the Dominican my life completely changed. I realized I was trying to fill a Jesus shaped hole in my heart with so many other things that would never fill it, as another good friend and inspiration to me, Ms. Callie Corbin Langford, said in her testimony to us. Before my mission trip to the Dominican I was getting into drugs and alcohol more than I should've, and it was getting worse and worse as the days went on. I was hanging out with my so called "friends" who I now realize would never help me in a bad situation. They were only friends with me to get high. I was even strongly under the influence the night before the trip because I knew I'd have to wait a week to do it again. Little did I know I would drop it all cold turkey by the time I got back. I realized I didn't need drugs to be happy. I was only using them to try to make myself happy when all I needed was God’s love. I was trying to fill this hole with my drugs and all my built up anger towards the world, and I was slowly slipping. God made me go through all of these struggles in my life so that one day I would be so close to him that our relationship wouldn’t break. God knew he needed to do something drastic to change my life and he did. He knew when He needed to draw me in. I came back to the US with a new heart and a new found faith. I came back and could honestly say for the first time in a while that I was genuinely happy. Life is now beautiful in my eyes. All of these people I met in the Dominican were like angels sent to me to show me what was important in life. These Dominicans have nothing, yet they are still so happy. Most importantly they are still so passionate about their faith, and I admire them so greatly for this.
How you can help me spread the word of Jesus
So my plans keep going back and forth, but I have decided what I am going to do for sure. I am still going down the 13th, but i will be doing a month of intern work and then I will start my GAP Year. The program is designed for 18-25 year olds that want to explore deeper into their faith. We will betaking four days a week of spanish and biblical classes, and then the other three days we will have our choice of missionary work. it can range anywhere from going to villages to just going to orphanages. Another thing i will be personally interested in is Lily's House. all it is is a home for women that are trying to get away from the streets of prostitution. Along with doing missionary work for a year, and taking amazing classes to further my faith, I hope to be able to share my testimony. I just want to be able to spread the word of God. So much more will take place if I get to share my story with the citizens of the Dominican. I was down there for soccer and we spread the word of God through many villages, but I want to go back and continue to help people in their everyday lives. I want to share my story with the world and help bring people to Christ like Mr. Bob Wiedemann did for me. God is the only one that can actually save anyone, but I hope to be somewhat of a messenger to just help people realize if they’re lost in their faith like I was. I shared my testimony on the last day of the trip and I had strangers come up to me and tell me how much of an inspiration I was to them and how they thought I was so bold. I thought it was just my life story. I didn’t think it was anything special. I now realize that I can help so many people like me who are completely lost in their religion. I have never felt so strongly and passionately about something in my life and I know I need to continue to share my story and give people hope in the world. I have never felt truly ready for college, like there was something I needed to do first. Ever since I left the Dominican I have felt something in my heart telling me I need to go back. This is what God is bringing me to do.
A Message From Lauren Teti
My only hurdle in this journey is earning the funds to go on this long term mission trip. The total for my trip will be around $10,000. I am asking for your support in helping me spread the word of Christ to many people that are lost in their journey to find faith. I hope that you can help me in my journey and provide me with some of the funds I need to make others feel the overwhelming happiness in in their heart like I did. I will be leaving July 13th, and won't be coming back until sometime in June of 2014. This is a long journey that I feel very passionately about, but I just need your help to go through with it. Anything at all will help. Also if there are any friends or family members of yours that you know would be willing to help please pass this letter along to them using the Ourfund account. If you are unable to help financially, please put me in your prayers, and help me through this amazing journey in my relationship with God.
Thank you and God bless
If you have any further questions please contact me at 770-377-2852
*Another note- I will be starting a blog when I head down to the Dominican Republic, and if you are interested at all in my journey please follow what’s going on in my life at http://spreadingthewordofgod.wordpress.com
I know its really short notice, but I REALLY NEED ANY DONATIONS IN BY JULY 11th! If you would like to donate, but cannot by that date please contact me!
Madeline
Gift amount
$ 150.00Hope you are doing well and God's showing up in a big way in your life:) Blessings, Muzi Family
Ms. Kreider
Gift amount
$ 100.00
Lucy
Gift amount
$ 25.00Good Luck Lauren! So Proud of You!
Mrs. Janess
Gift amount
$ 25.00You are AWESOME- God Bless You!
Eric
Gift amount
$ 20.00Sorry this took me so long, but I love you and hope that you have an amazing trip and will be praying for you each and every night.
Mrs. Edwards
Gift amount
$ 100.00I'm so proud of you, Lauren!! Sending our LOVE !!
Mark
Gift amount
$ 500.00Proverbs 3:5-6
Emily
Gift amount
$ 50.00love it teti!
Ms. Musick
Gift amount
$ 10.00Good luck with your mission.
Cal
Gift amount
$ 100.00I may not be a Christian, but I do believe that what you are doing will really help. This is what you are meant to do Lauren.
Mrs. Avera
Gift amount
$ 25.00
Jack
Gift amount
$ 25.00
Mckenzie
Gift amount
$ 75.00Good luck Lauren!! I hope everything goes well! It hate so awesome that your doing that!! -mckenzie towe
Mr. Jordan
Gift amount
$ 25.00I'm proud of you Teti; I wish I could donate more. Please stay in touch.
Kathy
Gift amount
$ 100.00I am so happy for you! I loved your testimony. I felt the same before I became a Christan thinking that I had to be perfect and had to be followin Christ from start. I am so proud of you Lauren! Im sure you will bless many lives!
Becky
Gift amount
$ 25.00
Laura
Gift amount
$ 100.00Love you Lauren!!
