For many children raised overseas, the concept of "home" can feel complicated. Lauren Hou knows this well. As the daughter of missionaries, she spent most of her childhood in another country, absorbing its language, customs, and rhythms. When it came time to move to the United States for college, she felt like a stranger in her own passport country. The sense of dislocation was acute, and she longed to return to the place that felt most familiar.
This is a common experience for missionary kids. They often straddle two cultures, never fully belonging to either. Yet God often uses that very tension to shape their hearts for a lifetime of service. For Hou, the transition to California Baptist University was jarring, but it also became a crucible where her faith was tested and refined.
A Surrender That Changed Everything
During her freshman year, Hou got involved in campus ministry and attended a women's retreat. There, God began to speak to her heart about her motives. She realized that her desire to return overseas was rooted more in comfort than in a genuine call to share the gospel. "I felt convicted to give all my plans to the Lord," she recalls. "I had to surrender staying in America if that's what God wanted me to do."
In that moment, she released her grip on her own plans and told God she would stay if He willed. It was a prayer of total abandonment. And in that surrender, God clarified her calling. He impressed upon her heart that His plan was indeed for her to go to the nations—but not immediately. A season of staying in the U.S. came first.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." — Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
This passage became a touchstone for Hou as she navigated the years ahead. She learned that obedience often requires patience, and that God's timing is rarely our own.
Delays That Prepare, Not Derail
After graduating, Hou decided to gain work experience in the U.S. She also pursued a master's degree and attended seminary. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, further postponing her plans. In total, including her college years, Hou lived in the United States for nearly twelve years before finally moving overseas—the longest she had ever lived in one place consecutively.
During those years, God used every delay to deepen her character and broaden her perspective. She learned to trust Him in new ways, to build community, and to develop skills that would serve her well on the mission field. The waiting was not wasted; it was preparation.
The Role of Community and Mentorship
Throughout that season, Hou was surrounded by a church community that encouraged her and held her accountable. She found mentors who helped her discern God's voice and confirmed the call on her life. This underscores a vital principle: God rarely calls us in isolation. He uses the body of Christ to affirm and equip us for the work He has prepared.
Hou's story is a reminder that the journey to the mission field is not always a straight line. There are twists, turns, and long pauses. But each step, even the ones that feel like detours, can be part of God's purposeful design.
Finally Home in the Field
Today, Lauren Hou serves as a missionary in Japan, exactly where God led her. She hosts friends for dinner in her apartment, building relationships and sharing the love of Christ in everyday moments. The country that once felt like home during her childhood now welcomes her back as a servant and witness.
Her story echoes the call of the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19, ESV). But it also demonstrates that the going often involves a process of surrender, training, and waiting. God is as concerned with who we become along the way as He is with the destination.
"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" — Luke 10:2 (ESV)
Hou is one of those laborers, but her path reminds us that every believer is called to participate in God's mission, whether at home or abroad. The question is not whether we will go, but whether we will surrender our plans to the One who sees the whole picture.
Practical Application: Steps Toward Your Own Mission
Perhaps you feel a nudge toward missions—whether across the street or across the ocean. Here are a few ways to respond:
- Pray for clarity. Ask God to reveal your motives and to align your desires with His will.
- Seek counsel. Talk to trusted pastors, mentors, or missionaries who can offer wisdom and perspective.
- Embrace the waiting. Use seasons of delay to grow in your faith, gain skills, and build relationships.
- Start where you are. You don't have to wait for a plane ticket to live missionally. Look for opportunities to serve in your local church or community.
As you reflect on Hou's journey, consider this: What plans are you holding too tightly? What would it look like to surrender them to God and trust His timing? The harvest is plentiful, and the laborers are still few. Perhaps God is preparing you, even now, for a mission you cannot yet see.
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