Laura Reed

I was born and raised in a small town in Alabama. I studied music growing up and placed almost all of my focus and energy in being the best violinist I could be. After graduating high school, I was awarded a full violin scholarship to the University of Alabama. It was there during my freshman year that I began to realize the world was much bigger than the state of Alabama. At the end of my Freshman year, I packed my bags and moved to Colorado where I enrolled at Colorado Christian University. It was during my time there that I answered God's call on my life to travel to Mozambique and be a part of a missionary training school with Iris Ministries. While I was in Mozambique, I heard clearly from the Lord that I was to serve in Rwanda. I knew nothing of Rwanda. In fact, I did not even know if it was in Africa. After returning from Mozambique, I did everything I could to prepare my heart so I would be ready when the time came to move to Rwanda. I first set foot in Rwanda in September of 2011. My trip was short, but it literally only took about an hour for me to realize that my heart was in all the way. I returned home for the holidays in 2011, and in January of 2012, I packed my bags and moved to Rwanda. My journey there was intense. I was on my own and knew no one, but I was in love with the Rwandese people. I grew a huge heart for those with physical disabilities and determined to give my everything to be with them. Eventually, I opened a small bakery where I taught those with disabilities and AIDS to bake as a life skill and a trade. I returned a year and a half later and moved to Arroyo Grande, CA where I started an international leadership school. It is my hope to return to the mission field at the end of the school.