It's HOT here!

Hello everyone, I'm sorry for not posting in a while, things have been pretty crazy on this side of the world. The week after we were at the orphange we spent our time in Githurai, one of the large slums here. We did open air evangelism as well as door to door evangelism. It was a very difficult week for me as I was waaaay out of my comfort zone and had been dealing with a lot of homesickness and some other issues at the time. The only way to explain how I got through it was by God's strength. It really was the hardest week so far. God really did a lot through our team though and we got the opportunity to pray for quite a few people and saw many come to the Lord. Last saturday we took an 8 hour bus ride with very loud 90's music to Mombasa, one of the coastal cities in Kenya. We're staying at the Mombasa base which is quite nice and right beside the Indian Ocean. I'm still not adjusted to the hot temperatures. Our room on a 'cool' night is 27 degrees! I'm pretty proud of myself for not screaming like a little girl at all the huge bugs, geckos, lizards, rate, frogs, bats and disgusting millipedes. Oh yeah, someone saw 2 snakes, but I choose not to think about those! We did some door to door evangelism in Mombasa which went pretty well and also worked with a program called Kings Kids. The rest of our time was spent helping out around the base. They had been wanting the prayer room to be painted for about 2 years now, and so some people did that for them and painted a beautiful mural on one of the walls. Tomorrow (sunday) we bus back to Nairobi and spend the night there and then leave early on monday morning to catch our flight to Rwanda. I'm not to sure what to expect when I get to Rwanda, I'm just trying to take things one day at time. I could really use a lot of prayer right now. Africa is a lot harder than I thought it would be and am having a hard time adjusting to everything. Please pray that I make it through the next 33 days alright and that I don't tell myself lies about not being able to make it. I love you all and miss you. Please, please, please write me emails or leave a comment on my blog, I love hearing from you all!
Lauren

Update

Hello everyone! Today was our last day of working at the Imani orphanage. I'm really going to miss it there, the kids are all so special. Tomorrow is our day off and so I think we'll be going to the market, I'm looking forward to that. On saturday we'll start working in the slums. I'm pretty nervous about that because i don't really know what to expect. I could really use some more prayer for health, well actually the whole team could. One team member had to spend the day in the hospital from dehydration. Yesterday I was stuck in bed with a fever which was not very fun. I'm feeling better today, but still not the greatest. Life is a lot harder here than I expected, and I'm now fully aware of all the things i take for granted at home.

African Adventures

Hi! I wanted to let everyone know that I made it to Africa in one piece. Aside from some missed flights, sprints through airports, and missing luggage I'm doing alright. I never knew that I could go for 4 and a half days with no shower, no deodorant and toothbrush, no pillow and blanket, and no clothes and still be alright. I think with having our entire team have no luggage taught us that it's ok to smell bad, life goes on! Thankfully though everyone but cindy our leader got their luggage back this afternoon.
Yesterday we went to one of the orphanages in the area, and the children were so adorable! One little boy ran straight to me when I got off of the bus and wrapped his little arms so tightly around my legs. It really was the best feeling in the world. I could really use some prayer right now though, I caught a cold on the flight and mixed with being jet lagged I am feeling quite run down. I really need some energy and comfort, I'm quite homesick at the moment.
We have been so blessed by the base we're staying at, the people hosting us are so incrdible and generous. The assinged a male and female to be with our team at all times, even sleeping in the same rooms as us so that they can take care of us in whatver way possible. They are so amazing! I really can't wait to see all of you again! I miss you!
Lauren

Miracles Do Happen!

I need to share this amazing story with all of you! On friday there was still 5 people that did not have all of there outreach money. The total of the 5 of them was $1, 830 that still needed to come. We as a base prayed and passed around an offering hat. God is so amazing and multiplied our offering and we ended up having $560 extra!! That is just so amazing! We'll now be able to use that left over money and bless the churches and orphanges we're working with with some of the financial things that they can't take care of. God is so incredible! I can hardly wait to see what other miracles happen during out trip! Today is our day off, but I still have quite a bit of work to do. Lots of laundry and packing left to do! The past couple days we've been working on dramas and little skits that we can do in some of the churches we'll be ministering at. It's actually been a lot of fun. We've also been getting some crafts and things like that together to do with the kids. I'm so excited to work with the kids! Last night I helped out at Jr. Adventures. It's a kids program once a month where kids can learn about a specific country in the world and get excited about missions. Last night was very fitting since the country highlited was Kenya. It was so incredible to hear the kids pray for Kenya and for the little children there. My favorite part was at the end when the kids prayed and asked God if He wanted any of them to go there in the future. Around 8 of them put up their hands and we got the chance to pray for them. I think it's so great how they're learning abotu missions at such a young age. The kids also did an offering for us, and it was so humbling to see them come to the front with their penny jars and give everything they had. We got $28 in change! It was so cute. The kids also prayed for us and our team that we would be brave while we were there. God really works through these little kids! Our itinerary is as follows: We will be workign with Calvary International Fellowship in Nairobi for 2.5 weeks. There we will be working with churches in the slums and the Imani Kids orphanage. From there we will be going to YWAM Mombassa for 1.5 weeks. At Mombassa we'll be working alot with the Arts and showing them how to incorportate all kinds of art into worship. Next we will be going to Rwanda and working in Kigali at the organization called Parental Care for Destitute Children. After that is the Widows of Hope group for 1 week. There we will be teaching them HIV education, Craft development and marketing and sanitation education. The last place we will be at is YWAM Rwanda for 1 week. I will do my best to keep you undated! Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
Lauren