Wahooooooo

1st off sorry a/b the semi-melt down the other night (almost didn't write exactly how I was feeling b/c I felt a little stupid/vulnerable but then I thought no...just be real...it's okay. God can break down walls bt/wn people and bring true healing, fellowship, etc. by being transparent, and that's what I want (you never know how the Lord my use diff. situations/struggles/etc. for you or others) His ways are not my ways.- prob. didn't make sense anyways- I feel like my mind has been like a pinball machine lately). I haven't even been able to get excited b/c I've been that busy- (exhausted...just want to sleep for a day) BUT at least now I can get excited a/b the trip- yay!!! Praise the LORD that I made it thru the week- talk a/b a rough week AND work- out of control! Pretty sure I worked enough over time to make up for the 2 weeks I'll be gone (no seriously)! I finally can THINK a/b the trip- can't believe I leave tomorrow!

This whole thing is surreal! AFRICA in the morning- for 2 weeks!!!! Well, this is going to be SUPER short but just wanted to say bye or "kwa heri" since I'll be out of pocket for a bit! Please keep me, my team, and the Kenyan people in your prayers. Pray that the Lord goes before us (paves the way, prepares hearts, etc). Can't wait to see what He does b/c goodness knows this week was___,yeah, you know...minus a fabulous night last night with some of my favorite girls (which I will have to tell you a/b when I get back and really have time to blog:) I know He's going to move- I can feel it (esp. considering the leading up to this trip and how tough, crazy, etc...things got. Thinking a/b going to serve the Lord in a different country- no distractions-mmm! Few closing thoughts: Please pray the Lord speaks to me a/b one thing specifically (personal). Pray for His LOVE to be shown and draw people to Him (so they too can experience Him and have eternal life). Pray that we encourage. Pray for His will to be done. Etc...covet your prayers! Prayer is our power source! Rom. 8:26-27

God of Justice, Saviour to all

Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we’ve received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in every way
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we’ve received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry

Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord (x4)

Acting humbly
Loving mercy
We must go, we must go
To the broken
And the hurting
We must go, we must go

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We MUST GO!!!

Faith is action! Got to go pack!!!!! Night!

Spent

Just got home from work a/b 30 mins. ago (yes, it is 11:15p.m. on a Friday- does that give you a hint as to how my day/week has been!?!)...didn't get to eat dinner and still have to go back into the office tomorrow to tie up some lose ends after my 8a.m. meeting for Kenya...under so much spiritual warfare the past 2 weeks it's unreal! If anyone reads this- don't worry about me (i'm okay...though a little emotional...just need your prayers- please)...just spent and still have SO much to do in these next 2 days to try to prepare...some tid bits and thoughts that are bouncing around in my head right now...sorry just have to clear my mind before I go to bed...to much stuff:

Luluhola

40 minutes ago from web

just got home from work-exhausted! This week has murdered me (finishing up christmas packets & everything else- pulled in every direction)!

helped Munson w/ the gallery (nice) STILL, SOOOO much to do before I leave for Africa Mon! Under a lot of spiritual warfare- big time- tough!

& to top it off i miss my friend:(heartbroken). love him- y can't he love me and come after me- I prayed that the LORD would have all of me

and that i wouldn't be distracted & fall in love w/ YOU...but seriously, God...did you have to take the one thing I wanted and loved away

y couldn't I have both- wish i understood- struggling with trust and faith...guess my faith is becoming my own- I will still bless YOUR name

"YOU give and take away, YOU give and take away, my heart will CHOOSE to say, LORD blessed me YOUR name"-mmmm....

Another early morning- last meeting for Kenya 8a.m.-10:30a.m., work, pack, and get to spend some sweet time with some precious friends (Hen, Mos, Abby, and Krish)tomorrow night...very much needed! Sleep. Thank you, Lord for the rain (love falling to sleep listening to rain).

Africa!

I'm exhausted- so this will prob. be pretty short, BUT I wanted to give ya'll a quick vip update (hope to give more details later, but at this point not sure that's gonna happen...so we're going with the basics:). I've been meaning to email ya'll but with all the 13 hr. work days, etc...trying to get ready for this trip it just hasn't happened (CRAZY busy...work has been out of control...thought I'd have more time...yeah...not so much). SO the big news, I'm leaving for a Mission Trip to Kenya thru JFBC August 24 –September 3, 2009! Here's a little info. about it:

Team Members:

Lawrence Benson

Brian Fox (Leader)

Iraj Ghanouni

John Herzer

Bill Marsh

Lauren Sims

Glen Taylor

Judy Taylor

I'm the youngest one. Brian Fox is the closest to my age at 38:) Most are over the age of 50 and married...really didn't think this was the trip I was suppose to go on...BUT the Lord thought otherwise...should be neat to see what He's going to do!

Few Of The Activities We Will Be Doing:

•Conducting two medical clinics

•Leading Men’s and Women’s Conferences (extra prayers- I'll be speaking for part of it- over an hour- feel very unprepared, nervous, and inadequate- will be over 120 Kenyan woman there- pray the Lord gives me the words to say & speaks thru me)

•Leading Marriage Conference (ironic...yeah...hahah...still waiting on my rock... was thinking what do i have to offer...really felt like this wasn't the trip for me and in the meeting when that thought 1st ran thru my mind...Wayne W. the original trip leader stopped in the middle of the meeting and what he was saying and said, "Lauren you will be PERFECT for this trip. The young girls at First Love International are going to LOVE you:) Sweet...so the Lord affirmed me quick, hah

•Visiting Kibera and Nakuru Reserve

•Speaking at local churches in Nakuru

Prayer Requests:

• battling spiritual warfare (esp. this week- everything that could be thrown at me- physically, emotionally, spiritually, work, personal, etc...everything that could happen has)- guess the Lord is really going to move

• prepare the Kenyan's hearts

• personal request- might share later- but that the Lord will speak to me on this trip (w/o distractions) direct me & make it clear

–That we will…

• be spiritually prepared and will submit to God’s leadership

• focus on God’s agenda, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us

• be filled with God’s love & compassion, and that it shows to Kenyans and each other

• have safe travels and that those around us see Christ through our actions an words

• follow God’s leading as we try to disciple those precious men and women at the conferences

• minister to the sick children and adults to help them physically and spiritually

• be guided to worship at the churches where we can best minister and encourage

• function as a Christ-centered team

• be safe and healthy for the whole trip

Scriptural Encouragements:

• Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the

gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to

salvation for everyone who believes, for the

Jews first and also for the Greek.”

• Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it

with all of your heart, as working for the Lord,

not for men…”

• Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one

another in order to stir up love and good

works, not forsaking the assembling of

yourselves together, as is the manner of

some, but exhorting one another, and so much

the more as you see the Day approaching.”

SORRY I haven't gotten to write a/b this before now:(just ran out of time:) I'm SUPER excited!!! Glad I finally got to share with ya'll!

2128 Hemingway Lane

Roswell, Ga 30075 (for those of you that said you wanted to support me financially...it's not too late:) Please keep us in your prayers!THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Looking forward to what the Lord will do!!! La

MacBook

That's right...I made my 1st EVER "big girl" purchase (well...2nd...to my bedroom furniture right after college:) AND I'm typing on it right now!!!!!! I knew this was the right purchase when I would get on my computer at home the past couple of months and do "command/apple + C" or some kind of Apple command trying to copy, cut, and paste real quick and then get mad when my 6 yr. old HP Pavilion f70 wouldn't perform! I do want to say my HP is still kicking, and it has been a GREAT computer! It's slowing down...but come on...6 years in computer world is a long time...it's like "dog years"...they age a lot faster than us! It's been thru college starting with freshman year, move from Auburn to ATL (well over 8 moves for that matter), transition into the adult/working world, etc...it's seen a lot! SO here's to my old HP- thanks for the shared memories (over the past almost 7 years)! AND no worries- he will be getting a good home- I'm donating him to the Rally Foundation For ChildHood Cancer Research- an amazing non-profit organization that I volunteer with randomly throughout the year- check it out: http://www.rallyfoundation.org/ 

Really timing and everything was kind of a God thing...read email below (from one of my friends that works there): 

From: Nicole Chitty 
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 13:00:18 -0400
To: Lauren Sims <Lauren.Sims@JFBC.ORG>
Conversation: Volunteering at the Benefit Bash
Subject: RE: Volunteering at the Benefit Bash

Lauren,
 
Perfect timing!! Rally does need a computer!! We had one of our interns computers crash this week and were just praying someone could donate one, this is perfect. What kind of computer is it? How could I get it from you? I can have our computer guy erase your personal stuff off of there… sweet!
 
You do need to come see our new place. What are you doing this weekend? Steven is gone on a fishing trip with my dad… want to have a sleepover at my place?
 
Rally On,
Nicole Shropshire Chitty 
Community Development Manager 
Rally Foundation For Childhood Cancer Research
 
CLICK HERE org/blog/>  to Follow Rally's Blog  

So he has a good home where he will be helping with a good cause (which makes me happy). I think working in the Worship & Arts Dept. (3rd floor clan) at JFBC for the past 2 years, has ruined me for life! We all use Macs (except for sweet Lynn)- and I'm use to "command apple whatever" working-quick and easy. Guess I was spoiled with a Mac at work!?! So I caved- bought my 1st computer!!! ..."Pause"...tearing up watching the end of "Man on Fire."...k..."Play"...sorry...haha...this could be dangerous (but see this is what I love a/b it...movie and blogging- you can do 2 or more things at once...multi-tasking! My poor readers- it's prob. going to be even harder to follow my train of thought...with all these distractions,ha...i'll try to focus for your sake...well...unless I get bored;) ...k, focus...back to the subject at hand...I am SOOOOO excited! I bought a cute little white MacBook (all by myself)! SO empowering!!! AND I LOVE it- so great having a laptop (versatile)! Here's what I got:  

13-inch MacBook 

2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 

2GB DDR2 Memory 160GB hard drive 

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics 

White polycarbonate shell 

I bought it refurbished and on the tax-free weekend-got everything for $898.00- Mac laptop, cool case, and free shipping!!! Gah, I'm good!!! Super EXCITED! Who knows...maybe this will inspire me to blog more often...since I won't be stuck sitting at a desk (you could def. be getting more insight into my life:) SO there ya go- just super pumped a/b my "big girl" purchase (so weird- don't feel old enough to make these kind of decisions on my own- just life-ya know!?!)!