SUP?
This post is to welcome those of you from Mocha Club visiting my blog, and to inform my buddies about an article that will go live tomorrow, July 20th.
You can the view the post on Mocha Club's site here:
http://blog.mochaclub.org/articles/2010/07/19/kenya-laurin/
I recommend reading this blog from the beginning to the most recent posts.
Start with reading this blog with the post entitled, "A Whole New World."
Disclaimer: I can be a bit long winded but please take the time to read about the people I met in Kenya!
May the Kenyans starring in these blog entries encourage you, inspire you, and even make you dance a little.
A peek into my heart:
I wish I could convince you that I am this remarkably changed, selfess person, but I would be one BIG, FAT liar.
However, the people of Kenya have enlighened my soul and challenged me to give more of myself than what is "comfortable". It's a process. We live in a society that believes in "get it NOW". In Africa, they embrace the fact that some things take time. This journey to service and giving is going to take some time for the stubborn girl writing this blog.
Someone once told me, "If it doesn't hurt, it's not a sacrifice".
What is it that I am supposed to sacrifice for my friends in Africa? I am still praying about that.
Thank you for reading. Feel free to share this with friends who don't quite understand what this whole "Africa" thing is all about. I didn't understand it at first either. Heck, I'm still trying to soak it all in.
I know many people say that America has enough needs of its own for us to care about other nations. I don't disagree that there are people minutes away from us that need our help. What I am suggesting is this:
The more you read about our Kenyan brothers and sisters the more you will see that it's not about who needs our help more. It's about how much we need the "light" they have in our own lives. It's about giving to people that, if you let them, will give more to you than you could ever give back.
Life since Africa:
I've been living with my grandparents in Birmingham and interning with a building contractor but will be
heading back to Auburn University (WAR EAGLE) in less than a month! YEEHAW.
Let me tell you something about my school:
Auburn University is a place of passionate "go-getters."
Present a need to our student body and we'll tackle it. Dare ya.
It makes me excited knowing that our campus representative for Mocha Club, Emily, has a passion for educating our peers on Africa: their hope, their spirit, and their need. I hope more people at school will become aware of Africa this year.
"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told". Habakuk 1:5
Some other blogs from the trip:
Bill Power
Kenya Feel the Love
Christi Nolan
This Shirt Changes Lives
...buy a t shirt!
Here are some videos from the trip thanks to Carrie Vermillion:
Kenya Kids do the Single Ladies Dance (created by Carrie)
Our Crew
Lots of Laughter... sorry Christi... I had to
peace.love.kitui.
I know what love is
join Mocha Club (all are welcome)!
peace.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
It has been a little over a week since we stepped foot on American soil again.
No matter where we are in the world whether it be a beautifully bricked home on the mountainside,a ball field, a crammed slum in Kenya, the Capitol of the United States, the Peanut Capital of the World, a summer camp,a hard day in an office, an airplane, a late night working at the diner, an Italian palace, or a Western wilderness...
whether it be a season of revenue, health,harvest, sickness, debt, confusion, answers, death, divorce, excitement, learning, adventure, relaxation, stress, victory, adversity, or just simplicity he is there. I know this because He promises to give us a hope and a future and I saw that hope in the African people.
Auburn is taking over the world this summer!
"Look among the nations and see, wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakuk 1:5
Here's to my friends all over the map right now (Italy, Paris, England, Vail Colorado, Washington DC,Hawaii, Huntsville, Honduras, JH Ranch, Atlanta, Winn Shape, Jackson Hole, Auburn, New Hampshire, Tuscaloosa,Florida's 30-A,Dothan, Montgomery, Ireland, Australia, China, and Kanakuk to name a few).
I miss Africa. I miss my teammates and the people there. I miss the songs and the smiles and yes... even the strange toilets. I miss their simplicity and I miss this enthusiasm.
After returning it is amazing and disgusting how much I value (still) things that really don't matter.
I need wisdom of what to do next. How to help and love these people who welcomed me into their country to experience their hopes, dreams, and ambitions in the midst of extreme poverty and despair.
I don't want Africa to be a "mission trip."
Honestly.. I don't like that term anymore.
I want it to be the way that I live and the way that I think. I don't want to love on people for two weeks and then peace out. I feel called to Africa. Whether that means going, sending, living, praying, paying, or sharing I don't know yet.
They've got "soul" and I want to be a part of it!
I do know my heart is there even if I never get to physically go back. As far as we're concerned we're still there dancing with them!
my American Lit and Accounting grades right now reflect that my brain is still in another continent.
I want my life to be the mission instead of a quick getaway. Selfishly I find part of myself wishing I could go to Anthropologie or buy some cool antique furniture and the other half of me is disgusted with the American way of life. Contradicting, eh?
Please keep praying for these people and for our hearts here to melt more and more. I was asked to speak at my grandparent's church on Sunday:
A- public speaking
B- I am not really good at talking the "church" lingo cause it kinda gets on my nerves
C- I want to keep it real and be real.
Father,
May the words that leave my mouth on Sunday be yours and not mine! May the pictures, stories, and prayers bring you glory and bring hope to the "least of these."
Amen.
If you would like to learn more about Mocha Club, African Leadership, or how to donate to my trip or these organizations feel free to contact me.
I am at work right now and I love my job! It is awesome to experience what I might be doing once I graduate. We are doing a few renovations right now that are "off da chain". I am so thankful for this opportunity and I enjoy the people I get to experience. It is interesting to go from slum to elaborate kitchens with mahogany and copper! Culture shock? Yes. But...
We are ALL the same.
No matter where we are in the world whether it be a beautifully bricked home on the mountainside,a ball field, a crammed slum in Kenya, the Capitol of the United States, the Peanut Capital of the World, a summer camp,a hard day in an office, an airplane, a late night working at the diner, an Italian palace, or a Western wilderness...
whether it be a season of revenue, health,harvest, sickness, debt, confusion, answers, death, divorce, excitement, learning, adventure, relaxation, stress, victory, adversity, or just simplicity he is there. I know this because He promises to give us a hope and a future and I saw that hope in the African people.
Auburn is taking over the world this summer!
"Look among the nations and see, wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakuk 1:5
Here's to my friends all over the map right now (Italy, Paris, England, Vail Colorado, Washington DC,Hawaii, Huntsville, Honduras, JH Ranch, Atlanta, Winn Shape, Jackson Hole, Auburn, New Hampshire, Tuscaloosa,Florida's 30-A,Dothan, Montgomery, Ireland, Australia, China, and Kanakuk to name a few).
I miss Africa. I miss my teammates and the people there. I miss the songs and the smiles and yes... even the strange toilets. I miss their simplicity and I miss this enthusiasm.
After returning it is amazing and disgusting how much I value (still) things that really don't matter.
I need wisdom of what to do next. How to help and love these people who welcomed me into their country to experience their hopes, dreams, and ambitions in the midst of extreme poverty and despair.
I don't want Africa to be a "mission trip."
Honestly.. I don't like that term anymore.
I want it to be the way that I live and the way that I think. I don't want to love on people for two weeks and then peace out. I feel called to Africa. Whether that means going, sending, living, praying, paying, or sharing I don't know yet.
They've got "soul" and I want to be a part of it!
I do know my heart is there even if I never get to physically go back. As far as we're concerned we're still there dancing with them!
my American Lit and Accounting grades right now reflect that my brain is still in another continent.
I want my life to be the mission instead of a quick getaway. Selfishly I find part of myself wishing I could go to Anthropologie or buy some cool antique furniture and the other half of me is disgusted with the American way of life. Contradicting, eh?
Please keep praying for these people and for our hearts here to melt more and more. I was asked to speak at my grandparent's church on Sunday:
A- public speaking
B- I am not really good at talking the "church" lingo cause it kinda gets on my nerves
C- I want to keep it real and be real.
Father,
May the words that leave my mouth on Sunday be yours and not mine! May the pictures, stories, and prayers bring you glory and bring hope to the "least of these."
Amen.
If you would like to learn more about Mocha Club, African Leadership, or how to donate to my trip or these organizations feel free to contact me.
I am at work right now and I love my job! It is awesome to experience what I might be doing once I graduate. We are doing a few renovations right now that are "off da chain". I am so thankful for this opportunity and I enjoy the people I get to experience. It is interesting to go from slum to elaborate kitchens with mahogany and copper! Culture shock? Yes. But...
We are ALL the same.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
We made it home last night around ten pm! Thank you for all of the prayers and encouragement over this trip. Please continue to pray for Africa as well as our hearts here...that we will always have a burden to pray and support the people of Africa.
GET EXCITED! Pictures will be up this weekend!
Until then... I thought you all would enjoy this video. My friend Carrie Vermillion made this. Props to her for catching little children wiggling their hips... and for making it fit Beyonce's beat perfectly. These are just clips throughout the week put to the Single Ladies song.
http://www.vimeo.com/12481095
watch this!
ps... if you haven't gotten to see what our team did throughout the past two weeks... I encourage you to go back and read the old blog posts!
GET EXCITED! Pictures will be up this weekend!
Until then... I thought you all would enjoy this video. My friend Carrie Vermillion made this. Props to her for catching little children wiggling their hips... and for making it fit Beyonce's beat perfectly. These are just clips throughout the week put to the Single Ladies song.
http://www.vimeo.com/12481095
watch this!
ps... if you haven't gotten to see what our team did throughout the past two weeks... I encourage you to go back and read the old blog posts!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
what a bitter sweet day! I'm in the airport blogging from my iPod . Today we woke up very early for our safari. It was dark and rainy when we left for Nairobi national. The vans we've been using the whole trip have super powers. The roof pops up for safaris. We loved hanging out of the top. We saw a giraffe, antelope, monkey, jackal, ostrich, water buffalo. We also saw other birds and bugs. The plains were just as beautiful as I imagined. I enjoyed the gentle breeze on top on the car and hearing the birds. The adventure was also thrilling with bumpy hills that tested the strength of our vans.we didn't see anything unusual but the experience was perfect. We saw lots of poop and carefully crossed wooden bridges. We did it all... And yes we sang lion king. Afterwards we went to kizuri jewelry and then ate Chinese food again. We had a sweet time encouraging one another and praying before heading in the insane Kenya traffic to the airport. We said goodbye to our Hawaii teammates since their plane left early. Parting is sad! Aboutto board planein an hour I'd so. Sorry this is unorganized!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
10 am. School bell rings. Off to Chemistry class with the sophomores. Woah buddy. I forgot how terrible I am at science. After all I did score a 1 on the AP test (that's the worst if you're wondering). When class finished the kids forced the teacher out of the room and we sang songs. Rockin'.
1:00 pm. lunch. very dry corn and collard-ish greens. I ate it. I am thankful that I do not have to worry about what to eat everyday. I wanted to experience what they experience. I can't imagine that as my only meal every day.
2:00 pm. Toured their slum. That was the first time we got to walk through a slum. The dirt/mud roads were narrow and were filled with trash and animal droppings. Children were running around without pants and sometimes without shoes. We got to a point when we were near a bunch of men by the river and they strictly told us before we saw them that we COULD NOT take pictures. Once it was safe again we crossed a bridge over a muddy stream. It was not a trusty bridge. It was made of old branches. I felt like Tom Sawyer or something. Didn't fall in. YES! No water sicknesses for our team today. Thank you, Lord. Over the bridge is a hill that overlooks the whole slum. I took a picture that I will show you. Like I've said a million times.. a picture does no justice for the smell.
3ish: took pictures of the kids and printed them so they could have pictures.
3:30 ish
PLOWED in the field. Yes. With a hoe. They taught me. I had quite a few laughs. Who ever thought we would be working on a field in Africa? I am so glad we did. I eventually caught on. This was part of their curriculum. I don't know many high schoolers back at home that would work on a field for a class in pure sunshine heat&humidity. They have great attitudes and spirits.
Long, bumpy ride back. Threw clothes on that weren't sweaty. Left to go eat at Irene's. She founded the New Dawn School. She stumbled across this slum when many people from her church live there. She was trying to minister to the wealthy and then all the slum folks showed up. At first she was annoyed that they were there, but when she went to their village she found a heart and a passion for the people. She was the reason New Dawn came to become the only Secondary school in the area. She was awesome. Her obedience to the Lord's calling was inspiring and that is one of my prayers for myself. Obedience. She had authentic food and we spent time with her family. Her son is a student at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. We really enjoyed getting to know him and he is hopefully coming to visit Cameron and I at Auburn. We all sang songs and prayed together. It was a very sweet ending to a wonderful time in ministry with Irene as well as Benson, Susan, and Victoria. Victoria (Benson's daughter) spent her whole day making bracelets for us.
Tomorrow: SAFARI!! We are leaving here at 6 am. I am not sure if I will get to blog until Friday or Saturday because we fly out tomorrow. After the safari we are going to a Kazuri bead factory that provides many jobs for single mothers. I am pumped about their handmade jewelry. Eating at the Java House tomorrow so hopefully I can bring you guys some Kenyan coffee home. Apparently it is THE best.
Bad news: No cell phone anywhere and I may have pink eye. I don't feel bad but my eyes are itchy and somewhat oozy. Sorry if that is gross. Just statin' the facts as always.
Good news: We are trying to soak up our last night here and enjoy it. I cannot describe this experience in words. I am so thankful. Also, pictures will be up by the beginning of next week hopefully :)
Swahili word:
I can't think of any but kwaheri because it means good bye . I know I have already said it, but tomorrow I am saying "kwaheri Kenya"
It is well with my soul. I have loved the people here and they said that KEnya is our second home. I believe that. I hope to return to my second home again one day and would love for some of you to experience this with me next time.
Maybe you will hear back tomorrow. If not... Friday night or Saturday!
Pray: safety, Africa, the people here, and that we will be a good representation of what we learned.
Momma: If you are reading this thank you for your relentless encouraging posts. I can't wait to see the whole family soon. If you come pick me up I will probably need you to pack me some clothes and toiletries because everything is dirty/gone. If you have room my computer and camera cord would be great. If not.. "mizuri".
Thanks everyone for all your support! Keep reading for the next week or so! There will be more exciting things to come :)
1:00 pm. lunch. very dry corn and collard-ish greens. I ate it. I am thankful that I do not have to worry about what to eat everyday. I wanted to experience what they experience. I can't imagine that as my only meal every day.
2:00 pm. Toured their slum. That was the first time we got to walk through a slum. The dirt/mud roads were narrow and were filled with trash and animal droppings. Children were running around without pants and sometimes without shoes. We got to a point when we were near a bunch of men by the river and they strictly told us before we saw them that we COULD NOT take pictures. Once it was safe again we crossed a bridge over a muddy stream. It was not a trusty bridge. It was made of old branches. I felt like Tom Sawyer or something. Didn't fall in. YES! No water sicknesses for our team today. Thank you, Lord. Over the bridge is a hill that overlooks the whole slum. I took a picture that I will show you. Like I've said a million times.. a picture does no justice for the smell.
3ish: took pictures of the kids and printed them so they could have pictures.
3:30 ish
PLOWED in the field. Yes. With a hoe. They taught me. I had quite a few laughs. Who ever thought we would be working on a field in Africa? I am so glad we did. I eventually caught on. This was part of their curriculum. I don't know many high schoolers back at home that would work on a field for a class in pure sunshine heat&humidity. They have great attitudes and spirits.
Long, bumpy ride back. Threw clothes on that weren't sweaty. Left to go eat at Irene's. She founded the New Dawn School. She stumbled across this slum when many people from her church live there. She was trying to minister to the wealthy and then all the slum folks showed up. At first she was annoyed that they were there, but when she went to their village she found a heart and a passion for the people. She was the reason New Dawn came to become the only Secondary school in the area. She was awesome. Her obedience to the Lord's calling was inspiring and that is one of my prayers for myself. Obedience. She had authentic food and we spent time with her family. Her son is a student at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. We really enjoyed getting to know him and he is hopefully coming to visit Cameron and I at Auburn. We all sang songs and prayed together. It was a very sweet ending to a wonderful time in ministry with Irene as well as Benson, Susan, and Victoria. Victoria (Benson's daughter) spent her whole day making bracelets for us.
Tomorrow: SAFARI!! We are leaving here at 6 am. I am not sure if I will get to blog until Friday or Saturday because we fly out tomorrow. After the safari we are going to a Kazuri bead factory that provides many jobs for single mothers. I am pumped about their handmade jewelry. Eating at the Java House tomorrow so hopefully I can bring you guys some Kenyan coffee home. Apparently it is THE best.
Bad news: No cell phone anywhere and I may have pink eye. I don't feel bad but my eyes are itchy and somewhat oozy. Sorry if that is gross. Just statin' the facts as always.
Good news: We are trying to soak up our last night here and enjoy it. I cannot describe this experience in words. I am so thankful. Also, pictures will be up by the beginning of next week hopefully :)
Swahili word:
I can't think of any but kwaheri because it means good bye . I know I have already said it, but tomorrow I am saying "kwaheri Kenya"
It is well with my soul. I have loved the people here and they said that KEnya is our second home. I believe that. I hope to return to my second home again one day and would love for some of you to experience this with me next time.
Maybe you will hear back tomorrow. If not... Friday night or Saturday!
Pray: safety, Africa, the people here, and that we will be a good representation of what we learned.
Momma: If you are reading this thank you for your relentless encouraging posts. I can't wait to see the whole family soon. If you come pick me up I will probably need you to pack me some clothes and toiletries because everything is dirty/gone. If you have room my computer and camera cord would be great. If not.. "mizuri".
Thanks everyone for all your support! Keep reading for the next week or so! There will be more exciting things to come :)
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