Holiday Highlights

October: Kate's finished pumpkin... and she is a first-timer!

October: Josh and G.I...

Carving culture into their pumpkins--can you see "KOREA?"

November: Thanksgiving Desserts

December: Ira with her colorful Christmas cookies!

Over the past several entries, I have been introducing our students to you. Today, I wanted to share a few holiday highlights in order to give you a glimpse into what we do with our free time around Liel...

• October: Celebrating Fall! Though we couldn't take our kids to Brookfield Pumpkins in Maryland (our dorm budget would not have allowed for 14 international plane tickets...haha), we were able to stop at a road side stand and pick out several pumpkins and gourds. Some of our students had never carved pumpkins before, so it was really special to see them get excited about their "art projects." On the night of October 31, we set our our pumpkins and we had several German locals stop by for treats.
  
• November: Thanksgiving! While the Germans naturally do not celebrate this holiday, we still wanted to introduce the traditional Thanksgiving to our students, American and Korean. Bob, our dorm dad, wanted to make sure that we also included an ethnic dish to our dinner (as the Indians certainly brought something of their own as they sat at the table with the Pilgrims...right?), so I made Thai Coconut Curry to delight the taste buds of our Korean students :) We celebrated Thanksgiving on Sunday, November 21, and sat about 22 people around the table. It was so special! After the meal was complete, we went around the table and asked each person to say something they were thankful for...Bob, Sue, and I were especially encouraged because so many of our students expressed thanks for their dorm staff. We were flattered.
  
• December: It's Christmastime! At the end of November, we visited a local farmer in Liel, knocked on his door, sang he and his mother "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and then we proceeded to ask if we could buy one of his Christmas trees :) I must admit that I have never picked out a tree with 14 people, but it didn't take long for us to all be in agreement about the one tree that would be ours. After paying the 25 euros, our boys carried the tree home. The same weekend, we pulled out all of our Christmas decorations and spent a Sunday afternoon decorating the tree, putting up stockings (14 in all), decorating sugar cookies, drinking hot apple cider, and listening to Christmas carols. It was really special and our kids were really excited to be part of it...both the guys and the girls! And then to bring our semester to a close, Sue organized a Christmas party last night (as it was our final weekend together). We enjoyed plenty of yummy foods, played games, and exchanged a few presents (but before you recieved your present, you were required to a sing a song of your choice....roommates and family members sang together....haha, I was left on my own for this one, but asked for the help of the students to sing "I Used to Drive a Little Ford...Now I'm Cruising for the Lord" with me--it was pretty great). Bob, Sue, and I were incredibly suprised to receive two very special gifts from our students. With the help of our weekend dorm subs (Mark and Becky Mindek, who sub for Bob and Sue when they have a weekend off), they made a quilt for Bob and Sue and a large pillow for me. On the quilt and pillow, each student had made a fabric flower and sewed it on to the pillow or quilt by themselves! Each fabric flower was different and each student picked out a fabric that represented them in some way. They were so excited to give us their homemade gifts. I was so touched. It's interesting because as many parents would understand, it is often the case that your work sometimes goes unnoticed. You just keep serving and caring for your children because you love them and because it is your responsibility. So that is what I do too, I keep serving, I keep caring, I keep loving because I love them! I will usually get a 'thank you' for finishing someone's laundry or for making a special snack, but this pillow...it represented so many thanks, it represented so much appreciation. I feel loved. These children have become my family here. My little brothers and sisters. I love it! Before this entry comes to a close, I need to share one last thing... after our Christmas party was over, I went up to my room and found a beautiful note from one of my girls on my pillow, it read... "Lauren, you are so awesome and I love you tremendously. I will miss you tomorrow [Mondays are my day off]. Today was such an awesome day! I really felt like we were all family. I could have cried I was so happy! Love you."
  

Last week, I was really missing my family and friends in the States. It was like this wave of homesickness just crashed over me. But you know? God invites our tears and He has this beautiful way of lifting us back up. He lifted me up this weekend and I praise Him for that. My dear friend, Jade, recently sent me a beautiful necklace with three hearts of different sizes. She explained in a note that she hoped God would really enlarge my heart during this new season of life. Her prayers are being answered! My heart is being enlarged! With each passing day, I am growing in love for these girls and boys. With each passing day, I am embracing this work more and more. With eaching passing day, I am learning to trust and obey the God who brought me here not to be homesick, but to be well.

I will be flying home this coming Sunday, Dec. 19, and I am so excited to see my family for the first time in five months. I love the reality that they will be tangible and hugable! But at the same time, I know that will I miss these students and I know that I will be ready to come back to Germany on January 8.

Please pray for our students as they begin taking their final exams and preparing to go home this week. For most of our students, they have never taken final exams and they have never traveled without their parents. So, we ask that you intercede for them... for endurance as they study, for protection as they travel, for rest as they spend time at home.

In the Joy of the Coming Messiah,
Lauren

My Okie girl...

Priscilla--my Okie girl!

During the summers of 2009 and 2008, I had the joy of working with middle school and high school youth at Muskogee Church of Christ in Muskogee, Oklahoma. As I pause to remember that ministry, I can see how God used that experience to enlarge my heart for His children. It was in Oklahoma that He really helped me to understand how investing in youth brought me great joy. Serving at the church certainly opened the door for me to come to Germany and I am so grateful. While it was difficult for me to leave Oklahoma, God reallyblessed me with a piece of Oklahoma through the life of one precious little girl named Priscilla. She is my Okie girl :) Let me tell you about her...

Priscilla was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has been a student at BFA for the past two and half years. Her parents are missionaries with Jews for Jesus and they have powerful testimonies about how God drew them to Himself and the mission field. They both speak Hebrew and are incredibly passionate about helping Jews see the reality of who Christ was, is, and forever will be. Priscilla's dad spoke at our dorm devotional this past Sunday and explained that Jesus' name in Hebrew is Yeshua, meaning 'salvation.' At the time of Jesus' birth, parents named their children according to who their child was...for Mary and Joseph to name their child Jesus/God/Yeshua would have been considered blasphemy, and yet it was true. This baby Jesus was and is God and He was and is salvation. God became Yeshua in order that we could live! I found this message so insightful as the advent season has begun and as we anticipate the arrival of Christ.

Okay, back to Priscilla...

Priscilla is now in 8th grade and she is the President of the BFA Middle School Student Council. She is extremely disicplined in her studies and she is extremely competitive in her sports. I love seeing her play basketball in the driveway with her dorm brothers--she is super tough and it's easy to see that the guys respect her game. Priscilla also has such an energetic and enthusiastic spirit--it's contagious really...it starts at 7:30 in the morning and ends around 10 at night! Sometimes I have to remind her to watch her 'volume' and it's really funny because she can usually anticipate when I am about to mention this ...she just laughs and gives me that beautiful grin that you see in the photo above. Ah, I love her!

Together, we love to reminisce about our time in Oklahoma--the friends we have there and the places that we've visted. It's so wonderful to connect to Priscilla in this way and to share about the place that means so much to us. We are both planning a visit there over Christmas break...unfortunately, we won't be crossing paths this time.

Joyness!

Joyce

(also known as "Joyness," "Joycey," & "Joyceypoo")

The first thing that Sue (Liel Dorm Mom) told me about Joyce was that she had a beautiful voice. After meeting Joyce for the first time, I soon discovered that the Lord has blessed her with more than just a beautiful voice...but a passionate heart for worship.

Not only does Joyce play the piano and sing for the middle school chapel band, but she spends her free time writing praise songs. I am amazed by her gifts. Joyce is only 14-years-old! I wouldn't be surprised to see her traveling and singing with Hillsong in ten years. Seriously :)

Joyce's spiritual maturity is unparalleled. After asking for her permission, I wanted to share the lyrics to her most recent song entitled,"Father of All Love." Though the words are powerful, I wish you could hear the music and the melodious sound of her voice. For now, maybe you can just imagine it...

You are the Author and Perfector of my faith,

And I will listen when You speak to my heart.

I'll try to follow all Your ways and trust in You.

For You are...

You are the Lamp that will guide me on my path,

And forever I will give You all I have.

Because in lonely times You are always there.

For You are...

Chorus

The amazing, loving, wonderful Father.

You're the Shepherd that will never leave His sheep.

You are there when we cry out to You and fall on our knees.

You are the Open Ear and Father of all love.

You are the Lord of all the heavens and the earth,

And with Your help we'll try to make it known to all.

For I know Your grace will catch me when I fall.

I know You are...

(Chorus)

And we will lift up our voice to you, God.

Your love will never fail.

And we will lift up our eyes to You,

Our God!

The Father of all love.

Oh, yes!

The Father of all love.

(Chorus)

....

The moments that I have shared with Joyce have been so precious. This past Tuesday, she was one of the few students who came home after school (while the others played intramural handball at BFA) and I asked her to play the piano for me while I worked on our dorm schedule. She responded by asking me to sing along with her...I was delighted. For the next 45 minutes, we sat at the piano bench together and worshipped. I love my job! I love that my "work" involves praising God in song with my students here. What a gift.

Joyce and I connect because we are both able to enjoy the great value in worship music--it is the way we are able to meet with the Lord and gain access into His presence. As certain songs minister to me throughout the week, I share them with Joyce. And she gets it. She understands why they are encouragement to me and they take her to the same place as they do me. Please check out Kari Jobe's "You Are For Me" and "The More I Seek You" on YouTube. Both of these songs made it on our favorites list this week. They have moved us both to tears. I hope it lifts you up to know the reality that our God is for you and that He will never forsake you in your weakness.

...

A few more fun facts about Joyce:

-Joyce speaks English and Swiss German fluently and she is studying French at BFA

(her German speaking helps us immensely in the dorm!)

-Her parents pastor a church in Zurich, Switzerland

-This is Joyce's second year at BFA

-Joyce's favorite color is purple (I can actually identify all of Joyce's clothes by the color purple)

Caught in Love...

My parents and I--"Caught in Love"

Grove City College Graduation, May 2010

This week marks the 12th week of my work at Black Forest Academy. Over the past two months, I have introduced you to several members of my new family here, but there are also two very special people in my life that I cannot neglect to speak of. They may not live in Germany, but they certainly deserve to be honored today. Both of these individuals celebrate birthdays this month and considering the ocean between us, my gift to them will be a gift of words. After reading this entry, my hope is that you will see how grateful I am for their abundant love, unwavering support, and undeniable selflessness. Mom and dad, this is for you.

Nov. 8th-Happy Birthday, Mom!

Some of the most precious and encouraging words came from my mom several months ago as I was pursuing the reality of becoming a missionary. She explained, "Lauren, though I would prefer to have you here, I recognize that you are not mine and that you do not belong to me. I know your life belongs to the Lord and I am willing to share you with Him." Despite my mother's jealous love, I admire her and respect her so much for entrusting me to my Heavenly Father's care. Words cannot describe how profoundly thankful I am to have a mother that has never kept me to herself. As difficult as it must be for a mother to let her daughter go, she has let me be who God created me to be...

Mom, this has been the most special and lovely gift.

As a result of how you have loved me and let me go, I have found life! I have found Christ and I have found children in need of love because of you. Mom, I am flying now on wings like eagles...I am running now and am not growing weary...I am walking now and am not growing faint. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being the most selfless, gracious, and compassionate mother that a daughter could ever ask for. You amaze me, Mom, and I celebrate your life today! How joyful I am that you are here, that you have been healed, and that you are walking faithfully with our God. Oh, Mom, if I could be half the woman that you are. You inspire me. Because of the testimony of your life, you have transformed my understanding of wholeness and beauty. The Lord took your brokenness and sickness and He used them for something beautiful. Because of this, I will never be the same. Thank you for sacrificing so much on behalf of our family. Thank you for fighting for us.

You are the most wonderful mother.

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always.

As long as I am living,

My mommy you'll be.

Nov. 22nd-Happy Birthday, Dad!

When initially considering Germany, my dad's first response was, "That's fine, Lauren, you can go. But, you better not meet anyone over there!" I giggle because this is in part how my dad's love manifests itself--he is jealous for his daughters and he yearns for them to be near him and quite honestly, he desires them to marry men that won't take them thousands of miles away :) While he is certainly a goofy dad, his care and his love for me run so deep. And for this, I am eternally thankful.

At the end of July, my parents and my brother and I served together at a Christian baseball camp in northern Germany. At the conclusion of the camp and the day before my family and I would separate for five months, several of the German leaders took me aside in the prayer room of their church. My parents came along. For the next thirty minutes, I was blessed by the sweetest and most raw prayers that were being offered up to the Lord on my behalf. My dad was in tears. He prayed, "Father, I ... I give you my daugher." And then my mom followed with, "We entrust Lauren to you. Thank you for letting us borrow her for 22 years." Anticipating the goodbye that was inevitable, I was hurting. But, at the very same time, I was confident because of the faith of my parents. In my anxiety, fear, and nervousness, they believed for me and they trusted God for me.

Dad,

Though your birthday is still ten days away, I wanted to take a moment to honor you too. Just as I am grateful for mom's life, I am so thankful for yours as well. And just as she has helped me find life, so have you! Oh, Dad, because you have given me away, these middle schoolers are being so well cared for. I could see that it was hard for you to let me go, but because you did and because you believed in me, I can walk confidently now in the work that He has for me here. This is such a precious gift. Thank you.

...

I am touched by your jealous love, Dad. I am amazed by your tender care for our family. Just like Mom, you sacrifice so much on our behalf. Thank you.And I know that I have told you this before, but it bears repeating, I love the way that you love mom. I love how faithful you are to her.

You are the most gentle father.

I love you.

To the readers of this blog, who are parents...

My hope and my prayer for you today is that you would entrust your children to our Heavenly Father's care. By letting them go, you could also be giving them life. May the faith and the courage of my parents inspire you to give your children over to the One who created them, so that nothing would inhibit the His work. Trust me, you can trust Him :) I hope my life and my story will help you see that God can do so much good with a little bit of faith. I am safe here, I am well, I am thriving. My Father is taking great care of me in Germany, 4032 miles away from home.

"Joshypoo, I love you!"

Josh's funny face

Josh's seriously straight face*

One of my favorite names to call my little brother Jake is "Jakeypoo." While it may seem childish, it is intended to be completely endearing :) Oftentimes, I will make it into a little rhyme and say, "Jakeypoo, I love you!" Despite the fact that Jake is 19, I think he appreciates it...

Speaking of Jake only naturally leads me to introduce you to Josh. For you see, Josh has become like a little brother too. Like Jake, Josh has two older sisters who have graduated from college and are now living and working in the States. Josh knows all about a life with older sisters, so I feel like it is now my duty as his RA to tease him just a little bit as his sisters would do if they were here. That is completely legitimate, right? I mean, it's all done in love! So, every now and then, I do call him "Joshypoo" and he just smiles.

To tell you a little bit about Josh...

Josh is in eighth grade at BFA and is completely unbeatable in every and any staring contest. I cannot tell you how many times his serious face has made me laugh until my stomach hurt.

Josh has a sense of humor that our entire Liel family appreciates. He can be sarcastic and witty and goofy and silly. But he is also quite a gentleman and he is incredibly respectful.

Josh was our first student to arrive at Liel and it has been so special to see him grow here in just 9 short weeks. We were first introduced after Josh had traveled through the night on a plane so he was naturally tired and quiet, but also really shy. However, he has proved himself to be quite the social one...he just needed a few nights of sleep and time to warm up!

Some things I appreciate about Josh--he joins the girls and I when we sing "I Used to Drive a Little Ford" in the dorm van, I often say "Glory to God in the highestuhhh (with special emphasis on this last syllable)!" when I am really excited or thankful about something...it makes me smile when I hear Josh say this around the house too, he consistenly makes his bed well (I am responsible for daily room checks and this always impresses me...haha), he is incredibly organized and motivated when it comes to his studies, and he expresses thanks to our staff.

*To briefly explain the pictures...Josh dressed up as Sam I Am with green eggs and ham for the middle school fall party last week. I asked for a smile in the first photo and his serious face in the next. Ah, I love it! This is Josh.

My heart is glad

Though it has been a few weeks since my last update, I have continued praising the Lord for this wonderful place and these precious children.
Tonight, I wanted to share several things that I am grateful for...things that make my heart glad...things that make my soul sing:

• After returning from my second weekend off this past week, I found a note from Joyce on my pillow that read, "Dearest Lauren, I missed you dearly but I handled it without you. But I do like it better when you are here. I'm so glad you're back and I hope we can spend more time together! Love, Joyce." I was so thankful for this note because I see God strengthening my relationships with students at Liel and drawing us closer to one another. Life doesn't seem quite right or normal when we are apart :)
• Tonight, before bed, Kate gave me a note attached to a small box. The box was from Kate's mother and enclosed were a beautiful pair of pearl earrings in the design of a flower. I was touched, the note read, "To:Lauren. Hello! My mom bought you a gift. She told me to give it to you. She always thanks you for taking care of me. I hope you like it! -Kate-." My heart is glad because I feel genuinely appreciated here...I have purpose and it is so special to share in the raising of these children.
• Last Sunday night during our dorm fellowship, we were talking about the LORD as our Hiding Place. The students and I read Psalm 32 together in the "dungeon" of Liel (an old cellar with a dirt floor and stone walls) and I asked the students why they turn to Him for protection and safety. I continued to ask why they trust the LORD and why they need Him. After a brief moment of silence, students began to answer. Luke said quite matter-of-factly, "Because He's a whole lot better than this stinking world!" After saying "Amen!" I thought to myself, "Yes, they understand. They love the Lord and they recognize how nothing compares to Him...not any part of this world is as good, reliable, lovely, or satisfying as the King of Kings." In response to Luke's comment, Marshall, our dorm brother and the son of our dorm parents, made the final comment, "Enough said!" My heart is glad because I see these boys growing. I see them opening up and boldly declaring what they believe in at ages 12, 13, 14, and 15. I'm impressed.
• During the same dorm fellowship, AJ explained how difficult it was for him to go to a public school in the country where his parents were serving as missionaries. It was such a hard life for him there. He felt defeated and depressed by the teachers and students. And then AJ turned to Scripture to find comfort in a moment of intense pain, frustration, and anger...he found himself in Psalm 32. Those waters that David talks about in the psalm never touched AJ. They never had power over him because he found himself in the arms of Christ, safe from harm, safe from persecution and attack. My heart is glad because AJ is at BFA now. He is loved here. Instead of yelling, the teachers here instruct him with extravagant love and care. The students have embraced him. And his dorm staff thinks he is one special guy.
• This past Thursday afternoon, I attended the middle schoolers' intramural frisbee games. While cheering on the Liel students, several of the girls and I got a bit distracted and began making observations...of our eyes. One at a time, we would ooo and ahhh over the colors and design of our eyes. The following comments were made..."Kaelah, it looks like there is lightning in your eyes! They are so beautiful!" ... "Lauren, God is SO CREATIVE!"... My heart is glad because these young women are astounded by the seemingly simple wonders of God--human eyes. They recognize God as Creator and they compliment one another in a way that helps these young ladies love themselves.
• Tonight, I attended a recital at BFA to support Ira, Laura, and Kaelah. Ira played the violin in the Intermediate Orchestra. Laura and Kaelah played bells in the 7th grade hand bell choir. As I sat and listened to "Over the Rainbow" on the bells and then several other pieces, I found myself delighted. I am delighted because these children have a place to play and develop their incredible musical gifts. They are so talented. My heart is glad because God chose me to be part of their lives and I consider this a great honor.

I know that these stories are only a glimpse of life at Liel (though I do wish that you could see and hear the reality of it) but I hope it still encourages you to know that God is moving, the children are well, and my heart is glad.

"REJOICE and BE GLAD, you righteous; SING, all you who are upright in heart!" Psalm 32:11

Introducing Kaelah...

To continue introducing you to some of our Liel Family members, this week I would like you to meet Kaelah. This past Sunday was Kaelah's 13th birthday and as you can see in the picture, she was most excited about this insanely large bowl of homemade whipped cream to be eaten with her angel food/birthday cake.

Kaelah's family are serving with the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Bosnia and BFA has proved itself to be a fantastic fit for Kaelah. This is the first school where she truly feels accepted by her fellow classmates and free to just be herself. I praise God for bringing her here so that she might know genuine Christian fellowship and get that sweet taste of heaven.

To tell you a little bit about Kaelah...she loves sweets (especially whipped cream and Korean chewy candy as introduced to her by her Liel sisters), bed time stories, and being called "Pumpkin Pie" before going to bed.

Kaelah's energy and enthusiasm make me smile. I especially love the way that she interacts with our young German neighbors and some of the elementary schoolers at BFA. She is the oldest of three girls and it clearly shows in her care and concern for the little ones.

A taste of art...

Kate and Laura on the left; Kaelah and Ira on the right...it's autumn in Germany! Oct. 2

Gentle middle school curiousity...

The Artist...or The Potter

This past Saturday, October 2, several of the middle school girls and I went to a craft festival in Holzen and we walked around in awe of the incredible variety of arts/crafts that the vendors were selling. We saw (and touched) the pottery, sampled bread, marveled at jewelry, and modeled hats and scarves. It was a refreshing escape from the dorm...so the girls and I called it our little 'field trip' for the afternoon (haha, Holzen is only 7 km away, but it was exciting nonetheless).

I wanted to share these pictures with you to give you a taste of autumn and the bright personalities of these girls. They are brimming with energy, they are curious, and they are just adorable girls!

-------

The final picture that I have attached is one of an artist at the festival. I couldn't help but capture his work because I was impressed by his focus as he painted the small man in his hands (especially considering the hustle and bustle through the crowded streets of the town). This past Friday after a conversation with a friend, I was convicted about my lack of faith in my own Creator. Just like this artist, the Lord is so attentive to my needs and He focuses so intently on every detail of my life...it's just that I have a tendency to forget this. I also have a tendency to forget about His care for His other children. For you see, I tend to question Him about the salvation of the people I deeply care about. These are His daughters and His sons...how long will He wait to capture their hearts and draw them in? "How long, LORD?" And then He gently but firmly convicted me of these passages from Isaiah 45-46...

"This is what the LORD says--

The Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

Concerning things to come,

Do you question me about my children,

or give me orders about the work of my hands?

It is I who made the earth

and created mankind upon it.

My own hands stretched out the heavens;

I marshaled their starry hosts..." (Is 45:11-12)

"Remember this, fix it in mind,

take it to heart, you rebels.

Remember the former things, those of

long ago;

I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like me.

I made know the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to

come.

I say: My purpose will stand,

and I wil do all that I please.

From the east I will summon a bird of prey;

from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that will I bring about;

What I have planned, that will I do.

Listen to me, you stubborn hearted,

you who are far from righteousness.

I am bringing righteousness near,

it is not far away;

and my salvation will not be delayed.

I will grant salvation to Zion,

my splendor to Israel..." (Is. 46: 8-13)

I read this writing of the prophet Isaiah and I have hope again. This is my God. I don't have to question Him about His children--He loves them more than I ever could and will faithfully do as He pleases. I rejoice because He did save Israel. He redeemed them despite all of their unfaithfulness. He made a way for a whole nation. Wow. AND YET, THE BEST PART is that He did summon a man from a far-off land! Christ came from heaven to earth to save His people and fulfill His mighty promise and purpose.

My prayer is that you would recall the story of Israel and God's redeeming love today. May it give you the proof and the evidence you need to believe in our Creator. May it be enough to release you in your Maker's hand and say, "Yes, Lord, may your will be done in my life and in the lives of your children."

I have no authority to question my God about His children... and there is freedom in this because He is the greatest Father they could ever hope for.

As I wait for the salvation of these people, I pray and I trust.

When the parents visit...

Josh's mother, Rachel, and Haesook(Korean Care Director at BFA) are hard at work... it took four hours of preparation for our Korean dinner at Liel! Sept. 26

8 incredible Asian dishes... 30 people... 1 small dining room :)

Mhmm...good.

It is hard for most American parents to imagaine sending their middle school-age children to boarding school. I understand this. It is abnormal for Americans to even consider boarding schools as a result of the location, reputation, and safety of most public schools. And yet, I must say that these 10 middle schoolers are exactly where they should be. And just because they are here does not mean that their parents love them any less. In reality, they are providing their children with something far greater than what their countries of residence ever could--an authentically Christian environment that is incredibly conducive to learning, worshipping, and growing. To be perfectly honest, I did not have this when I was in middle school and I longed for it! Take heart, these children are blessed, they are in good hands, and they are doing so well...

And because their parents care about them so much, we have had an abundance of visitors! Over the month of September, the parents of five students have stopped by to visit, check in, and even...cook for us!

Last Sunday evening, Joshua's parents, David and Rachel, blessed us with an extravagant Korean meal. I may not be able to pronounce what I ate, but it was wonderful and it was such a special treat for our Korean students who wereing longing for a taste of home. In addition to Josh's parents, we were also joined by several brothers and sisters of Liel students who live in local high school dorms. It was certainly a family affair and we had so much to be thankful for.

A word from my heart...

I promise that this will be my last entry for the day, but this is something that I yearn to share with you. In these entries, I have spoken of the children, I have shared pictures, I have described in part what we are doing here, but I haven't described how I am doing.

Last night, I was so grateful for a two-hour conversation with my precious friend, Katie Klepacki, who was my roommate and Co-RA for two years at Grove City College. I miss her...a lot.

Over the past month and a half, I have been so busy--learning how to drive, learning about residence life policies, meeting new people, cooking meals, cleaning, running errands, getting to know children, etc.--that I didn't realize how empty I was.

Last Friday, I was reviewing my Birkman personality test results with a Campus Crusades missionary and I lost it. The poor woman! We were talking about my personal needs and when I realized that there were needs not being met, I could no longer fight the tears that were beginning to wet my eyes. As a missionary, I am not perfect...I am not a saint...I do not possess exhaustive knowledge about the Lord...I sin...I fall short...I have real pain, real hurt, real struggles...and I have real needs. I need the Lord and I need His people.

While I do love my job and while I do rejoice that the Lord brought me here, it is hard to be so far away from family, friends, and the women who have been such a great source of spiritual wisdom and encouragement. I confess that I still grieve the loss of community and fellowship that I found at GCC and the church in Oklahoma. I miss my family too. I would be so grateful if you joined me in prayer over my need for fellowship. Please pray for a mentor, an older woman who might have the time to study Scripture with me, pray with me, and share life with me here.

Despite these moments of homesickness if that is what one would call them, I was gently reminded last Sunday in a sweet time with the Lord that He is for me!

The Lord used the following Scripture from I Peter 1 to speak to my heart and provide me with the peaceful assurance of the work He has already done on my behalf...

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver and gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last time for your sake." (vs. 18-20)

After being so moved over the course of last week by this Scripture, I continued to process the realities of "emptiness" and "fullness." The following is a summary of how the Lord's Word became life for me here...

Beloved,

I have redeemed you from the empty way of life. The precious blood of my Son was shed for your sake. I have not called you to Germany to be empty. I have not called you to Germany to live an unmeaningful and void life. I have called you to Germany to live a full and meaningful life. You need only to run to me, the source of living water, and you will never be thirsty again.

I will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land, I will strengthen your weary frame, you will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

DO NOT ENTER: Communicating

My little brother, Jake...

Introducing you to G.I. ...

...and his buddies, A.J. and Josh

In addition to my entry from earlier today, I wanted to take a moment to begin introducing you to our some of our students. Today, I want you to meet G.I.

G.I. is an eighth grader at BFA who loves to play the piano (his most recently played song is Jason Mraz's I'm Yours) and for his age, I am so impressed by his spiritual maturity. G.I. reminds me of my brother, Jake, because he is somewhat tune deaf but has a gift for memorizing lyrics just like Jake :) G.I. gently corrected me recently when I sang the wrong words to a pop-song. It made me laugh because it reminded me of home and my sweet relationship with my little brother.

This past weekend, G.I. accidentally missed the late bus from BFA and decided to walk home (7 km). Being directionally and geographically challenged, G.I. did in fact get lost. Instead of walking towards Liel from Kandern, he walked in the opposite direction towards the town of Sitzenkirch. Silly guy! Several BFA staff and I spent about an hour and a half looking for him on Friday night. Part of me was frustrated because we have had trouble with G.I. getting "lost" at school and he seems to have trouble being on time as a result of his absentmindedness; yet, when the director of residence life found him and returned him to Liel, I found that I simply couldn't be upset with him. His shirt was soaking wet from his adventure and he proceeded to tell me about all the things that had been going wrong the past few days--laundry falling on the ground, difficult homework that forced him to miss snack and a game of Ninja in the basement, hitting his head while walking down the steps, stubbing his toe, and now missing the bus...

[A brief tangent--The night before in the midst of all these frustrating occurences, he posted a sign on his door that said "Do Not Enter: Communicating." I hadn't seen G.I. for the most of this evening and was worried about him, so I ignored the sign, knocked on the door and opened it after he asked me to come in. G.I. was on his knees in prayer. I was struck. Struck because I was witnessing a 13-yr-old boy humble himself before the Lord, reverently bowing down and making his requests known to his Father. He even posted a note on the door! He was fighting for his time with the Lord because he knew the great importance of it. I was convicted because even as an RA here at BFA who needs to desperately fight for her time with the Lord, I don't. I don't write signs on my door that ask for privacy because I am communicating with my God. These children are teaching me so much about what it looks like to be a child of God who boldly and publicly seeks the Lord.]

Now, to return to my conversation with G.I.--But as he described these challenges and hurts,G.I. was smiling because he explained that Satan would not get the best of him. As he dropped his laundry, he said, "Ahh, thank you, Jesus!" As he bumped his head, he said, "Ow, thank you, Jesus!" As he missed the snack and game, he said, "Ah, thank you, Jesus!" As he missed the bus, he said, "Ah, thank you, Jesus!" G.I. was living out I Thessalonians, when Paul was asking the church to be joyful always, to pray continuously, and to give thanks in all circumstances. G.I. was boasting in the Lord because despite the challenges of the day, Satan did not win. I couldn't help but smile and exclaim, "Oh, G.I., praise the Lord!" I was so proud of him and so thankful to see a glimpse of this child's spiritual depth. Amazing, yes? Ah, I wish you all could meet him.

One last word about G.I. before I wrap this up. About a week ago, G.I. asked me how I got to BFA and as I explained the story, Aunt Sue (dorm mom) chimed in and said that both she and Uncle Bob had been praying for the RA that they would be working with in Liel. She admitted to G.I. that they were worried about it being someone that they might not get along with, and then she said, "But G.I., the Lord answered our prayers and He gave us an angel." G.I. walked over to me, paused for a moment and gave me a comtemplative look... and then he said, "Ah, I see your angel wings." In that moment, my heart was lifted up. I was flattered by G.I. sweet comment and so encouraged by Sue and how she sees me as a gift and an answer to prayer. Every now and then G.I. will endearingly call me "Miss Angel." :)

I am so blessed, so flattered, and so honored to be here.

Sue warned me that I would be falling in love with these children... I am :)

I LOVE my job

Our first Liel Family photo! Hochblauen--Sept 5

So, the blue paint didn't just go on the door...meet A.J. :)

Liel--Sept 4

The Liel Ladies are making scones! Tea of choice: Apple-Vanilla

It has been 19 days since my last entry and there is so much to tell! This week marks the fourth week of school for our students and it has been such a sweet time of getting to know them. When people ask how my time is going at Liel, the first word that comes to mind about the children is delightful. Oh, how they make me laugh :) I enjoy everything about them from their deep spiritual questions to their English blunders.

So, what kind of things have we been up to in Liel, Germany? A few highlights...

1. During our first full weekend with the kids...On Friday night, the girls and I made cinnamon and lemon scones as they are quite the necessary treat for an authentic tea party. On Saturday, we unhinged their doors from their rooms and each set of roommates were able to paint their door. We traveled to a local store and bought several colors of paint. "Uncle Bob" (dorm dad) organized the activity and the kids had so much fun making thier door their own. On the girls floor, we now have an array of colorful doors--lilac, dark purple, red, and yellow. I love it.

2. Every Sunday night, we have dorm fellowship after dinner which is a time where Bob, Sue, and I have an opportunity to share a spirital lesson with the kids. We are all reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, which is an excellent book that exhorts believers to respond to the Lord with the same crazy love that He has undeniably shown us. Last Sunday, we took the kids to Hochblauen, which is the highest point in this region of Germany. On a clear day, one can see an outline of the Swiss Alps and the Rhine river that flows between Germany and France. It is a truly magnificent view and as we climbed to the top of the look-out tower, Bob gave the kids time to think about God as Creator as he shared several Bible verses while Sue played worship songs on the guitar. Last night, I was able to share a lesson and show the kids a brief video clip about the supremacy of Christ made by a GCC alum. We discussed what it would like if we never thanked our parents or acknowledged all the ways they love us and provide for us. Ira explained that it would make a parent feel like this child did not really belong to him or her. Wow. As we connected this idea back to the Lord and what it would like to never respond to His love and never acknowledge His gifts, the students were quiet. Please pray for our students as we continue to share and discuss this crazy love of Christ. Pray that they find and discover ways to love Him back. Pray that they make Christ supreme in their hearts. Pray that they do not ignore their Creator who died for them. Pray that the Lord would protect them from forgetting His extravagant love.

Bob and Sue took thier first weekend off this past weekend. In their place, we had the most wonderful dorm parent subs, Mark and Becky Mendek, come and help me manage the house and our 10 kiddos. During our fellowship time last night, Mark explained that while Christ is supreme in and over everything is this world and universe...there is one place where He is not always supreme--our hearts. Mark explained that we have a choice to make Christ supreme in our hearts--it is a deliberate choice. In the Lord's supreme grace, He gives us exactly what we want. If we desire Him, He is ours. If we do not want Him, He offers us a place where we can be completely separated from Him--hell. He loves us so much, friends, that He gives us exactly what we want. My prayer for you is that you would know the Lord's desire to be supreme in your hearts. He wants all of you, but will you respond and give Him all of you?

We are never the same after we encounter the love of God. If you have not let this love transform you, my prayer is that you would relent and receive this beautiful, radical, insanely marvelous, and free gift of love and ultimately life.

"This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is LOVE: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another...If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him." I John 9-16

I love these children. I love the fact that I get to share life with them. I am in love with our God who brought me here. I love my job.

"All over the world [in Liel, Germany, too] this gospel is bearing fruit and growing." Colossians 1:6

Thank you for sending me to the nations.

Yours,
Lauren

Black Forest Academy: A place where being "different" is normal

Laura

Joshua

Our Liel Home

Bob and Sue Kummer, Liel Dorm Parents, on August 22--Arrival Day!

The children are here! Today at Black Forest Academy, all 313 students were welcomed back for the 2010-2011 school year. As the President of the Senior class explained, "It feels so good to be back at the place where being 'different' is normal." Grades 1-12 represented over 50 countries and 40 languages today. These children are delightful and they come to BFA with powerful stories of faith and incredible talents. Let me tell you about our 10 students at Liel:

• G.I.'s parents are Korean medical missionaries in the Middle East. He is a piano player and he is known for his hugs around campus.
• Josh's parents are workers in Turkey and minister to the Turks through the use of media and photography. Josh reads and writes in four languages!
• A.J.'s parents are missionaries in Italy and he found out yesterday that a spot opened up for him in our dorm. He is now en-route to Italy to get all of his things so that he can return tomorrow night and be ready for the third day of school...AJ is profoundly flexible!
• Luke's parents are missionaries in France and he accepted Christ here at BFA.
• Priscilla's family work in Germany and the surrounding countries with Jews for Jesus
• Joyce's parents are the pastors at a church in Zurich, Switzerland. Joyce sings in the middle school chapel band and has a lovely voice.
• Kaelah's parents are missionaries in Sarajevo and she loves being creative...in fact, she made a pair of earrings for her roommate this afternoon.
• Laura's father works for the US military in Maledova. Laura is 12 years old and runs a 6:30 minute mile...we plan on discovering some running trails around Liel together.
• Han Seung's parents are working in Seoul, Korea. She has a contagious smile.
• Ira's parents are also working in the Middle East and she has translated her father's sermons from Korean to Russian. Wow.

I am so excited to begin serving these students. They are so young and my heart breaks that they had to say goodbye to their families today. BUT they are so strong and their strength is a result of their faith in Christ. They love it here... they are safe, they are fed, they are cared for, and they have a whole community of believers beside them who have come from all over the world to serve them.

And I am here to simply to be present. Yes, I cook and I clean, but I am here. Today, I was able to have a tea party with Kaelah and Laura and talk about all the places they have been and the little things they miss about America (Skittles and Chic-Fil-A).

Later, I took Priscilla and Joyce for a walk through the town of Liel and up through one of the orchards where we could see a full moon to our right, rising over the pines, and then to our left, the remains of an orange and purple sunset. After a brief snack, Joyce asked me if I would be up to say good night. I was delighted...honored...flattered, to be asked to tuck them in. And so, they picked one of my favorite children's book about God's gift of purity (The Princess and the Kiss) to read and it was wonderful...my favorite line in the book is by the common man that was captivated by the princess because her "purity sparkled like diamonds." The girls and I talked for a bit and then we prayed together, that the Lord would make our purity too sparkle like diamonds.

And so, I am here to walk with them, to pray with them, to sip tea with them, and it is glorious. I love it and I am so grateful that the Faithful One is renewing my spirit and encouraging me through the prayers, emails, and letters of people like you. Thank you for all the prayers, for the financial support, and for your concern for these children. May your hearts be continually burdened to pray for them and their families. This week will seem like summer camp for them and then, the length of their time here will become more of a reality. Pray for their spirits. Pray that Bob, Sue, and I would be made perfect in our weaknesses and weariness. Pray for community, that this would be a house that serves the Lord. Pray for the health of the children too, some are getting fevers that are only worsened by the stress caused by the separation from their families. Pray also that I would remember that the time I spend with these children is far more important that what I am doing for them.

More to come soon.

To the Faithful One,

Lauren

Wilkommen!

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2

3

4

5

6

Three weeks after leaving the States, I now give great thanks for the beautiful friends I have made in Aurich and Dabringhausen and the wonderful position I received today as the middle school resident assistant at the Liel dormitory...

A brief update:

July 19-23

Coached and encouraged the PACKERS flag-football team in Dabringhausen, Germany...pictures 2-4

July 24-31

Coached and encouraged the ORIOLES baseball team in Aurich, Germany...picture 1

*Both of these sports ministry camps were an incredible time of getting to know German youth, some of whom were Christians and some of whom were not. I felt completely inadequate in my limited football and baseball skills and German language knowledge, BUT the Lord humbled me and my position on each team became one of an encourager more than a coach who gave tips or a bible study leader that could pray. I was present for these young Germans...and that was all that God required of me. More to come on what I learned in Northern Germany and the family that God has provided there.

August 1
Arrived at Black Forest Academy.

*These past five days have been spent in orientation with other new BFA staff. I have been receiving German language and culture lessons in the mornings followed by driving lessons on a standard in the afternoon. I am currently living in a dorm with the other BFA resident assistants and it has been a precious time of fellowship as we have had much time to hear about how God captivated all of our hearts and as a result...led us to BFA. In pictures 5 and 6, several residence life staff took us to the highest point in town, where we could see the Rhine river, the mountains of France, the city of Basel, Switzerland, and a vague outline of the Swiss Alps. The last picture is of the new RA staff...there are six of us: Laura, Me, Anne, Taylor, Amy, and Michael.

It is truly beautiful here and this forest is a constant encouragement to me to grow and pursue what is life...Jesus. For it is only when I am abiding in Him and remaining rooted in Him that I am truly living. To be a part from my Jesus would be death and I want to stand tall like these trees. I want to breathe in the fresh Spirit of God that is clean and pure and good all the time.

August 5

After much anticipation, all of the new BFA resident assistants received our dorm assignments this afternoon. I AM SO EXCITED to tell you that I will be working in the new and only middle school dorm called Liel this year with 10 students, ages 13-15. I will be living on a hall with six beautiful young ladies. On the floor below me, my dorm parents, Bob and Sue Kummer, will be living with four boys and their son/the "Liel dorm brother" :), Marshall (age 14 and entering his freshman year at BFA).

I am so excited about Liel because it is the first year at BFA where Residence Life will offer a dorm specifically for middle schoolers, which has been a developing need. Please pray for these 10 residents as they will be saying goodbye to their families on August 22 and beginning school in just a few short weeks. Pray that they might be open to being loved and cared for by Bob, Sue, Marshall, and myself.

Because the dorm is being opened to middle schoolers for the first time this year...we still have a lot to do to prepare it. A lot of renovations were completed this summer, but Sue and I will have our hands full. Sue's husband, Bob, had to go home to the States last night to care for his mother and will not be returning to Liel until the day before the students arrive. Please pray, we need the prayer.

I continue giving thanks for God calling me to Himself and leading me to this school to care for His children. Please know that I am doing so well. I am wrapped in our Father's arms and He has already begun to provide me with a spiritual family here....

And my wonderful friend, Heather Brown, from Grove City College and a new missionary to BFA herself...will be living only 3 km away. God is so sweet.

To Jesus,

Lauren

Here we go...

Today is the day! Glory to God in the highest :)

Leaving DC...10:00pm, July 15th...tonight!
Arriving into Germany... 4:30 pm, July 16th... tomorrow!

Thanks so much for your support and prayers. Looking forward to sharing this ministry with you all.

Yours in Christ,
Lauren

"Daughter, I've got you covered..."

Yesterday, I was able to stand before my home church in Maryland and thank them for their prayer and financial support. This is Glade United Church of Christ's first time supporting a missionary to the nations. The Lord is certainly doing a mighty work at this church. Over 40% of my two-year salary has been funded by the missions committee and individual members of the church. Please pray that this time in Germany would bless them and increase their understanding of the Great Commission as well as open their eyes to the global needs around the world.

More good news...

After speaking with several members after the service, my finanical support immediately increased from 95% to 104.9%. It was almost as if the Lord was saying, "DAUGHTER, I'VE GOT YOU COVERED. FOR YOU SEE, MY LOVE IS EXTRAVAGANT AND SO TOO IS MY PROVISION OVER YOU." Words cannot seem to describe my thankfulness and my love for our incredible God who keeps His word and always proves Himself faithful! These additional monies received will be placed in a subaccount that will be used for my travel expenses back to the US, the purchase of resources to stay in contact with my supporters, and it may also be used to support other TeachBeyond missionaries who are in need of financial support.

I have been wowed by God this week. He continually affirms me in this ministry.

I am not in want. My cup is overflowing indeed.

WOW :)

A cup that overfloweth...

12 days until my departure for Germany...
14 days until my church in MD begins our sports ministry outreach camps in Dabringhausen and Aurich
29 days until my service with BFA begins...
43 days until I receive my dorm assignment (MS boys & girls, HS boys, or HS girls?)
50 days until I get to meet the new BFA students...
51 days until I get to meet the returning BFA students...

95.6% funded for two years in Germany...
$1524.73 of my $1595 monthly goal has been pledged...

Psalm 23

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be

in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of

death.

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me,

in the presence of my enemies.

You annoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

My cup overflows. I am not in want. The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me for His name's sake. He is with me.

Just as David describes the character of God in Psalm 23, nearly 3,000 years ago, our Lord has not changed. Friends, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same God that redeemed Joseph's family through forgiveness, the same God that brought the Hebrews out of Egyptian bondage, the same God that delivered David from the hands of Israel's enemies and from his own sin...this God is our God too. Just as He did in the past, today our God redeems families, today our God delivers His children from their sin, today our God makes our cups overflow. Why? Because He loves us.

His love is so radical, but it is incredibly real.

As I reflect on the past three months of fundraising and the time I have had to think about this calling to Germany, I have come to more deeply understand and know that the Lord leads me and guides me for His name's sake and that He makes my cup overflow because He loves these children, these MKs, at BFA. The reason that the money from friends and family has come pouring in on behalf of the ministry at BFA is because the Lord loves these children. He has so faithfully called me and provided for all of my needs in Germany because He loves these children and is deeply concerned about their spiritual and emotional growth. He loves these children so much that He sends missionaries to teach them, care for them, and love them.

My hope and my prayer is that these children whom I serve will know how much the Lord loves them. He has placed at least 100 staff members from across the world at BFA on their behalf. How incredible.

Just as the Lord cared for the Old Testament kings, leaders, and prophets, so too does He care for you, for me, and for these missionary kids. Believe that the Lord is your shepherd, look around you and see that you are not in want.

"You are not letting go of home or belonging"

This is my temporary home...

The title of this post was spoken by a fellow TeachBeyond missionary preparing to serve as an english teacher at BFA this fall. In her testimony, Kristi explained to the new staff that she too struggled with the idea of leaving her home in Seattle for an opportunity to teach in an unfamiliar country.

And yet, Kristi's heart was comforted as she began to understand that the Lord was not making her let go of home or belonging because she knew that He would also provide these things in Germany. Just as she loved her life in Seattle, the Lord assured her that so too would she love this next step...this next country...this next school...this next spiritual family that He would raise up on her behalf.

I too cling to this promise. When the thought of goodbye seems terribly painful, I remember Jesus' promise to His disciples in Luke 18 where He explains that whatever they give up, whether family or home, for the sake of the kingdom of God (and to follow Him) will receive one-hundred fold in this age and in the age to come, eternal life. A missionary wife explained recently that I could join this 100-fold club now. She encouraged me to claim this promise of Jesus and expect Him to provide a spiritual family in Germany that can invest in me and love me while I am away from my (biological) family in Maryland. It is certainly in His nature to provide community and I trust Him to do this. I know that I am not letting go of home or belonging. Over these next two years, Germany will be the place where I belong...it will become home.

Before I wrap up this post, I am reminded again about this concept of "home." I am about to leave Frederick, Maryland...it has been my home since birth. I just left Grove City College...it was my home for four transformative years. I left Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Muskogee Church of Christ last August...it was my home for two summers. Naturally, transition is hard and saying goodbye to a community involves a grieving process. Seasons of life coming to an end are heartbreaking. And new seasons beginning are sometimes difficult to embrace.

My spirits were lifted in a moment of grief and brokenness when I was reminded that despite all of this change in the past year, leaving three beautiful heart homes, our Lord is constant. He is unchanging! And this place, this physical world is not my home and it will never be my home. The reality of our citizenship in heaven is very real and the reality of the Spirit dwelling in us is undeniable. We have heaven to look forward to and all of these transitions, moves, and changes will be worth it because He has promised to go before me, beside me, behind me, and with me...

As one of the TeachBeyond staff reviewed the difficulty of transition for missionaries, he quoted fellow missionary, Howard Dueck who said "if we do not come through our transition having met Christ in new ways, we have missed on something beautiful." I am ready for this something beautiful...ready to be refined...

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him."
Psalm 37:5-7a


My prayer today is that our God would use a challenge, a struggle, or any painful aspect of our lives to show us something beautiful.

A financial update...

After a simple miscommunication with my TeachBeyond recruiter and processor, I realized last week that I am a bit more behind in fundraising than I anticipated. Instead of being close to 100%, I am now about 83% funded (still a tremendous blessing and praise after only four months of fundraising...God is good!). If you could please join me in prayer over the additional finances because it would be so good (and wonderful!) to be completed funded before I leave for Germany on July 15th. This way I can operate on the full salary that TeachBeyond has budgeted to ensure the necessities--healthcare, transportation expenses, food, lodging, etc. :) Thank you!

I realize that a lot of my blog posts and prayer requests have dealt significantly with support raising and so I truly appreciate your reading! I promise that more thoughts are to come about the things that I am learning, pictures from New Staff Orientation with TeachBeyond in Minneapolis (which ended today), and glimpses into the wonderful interactions I have been having with other TeachBeyond missionaries preparing for the mission field as well as family and friends at home.

To Him who fills our cups to overflowing,
Lauren

Prayer card coming soon!

This afternoon, my sister Julie took some pictures around our house that I could use to create a prayer card...the photo to the left was my favorite! Hopefully, they will be arriving in your mailboxes soon! Thank you all so much for all your prayers thus far. I am reminded daily of my need to continue surrendering all of Germany to our Lord--including the current worries, fears, and anxieties that I have. His command for me to go to Germany is not burdensome, it is good, it is life!

So close!

After graduating from Grove City on May 15 and returning yesterday from a roadtrip out west with some GCC senior girls, I was delighted today to find that my support has increased to 88.5%! This is a huge praise :) With only 11.5% left to raise, this equates to $2409. I will be leaving on July 15 and I trust that God will continue to be faithful in bringing in those last few dollars! Your prayers are most appreciated! More updates to come...
To Jesus!
Lauren

Wow.

After two more weeks of fundraising, I am now 77.18% funded for my first year in Germany! Thank you all so much for ministering to me in this way through your financial support and prayers.

Grateful

After four weeks of fundraising, I am so excited to share some great news with you...I am currently 48.9% funded! I am so thankful for numerous family members and friends who have chosen to support me financially, not to mention those who have committed to pray for this ministry. I couldn't do this without you all, thank you so much for joining me :)

I am beginning to understand to an even greater degree that the Lord is such a faithful provider and He would not have called me to this service unless He also had the funding in mind. It's in our Lord's nature to know the needs of His children and to extravagantly provide for them in a way that is not reckless but completely purposeful.

Blessings to you all,
Lauren

He deserves praise that is fit for a King...

To the left, my BFA buddy, Heather Brown, and I are enjoying Spring! After graduating from Grove City, Heather will be teaching at BFA while I be serving as an RA. We are so thankful to be going together!

Below, a picture with Mr. J Howard Pew, one of the founders of Grove City College... Heather and I are giving him a goodbye kiss...it's almost time to leave Grove City for Kandern,Germany!

------------------------
AN UPDATE:

I am so excited to share that through the generous donations of family and friends, I am now more than 25% funded for one year in Germany ($5800 has been pledged of my $20,000 goal)!

I was certainly convicted this week that I have not been kneeling before our Maker and responding to His faithfulness with enthusiastic praise and worship that is fit for a King as the psalmist writes in psalm 95. After receiving such generous gifts over the past week, God totally deserves praise for His provision over me as well as the ministry of BFA. People are seeing my heart to do this service and people are beginning to understand the need to care for God's children in Germany. He is extravagantly good and extravagantly gracious and I am able to recognize this more with each day that passes...

The Call...

Graduation from Grove City College is quickly approaching, but there is another very exciting journey just beginning...

I am so excited to tell you all that on July 31, 2010, I will begin my two-year assignment at Black Forest Academcy (BFA), a Christian boarding school for missionary children, in Kandern, Germany. At BFA I will be serving as a full-time missionary in the position of a resident assistant. It will be my daily task to live among these children, love these children, and participate in the beautiful task of raising this next generation of missionaries.

I never would have expected to be a missionary, but the Lord has certainly changed my heart and mind in order that they can now be conformed to His desires, His plans, and His own heart. Friends, this is the most beautiful and delightful place to be...in the center of His will. More than ever, I know what it is to want only what the Lord wants...I know what it feels like to have my heart's desires completely aligned with His. I am so unworthy, but extraordinarly thankful that He has called me to love these children.

I must say that I do worry about leaving my family for undetermined amount of time...I do wonder how I will raise $20,000...I am anxious about asking people to support me financially...AND yet, I know that the Lord is faithful and that He would not have so clearly called me to this position if He would not provide.

Please pray. Pray that people would see the lives of these missionary children as worthy of support. Pray that people would not be blind and deaf to the needs of missionaries. Pray that the Lord continues providing for BFA. And finally, pray for my own heart as I prepare for this work. Pray that my words would be full of grace as I begin to tell my family, my friends, and my church about this work.

My hope and prayer for you is that this Holy weekend will extravangantly bless you as you recall to mind the greatest love story of our Jesus.

May grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Lauren

Please let me know if I can pray for you or encouarge you in any way...

p.s. April 2010 newsletter should be coming to you next week! If you would like to join the mailing list, please email me at rooplaurenm1@gmail.com