Charm is Deceptive and Beauty is Fleeting…

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Hey!

A scripture verse I love was in my mail inbox today….as well as a VERY good explanation of it.

I hear it everyday… a woman complaining about her wrinkles, or uneven skin, small eyes, small lips, acne, sensitivity, etc. But, the reality is we ALL have things we don’t like. I have never talked to anyone who’s told me that they are completely happy with everything about their physical appearance.

We only have one life, this is our body, this is our appearance, respect it, embrace it.

Proverbs 31:3

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

What it means: Beauty fades with age, so if you are more concerned with your outer appearance, you will be unhappy when the wrinkles come and the number on the scale goes up. In fact, did you know that your body may show the beginning signs of aging as early as age twenty? That is why God wants us to “fear” Him. That doesn’t mean to be afraid of Him but rather to be in awe of Him and all that He has done. Let me put it to you this way. If you stand two girls next to each other and one is Miss Teen USA whose beauty is limited to physical beauty, and the other young lady is a more average-looking girl who loves the Lord more than anything, she is the more beautiful girl in the eyes of God.

I found this explanation at:

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/preventing_the_sexualization_of_your_daughter/what_the_bible_says.aspx

Love,

Lauren

Nairobi Church Services and Inspiring Faith

Hi!

One of the most amazing things about this trip was to be amongst great people. Almost everyday we met between 5-15 new people. So each day we were communicating from people from all over. Some of the students that go to Daystar are from surrounding places, Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Etc.

A special thanks to Jan Korbel and Frank Msambya who work for Daystar U.S in Nairobi. They were amongst the first people we met and the last people we were with before we left. They helped us feel welcome. Jan drove us around, planned our meetings and invited us into her home for dinner. We were very blessed to have such wonderful company.

I think the thing I was most excited about was meeting so many Christians in Kenya. Many of those that we met with had a real LOVE for Jesus and a real passion to do his His will. I was inspired by the dedication, commitment and zeal the students and alumni of Daystar had for going to school and doing really great things throughout Africa.

When we asked current students about their dreams and goals after college they were all very courageous , heart tugging dreams. I could tell that most of these students were very sincere in how they wanted to do good things in their home countries and were very thankful for their education

We attended 2 church services and 2 chapel’s while in Kenya. One thing I truly admire is the music! So much vigor, so much life, excitement and passion is behind a lot of the praise music in church’s in African culture. I love that!!! Singing, dancing, lots and lots of praise and excitement. I wish more churches in the U.S had that much “life” in their praise music!

Little boy who danced in the isle through the whole worship!

LOVE LAUREN.

 

 

 

 

Stephan Olang and family…

Jambo ..Hi!

Yesterday was Sunday and we spent the day with a Daystar graduate named Stephen Olang. He invited us to his church service in Karen, which is another part of Kenya. It is always interesting to go to a different church service let alone one that is in another part of the world with a different culture.

Stephan Olang has an absolutely incredible story of faith, and he shared his story with us back at his house. He now works for the International Justice Mission in Kenya because at one point IJM  had helped him out of an extremely horrible situation.

His family was so hospitable and invited us to their home for a huge meal after church. 

 

 

It has been absolutely amazing to learn more about Daystar and their mission, ” To educate servant leaders to transform Africa”. Because ,truly this trip for me has been an amazing way to witness how education and the power of Christ can take priority on people’s lives to help make the world they live a better place. There has been so many great stories and inspiring details about people and what they are doing with their lives here in Africa. We are lucky to have witnessed so much in the last week.

The power of Jesus, the power of the holy spirit is absolutely INCREDIBLE. I am so touched mostly by how many devoted Christians I’ve met here who want nothing more than to do the will of God here on earth and do amazing things for people and the world they live.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day.. God Bless.

And, we finally saw a monkey. And not just ONE monkey. Many, many monkeys. This is one with a baby attached to it’s belly!! CUTE!

 

Monkey and baby

 

Love, LO

 

 

Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya

Hi Everyone,

I think yesterday was one of the most difficult days since we have been here. We spent the day going into the Kibera Slum which is in Nairobi, Kenya. Kibera is one of the largest slums in Africa and within it live about 1 million people. It’s size is only about 1 mile long by about 1 1/2 mile wide.

Small tin “homes” line the streets crammed side by side, dirt street paths, trash thrown in mounds and mounds and people, animals and livestock everywhere. The smell is such that burns your nose it is so strong of garbage and air pollution. I found this to be the hardest part about being there.

Trash piles in the Kibera Slum, Nairobi

We went to spend time with small kids from the slums. We went to watch and spend time with these children, to just be with them. And, we brought bibles for each student above 6 .

Porridge food for kids at school.

The whole reason we got to go to this school is a man named Peter Karanja who is a Daystar school graduate. One of the wonderful things Peter is doing with his education is helping these children in the Kibera slum. It was a blessing to get to witness God’s provision through watching these children laugh and play together, get a good lunch,  clap and sing.

Peter Karanja in the front of classroom

I think pictures can say many things words can’t. And, I’d love to show you all the many many photos of Kibera and the children I took. But, I will have to do that when I get back.

Out of the many things I experienced in Kibera the Kids are what will stay in my mind. The young 11 year old girl who came up to me and wanted to shake my hand…asked politely my name, and exclaimed , “You came all the way from the U.S to Kibera! Thank you Thank you, you are good people”. I tear up thinking about that.  Or, the way the kids ate so quickly and so determined as if that might be there last meal of the day. Or, the many scripture verses , songs, and praises they had memorized and sang for Jesus. Or, the excitement in receiving their own bible.

At a later time, I’d be happy to write more about our experience.

Royce and I with some of the children...

Love,

Lauren

Merry Christmas to you! LOVE Lauren..

Hey Everyone!!

Merry Merry Christmas!!! I woke up early.. this is the first year that I did not wake up with my parents and brother on Christmas morning. But, this year I woke up with my husband and  cute kitty (Bear). I guess I’m growing up. But, it’s all good… last night the whole fam came over to our new apartment and spent a few hours eating, laughing and exchanging gifts.

Christmas has always been a magical time of year for me and my family and I think people across the world everywhere. It is the most celebrated holiday, the most commercialized holiday, and the one that has the most traditions and gifts. It’s honestly fabulous… and many of us wish that it could be Christmas every day of the year. For me, I’d wish that mostly so that I never had things I was obligated to do. Christmas is a day where you can really do whatever you want to do.

Anyway, I just wanted to with you all a very Happy Christmas Day and to be very blessed in all that you do, with family, friends and in the days activities. I appreciate all of you who pay attention to my blog. Writing is my passion, and I am so very blessed to have some of the supportive people in my life that I do.

With that I’d like to share a poem I found that truely expresses what I want to say to you all today:

Don’t Forget Jesus 

Christmas is a special time
To reflect on Jesus Christ
The wonder of His lowly birth
Brings meaning to our lives

There really is no other reason
We celebrate this day
The birth of God’s precious son
And the life He willingly gave

But so much seems to distract us
In the busy-ness of our lives
We lose our focus in all the happenings
Not knowing, we leave out Christ

We lose sight of the true meaning
As we endlessly rush about
Trying to find that perfect gift
Seems to cloud our Saviour out

We need to stop and reflect awhile
Remembering our precious Lord
His birth, His life and sacrifice
And all that He stands for

For though the world may celebrate
It seems though for other reasons
Let’s keep in mind that Jesus Christ
Is the true meaning of the season

© By M.S.Lowndes

Love you all…many blessings, LOVE  LO (Lauren)