Arriving.

I can't believe I can actually say I've been to Africa now. It was my dream for so many years it seems so unrealistic that I have already went and come back. One thing is for sure though, I don't think my heart will ever leave. I will admit I have been putting off writing this for a while. I really want everyone to be able to read about my trip. It was really hard to start writing it all down though. It's so much to process. But anyways I am ready now so here goes: Africa was....amazing to say the least. After crazy restless flights we finally arrived and once I set foot on the Iris Ministries Base I felt like I was home. I remember my first thought being "This feels so right." It felt like nothing I have ever felt before in my life. Just the initial sights and smells felt absolutely perfect. After we got settled in we took a tour around the base and I was in love, head over heels. You walk out of the visitor center and kids run over to your side and instantly hold your hands and wrap their arms around your waist. Everyone says hello to everyone and you never hear one complaint. It all smiles, pure and genuine smiles. If you look around you can see the gorgeous Indian Ocean sparkling outside the base and little rainbow colored lizards crawling around through the children's footprints in the dirt. I don't think I could ever be sad in that place. When we took our tour we had a chance to stop and pray a blessing over the head cook in the cafeteria. He immediately got onto his knees and started crying and praising the Lord for being so blessed. It was such a humbling moment to see someone so grateful and in love with Jesus. He had almost nothing but he was so unbelievable happy with what he did have. I came to see that each and every one of the Mozambiquans on the base felt that way. We arrived in the late afternoon so after our tour we went and ate dinner with all of the children. Sitting around with all these kids laughing and shoveling rice in our mouths with our hands was so much fun. Many of the older boys spoke some English and they would laugh and joke and smile all through out dinner. Happiness just flowed out of that cafeteria. That first night we sat for hours laughing with the kids and just soaking up everything we could. I went to sleep that night so full of life and ridiculously excited for everything to come.

Almost there!

Our trip is coming up so fast! I can't believe we are going to be leaving for Africa in about a month! Our tickets are all ready and our visas have arrived. A lot is falling into place which is so amazing. Now we just have a lot of little things to do: getting items to take to the orphanage, figuring out what to pack, collecting money for the mission, getting check ups and malaria pills and probably a lot more. This next month is going to be really important! I can't believe I am this close to reaching my dream. Once I take this trip everything is going to change. It's going to be really hard but really great too. After my trip to Africa I will be starting college in Minnesota at North Central University. I am majoring in intercultural studies and I get to take some fun new languages. I can't wait to learn about the world! I even get to take a missions trip during my sophomore or junior year and study abroad in Africa! It's going to be a good new season. God is really starting to show me how big my dreams are!

Alone.

The other day I was sitting up in my room listening to my little sister cry herself to sleep. Hearing her cry always makes me feel bad, but I know she has to cry or she wont learn to sleep on her own. Whenever its my turn to put her to sleep I have such a hard time leaving her by herself. She says little things like "Dont leave me." "I'm scared." or "I don't want to be alone." I always reassure her that she is okay and that I love her. I tell her that I am going to be just down the hall, or her other sister is coming in soon, or her brother is in the room next door. Sometimes when she looks at me with those big wet eyes I can't even get myself to leave. I just lay there next to her rubbing her back and singing little songs until she falls asleep. As I was thinking about this something hit me. There are kids in Africa right now that are crying with no reassurance in their life. Kids that are afraid to fall asleep not because there might be something scary in their closet or because their sister wont stay but because they are starving, cold and alone outside with no one, no one at all. These kids cry and cry their heads full of the nightmare that is their life. They have been abused by adults, left to fend for themselves. They have nothing. They have no love. That thought just broke me. My little sister has 7 other people to comfort her when she is crying. She knows without a doubt that she is safe and loved. Thinking that there are kids that don't have anyone to love them is such a horrible thought. I wish with every ounce of my being that I could be there right now holding those little children and whispering words of love into their tiny ears. I wish I could make them feel safe. But I know right now that all I can do for them is pray, and pray hard. Until a day when I can be there and find those children and bring them home.

Barua and pasipoti

I just wanted to make an update here that I sent out all my mission letters to those that gave me their address. Its been about a week so you should have gotten it or be getting it soon! If you still want one just let me know! We still have so much preparation left for our trip but things are starting to get rolling. Right now I am in the process of getting my passport! We should be sending in the picture and application by the end of the day. It's a pretty exciting step towards our trip!

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. Romans 13:11

Define Missionary

So I was sitting here thinking and I realized most people either have a set thought on what a missionary is or have no clue at all. I decided to look missionary up in the dictionary to see how society has defined it.
Missionary:

1. a person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, as educational or hospital work.

2. a person strongly in favor of a program, set of principles, etc., who attempts to persuade or convert others.

3. a person who is sent on a mission.

My second thought was well yeah the dictionary is right a missionary is someone sent to evangelize and try to convert others but man that's harsh. If I was going to Africa just to carry out "activities" and "persuade" people I wouldn't be going at all! Do people really believe that missionaries are these crazy push overs just trying to change other people's minds?

When I think of a missionary I think of someone with a heart for something or someone else. It's not about trying to make others like you. It's about caring about others so much that you want them to have the absolute very best. Being a missionary is about showing people love; saving them from poverty, disease, heartache, bondage and so many other things because you genuinely care. But most importantly it's about showing them the one and only thing that can truly make them full and happy in life. Jesus Christ. Put that in the dictionary.

10 months!

Time is going by so fast! I can't believe there are only 10 months until my trip! I am really trying to get things together because I know time is going to fly and sooner than I know it I will be in Africa helping all the people I can! About a week ago we contacted the Iris Ministries base and they saved a chunk of June-July for us to go. I can't wait! On another note if you think about it keep the Democratic Republic of the Congo in your prayers this week. A lot of crazy things are going on there and its not good. The people are struggling, especially the women. Check out this link if you want details: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/24/world/africa/democratic-congo-rape/index.html

Mozambique

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6oB0UTwNK0&feature=related
You should definitely watch this video from Iris Ministries. I can't wait till I get to go!

My letter is finished!

Dear Friends & Family,
You’re probably wondering why I am writing you a letter, well I am asking for some support as I begin to prepare for my first trip to Africa. A lot of you already know that I have a huge heart for Africa and I want to go to school for missions. If you haven’t heard about any of this you can check out my blog at: http://coracaoparaafrica.blogspot.com
I know that Christmas is almost here and everyone is busy with the holidays and that is why I thought now is a perfect time to send out a letter with the spirit of giving in the air. If only people in Africa could experience things like holidays the way we do.
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. They have more than 1.6 million orphans and Iris Ministries cares for around 10,000 children. To top it all off Mozambique has been hit with many floods. These floods have caused the already struggling economy to suffer even more by destroying their crops, homes, and roads. This is causing horrible illnesses and leaving even more children without families.
So to fill you in this coming summer my Mom and I are going to Pemba, Mozambique to help out at an Iris Ministries Children’s Center. A while back my Mom went to an Iris Center in Mozambique. So after some persuading she has agreed to take me to Africa! While I am in Mozambique I will be able to serve in so many ways: spending time with the orphans, community outreaches, visiting people in the hospital, praying for the sick, going on outreaches to remote villages, feeding the poor and lots more.
I need to raise five thousand dollars for the trip. That’s a whole lot of money and most of the cost is for travel but I would also like to give some money to the Children’s Center. The Center has a list of items that they currently need so my Mom and I will try to bring some of those things, but it’s really hard to do so it will be easier for us to buy things when we get there.
When your getting ready to give this season I ask for your support in giving to the lives of the people in Mozambique, to the poor and needy children who are in so much need of food, water, shelter, medicine and most importantly love.
Thank you for your support! Have a fantastic Christmas!
Love, Lauren Tollon


Checks can be made to Lauren Tollon memo: Africa sent to: 12953 Kenyon Drive Chesterland, Ohio 44026
P.S. Also, watch my blog for information on our store “Love for the Nations”; we are working on making jewelry to sell to go towards missions to Mozambique.
For more information on Iris Ministries: http://www.irismin.org
For more information, questions or anything my email is: lalalauren328@yahoo.com

Jewelry

I am starting to sell jewelry and all the money is going towards my trip to Africa. I am hand making necklaces and bracelets out of magazines. They are really neat so If you want to buy some let me know! You can email me at lalalauren328@yahoo.com !

Mozambique

The area of Africa that I want to start with is Mozambique. My mom has been to this part of Africa and it is where Roland and Heidi Baker have Iris Ministries and the Iris Harvest School of Missions. Iris Ministries is a mission to orphaned and abandoned children in Mozambique, Africa. Iris Ministries has over 5,000 churches all over Mozambique and its neighboring countries and care for over 2,000 children at their mission centers. This following summer my mom and I will hopefully be going to Mozambique and I eventually want to go to the Harvest School of Missions. I can't wait to go to Africa!