Lauren

I wanted to give everyone an update on Lauren. She is back in the States now and I received an update email from her that I wanted to pass on. Thanks for your continued prayers for her life.

Greetings to all of you!

Well, I am back in the states after an incredible, life-changing time in Kenya, Africa. I'd like to share with you what has happened to me in the past week.

Saved by Grace
Last Tuesday, I was traveling back to Nairobi after spending a month in Western Kenya. I was traveling with my dear brother in Christ, Joseph, who is a Kenyan. We were in a matatu (Kenya's public transportation). Now in Kenya, they don't like to follow the rules most of the time. So, a 14 passenger van usually means 22+...as many as can squeeze in. So, it was a tight ride. Well, after 10 hours of traveling on roads filled with craters I suddenly became sick. I felt very nauseated and had a terrible headache. I became very weak and mentally confused. I don't remember much else. I do remember being in a taxi with Joseph and I was laying in his arms and the fever hit. All I could say was "hospital, hospital." So, next thing I remember was being at the hospital. Now, this hospital was a rural hospital. Let me explain - on day 2 I gave them my insurance card...they laughed and said this piece of plastic is worth more than this hospital. So, I hope that gives you an idea ;) Well, after trying to explain to the Dr what was going on using Swahili they finally admitted me (time is not an issue in Kenya, even if it's an emergency!). I will leave out some details, but they gave me an IV of Quinine. My vein ended up becoming infiltrated and blood (my own) was all over the place. I ended up sleeping in it. I was also laying in bugs (ants and mosquitos!) and at one time some of my own feces. During the night I had diarrhea 7 times! You can guess how dehydrated I was. My friends Benny and Joseph came and visited me as much as possible as well as Benny's family. It was crazy being there. I remember some times I would think I was going to die there, but I had to trust God and know I'd be okay. I know I had MANY people praying for me there in Kenya and here back in the US. I was covered in prayer. I started becoming stronger. But, on the 2nd night a woman was in the bed next to me with her 5-month old baby who was suffering from dehydration. I started talking with this woman who is a SDA (Seventh-Day Adventist). So, we started talking about God and I shared Jesus Christ with her and how it's not works that saves you but only the grace of God through Jesus Christ, and the price He paid for us. Well, after our discussion her child began to cry and scream until 3 am. I then fell asleep until 5 am I awoke to the mother wailing and screaming. There was her child on the bed, lifeless. He had died in those 2 hours we fell asleep. It was horrifying. The nurses and Dr didn't do anything...they left the child there for 2 hours next to my bed while the mother was running around screaming. It was horrible. After seeing this I felt so much pain and was so torn. So many children die that don't need to die. All the child needed was fluids and someone (a medical person) keeping watch of the child during the night. The need of education and training is so BIG in Kenya and other 3rd world countries. They are willing to learn, they just need people willing to go over and educate them (my calling!). So after all of this, I knew I had to get out of that hospital or else I would be next to die. After many prayers and boldness of Benny's mother, I was able to leave that hospital...though I could barely stand up. I was transported to Benny's home and stayed there. His mama cooked some amazing food for me and I was able to keep it down. I found out I would be going home on Friday. God provided me a way home through my mom (thanks!) and with the help of my dad as well. So Friday night I unfortunately had to leave Kenya. It was frustrating but at the same time I knew I had to come home, even the Kenyans advised me to. At the airport more drama occurred, but I can share that with you another time. It was only by the grace of God that I was able to get on that plane and fly back here to the states safely. What God did in my life was absolutely a miracle. He saved me from a deadly disease. And it's all in His plan. Some may say that God gave you the disease to send you home. But I believe it was an attack from Satan. Everyday that I spent in Kenya was a miracle. God did amazing things, He showed me awesome things. I was able to share the Gospel with many, many people. The medical team I was with for the first 10 days...we shared the Gospel with almost 3,000 people. That's amazing! When we serve Jesus Christ and Praise His name, the devil doesn't like that and he'll try and throw something at us. He tried throwing Malaria at me...and God will let him do that sometime as a test (just read the book of Job). But, I am remaining faithful to my God. He saved my life! And if I had to do it all over again, I would because I know God is faithful and He will always provide! We must always look to Him and always Praise His name!
I am now being seen at St. V's. I have to get 2 more blood tests and then they can determine which type of parasite I had and then go about treatment. But, I am not worried because God is good and He will take care of everything. I saw so many people in Kenya who had Malaria and many who would die that day. Why this happens, I don't understand. But God showed me the sufferings in Africa...so now I can testify to them and God can use us people to make a difference. These people just need to be educated and need things like a mosquito net. Who here can't afford a mosquito net? C'mon! It's really quite simple...you just have to have your eyes opened. I hope your eyes have been opened somewhat after hearing this testimony. God truly saved my life and showed me His Grace. I am now back here to testify to it.
With all of this said, I want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. I have MUCH much more to share but it will take me a while to compile it all together.
Again, thank you so much.

GOD IS SO GOOOOOOOOOOD!

Hi all...let me clarify what was said, so there are no misunderstandings.

I said something in my testimony that this was a test....that God allowed satan to attack me. Let me make it clear...I was not saying God caused me to have Malaria...goodness no! Some people (people who don't know God, who don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) have said to me that God caused this sickness and He was sending me back home for some reason. That is NOT true and I completely disagree with it. God did not give me the sickness...He doesn't do that. It is by Jesus Christ's stripes that we are healed...God is the Great Physician. The Malaria was definitely an attack from Satan. He was attacking me because I am a servant of Jesus Christ. Satan hates that. Now, sometimes God will allow satan to attack as it is only a test...like I said, read the book of Job and you'll understand!
God truly saved me from this...as it is said in the Bible God will never give you anything that you can't bear (1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.) He showed me His grace!

I wanted to make this clear because people have been misunderstanding.

Thank you,
Lauren

James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."