Lauren...

 
So August 1st things started really ramping up for us here.  We went to our US Church Planting Conference at the end of July and then got back and hit the ground running.  We began preparing for all the ASU students to return, for our first church services in our home, for the beginning stages of building a church, for two Boston teams to come and serve us, and on and on!  

I'm so thankful that the Lord always sends us what we need.  So thankful that he called Lauren to come to Tempe for the month of August to serve us.  I had no idea what a blessing she would be during this season of our church.

I had always known Lauren as outgoing, fun, loud, radical for Jesus...but this August I learned something new, her kind, sincere servant's heart.

She came with no agenda but to do whatever was needed.  Glorious or not.  So, she washed dishes, swept floors, played with kids, babysat my kids (and another mom's kids so we could get uninterrupted time), shared the gospel, prayed on campus late at night!, and made us laugh...a lot.  She made stressful moments a little more lighthearted and doable.  And did I mention she would do anything??  And usually it was stuff I didn't ask her to do, she just did it.

My kids love her.  Gracie is still "calling Lauren on the phone" and Ellie reminds me when we read a book that Lauren read to her.  She made everything fun for them.  We were all sad to see her go...but God is moving in Boston and we had to send her back to be a part of it!

 Here are a few pics of our time with her...

Emily and Lauren...they became big buddies.
She figured out her schedule and seemed to be know what she
needed and when she needed it...

Don't worry, Ellie's not choking Emily here, right Lauren??

 I love their faces in this one!

Couldn't find Elle in the craziness of a day
when there were lots of people in our house...

here's where I found her.

So this was a space ship...it flew all over our living room...

until it had mechanical failures mid-flight (translation: the box

broke!).  Everyone survived!

Yes, this is Annie Kate Goode on the left...more on her visit later.
And these are our Antioch shirts that we wear all the time,
mainly around campus.  Thanks, Adam for the awesome design!

So she came and she went and she left her mark here in Tempe.

With Lauren's help, we survived August, we started planting a church, 

we are still full of life and vision and excitement (despite the craziness).

And, bonus!  We have a sweet friend that we are closer to than when she came.

Thank you, Lauren!  We love you and miss you!

notice gracie on the right...yes, she's walking on the counter!