Laura Liira 7/13/11 Laura Liira 7/13/11

DEAR DIARY #009

Oh diary! Life has placed me on a giant swing and i’m going around and around and around. It’s fast yet beautiful.

So I arrived back from Crimea! Wow, what an insane/fun/amazing/lovely time we had. Our team got along so well! Normally on missions trips people get tired, weary and become reclusive or irritated easily and fight. That didn’t happen (unless you count Alex throwing a chair at Jared). I hadn’t laughed like that non-stop for a looooong time (and not just at the chair throwing). The trip consisted of many laughs, many games of monopoly deal (I realized James & I have been playing wrong for months ha) and many, many amazing God filled moments. The Christian brothers and sisters of Crimea are wonderful. How Jesus shines so brightly through those people. I have soooo many moments but one of my favourite ones was at this little village (can’t remember the name sorry!) We went to this lady’s house that overlooked the whole village. Inside we gathered for snacks, tea and chocolate (Ukrainian chocolate is AMAZING!) After eating we sat in a circle each individually telling our stories, how God transformed our lives. They were fascinated how such young people would travel across the world for Jesus. Their stories were amazing, there were many people who used to be drug addicts, different religions, atheists. We then went outside and prayed overlooking the city. Their dream is to one day start a church in that village, so for now they have a bible study. We are believing God for that village! Ah, I have sooo many more stories, and I promise I will write them very soon (as in after August).

Want to know my schedule for the next few weeks?

Shut up. I know you do.

This week- writing sermons for Teen Girls Camp! But praise the Lord, things are going smoothly! God is good. He’s giving me words for these girls and I’m beyond excited.

This is “my office”. I like to pray/prep/write in the church nursery. It’s uber quiet/comfy/anointed up there. Right now I’m being challenged in my preaching by Andys (my boss Andy & by Andy Stanley’s “Communicating for a Change”). It’s hard to change something you’re so used doing but it’s also good to be stretched and challenged! Only three more sermons to go! (Out of 10!!!!!!!!) After I finish every sermon I like to have a 30 second dance party. Because of a giant seniors apartment complex overlooking the nursery I have to do this in the hallway between the playroom and the mother’s room.

Please note: when you are stressed and accomplish something big on your never ending list, have a 30 second dance party. It will give you enough celebration over the accomplished task and will fill with you energy to get on to the next one!

JUST DANCE. (I prefer to dance to Chromeo- fancy footwork…in case you were wondering)

I’m also sick… (booooohooooo) it sucks and i could really use your prayers (especially before two weeks of camp!!!)

oh and fyi…..I HAVE THE BEST BOYFRIEND IN THE WORLD…just saying.

you may want to stop reading if you puke from sappiness…

but please keep reading…

Get this…he took my macbook while i was away to defrag and clean some stuff up (it was running painfully slow). Well he not only put more ram on it, he also got the white paneling surrounding the keyboard replaced (it was all cracked) AND put new software with a ton of new programs! awwwwwwwe! he also bought harry potter tickets for tomorrow’s opening night! (even though he’s only seen the first movie)…ya i told ya he’s the best.

Oh and he got a hottie haircut and surprised me at the airport with it (ok i found out while i was away, but for the sake of the story, let’s just pretend i was surprised)

isn’t he stunning?

Anyways lovies i best be going. My good friend Bryn is visiting from the East Coast and we’re all hanging tonight, can’t wait!

over & out,

s.s.♥.

Laura Liira 7/8/11 Laura Liira 7/8/11

BACK AT IT

Hey lovies,

After traveling for 31 hours, I arrived safe and sound from Crimea late last night. (WHERE’S CRIMEA? Don’t lie, I know you’re secretly googling it right now.) To save you some time, it’s located at the south of Ukraine right on the Black Sea. It’s a hidden gem. SERIOUSLY. Gorgeous land, beautiful beaches and it’s seriously cheap. The only problem is very few people speak english. I have soo many stories to tell you and I will over the next month! What I will tell you right now is, GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING BIG! Ah, I want to blab about so many amazing moments but I’ll hold it in.

I hope you are having an insanely, fabulous summer. I’m really excited to make one of these…

(Flower Crown DIY courtesy of honestlywtf)

But first I got to catch up on some work things and prep for Teen girls Camp (wooooooooooooot!) & Nanoose (yaaaaaaaaay!) Life is insane & beautiful and God is good.

so,

sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,

good.

I hope I can sleep sweetly tonight (booo jetlag).

Love you to the moon & back,

s.s.♥.

Laura Liira 6/22/11 Laura Liira 6/22/11

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

Hello friends!

I apologize in advance for my absence from this blog….it really hurts my heart to be away from it for so much because i actually really am passionate about blogging! In case you don’t know I FLY TO CRIMEA TODAY!!!!!!! Well not exactly…today I fly Victoria to Vancouver to London (then we have a sweet over night lay-over in London, can’t wait to revisit the city that tries to steal my heart) to Kiev to CRIMEA! We’ll arrive in Crimea late Friday night.

In Crimea we’ll be assisting different local Churches with all sorts of ministry from running services to sunday school to VBS to outdoor festivals to canada vs ukraine soccer matches to building two new playgrounds (one will be the only playground in the whole village!). I am beyond excited to be a part of what God is already doing in Crimea. Isn’t it amazing that our God is truly changing lives all over the world. I can’t wait to meet believers over there and just hear their hearts.

PLEASE PRAY FOR US! We’ll be gone June 22nd to July 6th and NEED your prayers!

Also while you’re talking to Poppa can you pray for me? I have an insane month ahead of me, Crimea, Nanoose Teen Camp, speaking at Imadene Teen Girls camp, Emy & Franco’s wedding! (this is all before August 1st) It seems impossible but I serve the God of the impossible. I just need to keep praying Philippians 4:13 over me!

So I’ll try to update in Europe but I’ll be pretty busy, so sorry in advance!

Love you to the moon & back,

s.s.♥.

ps. JL- i miss you already xoxo

Laura Liira 6/17/11 Laura Liira 6/17/11