Continuous Mission ... I know

Although life is a continous mission field, I have created a new blog, seen as I am back from YWAM and India ... I have grown, therefore new blog - obviously!!
Do read up on whatever I have to say - who even knows ... on www.misspiekos.blogspot.com It's called 'These Four Walls'.


I think the name is artistic and suave. But the actual reason is because it is a song by Miley Cyrus, which is kind of lame of me really, but I think she is really cool - I know you are dying to judge me right now, please refrain, I am aware of how geeky I am being, but I can't help it.
The song is not specifically meaningful to me or anything, I just think it's named well. I stole it because I want to think outside of 'These Four Walls' (home, my mind, the 'world' and so on). Read as you will :)


Thankyou so much for following whilst I was away ... it really was amazing.
Love to all.
Lxxx

Life in Gujarat

Laura reports touring in Gujarat is amazing. They travelled to a seaside village and rode on a camel, then traveled 2 hours to Porbander to see Ghandi's house. The town was intreguing but lifeless. After which they return to Rajkot where they have been prayer walking. Finishing their time in the area spending in the bazars. What seemed like a very expensive shopping trip came to £10.00 ! After numerous heated discussions with the bank Laura is again in the money! All the team have received the lovely gift of headlice from the orphanage in Chennai, hence are alittle stressed and preoccupied with their personal hygiene at the moment.

The journey to Deli took a further 24 hours on a noisey, smelly train. There are alot of beggers. The team managed to see 'Slumdog millianaire' in Hindi, feeling that the film really represents the culture in India. Laura recommends that you all go and see the film. She can't wait to see it in English. She askes for your prayers for the journey home on 13th Feb. and is hoping the snow will not close the airport. Our snow stories have obviously got as far as India!

Letter from India

Laura sends her regards to everyone and gives us more insight into her time spent in Chennai . She was upset with the conditions in the orphanage and felt the Home was only one step from the gutter for the children there. They would find them lay, sleeping in their own excreament and the floors of the bedroom had not been clean of dirt and human waste for a very long time. Hence one of her jobs was to clean the floors ! She felt they had very few cuddles and human contact and was blessed by a 3 year old boy falling to sleep whilst she tickled his back.

However the team really enjoyed their time with the village women and learn alot about washing clothes by hand and peeling veg at an extra fast speed. They got invited to a 'puberty party' and were involved in community activites. The women enjoyed them 'hanging out' with them. However Laura expressed the 'heaviness' that the team felt and general spiritual oppression. The people they were staying with were lovely and kept buying them ice-cream.

The journey up north took 36 hours and was eventful in that other passengers got up in the night to cook food and put all the lights on. They are now in the comfort of a hotel with spring water on request. They are prayer walking around the area and soon go to Deli. Hope you have managed to see some pictures on facebook. Soon Laura will be able to give you her own update. Thanks for your support and prayers. Keep them coming.

On the move up north !

Today Laura and friends will be on the train having a 26 hour adventure ride through the centre of India. In her last email she expressed that they would miss the women they had made friends with in Chennai, however they had given them pictures taken with them as a going away present. The group were ready to move on and are looking forward to their time in Gujerat and Deli. Please remember them all in your prayers as things are not as open up there, and they may not find it as easy. Also Laura's bank have stopped her cash card, and we pray this will get sorted out quickly. There are some lovely pictures on facebook of the girls in the orphanage with the children. Awaiting further update from Laura then I will give you any further news.

Last few weeks in Chennai

Laura is really enjoying her time in Chennai, both working and playing hard. Marcus arrived to support the team for afew days bringing lots of goodies from England. What we take for granted, chocolate,biscuits,sweets and peanut butter! Who could live without peanut butter. On Monday they were going to the beach and actually swimming in the sea. However, for the rest of the week it is back to work. They are still supporting the local orphanage and would like your prayers as it is not an easy task. It feels spiritually heavy but they have really got attached to the children there. The whole place feels sad! The work in the local village is going very well.

On the 24th Jan. they move on to Rajkot in Gujarat, which will consist of a very long train jouney.Then on the 2nd Feb. they go to New Delhi and then back to sunny England on 13th Feb. hence finishing the adventure in India. However, it is not over yet and we will give you a further update next week. Lots of hugs and kisses from Laura xx

New Year update from India

Having a great time in India, all is well here, the people we are staying with are lovely and feed us delish food. It is great. They also have a roof which we can sunbathe on when having quiet time, which is fab, though my tan still looks rubbish, (I blame the factor 30 suncream). We have been to two orphanages this week, one that we went to help at and to clean, we will be visiting there again to help out with the kids, there are 40 children (mixed) and only 3 staff, so they really need it. Then we went to another where we painted some of the doors and the walls so that the kids would come back to a new year in a newly renovated home. It was really cool doing the painting, I felt like I was really putting something into something ... it was good anyway, and we took plenty of pics. Mine and Ilse's door was the best painted, the guys who worked there even said so! haha. Tomorrow we are going to the zoo which is great, and will be fun, we dont have to wear salwars on the day off, but pretty much the rest of the time we do. On friday one of the guys from Holmsted - Marcus is coming out to see how we are doing, he'll be here for 5 days, which will be a nice change! Loving it here, loving the people, loving my team and loving my Maker. Hope you are all well, and I send all my love. Laura xxx

Laura's move to 'New Abode'

Hi guys, another update from Laura. Had the pleasure of talking to her for about 1/2 hour on Christmas Day. She sounds great and up for every challenge ahead_ don't stop praying, all thoughts are appreciated.

Laura has now moved to a new base that actually has a bathroom with a toilet and toilet paper [the simple thing we take for granted]. It even has an upper deck for sunbathing! [on days off]. This is situated next to a huge lake in Chennai. The owners are the leaders of the church they are attached to, which is based in the house- not far to travel on a Sunday morning! However the cockroaches, ants and mozzies love it there as well, much to Laura's horror.

This week they have lots of kids work planned, running a holiday morning, for two days, for children in the area, and intercession walks around the area. After which they are hoping to work in the orthanage down the road. She has already spent some time in a Children's Home where many of the children have Aids.

She will not be celebrating New Year in India, however, wishes you all a 'Happy New Year' and looks forward to sending more news next week [she only has access to the internet on Mondays]. She has a few photos posted on facebook, so take a look at Laura in Indian traditional dress!