My Office Life!

PART ONE
“Lauren... what do you do when you're NOT on trips?'
This is a question that I get all the time. =) And today I am going to begin to answer that for you. I have asked for prayer regarding wisdom for some time now, because I wear 'many hats' at my job. My official titles (hats!) are Director of Human Resources and Director of Trips. Also when I’m not out on trips, I run Leadership Training Weekends with youth groups at various churches around the country. But this week, let me begin by talking about my role as the Director of Human Resources.

PC AT WORK... MAC AT HOME... GOTTA DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO!

When you think of this title... you think people, right? Right! I am in charge of recruiting and hiring our summer staff (interns) and full time staff positions as needed. That means that I travel to colleges, set up booths and answer lot of questions about LeaderTreks – who we are... and what we do. (And of course about the Cubs and the Sox and the Bears... the usual.) I really enjoy being able to share my heart about what I love to do with so many people. Then after the recruitment trips, I set up and go through the interview process with 18 summer interns AND at least 6 full time staff. (Well... that reflects our goal for each year, and of course it requires MANY more interviews to end up at those numbers.) At the same time, I have to make sure that the summer intern program fulfills all that I am promising. And if I find it doesn’t... I need to make the necessary changes. We constantly ask ourselves at LeaderTreks is, 'Is there a better way?', and often the answer is 'Yes!' For example... right now, I am in the process of rewriting our intern training manual to improve it. And this past fall we produced two recruiting DVDs, reworked an intern fundraising packet, and revised the journals interns use throughout their summer. We've also started an online forum where interns can ask me questions directly about their internship... as well as get to know other interns and staff. Ahhh... technology! =)

I also take care of interns and staff who have been hired but haven't yet started. I bring them in to the office and we do fundraising training (in fact, this weekend I am bringing a girl who is in town for fundraising training with me to church at VCOB in Bartlett... my home church!). It's my job to handle all the details of their paperwork and communicate weekly with them so they begin to feel like a part of the LeaderTreks team – even before they officially 'get here'.

Yeah... like every job... there's a thing or two about mine that 'feels like work'... =) And while I DO love being out on trips, the great thing about working at LeaderTreks is that when I return from the 'mission field... somewhere out there'... I know my mission continues right here in the office! Hiring the right staff is crucial to making sure we are fulfilling our mission... wherever that mission finds us. That gives me a sense of purpose each day. I love 'this thing' that God has called me to do... =) and am excited to be able to share it with you. In a couple of weeks, I will go into more detail about my role as Director of Trips. But for now... this coming Sunday evening, I'm on my way to southern California for a little R&R with a couple of girls from the office! =) And for those of you who know Chet & Gail Komos... I'll say 'Hi!'... we're staying with them. Stay tuned for a report from the beach!

Louisiana... still trying to rebuild.

THINK ALL IS 'FIXED' IN AND AROUND NEW ORLEANS? THINK AGAIN... =(

Last month (February 17-23) I was in Louisiana, not far from New Orleans, leading a team of students from Long Island, New York. It was kind of funny... because I was there during Marti Gras – a holiday that pretty much shows how depraved man is – yet we as a group were there to show how great our God is. Because of His death (which Marti Gras sort of leads up to in a sad and ironic way) we don’t have to continue to be slaves to our sin... we are free!

(L–R) PHIL, ME, LESLIE, AND GREG... THE LEADERTREKS
STAFF MEMBERS ON-SITE IN LOUISIANA.
HOT? YES... HARD WORK? YES... DO WE LOVE THIS JOB? YES!! =)

Right before the team arrived in Louisiana, the LeaderTreks staff that were already there spent some time focusing our hearts by singing a few worship songs together. 'You Love is Extravagant' was among the songs we sang. One small, simple line from that song goes 'Your love, oh so intimate.' Those words echoed through my head and heart and became the theme of the week for me.

RUSSELL... ONE OF THE STUDENTS FROM LONG ISLAND
NOT ONLY LEARNS HIS WAY AROUND SOME DRYWALL...
HE'S LEARNING WHAT SERVICE AND COMPASSION
ARE ALL ABOUT AT THE SAME TIME.


YEAH... I KNOW ALL ABOUT POWER TOOLS! AND CRUTCHES... ASK ME. =)

As a team we worked to help rebuild a house that survived both hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But the electrical breaker was damaged by the flood waters and caused the house to burn down six months after the hurricanes. The family was left with nothing. Kerry, the dad, began to rebuild his family’s home all by himself. And now... almost a year later it is coming close to being finished. We were able to come help by putting up drywall thoughout the whole house for him. This alone will move up their 'move-in date' from June to late March! This family of four will then be able to move out of the FEMA trailer they currently live in, and pick up their lives in a home of their own again... putting these tragic events behind them. =)

But this family were not the only ones whose lives were impacted during the week. The student’s eyes were opened to many different things. They saw and began to understand how God can still be glorified in hard circumstances, as they saw others from all over the country coming to help and serve this broken community. Their eyes were opened to what an intimate, committed relationship with the Lord looks like as we studied the life of John the Baptist. Some of them for the first time, began to see how to build an intimate relationship with the Lord, as every morning they had their devotions for 45 minutes and began to learn what it meant to be 'devoted' to a King. And they began to believe that even as youth... they can make a difference in this world! Moments like these are why I am so committed to the mission of LeaderTreks. In my work with students, I am focused on building tomorrow's leaders... today! When God commanded us through His power to change the world… he didn’t leave out any age group. He called students to this task as well. Thank you for your support... so that I can continue to see students 'take hold' of that commission and make it their own. It is my joy and privilege to do so. =)

Why the blog?

“Hey... Lauren, where are you off to next? What’s your next adventure? How did your last trip go?”

These are questions I hear often. And I want to do a better job at answering these and other questions for all of my family and friends who are so faithful each month to continually pray for me and those who support me financially. So... I've decided to start this blog to communicate with you all on a more regular basis. (I've found newsletters to be much less 'up-to-the-minute' and much more expensive to produce. And... well... my dad does this 'design thing'...) Your faithful support is what makes it possible for me to continue serving the Lord in my position at LeaderTreks... and I want you to know the impact you are having on the world around you! You'll read about it... and see it... right here!

I commit to you now, to try to post something new every week while I am in town, as well as update you as often, and as regularly as possible when my work takes me out on the road. I thank you for your participation in the work that God is doing through me. I am humbled by your overwhelming love and support. I hope these updates excite you for the mission that we are on together. God bless... I love you all!

WHEN I'M OUT OF TOWN... I MISS YOU ALL... ESPECIALLY THIS GUY!
EVERYONE... SAY HELLO TO AUBURN!