A Chicago couple find a novel way to begin life together.

July 2008

By James Addis, World Vision U.S.

Many couples seek out a secluded spot in a romantic location for their honeymoon — but newly-wed Lauren Elrod of Chicago had something completely different in mind.

Lauren wanted to forgo the pleasures of traditional destinations in favor of visiting her sponsored child and spending time among poor communities in Africa.

'A gift from God'

Lauren, 26, says serving others is a big part of her family's ethos. Her father is Horace Smith, a medical doctor, presiding bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and pastor of Chicago's Apostolic Faith Church. The large, mostly African American congregation is a big supporter of World Vision's work. Members sponsor hundreds of children in Africa.

To Lauren's great delight, husband-to-be Brian Elrod welcomed the idea of the non-traditional honeymoon and did not object to his in-laws coming along.

Lauren says she has found her perfect match.

"Not many men would agree to a 'service' honeymoon. It is truly a gift from God to find a man with the same passion," she says.

A community transformed

The couple's first stop was to the Kipushi community in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Apostolic Faith Church funded a new well. On a previous visit, Bishop Smith was distressed to discover the local health clinic had no water supply.

Lauren says months after the well's installation, local residents had not lost any of the thrill of finally having a reliable water supply. She says it has radically improved health care at the clinic and transformed the entire community.

"No longer are children forced to fetch water from the river, carrying enormous buckets on their heads," she says.

From Kipushi, the party traveled south to Zamtan, Zambia, to visit the Elrods' sponsored child, 11-year-old Patrick Mulenga.

A tangible difference

Lauren says it was fascinating to contrast Zamtan, where children have benefited from child sponsorship programs for more than a decade, with other communities that have not yet been so fortunate.

"Sponsored children are healthier, more active, and more talkative," she says.

Patrick was eager to find out all about life in Chicago and quizzed Brian about his days playing basketball in college. The soccer-mad youngster was overwhelmed when the Elrods gave him a new soccer ball — the first he has ever owned.

Lauren says seeing both pain and joy in Africa reinforced the couple's view that they had made the right choice about their honeymoon. She says it prompted them to talk about their finances and raising children. They looked at ways they could afford to sponsor another child and determined that an important part of the education of their own children would be to bring them to Africa to see places like Zamtan and Kipushi.

"It was the best move for us," Lauren says. "You are challenged so much more and are forced to talk about your faith together — seeing poverty on one hand but also seeing what God is doing in people's lives."