Time to Talk with Laura Gregg
THIS week the 'MAIL' caught up with missionary and avid charity worker, Laura Gregg.
Laura is originally from Portadown, but she has fully integrated herself in the Lurgan way and enjoys life on the Gilford Road.
She has worked in the Hope Charity shop on Union Street for the past three years and been a member of the Emmanuel Church for over eight years, she says her entire life is centred around Lurgan.
The 26-year-old has a passion for drama and loves to work with young people, she has written and helped produce a number of plays.
She said: "The children all call me mommy Laura because I am so protective of them."
Her real love in life is her work as a missionary, she has visited Albania twice, as well as Uganda and Burma which is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis after a cyclone tore through the south-east Asian country.
'Hope' has been working in the country for a number of years and supports a children's home and Bible college in the Yangon region and was in the process of building another orphanage when the cyclone struck.
Laura said: "Going out to these regions is a real experience for me, people hand over their money and never see the real help it does.
"Seeing it in action is a real inspiration."
Laura hopes to travel out to Burma again and help out with the relief efforts, but in the meantime she is urging the people of Lurgan to dig deep and help out with this much needed cause.
Cheques can be sent to registered charity, Hope, at 99-103 Union Street, Lurgan, Co Armagh, BT66 8ED, marked disaster appeal or call 3834 5928.
If you could trade places with anyone else for the day who would it be and why?
It would have to be Angelina Jolie, but not for the obvious reasons. She does a lot of superb work with the UN and to have the kind of influence she has on the world stage be amazing. I would make it an extra long day and try and gather as much support as possible.
Describe your perfect day...
It would start off in a big castle somewhere hidden in the woods and I would explore all day and then take a private jet to London to catch a West End show with all my friends and family.
If you could change your job what would you do instead?
I would love to head off to one of the Third World countries and run my own orphanage, I would love to be a mother to the children.
Party animal or slouch potato
I love socialising and hanging our with my friends - I never stop talking - I have a great circle of friends and we are always playing games and having so much fun so a party animal. Although there is a lot of joy to be on a quiet night in with a DVD boxset.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Doing what I am doing, working with the charity, but hopefully married, maybe having adopted an orphan and with some of my own children as well.
Who or what has had the biggest influence in your life?
My mum and dad, Pauline and Davy, they have been so supportive of me no matter what the hair-brained scheme and they have made a lot of sacrifices for me along the way. Also being a Christian and having God in my life is a big influence, He has helped me grow as an individual and given me the strength to help others.
If you were stranded on a desert Island what three things would you like to have with you?
My Bible, an endless supply of cold Diet Coke and a solar powered DVD player loaded up with all episodes of Friends.
Would you describe yourself as competitive?
I believe if something is worth doing there is no point in doing it half-hearted but I am not a bad loser. My friends all call me Monica after the character in Friends, they all say I am very competitive but not in a bad way. I love the banter and craic of a bit of healthy competition.
Are you environmentally friendly?
Most definitely, especially in the shop we are always in need of plastic bags and desperate for people to help us out. I collect pots and tubs and use them for lots of other uses.
Could you bear to be parted from your mobile for a week?
I could but the only problem would be all the texts and phone calls I would miss that I would have to go through after it - so in reality probably not.
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Weather for Lurgan
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
