Laurie Jordan–Worrall
November 12th 1961 ~ August 12th 2021
Laurelee (Laurie) Ruth Jordan–Worrall was the first child born to Peter Jordan & Donna Jordan (nee Wilson) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on November 12th, 1961.
Much of her childhood was spent in Mississauga, Ontario and Kirkland, Quebec. As a child Laurie developed a gift of nurturing. Especially with children and infants. In her own words “My dreams for my life were traditional and uncomplicated. I would become a nurse like my mom and then a wife and mother.”*
Laurie was not able to excel academically and as a shy person did not have a large circle of friends. She was most comfortable around her family and was a great “big sister’ to her siblings. Laurie also gained a good reputation as the neighbourhood baby sitter.
In 1976 her parents felt led to move out of their comfortable middle class life to join Youth With A Mission (YWAM). So Laurie, with the rest of the family left behind a beautiful house in the Montreal suburb of Kirkland, and traveled to the fledgling YWAM base in Kona, on the island of Hawai’i.
The contrast from their Canadian home to the YWAM accommodation in Hawai’i was stark. Their first lodging was a small motel room not far from the shore. After a short period they were moved to a tent on a farm further inland. Laurie found it particularly hard to adjust to the changes. Much of this part of her life has been recounted in her father’s book “The Last Thing I’d Ever Do!”†
In 1978 Laurie volunteered to join YWAM Mercy Ships and was on the maiden voyage of the then YWAM Mercy Ship MV Anastasis, when the ship traveled from Greece to USA. Laurie did her Discipleship Training School (DTS) on board the vessel during the voyage.
In the years after her DTS, she was an active part of the YWAM base in Kona, Hawai’i. Laurie also worked as a dental assistant for various dentists in the Kona area during this time.
In 1988 Laurie joined her parents, Peter & Donna Jordan in YWAM Associates International, a YWAM ministry primarily focused on YWAM Alumni. This new ministry was initially based in the Vancouver area in British Columbia. In the following years, the ministry relocated to an acreage in the Frasier Valley of British Columbia. Then in 2005 it transplanted to the prairie city of Medicine Hat, Alberta, where is remains to this day.
Laurie’s role in the YWAM Associates ministry was varied. She took care of much of the hospitality needs of the ministry. In addition, She also acted as a personal assistant to her parents ministry as needed. During this time she also developed a ministry of helping children to recognize God’s voice using Brad Jerzak’s book “Children Can You hear me?”‡ as her source material.
YWAM Associates held many “Renewal Camps” in USA and other different countries over the years. In many cases Laurie was the pivotal person in the organization of those camps. In addition, she would quite often lead the children’s part of the camp, helping many children recognize God’s voice. In the later years Laurie stepped out of her comfort zone and took on the management of the financial records for YWAM Associates.
Laurie was very family oriented and became like a second mother to all of her nieces and nephews and she loved them dearly. In many cases she was present for their births and gave them their first bath. She helped coach and encouraged her sisters during their pregnancies and assisted them during the first months as new mothers.
However, as mentioned earlier, Laurie’s dream was to become a wife and mother herself. She never lost hope in this desire and prayed constantly for her future husband and child. Then in January 2005 at a Renewal camp at a campsite near Sydney, Australia, she met Peter Worrall. During the course of 2005, at Laurie’s suggestion, Peter prayed about joining the YWAM Associates ministry.
At the same camp venue during the Renewal camp in January 2006, Peter confirmed that he would be joining the ministry later that year. Laurie and Peter then began to communicate even more regularly. Then, on St Valentine’s Day 2006, Laurie asked Peter via an email “So are you my Valentine?”. This set off a whirlwind romance that culminated in Peter proposing marriage 18 days later via MSN chat.
Laurie and Peter were married on December 9th 2006 at Eagles Nest Ranch in the Cypress Hills, in Alberta, Canada.
Three years later, after a year long journey dealing with the intricacies of international adoption, Laurie and Peter adopted Ruth from Taiwan. The adoption of Ruth was the culmination of a prophecy Laurie received from God nine years earlier, while driving from Mission B.C to the YWAM Associates base in Deroche B.C in the Frasier Valley.
Laurie struggled with her health for many years. In her late teens she developed what would later be diagnosed as Fibromyalgia. Then, in her late 20s she was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s Disease which would necessitate the removal of much of her large intestine.
When she was told at age 44 that she had gone into early menopause, she sharply felt the loss of her dream of motherhood.
In 2008 Laurie underwent a surgical procedure for a Nissen Fundoplication to combat the effects of GERD.
In 2011 she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and then in late 2012, after a routine mammogram was told that she had breast cancer. Following surgery and radiation treatment for the breast cancer, she was told she was cancer free in 2015.
In mid 2019 she developed some unusual symptoms that left her doctors somewhat baffled for a diagnoses. She was eventually referred to a rheumatologist. Following a battery of tests, her rheumatologist referred Laurie for a PET scan at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary.
On August 11th of 2021,Laurie, Ruth and Peter travelled to Calgary, so Laurie could attend the PET scan.
It was in the hotel room in Calgary, when Laurie passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of August 12 2021.
Laurie is remembered by her husband Peter and her daughter Ruth. Her mother Donna and her sisters, Julie and Michele.
Her father Peter, and her brother Peter, predeceased her.
In addition, she is fondly remembered by her much loved nieces and nephews. As well as countless people from all walks of life from many nations.
Laurie touched many lives. Her sense of humour. Her compassionate heart, and care for peoples needs are remembered with gratitude. Her creative touches in her ministry of hospitality were beautiful and unique. Her deep love of Jesus and a desire for others to have that relationship, were a hallmark of Laurie’s life. Her ministry of helping children to recognize God’s voice is one demonstration to that.
Laurie also had an unwavering belief, and trust that God was always working in, and through her life. Her quiet strength and trust, in the midst of a life of unending pain, is a continuing inspiration to many.
‘Let us hold on to the confession of our hope
without wavering, since He who promised is faithful.’
Hebrews 10:23
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
* https://thesheisproject.org/2017/08/he-is-faithful-lauries-story/