Hello Everyone!! I can’t believe this day has finally come. I made it to Atlanta for World Race Training Camp. I left early Saturday morning on a 5am flight leaving Spokane to Seattle and soon after hopped on the plane for Atlanta. I met 1 girl from Spokane who is not only on my squad (group of 34) but also my team (6 of us). I’m so beyond excited to get to know her and bond over our home city. On our Atlanta flight we also met 3 other people who were heading to training camp so that was very cool to meet them and find our way around the airport together. Once we made it to the hotel where check in was, got to meet all these people that I have only ever seen on a screen. Besides the few that I previously met in Colorado back in June who I was so happy to hug again. One thing that brought me so much joy and excitement was the idea that some of these people will become some of my best friends by the end of these 9 months. That we will get to know each other on such a deep level and learn to rely on one another when we need help. Friendships that are routed in the Lord, and built around similar goals. I know very close to nothing about these people and the same for them with me so we will get to know each other’s true, authentic selves. There are no preconceived notion’s about one another or knowing them because they are “John’s sister” or “Susan’s son” we get to be ourselves and the person God has called us and created us to be. That brings me great joy. Although I will miss my friends and family (and those reading this) dearly, I have peace that this is where God wants me to be and will use me. We can’t let fear, sadness, or comfortability hold us back from the amazing things this life has to offer. So I challenge you, if you are a friend of mine who is starting freshman year of college, put yourself out there, leave your comfort zone, make good friends. If you are an adult back home, look for ways to best serve your community, bring somebody joy even if it may seem like a small burden for you. Leave what makes you comfortable and you will have experiences that you could of never even dreamt of. One last thing for those at home, although you probably hear this often (and adults you may even tell your kids this) treat people the way that you want to be treated. If you are sitting there thinking “hmmm it would be nice if someone dropped me off some flowers right now because I’m feeling down” go bring someone else flowers. Or if you need an encouraging text message, send someone else one.  It might now provide you with exactly what you need but sometimes it does. Sometimes it fills you up in ways you couldn’t imagine. Wow that was a wild tangent but I hope you can all try to live that out in one way or another. (comment down below ways that you could do this for those around you) 

Thank you for all of your support that has gotten me here. I love you and wanted to let you know that I am doing great. Prayers appreciated for me and my whole group. 

With Love, Lauren