The year to come! =)

Well the day has finally arrived!! Tonight (in 21 hours...it's 1:00 in the morning....how do you say insomnia?) I start my journey to Madagascar with layovers in London and South Africa along the way. I have spent the last two days in Atlanta, Georgia at AIM's headquarters for my orientation! I have met so many amazing people! In particular my ladies; Allie, Lindsey, Lisa, and Racheal who are all headed to Uganda for the summer! Love you girls and praying for you all! I truly treasure your friendships!

These few days here have been such an encouragement to my soul and a deepening of my relationship with Jesus Christ and an anticipation for my mission!

 I am so excited to see what this year will have in store. I know there will be good days and bad, tears will be shed - happy and sad, laughter will abound, friendships formed, mistakes made, lessons learned, a new language acquired (hopefully :]), learning to teach and to be taught, loneliness, and joy,....and maybe, just maybe some cooking skills??? :)

 And through it all my prayer is that this year would be a year of drawing ever nearer to my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! Oh, this is my desire!! A year of greater hunger for His word. A year where my ultimate goal is for His name to be made great, not my own! A year of a more intimate personal relationship through consistent and constant prayer! A year where His glory is on full display to the Malagasy people. A year of living life that shows the love of Christ to all I encounter! A year where I am used as a vessel by God to bring other sheep into His fold! This is my prayer! I would be so blessed if you would join me in these prayers!

Blessings to you all!

Lauren