Background
I was born and raised in Carol Stream, Illinois. I attended Wheaton Academy for High School, which is where my relationship with LeaderTreks began. While I was in High School I went on several trips with LeaderTreks that had a profound impact on my life. Throughout college I spent my summers interning with LeaderTreks and working with students from all over the country. Each summer my passion for the mission of LeaderTreks and working with students grew. In May of 2004, after graduation from Huntington College with a Bachelors degree in Oral Communication and a minor in Spanish, I joined the LeaderTreks full-time staff.

How did you become a Christian?
I grew up in a Christian home and was lead to know the Lord at a very young age. As a seventh grader I rededicated my life to Christ and began the process of making my faith my own. Since then God has stretched me and grown me in my relationship with Him. He has sent many people in my life to challenge me, tell me hard truths, and keep me accountable for my growth. God has been faithful to me as I have grown in Him.

What is a leadership lesson you have learned while serving at LeaderTreks?
I am a very mission minded person, as well as people oriented. Sometimes I can focus too much time on one or the other. At LeaderTreks I have come to understand the idea of Mission First, People Always. We as Christians have been called to a very large mission and need to be constantly striving to fulfill it. But as 1 Corinthians 13 says if we have no love we are like a clanging symbol. If we don’t care for and love our teammates and those on the mission with us, what use is it to strive to fulfill our mission? People are a part of the mission. 

What is one of your gifts and how do you use it?
My Leadership Type is a Relater.  I love building a team by helping students learn to relate with one another. I love spending time getting to know students and co-workers. Maybe that is why I work in Human Resources.

Who is one student that you have seen grow as a leader?
Michelle was a girl I had on a trip in Honduras a couple of years ago. As I sat on the plane ride home talking with Michelle I saw a girl who came across as a bold, powerful, respected leader. It made me think back to who Michelle was at the beginning of the trip. She was not confident enough to speak up, unsure of what she had to offer but willing to be taught and grow. Throughout the trip Michelle began to see how God had gifted her and, through a trial of spraining her ankle, she became an inspiration to her entire team and successfully led our team to accomplish our goals. She came back the following year to be a student leader on a trip to Costa Rica. 

Family
I am at the beginning of starting a new family. Matt Soules and I will be married on December 1, 2007. I am looking forward to working alongside my husband as we both strive to accomplish the same mission.

Personal Blog
http://whatsuplauren.blogspot.com