About one year ago next week would mark one year since I met Lauren. Lauren and I met on our spring break trip to Israel. I remember thinking that her and Rebecca were twins because they were both blonde, small and looked so similar. Right away Lauren and Rebecca included me in their two-some. I went on the trip alone and they did not know anyone either. We ate our meals together, sat together on the bus and even walked the streets together that night. By Lauren and Rebecca accepting me, they welcomed me into the trip and made it so much more enjoyable. I will forever be thankful for that. Lauren, Rebecca and I were continuously placed in the same volunteer group throughout the trip and spent every second we could together. When the group moved to Jerusalem, Lauren was one of my two roommates (our other roommate Sara sends her love). The 3 of us had a blast in Israel and loved every second. Lauren is so full of life. She loved Israel and especially spending time with her sister. It is unbelievable to me that so much time has passed. It seems like just yesterday that Lauren and I got our ears pierced together, or celebrated Purim together in Jerusalem. Me, being dark skinned with dark hair and tall, and Lauren who was small with pale skin and blue eyes, we were complete opposites. Yet we were the Laurens of the trip and we constantly had that connection.
I returned from Israel with plans to visit Lauren this year at IU, and meet her in the city that summer. Being from Albany, and Sara from Jersey, the three of us were so excited to meet up again. I have to admit, our trip was only 10 days. But to me that does not really matter. Those 10 days were so much fun and Lauren was a vital part of that. She brightened my strenuous labor, made my meals hysterical, and turned my evenings into a blast of fun. She is in every one of my pictures and I love looking back and seeing the smile on her face. I have continued to follow her story very closely and so have my friends and family.
Spreading the word about Lauren is very important. I will never stop. I will never stop praying. I will never stop loving her. I will never stop posting about Lauren on facebook. I will never stop tweeting about her. I will never stop believing in her. I will never stop, I cannot stop. Lauren is amazing and beautiful inside and out. Lauren will come home. I know she will. She must. I will never stop. No one will ever stop. Because our love for her will never weaken. Our support of you and your family will never falter. The determination to find Lauren is so strong. We will never stop until Lauren is brought home where she belongs.
Thank you for raising such an amazing person who has impacted my life in ways that words cannot describe.
I will love her forever. I will never stop.

Sincerely,
Lauren Kaufman