Ned Erickson: UPDATE Week of November 6

It is November and we are still eating ice cream outside in t-shirts and shorts! I can't decide whether that is something to celebrate or freak out about. Could it be both?

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK

Monday - We celebrated Halloween a day early with host family extraordinaire Terry and Jessica Phipps. They used the occasion of Round Table to invite friends, make an outdoor fire, show an outdoor movie, pop popcorn in one of those popcorn popping machines, and wear costumes!

Grace with host family Jon and Holly

Grace came dressed in a smore's costume with her host family the Browers. They are extraordinary as well.

Ashley came straight from work. Morgan came as her identical twin. Natalie came as Santa Claus's daughter.

I came as a perfectly politically appropriate Mexican. Abbey was a lion.

The extra special surprise was that my parents joined us. The Fellows used the occasion to get some dirt on their director. My parents were most eagerly willing to dish.

Rich and Renee (Pops and Mom) with Lia at her new clinic

Tuesday was actual Halloween.

I ran games for Anna Rose's fifth graders. It was a little crazy.

OK. A lot crazy...

Anna Rose didn't seem to mind

Wednesday's Leader Lunch was out of this world! Cynthia Tessien is truly, how you say, the bomb.com

I spent half the class worried Cynthia was going to have an accident - but then I realized...this woman is a pro

Cynthia easily tied for first place with all our other leader lunch speakers. What an amazing woman with an amazing story with a passion for people just like the Fellows. All of that came through - and more.

Thank you Cynthia. You almost make me want to study accounting.

Cynthia blends right in with these guys

Later that afternoon we traveled to G.I.D.E.

Patrick and Tucker giving pointers

Bill and Ron taught on Fatherlessness among the poor. It was truly eye-opening. And compelling.

Bill also pointed me to the Winston-Salem Chronicle: Look who made the paper!!!

CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE ARTICLE

Speaking of links...

I promised my friend Betty Ann Faulkner to share a link to her fundraiser this week. Here is is!

There's Betty Ann with last year's fellows

CHAMPION YOUTH FINANCIAL FUTURES FUNDRAISING EVENT

Micah 6:8 Fellows Eastern Regional Conference

Friday through Sunday, the Fellows journeyed to Oak Summit near Oxford, North Carolina. The weather wasn't the best, but still fun was had by all.

Tate - rock paper scissoring with another fellow

John Richmond, the President of the Human Trafficking Institute was our keynote speaker again this year. He continued to bring the heat.

We however fizzled pretty hard on the ultimate frisbee field. Sad to say, we did not bring back to the trophy to the Dash.

look how sad we are

Seriously, we are so sad

Psyche - we weren't sad at all. The early exit gave us optimal free time! woo hoo!

I enjoyed being with my fellow Fellows Directors and meeting their cohorts. It is wonderful to remember that you are part of something bigger than yourself.

Plus we had a lot of fun. Here is JP winning the all camp Gorilla Man Gun competition...

My falsetto voice is SOOOO ANNOYING!!!

That night we had a "talent show" (there was some honest talent). We originally planned on a skit that involved dancing.

But this is what we had to work with...

So we went another direction, and by the reviews of the other programs - we nailed it.

Here are some more photos from the weekend.

MORE HIGHLIGHTS!

Tate Heisler ran a half marathon on Sunday!

Tate and his old housemate Brant

Hunter Lambeth sent me this email and photo:

"Today was really special. Visited the leaders of the new club in Aboud. Lots of time in the car with Yousef. Then visits with people we are working with in Jericho to get the new special needs club on solid ground. Was a great day, but the entire day was completely stolen by one moment; when we went to the home of "Sauson"

"Sauson" and me last May

She lives in one of the old run down refugee apartment outposts in Jericho. Felt like we were in the Dominican or Nicaragua. I only wish we could have filmed the moment we arrived. She ran out in barefoot, shaking, her body almost convulsing with joy. I'm glad it was a little dark because I immediately had teary eyes. She insisted we come in, meet her mother and sisters and of course have Arabic coffee. Her father left the family some time ago and remarried in Jordan. But God seems to be watching over the family. It was by far the highlight of the day. Here is a somewhat fuzzy picture. I gave her greetings from my wife and from Ned.

Another hilarious moment:

Dear friend Katie Whitworth asked if her daughter Francis (just finished 5th in the state in cross country 18:22 - BLAM!!!) could photo some of our fellows for a project for school. JP and Caleb stepped up.