UPDATE - Week of December 11

Natalie and host family brother, Hank, wishing you Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays

Apologies not getting this out yesterday. My day got away from me...I will explain farther down this blog post. 

WHAT!!! IT SNOWED? 

That was sure unexpected. 

What wasn't was another exciting week in Fellows world, which is a lot like regular world but with Fellows in it. 

ROUND TABLE

Julie Bell went solo host for Round Table. 

Julie didn't wear a tacky sweater but she did make the world's greatest pot of chili

We were sad to miss dinner with Dudley, but we did the best we could without him. 

I love long tables with friends all around

We learned about Bell family traditions like the candle of togetherness and the ornament shrapnel baggie.

Ashley was pretty fired up about her Tacky Sweater at Round Table

So was Sarah

There was lots of love going on the couch

Like I said. Lots of Love

Of all the Fellows, Tucker was probably the most excited about the White Elephant portion of the night. He ended up with a poop emoji hair band. 

So excited about the poop emoji

Abbey was pretty fired up about her bacon ornament

Morgan gave the night a sideways two

LEADER LUNCH

Melissa Perrell and the Fellows

Melissa Perrell, Patient Advocacy Officer with Novant Health, provided us with one of the best Leader Lunches yet.

Abbey Sams works with her and it was an added bonus for Abbey to show us around her workplace. Melissa, for her part, was everything I have come to expect from her: strong, passionate, wise, vulnerable, and inspirational.

THANK YOU MELISSA!!! You rock!!!

EUDAIMONIA INSTITUTE

Thanks to Wake Forest's Eudaimonia Institute (eudaimonia means "human flourishing") the Fellows had the opportunity to hear from Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus. 

Yunus is the man

Our professor, Dr Jack Wilkerson, had taught us about him a few weeks ago. Little did we know at the time we were going to meet the man!!!

Grace making friends prior to the lecture

Muhammad Yunus has such a beautiful way of observation and simple problem solving that blows me away.

All of us left inspired!

FINISHING WELL

Speaking of Dr. Jack Wilkerson.

Friday we finished up both Jack's class and Clay's class.

(Picture fail)

We did write our professors letters...

This was Jack's beautiful response: "Okay, if your goal was to make this old man cry with what you wrote, then I’d say, “Mission well and truly accomplished!”

In all seriousness (as if what I just wrote wasn’t serious), thanks so much for the kind words each of you wrote. I hope you could tell that I enjoyed our time together this semester every bit as much as you did.

I wish you an excellent holiday and a thoroughly enjoyable and productive spring semester." 

Clay wrote me: "Hey man thanks so much for organizing all the Fellows to write me thank you messages [by the way - the Fellows organized this - I did nothing except turn my portion in late]. Very kind. Too kind. And loved your Augustine quote."

Thank you Jack and Clay! I'm sure other Fellows programs have great professors - but they aren't better than you two!

Looking forward:

I just sat down (actually we walked) with our first professor of the Spring.

Joe Moore, Director of Spiritual Formation for Intervarsity International, will be teaching us Spiritual Formation. If his class is half as good as what we talked about on our walk - we are in for a treat!

Rob Alexander, author of Gospel Centered Life at Work, will be our other professor kicking off the Spring. He will be teaching us about the Theology of Work.

As you can see, we will not be hurting for quality learning.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

JANUARY 27 - Redeemer Presbyterian Church 9-1pm

ENNEAGRAM SYMPOSIUM hosted by the Winston-Salem Fellows, featuring Fil Anderson. 

Have you been hearing all the chatter about the Enneagram lately? Have you been wondering what it is all about? Have you been told what your number is but left confused not knowing exactly what to do with it?

Well, Fil is coming to help.

The Enneagram is one of the most insightful avenues into self-awareness out there. It is also one of the most unhelpful when you don't understand its purpose and context.

If that is you - this symposium will help you.

Details to come! Can't wait!

a few more items:

GIVING

Thank you for supporting the Fellows! We can't do any of this without your generosity.

If you were waiting for the right time to give - this is it!

write checks to: Winston-Salem Fellows

send to: 851 W. 5th St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101

or go online: wsfellows.com/give

It's easy and you can even set up monthly donations!

Also, if your company offers matching gifts - let us know and we will fill out the paper work!!! Woo-Hoo!


WHEELS COMING OFF

The Ericksons need prayer.

I had a great marathon. Thanks for praying. I was hacking up phlegm throughout but managed to reach my goal of qualifying for Boston with a 3:06:16 time. Praise the Lord!

I was running really well until about mile 20 and then the wheels started coming off. My calves started cramping and I had to tone it down or they were going to lock up.

It was a good metaphor for life back home.

Please pray for the Ericksons:
- Ned's car key fell off his key chain somewhere on Winston-Salem State's campus yesterday!!! Yikes!
- Wilbur the guinea pig has some jacked up teeth that will prevent him from eating if not dealt with!!! Yikes!
- Then, the HEAT STOPPED WORKING last night. Lia texted me during Round Table. All I could do is write "That Stinks"

We have a guy coming to fix it this evening. I was planning on going to Samaritan Inn tonight anyway to spend the night. I guess if he can't fix it, I'll just bring everybody!!!

LET'S CELEBRATE THE SNOW!!!

Ashley was there somewhere. Do you think they covered her in snow?

The female Fellows had a sleepover Friday night.

The making of a snowman

Grace had never made a gingerbread house before

Putting on the final touches

There's Ashley!

The kids played too

There he is

Anna Rose makes snowman building an artform

I got home on Sunday in time to drive up to the mountains to cut down a tree. It was pure Griswald with the snow. We cut down a nice 20 footer then brought 11.5 feet of it back home.

Little Full. Lots sap.

This is so hilarious to me

We cut it down to size and now it only takes up a quarter of the living room.

Fortunately, our house is so cold, the tree feels right at home.

David thought that last joke was only mildly amusing.

 THANKS ALL!

Looking Forward:

Round Table - Christmas Party 2 of 3 at the Wilsons. 
Leader Lunch with Dr. Nathan Hatch. 

Meeting today with Chancellor Elwood Robinson. This is important. Pray!

KEEP SHARING THE STORY AND SPREADING THE LOVE!