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| Welcome to the new reality |
How Fast Things Change
Was it really only a week ago that I didn't have to think twice before I shook someone's hand? Wow! We are living in a crazy time.
You may be wondering - how can you have a Fellows program if you can't get the Fellows together? Well, it hasn't been easy. It has forced us to get creative, but the truth is - you can.
And it's not half-bad.
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| Stopping to smell whatever that beautiful flower is |
In fact, I think our Fellows have faired better than most. Why? Because of the community we already had. We already knew that we would be together on Monday, on Wednesday, on Friday. We knew that we would be connecting with each other, praying for each other, finding ways to have fun together. It's what we do.
In all honesty, it has been one of the sweetest weeks of the year. It hasn't been perfect, and we have had to extend each other a lot of grace. But all in all, we remain connected.
There is uncertainty ahead, but some things are sure - God is good. Jesus loves us. We will remain committed to one another. And we will do out part to be a good kingdom citizen in these times.
I am confident we will look back on this time with sobriety but fondness. For God will meet us in the hardship. He already has. And together, we will get through it.
HIGHLIGHTS
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| Keeping our distance as best we can |
Round Table...Tripp and Patricia Wilson offered us their beautiful backyard for an outdoor, spread-out Round Table Monday night. It was so good to be together even if we couldn't hug or high-five.
Worship was sweet. So was prayer.
We also brainstormed ideas of how we could make our community even better through these trying times. JM particularly challenged us to look and think beyond ourselves and consider the least of these. It was a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this.
We also came up with some creative ways to stay connected. A few of these ideas include:
- Community Buddies - every three days we get a new community buddy that we check in with
- Marco Polo - a video app where you can leave messages for each other.
- Zoom - as it turns out, video meetings are not half-bad.
We have also practiced some social distancing and had some fun along the way.
JM has been helping out at the homeless shelter his parent's run.
All in all - when considering the alternative - isolation and fear - it's good to have each other.
Leader Lunch...Our lunch this week was "with" Drew Gerstmyer on Zoom. There were a few hitches but we had a good time all in all.
Later, Bible Study was also done virtually. It worked great!
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| Haley hosted a girl's Bible Study |
Friday Classes with John Stubblefield and Nigel Alston were both amazing.
Nigel's class was one of the best of the year!
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| Affirmation Brady Bunch Style |
We practiced building social capital by going around and sharing what we Love, Admire, and Respect about each other. It was sooooo good. As Nigel said: "You can take those deposits to the bank!"
Tennis Tourney
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| We were sure to wash our hands!!! |
We had a social distance tennis tourney Sunday.
Jackson and Sophie-Earle took home the set in a comeback for the ages.
THE BIG DAY
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| Virus or not - these two were getting hitched! |
Fellows Alum Trent Hancock and Honorary Fellow Jess Krauss had been planning this day for almost a year, and there was NOTHING that was going to keep them from each other.
As Trent was quoted in the Wall Street Journal - "Dammit. We will get married!"
That's right - the Wall Street Journal picked up the story and interviewed them before the big day.
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| In a stroke of pure genius months ago they had planned an outdoor wedding |
Their guest list dwindled from 115 to family and bridal party.
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| The photographers took their precautions |
We sanitized the heck out of everything and scrubbed down before and afterward.
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| The groom and his men |
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| Trent practices walking down the aisle |
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| Jess was beautiful as always |
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| Trent's mom and boyfriend buried a treasure on the property |
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| So proud of this dude. |
We live streamed the wedding for the folks who couldn't be there.
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| The toasts |
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| First dance |
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| Cutting the cake |
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| Fellows Alum Garrett Briggs was one of the groomsmen |
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| Bryan Pardue was also one |
It was a wedding I will never forget.
But we got them hitched!
We hope to have a huge party for these guys later this summer.
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| a surreal experience |
RECRUITMENT UPDATE
WELCOME CAROLINE WOLFE
There was great news this week: Caroline Wolfe from Samford became the newest member of the 2020-21 Fellows Class.
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| Welcome Caroline! |
Caroline has some Winston-Salem roots. Our own Deanne Trollinger actually introduced her parents to each other! I'm giving credit to her for sending this beautiful woman our way.
Welcome to the Winston-Salem Fellows Caroline!
We will be extending at least one more offer this week.
We need men! I'm working on three at the moment, but they are a little rascally - we are going to need to pray them in.
I'm asking the Lord for 4 more! Join me!
PUERTO RICO!
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| Haley learned about the Coronavirus lockdown while on a mission trip to Puerto Rico with her job |
We were very thankful that she made it home before all the craziness.
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| Futsol for all! |
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| Remember when this kind of picture looked normal? |
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| Waterfall hike with one of her girls |
In other international news, Shannon Rainey's daughter Leslie had a heck of a time getting back from Guatemala - but she was able to arrive in the states over the weekend. Praise the Lord!
TWO GREAT POEMS FOR THESE TIMES
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| this poem was super helpful |
This is from JM's dad...
Quarantine
David R. Dixon
We finally found our reason to stay away.
To keep our distance.
To avert and avoid.
To bypass, elude, give the slip,
steer clear, ditch, step aside,
shirk skip skirt, evade, duck, run
for cover, lay low, dodge,
shun
the weak and the frail, the sick and the
old, the meek, the poor, the dirty and
disgusting, the smelling homeless, the
hungry and thirsty, the leper, the one
who might have HIV (sound familiar?),
those who mourn — even the merciful.
Clever to suggest it’s for their own good.
The pretense of prevention. We’re not in
favor of transmission unless it’s smallpox
and good news, guns and Coors Light,
Marlboros and iPhones, Hollywood and
shopping malls, Coca-Cola and diabetes.
To even say it’s out of love — brilliant!
That our exclusivity (I mean isolation)
hurts us more than it hurts you.
For should you be exposed to the places
we congregate, you might would see
from whom we segregate.
But most of all, truly genius
to say we are the contagious,
to make ourselves
the ones from whom they should
turn aside.
As if they wouldn’t notice
As if they haven’t known
all along
How we are the ones infected.
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| stop and smell the redbuds |
THIS WEEK
Virtual Round Table Monday Night
Virtual Leader Lunch Wednesday with Chris Perry
Virtual Bible Study with the Guys and Gals
Virtual Trivia Night Thursday
Friday - should be beautiful!
Class with Nigel
We will get through this! Yes we will!
MORE PHOTOS
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| spring is still in the air |
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| Trent is with his mom |
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| family hike |
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| dog walking is an acceptable activity |
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| skunk walking not advisable |
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| the man the myth Garrett Briggs |
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| family hike |
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| social distancing |
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| not social distancing |
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| Youth Group activities - being creative |
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| pulling out my old tricks for lunch |
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| tennis everyone? |
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| the man of the moment |
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| gloves advisable |
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| the show must go on |
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| Community buddies |
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| Tennis everyone? |
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| Suspenders are a nice touch |
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| Community Matters - even when it looks different |
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