UPDATE Week of Aug 24

So it begins!

Hi Lo Buffalo!

During Orientation, we were sharing ideas about how we can enhance our Fellows year. The list was long and exciting.

Caroline Wolfe shared about a tradition she had with friends where they would go around the table and share their High for the day. Their Low for the day. And their Buffalo. 

We typically do Rose, Bud, Thorn at our house - which one of our Fellows from last year Mattie inspired us to do. Rose was your high. Thorn was your low. Bud was something you were looking forward to. 

But I've never heard of Buffalo. Caroline explained that a Buffalo was something random or interesting that happened. 

Last night, we tried it at home. It was great!

Thought I'd pass it on. 

Plus...

As you read this UPDATE you will definitely see some High Lows and Buffaloes. 

It has been a week!

MOVE IN

Emily Sandstedt and her family

AJ Britton and his Brother and their gals

A home of their own

The verse for our house

Welcome Luncheon

UNDISCLOSED OFF SIGHT ORIENTATION LOCATION

David and I enjoy a quiet meal by the water

Hayes and I got some nibbles but no bites

We went over every word in the Fellows Handbook. Hef did a great job. 

Caroline was a champ

Worship even with masks was soooo good. 

Hayes and I enjoying the sun

Bailey taught David how to cook bacon

Meghan spends time in the Word

Sam is all in

We went for a hike on Thursday afternoon at Lake Norman State Park. 

Orientation is one of my favorite times of the year. It is almost magical watching Fellows go from absolute strangers to close friends. 

During our time together, we spend time getting to know each other, we share the vision for the year (and really for your life!), we discuss our summer reading assignments, we go over the Handbook, we play games, we laugh a whole lot, and we worship together. 

We make a commitment to each other. And we mark the moment with communion and prayer. 

It is truly incredible. 

THE LOW

This is a very long story, and there are a whole lot more details than I have time to share here, but the long and the short of it is that we discovered on Thursday that one of our Fellows tested positive for Covid. 

The only symptom she had was a runny nose. Nevertheless, thankfully she told us about it and thankfully we decided to get her tested prior to joining us just to be safe. 

Thank God we did. Had we not, we would have all been exposed. 

More great news. The young woman is basically symptom free. She is in quarantine now and will be able to rejoin us once it is over. 

However, we are not out of the woods. Although we had her travel separately and had her stay in a room and bathroom to herself, and we were masked while we were inside and she did her best to keep distance from us at all times, there is a chance that she may have passed on the virus to another person. 

And as you can see by these pictures, there were plenty of opportunities for germs to be spread. 

The moment we learned of the result, the young woman isolated herself. After dinner, we sent her to quarantine. She joined us via FaceTime and she has had an extraordinary attitude. 

But it is hard!

But it has also been absolutely amazing to watch how this trial has brought us together as a group. The willingness to step up and sacrifice for each other has been mind blowing. 

I tear up just thinking about it. 

There is so much more to write. 

Thankfully, we have Dr. Travis Howell who has been on speed dial every step of the way. Lia of course is also involved. Even Pam Oliver (the President of Novant) has been troubleshooting for us. 

Here is the reality:

Our Fellows will continue to mask, wash, and monitor symptoms all week. As a group we will be getting tested on Wednesday, and we will just have to wait and see about the results. 

We have a plan if results are negative. 

We have a plan if a test comes back positive. 

There is no plan that consists of not doing the Fellows. 

The next few weeks, however, may be some of the most challenging of our lives. So please keep us in your prayers. We need them. All of them!

Dinner Saturday night

One day we will get to see each other's teeth

Working together

Bryn brings the sunshine even to kitchen clean up

Caroline eats the first meal on "The Whale" the Fellows new 16 person table!

The Boys

PRAYERS AND NEEDS

Pray that our Fellow fully heals from Covid and doesn't go crazy during quarantine

Pray that the rest of us test negative

Pray that we keep up supernaturally high spirits if we do test positive

Pray for smooth sailing after we get through this bumpy start

If we test positive, we will seriously need the community's help

Food

Mental Wellness

Physical Wellness

Emotional Wellness

Books to Read

Things to be Cleaned

Among other things

Pray also for understanding with 

Employers

Churches

Mentors 

Families

Pray for wisdom for the Directors

Pray for Unity among all of us

Pray for ways you can help

If you want to join the support team - 

email winstonsalemfellows@gmail.com

THANK YOU!

BUFFALO

Tyler and Caroline are in the Davidson Journal

Haley Westervelt officially joined Salem Presbyterian last Sunday

Lia's zinnias are blooming like crazy

so beautiful

This is the oven - the literal oven - that started my relationship with Lia

This is the picture of the two of us on August 19, 2000 on our wedding day

Yes, the first day of the program was on our 20th Anniversary. Not exactly the best timing on my part. 

David eats Mellie, who grew in our garden this summer

 MORE PHOTOS

We celebrated Lia's birthday on Tuesday

The masked Fellows

The Fellows unmasked

Our Home and our new friends

Bryn and Owen gives this year a thumbs up

Jousting on the water

my dude

I love these guys

Hayes getting seconds of Breakfast for Dinner

Bailey and Tori testing out the tubes

thank you Ickes family

me and David

Hi Ho Here We Go!

Thanks for taking this journey with us. Keep sharing the story and spreading the love.