Winston-Salem Fellows

Ecuador Update: Part 3 We left Ecuador over a month ago, and as I have been distracted by the return of my normal routines, I am looking forward to reflecting on my experience in Ecuador. For 1 week, I was gifted with a clear vision of who God is and who he calls me to be. Our last day was a final sprint and final deep breath. Some of us began the morning at 4:45 am embarking on the perimeter hike. It was dark, wet, itchy, and for me at least, painful. Watching the sunrise while standing above the clouds and getting to spend time talking to John and Hef while simultaneously trying not to slip and fall off the mountain was exhilarating and delightful. After a breakfast of champions, we were introduced to the grounds crew and split up into groups to help with trail maintenance and construction. I don’t know why anyone trusted me with a machete, but I spent the morning with Steve hacking away at the brush and trying to not kill anybody. Sweaty and tired, we were rejuvenated by lunch and b...

Ecuador Update: Part 2 Our next two days were filled with exposure to many different ministries connected with Education Equals Hope. On Monday morning, we headed to Reypin Habilitareh, a therapy center for kids and young adults with developmental disabilities. Visits to Reypin have been a highlight for many fellows in the past few years, and we were excited to meet the kids and Martha, the driving force of the organization. We received a tour of the classrooms and learned more about Martha’s mission to create a safe and loving environment where students can learn and grow. After talking with Martha, we paired up with the kids and walked to a play area up the street to enjoy some games and dancing in the sunshine. The Reypin staff members prepared activities for the kids and provided endless energy and patience. We enjoyed hearing the laughter of the kids and reflecting the smiles on their faces as we danced to Daddy Yankee songs that are still stuck in our heads. Back at the Youth Wor...

  Ecuador Update- Part 1 Watch Ellen’s video here! Our trip began on February 26. After a long, long day of travel, we arrived in Quito very late on and were greeted with smiles and fresh empanadas by our hosts! On Friday, Jorjito, Jose, and Dianny led us in orientation where we got thinking about our purpose and intentions as missionaries and learned more about Ecuador. Afterwards, we ventured around Quito Old Town where we took turns carrying a massive jug of water, learned about history, and got a glimpse of everyday life in the city. From the subway to the streets, we traveled as locals do and reflected on the cultural differences we noticed. Throughout the day, we were stunned by ornate churches, including the Basilica del Voto Nacional and the Quito Metropolitan Cathedral, and delicious food, like Bolon and fresh juice at lunch! Later, we returned to our hostel where we had an empanada cooking class from a staff member’s mother!   We spent Saturday morning on the bus an...

  We kicked off the month in Ecuador, a trip we’re still processing and can’t wait to share more about. It deserves a post or maybe two all on its own, so stay tuned for that. Above is a photo of our full team finally reunited! And yes, we know the cookie cake raises some questions, we promise we will explain that in a future post too. Once we returned from Ecuador, we settled back into our usual Fellows schedule, finding our rhythm again while making room for a bit of fun along the way. Leader Lunch Our first Leader Lunch after returning from Ecuador was with Phillip Summers at Purple Crow. Phillip has actually spent time living in Ecuador himself, so it was especially fun to swap stories and reflect on shared experiences. We were also joined by Amy Carlan, one of the pastors at First Pres, who shared with us about her doctoral work along with other insights from her ministry. We also had the chance to reconnect with David Speakman, who rescheduled his final class with us on the N...

February is already the shortest month and somehow it felt even shorter for us! Between a few snow-canceled events and gearing up to leave for Ecuador later this week, we've been moving fast and soaking up every moment. And don't miss it - at the end of this update, you'll find exciting life updates from our sixth class of Winston Salem Fellows! Leader Lunch What a gift it continues to be to sit across the table from remarkable leaders in our city. This month we kicked things off with Lynn Barclay Brewer, who has faithfully served with Young Life in multiple roles  locally, regionally, and nationally. Then, we had time with Laura Tassan, who is the Owner/Operator of Chic-fil-A Thruway. Both of these women have a passion for Jesus, young adults, and strong leadership.  We also had the joy of spending time with Bo and Kathy Brookby. Their story is marked by faith, humility, and a lifetime of and service. What incredible honor it is to learn life lessons from all of these indi...

  This month has felt pretty long with all the ice and snow we've had here in North Carolina. However, despite the weather, we've been able to get quite a bit in! Also, at the end we have an entire class update from the class of 2020-2021! Leader Lunch Every month I'm so humbled by the incredible leaders that spend time to speak to the Fellows and this month was no different! First, we met with Jon Musser with  World Relief Triad . Then we were honored to meet with Dr. Tony Atala and took a tour of the  Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Testimony Retreat  Every year we sneak away to the beach for a change of scenery and the chance to share our stories with one other in ways that many of us have not in the past. It's beautiful, difficult and healing. Fellows served up some delicious dinners and many games were played.  Bible Study and Pickle Ball One of our weekly rhythms is Bible Study. This year we are going through the Gospel of Mark. The Rainey...