Hi blog readers, friends, and family -
My name is Bevi and I am your new favorite Raleigh Fellow! Here are my thoughts and feelings about the first four weeks of being a Raleigh Fellow.
Last week, Ashley (program director) asked us for a word to describe our experience so far & how we are feeling. My word is blessed because that is how I feel! I have felt overwhelmed by this new life - there are a lot of logistics, things to keep track of, and busyness. My body has been adjusting to the transition, I got sick for a while, and I am tired. But I am also overwhelmed by how great it’s been and how many blessings I have received. I feel lucky and privileged to be here in this program and have so many people pouring into me.
Here’s a mini recap of some of the blessings:
Host family: HUGE shoutout to Cathy and Billy Williams for hosting me this year and already loving me so well. I think it was my second day here and they already knew that buying me my favorite foods and treats is how to make me feel seen & loved. I feel so safe & at ease at home, which I do not take for granted. I feel blessed by their hospitality and I am grateful for how they have chosen to both get to know me and share their lives with me. It’s been so fun!
The fellows (my 10 new buddies!):
I’ve seen these blog posts and heard from fellows before about the beginning of the year and how “it’s so crazy how God brings strangers together and they become best friends.” I’m like yeah okay whatever, no way it is that easy, but that’s a nice thing to say.
OKAY well it’s crazy. You put 11 of us in Ashley’s lake house for the first week of fellows and we literally have to be friends. There wasn’t really a choice. The first day of orientation at the church and driving to the lake was exhausting. By the end of the next day, now at the lake, we were comfortable & bonding with each other (it helps when Ashley brings us out on the boat and we sit there for a few hours with nowhere to escape to). By the end of the following day, we were fully teasing & laughing at each other (shoutout Peyton). We are all eager to get to know one another and share life together. We all are trying things we would never have done (watching the summer I turned pretty) so we can love each other well. We’ve celebrated four birthdays! It is so special. And thanks Ashley for being the best at your job and making the group dynamic SO fun.
Over the past few weeks, we have all shared our testimonies and life stories with one another. I’ve been blown away by the fellows and their perspectives on life and faith. It’s been sweet to hear the fellows affirm each other during such a vulnerable moment. God has used these testimonies to teach me 1. How different people and different personalities experience different parts of the Trinity in different ways throughout their lives. I see God as bigger and more vast. What we all have in common is that God has been pursuing each of us in some form for 22+ years and then led us here. 2. As followers of Jesus we are not “protected” from issues/problems/struggles. Somehow it is encouraging to know to not expect life to be easy and hear how other people my age have walked through various things.
My job! I work for the director of student life at a private school called St. David’s. God has given me some unexpected blessings here! First, Hailey (a fellow) works with me which has been so fun - we get to carpool together, eat lunch together, etc. Next, I get free, hot, lunch every day. This is huge - food is my love language and I love how God is providing for me in this way. Lastly, I feel blessed to get to work with my boss Sarah Jane. She is spiritually wise and mature and has such an encouraging perspective on life.
Neighbor to Neighbor! Each week the fellows volunteer as mentors/tutors for underserved kids in downtown Raleigh through a program called Neighbor to Neighbor. I was so excited for this part of Fellows and this hour is genuinely probably my favorite part of each week. I mentor a little girl named Chloe and she is my new best friend!
Hard things & prayer requests
Having lots of headaches from a lingering concussion & trying to figure out how to deal with that in such a crazy transition and busy life.
Fully enjoying the blessings of Fellows means being fully locked in on the community here & I am grieving how other friendships operate differently now. I miss my college friends and our morning hugs and evening meals! And I miss Charlottesville! And I miss my family!
There is so much more to say but this feels good for now. From all of this I just feel “WOW.” I hope you enjoyed!
Love,
Bevi Lundeen