Trusting in the Lord’s Plan
The Fellows has been a phenomenal experience for me thus far. Coming into the Fellows program, I was very unsure of what it was going to be like and if I was actually going to enjoy it. I knew that this would be somewhat out of my comfort zone, as I hadn’t taken huge steps like this to grow in my faith before, but also because I am Catholic, and many of the members of the Fellows and Fellows associates are not.
I knew, when I signed up for the Fellows, that it would be different because of this, but I wanted to expand my comfort zone and continue to grow in my relationship with the Lord. I knew there were many uncertainties coming into these nine months, a big one being where you will be working and who your host family will be. I was not exactly sure of what the process was like, but I knew they would be associated with the church I was partnered with- St. George's. I had confirmed that I would be a Fellow in February and then finished all the application stuff by mid-March. I knew I would not find out where I would be working or living for a little while, so I decided not to let it bother me and trusted in God that he would provide the right path for me.
Time goes on. A month passes. A couple of months pass. My parents started to get more worried about this than they already were about me setting out to do the Fellows instead of going and getting a job right away. But I knew that the Lord had a plan for me. Time continued to pass by. I'm getting more and more worried. I started asking myself, “Will I actually have a job when I get there? Will I be living in a hotel or an apartment? Should I start planning for that?” all the time. But I held onto my faith in the Lord's plan and knew that everything would work out.
The summer passes, and I am back home from camp, packing up for Nashville, but still wondering what I’ll be doing. And then out of nowhere, I get a call from John- maybe a week before I am supposed to come to Nashville, telling me that they have found an opportunity for me at Lee Company. I was super excited that I could finally see some sort of plan coming together. We set up an interview and talked with them the next day, and this incited my drive to work and my excitement to be in Nashville. Though I still did not know where I would be living or who I would be living with.
Then, three days before I am supposed to move up to Nashville, I get another call from John. This time, he is calling to tell me they have found me a host family, Ed and Molly Powell. I could not believe what I was hearing. All of the stress just fell from my shoulders. And then John started telling me about them. Everything they have done for the Fellows in the past, how intelligent they are, how much he respects them, and that they are also Catholic! I was not expecting this at all, and it made me much less worried about my time here in Nashville.
As it turns out, the Powells have been the biggest blessing to me and my time here in Nashville. They have been nothing but welcoming in opening their doors to share their home and lives with me. I have gotten to meet all of their fabulous children, grandchildren, and grand-doggies, and it has truly made me feel like a part of their family. I also deeply enjoy each and every one of the conversations I get to have with them. The wisdom that I have received from the two of them is something that I will hold onto and use for the rest of my life. I have no idea how this experience would have been so far, or if I would have had as much enjoyment out of it had the Powells not opened their doors up to me.
I am so beyond thankful for the Powells' generosity, but also the Lord's path for me. My time in the Fellows has shown me that I need to trust in the Lord's plan for me, even when I start to have my doubts. I pray that I am able to continue down this path and that the rest of my time in the Fellows will be as fruitful for all of us who get to be a part of this program.
Jake Highfield, Class 13
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Clemson University Graduate
