Gracie Fueston

I moved to Cleveland a year ago without knowing a soul for a job promotion, with hopes of a further promotion in the near future. Shortly after, my brother committed suicide. After walking through almost a month of traumatic experiences, I came back to Cleveland in need of community.

I have been able to find that community through both Journey Church and the Cleveland Hope Exchange. I started attending Journey regularly and a few months later, at the height of anxiety and depression that I had never before experienced, I got involved with a Journey small group that radically changed my life.

Fast forward to the beginning of April, after prayer and confirmation (and more confirmation), I quit my job with no plan B, other than driving for Uber. It was a scary time but I knew I wanted to chase after what my calling was over what was comfortable!

For a few years now, I have felt God telling me to write. I have no experience in writing… in fact, I hated writing papers in school/college and usually procrastinate until the last minute with a grade good enough for passing. However, I have always had an affinity for journaling, watching/writing spoken word/poetry, and believe it or not, was even a part of the OSU Freestyle & Beatbox Club in college.

Then, I heard about Letters of Hope with the Cleveland Hope Exchange where we have the opportunity to write letters of encouragement to strangers across our city! This movement of hope has allowed me to use my gifting of encouraging others in powerful ways. The response from the community has been so exciting. I can’t wait to see this grow to impact more and more lives like it has mine!