SOS Family Album: Emily McDonald Serrano
Gather ‘round, SOS family! We’re pulling out a few pages of the family photo album.
We love good stories. And old pictures. And timeless lessons and encouragements and reasons for hope. Who better to share all of those things than some of the SOS alumni family?
And without further ado, the camper turned Leadership Summit-er turned adult leader turned team leader turned Memphis resident and educator that we all love…
Emily (McDonald) Serrano
Camper (‘13, ‘14, ‘16, ‘17), Leadership Summit (‘17), Adult Leader (‘18), Team Leader (‘19)
That’s a lot of shingles, people! Here’s a look:
“Central BBQ
Memphis Pizza Cafe
Service Over Self
Memphis Teacher Residency
Carpenter Art Garden
Memphis River Parks
Mud Island River Park”
“Where do I even begin?
Not only has SOS been integral in shaping who I am as a believer and servant for Christ, it has had a huge impact on where I am today. I got closer to friends from home while we spent a week on a hot roof, I made some new and cherished friends at SOS, I met my husband at SOS and I am now a proud Memphian because I fell in love with Memphis through SOS.”
“How to serve others with a Christ-like attitude,
humility, and the knowledge that I too am
poor and lacking in certain areas of my own life.”
“I am currently a resident at Memphis Teacher Residency working towards my Masters of Urban Education while virtually teaching first grade with my mentor teacher at W.H. Brewster Elementary School. My husband and I (plus our dog, Finn) currently live in Crosstown Concourse but in May I will graduate with my Masters and we will move into a home in Binghampton, Orange Mound, or one of the other beloved Memphis neighborhoods. I am so excited to serve the families of the neighborhoods I spent so many summers serving with SOS as I teach and live in one of the neighborhoods.”
“Lord, this year has been anything but normal- yet I see you at work in this city. I pray specifically for the SOS family as we move forward in uncertain times. May you bless us in whatever we may be doing. May you guide us toward supporting, loving, and serving the cities and communities we are in right now. We trust you will continue to work through us whether that be a week on a Memphis homeowner partner’s roof this coming summer, or serving those around us at home. May we be filled with your abounding love and grace today and every day. Amen.”
Check out Memphis Teacher Residency!