Your Hosts
Laurel Nelson, Executive Director
Before Laurel became an ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a calling that originally brought her from Colorado to Western New York, she spent a year with the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer program as a volunteer in Jerusalem. The faith of Palestinian Christians inspired Laurel’s pursuit of ministry. Laurel has continued her interest in humanitarian and environmental issues, loves reading, hiking, swimming in lakes, and learning to identify plants and bird calls. She has taken the Path to Freedom Enneagram course offered by The Enneagram Prison Project, and is considering becoming a certified Enneagram guide.
Rock Castor, Property Manager
Rock did not know what he wanted to do when he graduated from high school. So, he went to Papua New Guinea as a volunteer at age 18. There, he was exposed to simple pole construction, and within six months was writing home, “I’ve figured out what I want to do!”
Since then, Rock has run his own construction business in Western New York (over 35 years!). He supervises the property as well as education component of Lagom Landing with a contagious enthusiasm for the joy that comes from working with his hands. Some of Rock’s other favorite parts of the program are making maple syrup and apple cider. Rock also loves to ski and to play tennis and ping-pong. He serves as the “fun committee” at Lagom Landing.