09/25/2026
Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of following CCU alumnus Payton Storey’s journey as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Indonesia.
In his final reflection, Payton shares that his time in Indonesia was filled with opportunities to help students find their voices through English storytelling, learn Indonesian, experience local traditions, and build meaningful relationships with the teachers, students, and friends who welcomed him into their community.
“I carry Indonesia within my heart.”
Though his Fulbright grant has come to an end, the experience continues to shape the way he lives, teaches, and serves others. Back in Colorado, Payton continues to study Indonesian and maintain the relationships and connections he formed during his time abroad.
Now, Payton is stepping into his next calling as an educator in the Denver area, where he is teaching elementary math and literacy interventions in a special education program.
Payton’s journey reflects how a CCU education prepares students for more than a career. With the foundation he built at CCU, Payton stepped into a new culture ready to serve, learn, build meaningful relationships, and put his gifts into practice. Now, he’s carrying those experiences forward as he continues to follow where God leads him.