first full week on project

time has FLOWN by!!

i've now been on project for officially a week and God has taught me soooooo much!!

lets start off with the basics. God has been planning everything for a reason and for a while. the people on project are amazing. the directors(HEAD PEEPS IN CHARGE) are legit. their names are chad and mk. then there are some staff and student staff that lead our small groups and really help us in our personal walks with the lord(leading our small group bible studies along with one on one discipleship). my discipler and leader is named cayli. she is soooo precious and wise. she is 25, currently on staff as a women's leader at the university of tennessee.

then there are the actual students on project. everyone is sooooo nice and just willing to be friendly all the time. idk, i just love everyone already. we've done alot of get to know you games/activities like a scavenger hunt in downtown charleston, ice cream social, hanging out by the pool, eating in the hospitality suite(basically a room devoted to food/appliances/storage etc), prayer walking/evangelizing on the beach, participating(TEAM #1**AKA MY TEAM** WON) in a field day challenge/events, and just hanging out like all the time!

its been a blast getting to know everyone, especially my roommates robin, bailee, and abby. i just love spending time in our room; talking, laughing, dancing, singing ay bay bay(BAILEE'S NICKNAME/SONG), snacking, decorating our room, cuddling, sharing what the Lord is doing, learning weird habits, and just being together in such a small space.

i've also become pretty close with my discipleship group led by cayli, which members include robin(also my roommate/bed buddy), anna, courtneigh, and leslie. we all have such good conversations about what God brought us through in the past, what God is teaching us in our present, and what we want to do for God in our future. seriously, our dgroup is LEGIT and i love having dinner with them once a week!!

the community being built is amazing. God has been constructing these friendships, connections, and other crazy bits for a while, and its sooo much fun to see how he has coordinated/accomplished all of it towards this summer project.

i've currently worked at mcdonalds for a total of 3 days.
i work with one other student on project: his name is hunter. he's the class clown/loud kid everyone is friends with! its pretty fun driving with him to work everyday, and there are always good stories to tell!!

my manager and coworkers are sooooo patient. i love them already!

the last three days i was placed on the front register. i was basically fed to the wolves if you will.. but finally understand how to take someone's order, make any dessert, drink, or serve a meal to the customer's content.

my first day was really hard. it was difficult adjusting to taking people's orders and learning how to use their system. but currently on my third day(today) i got it!!!!

again i cannot say how patient and sweet my coworkers and manager are... God really is looking out for me as i learn new skills in order to glorify him in my workplace.

as for details in working mcdonalds, i honestly don't know what to say. its a humbling experiance but such a good mission field, that i feel honored God opened a position for me to take at such a good establishment(im not just saying that!!)

soooo basically my weekly schedule is like this if you really want some good solid details:

every week day is as follows:
7:30am wakeup, breakfast, quiet time with the Lord, get ready for work
10:30am leave for work with hunter
11am-5pm working at mcdonalds(usually lunch break is at 2pm after lunch rush)
5ish pm head back to hotel and relax for a bit

monday nights = project dinner(everyone on summer project gets together for dinner at our hotel's conference room)
tuesday nights = d-group dinner and bible study
wednesday nights = dinner on our on(usually a pb&j or microwaveable meal), team meetings(i am on the community team and help plan social events etc = help bring community) and THEN reflection time(time with God reflecting)
thursday nights = weekly cru meeting at college of charleston(praise&worship and a speaker)
friday nights = off(FREE TIMEEEEEEEE)

saturdays we have outreach in the morning and afternoons
outreach is usually beach evangelism or dream center(local church outreach with a clinic, air conditioned area to play games, bball, etc to underprivileged inner city kids)
sat night = social events(im on the community team, where we plan certain activities such as rollerblading with crazy clothing, dance parties, banquets, scavenger hunts etc)

sunday
attend redeemer presb. church in downtown charleston
afternoons are "off"/free time but another student named Chase and I were "adopted" by the pastor's family for the summer. sooo we basically go over to their house in the afternoon to do laundry, hang out with their family, and just spend time with them! the bailey family is soooo sweet and nice and i love the parents already. they are just so welcoming :) i they're like my family away from my family. and chase is a pretty cool bro.. he's teaching me how to drive his stick shift truck named jenny(FORREST GUMP).


anywaysssssssss i know that was long, but i hope i was able to give y'all a glimpse of what i've been up to in charleston so farrrr. God is moving here. I've been slowly growing closer to a few coworkers along with evangelizing on the beach this past saturday and God is really showing me how to talk to others about Christ(relationally and intentionally).

I can't wait to see what he's got in store for the rest of the summer, the rest of my life, and the lives of those that are radically changed because of their realization of God's undying and never ceasing love for them. seriously, i CANNOT WAIT to see what God's will is one day and look back and say Lord, you were amazing back there, and you're amazing now, and you will continue to be AMAZING(oranother GREAT adjective) forever and ever and ever and ever into the future!

some scripture i'd really love to share includes:
1 peter 1:13
philippians 2:4
1 thessaloninans 2:8
AND philippians 4:12-13

THANKS again for reading and come again :))))

ANDDDDDD if you're in charleston at all this summer, please call me and we can try and meet up or you can come visit me at my mcdonalds (on montague in North Charleston near the airport and interstate 26!) I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUUUUUUUU!


OKAY i need to go to bed like now.. so tired :(

please continue to pray for God to work in lives specifically those i am working with! i already love them so much and want them to know our creator, Lord and Savior!!

okay i love you for stickin' with me! GOODNIGHT

-kwhite

charming charleston

finally project has started! im continuously meeting and getting to know the other 49 students who are in the same boat i am. friendships are definitely forming, and all due to the Lord!!

only two days in and my roommates and my discipleship group have grown amazingly close.

yesterday and today we've done orientation type meetings along with get to know you games, dinners, and scavenger hunts around the city!!

it has been so funnnnnnnnn

God really is teaching me a lot so far, and really helping me let go of certain aspects of my life.

today i also found out the location of the mcdonalds i'll be working at and my future cru coworker. he might read this later on.. nothing bad to say, but boy God will need to help me out! just from the few conversations and interactions of meeting hunter, he is one crazy, upbeat guy! his good friend is my roommate so she can't stop talking about how great and funny he is. so thats comforting.
-he just seems very extroverted, which i can be too, but def in a different way. can't wait to see how God teaches us both at the mcdonalds we work at together!!

its honestly just mind blowing how our days are packed, yet God allows everything to happen in perfect timing!!

anyways i wanted to give y'all a brief update of my first two days!

its honestly been nerve racking because i didnt know anyone just yesterday morning, but now i know a good majority of the people here and recognize every face!! its crazy to see how God has brought us all together!!!!!!!

anywayyyyys please keep praying for the influence we have in charleston, in our homes/friends, influences around the world, and just God's will in everything!!

tomorrow 30 of us will be going to mcdonalds orientation and then begin work on friday! AHH so excited and nervous and so many other emotions!!

again i absolutely love my roommates robin, bailee, and abby!! seriously they are sooo sweet and filled up with God's love!!!! yay! :)

GOODNIGHT ALL !!!

low country love

summer project starts tomorrow! seeing as i wanted to come down a little early to get the feel of my future home, my mom and i flew in saturday may 21 finally!




we have:

-walked around george washington park(dedicated to george and the confederate soldiers)

-attended a service at st. michaels episcopal church(one of the oldest churches in america; george washington, robert e lee, and rutledge all attended)

-toured drayton hall(very old plantation house that had not been burnt down in the fire of 1861 or vandalized = completely the same as when it was first built in the 1700s along the ashley river.. no air conditioning or electricity either)

-visited the isle of palms(beach resort area about 30 min from charleston.. walked along the beach. very picturesque)

-took a tour to fort sumter(first firings of the civil war were shot here! i was SO excited for this and it didn't disappoint! we also saw dolphins while boating back to the harbor)

-carriage ride through historic downtown(amazing stories behind almost every building!! very beautiful restorations to all the houses! great oral history lesson given by the amazing guide aboard the palmetto carriage company!)

-cooking lesson/class at the charleston cooks kitchen(we made pecan encrusted catfish, potato/pepper hash, and a cupcake sized coconut cream pie **pie was delicious and oh so cute)



all these things have been fun and frivolous. i totally enjoyed the tourism aspect of charleston thus far, but i have talked to several workers(drayton hall and fort sumter tour guides) in depth, and i can really tell God needs to revive this city.



charleston was once known as the holy city in america. on almost every street there are vacant church buildings or they are being used for other purposes than to further God's kingdom. I know the group I am apart of cannot change the entire city, but I know God can. He can and hopefully will use the influence those I and my fellow projectors work with along with the outreach we do. with God all things are possible.


again, to reiterate, i have enjoyed the site seeing and cultural observations i have been able to have had these last few days, but i am ready to officially start our mission project tomorrow afternoon! i am so excited to finally meet and start to get to know all the other college students and leaders involved on project. i'm excited to see what God's will for charleston is this summer.

please continue to pray for charleston, revival in our nation(with help from churches, other college students/ministries, radical christians etc), God's will around the world(for his name to be preached to all nations and for safe travel for those taking it!)

thanks again for staying with me on this somewhat long post, but i hope you enjoy "living vicariously through me"! i should be uploading pictures from the past couple of days to facebook soon so that you can have images to go with my words!!

let his will be done,
kwhite

first of many

this is my first blog since xanga in eighth grade. what a good feeling! so as you hopefully know, i'm heading to charleston on may twenty first! which is THIS SATURDAY! i cannot wait to see how God works in my life, in the lives of those also on summer project, those i will witness to, my family and friends, and anyone else God intends.

this blog will not have perfect english or grammar. i have had an amazing education, but i will not be worried about punctuation, spelling, and capitolization during my time writing. i'm writing this to keep y'all updated on what God is doing in my life and in charleston for the next ten weeks.

this summer will be challenging. going to college, i've adjusted to not seeing my family for extended periods of time. but these ten weeks will have been the longest that i have not seen them.

i do not know anyone on this mission trip. yes i'm facebook friends with a few, but that still doesn't qualify as a relationship in my book. i am outgoing and can be friendly, but every situation up until this point, i've been somewhat comfortable in my decisions. this decision was made by God and honestly has made me very uncomfortable. i've had an emotional time letting him take control over this summer and really showing me that charleston is where he wants me.

slowly this semester God has grown me, provided financially, and just proven that Charleston is the place for me to spend my summer. sometimes its hard to explain, but i really did feel God's call in this after all that he's shown me.

seeing as this is only the first post, i ask anyone reading this: PLEASE PRAY.
-pray for all of the college students and leaders in charleston
-pray for all of the christ followers serving the one true God through camps, summer projects(YEAH), mission trips, work, summer school, mentoring younger christians, and anything honoring to God's kingdom.
-pray for america to rise up again as the christian nation it once was.
-pray for our world as dark and difficult times lie ahead(sounds like hp i know haha)
-pray for christian leaders to rise up and lead biblically
-pray for christians in america to get OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES and tell others about the love and redemption that only Jesus can offer

i'll add on to the prayer requests later, but just think about it!
*if one woman from richardson, tx who studies history at the university of arkansas can raise three grand in three months, imagine what every follower of christ could do just by praying for three months(hopefully more!)

I can feel God preparing to really educate me this summer, but I know he can use YOU too!
think of your area of influence.. all the people you come into contact with. i am physically getting out of my comfort zone to talk to others about the difference christ has made in my life.
NOW YOU get your conversations and actions out of their normal routine and tell others about your magnificient creator!

sorry this is such a long first post! hopefully i didn't bring you to tears out of boredom!

keep on checking: i should find time to post once a week!!

with love,
katie whitehurst