Hello friends---YES I am still alive, just super busy so I apologize for the delay in updating y'all on what my life has consisted of since I left Calvary.
SO...here it goes!
I packed my car up a little over two weeks ago...and when I say packed I mean stuffed with two suitcases, my guitar, laptop, goodies for my staff, and enough papers and notebooks to fill a small library. This was the first time in forever that I did not forget ANYTHING, nor did I have to turn around before I got too far from home.
Although this is my third summer on staff, the second summer as a Center Director and the seventh year I've been a part of this ministry, and yet I still had a whole bunch of butterflies in my stomach. Looking back on it, I think it was excitement and joy to be with some of the greatest college kids I know, all of which love Jesus and helping other people, and to just be able to wake up in the mountains every morning, drink some coffee and reflect on how good God is to me. When I arrived to the Porch (this is where we had training) the night before my CD training started, I was reunited with old friends and actually met a new friend who is one of the Program Managers this summer (they are in charge of different counties we serve), and everyone at training thought we had known each other forever--she's phenomenal.
The next day all of my fellow Center Directors arrived and it was a loud, laughter-filled, sweet meeting with all of us hugging, sharing stories, and sharing fears about the coming summer. I am considered an RCD (Returning Center Director) so it was very different to have everyone else look up to me with questions on construction and staff management, especially when I am one of the youngest ones there. We spent the next day and a half having team building, going to sessions and praying with one another.
After our first two days on the Porch, 120 other college-aged friends arrived on the Porch...talk about loud! It was so great though!!! We had about 20 guitars, 140 people, and a wooden porch to hold us all as we sang our favorite songs (some of which we sing during our time at Calvary!)...it was just what we all needed even with every place we had all came from. The next week and a half were full of construction sessions, staff community sessions, and how to do position training and handle volunteers. A week into training I got to go visit my county, be introduced to some of the contacts in the community and take a tour of the school I am currently living in. It was a really old school that they now use to train people to work on construction...and their practice??? Fixing and renovating the classrooms my volunteers will live in. The following day I found out my staff: Alex, Ashley, and Blaise. None of them have ever done this job before so that is a new level of growth for me. They are awesome and we've already had so much fun!
Currently we are finding homes to work on, seeing a lot of families living in really poor conditions, and getting the school ready for our first church to arrive THIS Sunday! So keep us in your prayers! Miss you all!
Verses to read: Philippians 2:1-8
I will upload pictures soon!
Love--Katie
