Beyond Anything I Could Ever Hope or Imagine.

Well it has definitely been some time since I've posted last! God has taught me so much through these past weeks, and he is revealing Himself to me more than ever before. 

 To give you an update, the appeal committee at Covenant met again, after I posted last time, and re-appealed my appeal and offered me the money I needed. As i'm typing this, I think I am still in shock. God provided for me to go to Covenant this Fall, and I am so excited! It has been so encouraging to see the body of Christ come up around me, support me, and pray for me during this time. God has just shown me to place my trust in Him, and to follow Him wherever He leads me.

As far as my support goes for Kenya, after receiving many donations, and still more to come in, it looks like I am fully supported. PRAISE GOD!! I feel so loved. God has shown me His love in incredible ways this past few months. 

I am in awe. I am so undeserving, and yet as I look back God has always provided, beyond anything I could ever hope or imagine! His ways are far better than mine. I never would have imagined that I would be working at East Lanier, and yet here I am. I have been so blessed by this church family, and this opportunity to be here these past two years. God has taught me so much. I never would have imagined that four years later, I would be able to return to Kenya for a summer internship, and yet here I am. And I never would have imagined going to Covenant this fall, and yet God has provided. He has strengthened my Faith through this process, and taught me to depend on Him. Only God could have done this. My cup is overflowing. 

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, 

that we should be called children of God!"  

1 John 3:1

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

Psalm 23:5

 One more month.

Where You Lead Me, I Will Follow.

As long as my heart is beating...
Where You lead me I will follow
Where You lead me I give my life away
Where You lead me I will follow

Well this song has been on my mind a lot lately, and it couldn't be a more perfect time. After appealing the process to apply to Covenant for a bigger financial aid package, I received a response today. Basically, the amount they gave me was as generous as it gets, and i'm still left $4,000 short. I knew this amount when I applied for the appeal, and prayed that God would provide if this was His will. I know that if I really tried, maybe I could come up with the amount, involving more student loans and taking out finances I just don't have. But I serve a big God. and $4,000 is not too much for Him to provide if this was His plan for me.

So I'm left asking, now what? I'm taking a leap of Faith. I have no idea where the Lord will lead me for school after Gainesville, but wherever He leads me, I will follow. I've been studying Isaiah and this week this verse struck me: 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, 

Declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

His ways are not my ways, and even though Covenant was "my way" it is not His. So wherever He leads me, I will follow. Thanks for taking part in my journey, I know this isn't about Kenya, but it's what God is teaching me right now. He doesn't promise us all the things we want, in my case Covenant, but He does promise us his presence. And I feel God's presence walking me through this, and that's enough for me. Thanks for reading! 

Lord, I'm Restless Until I Rest in You.

Hey Everyone!
Well, as usual, I have a lot to say! First, Lauren, Virginia and I had a yardsale this weekend for our Kenya trip and we raised $2,300! Praise God! After a long week of sorting, organizing, and getting the church ready for the yard sale, it was a huge success, and I am so thankful to everyone who donated, helped, and supported us last week!

Lately, I've been thinking about what it means to be completely dependent. A dictionary definition of dependance is: a person who relies on another person for support (especially financial support).


Ding, ding! That's exactly where God has me--completely dependent. It would be really easy for me if  the Lord would show me His plans for me next year and provide the funds for my upcoming trip, but that's not His plan. Sometimes I think that if only He would write it in the sky, or send me an e-mail I would be so much better off!  I'm willing to follow His plan, I just don't know what it is! But He wants me on my knees, completely dependent on him. Relying on Him for my every move, and knowing that He is the only one that can provide what I need. God has been teaching me what it means to rest in Him, and Him alone for my needs and wants, and it has been so good! It's indescribable the peace He has given me, but I'm loving it!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness by evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Phillipians 4:4-7

There's a song by Audrey Assad titled "Restless" and the chorus has been on my mind a lot lately:

And I'm Restless, I'm Restless

'Till I rest in you, 'til I rest in You

I'm Restless, I'm restless

'Till I rest in You, 'til I rest in you

Oh God, I wanna rest in You

How true! God, I am restless until I rest in You! 

Well lastly, I'm ready for Kenya! I am so excited. Official Countdown: 60 days, 7 hours, 15 min, and 15 seconds!! We have a complete team of 9 going: Lauren, Virginia, Rachel, Rebecca, Travis, Jacob, Corey, Justin, and Myself. I'm ready to go, and ready for God to use me in Kenya. I encourage you to pray for Imbumi and Martha, the ministry they are doing, and that we can be an encouragement to them. I found this video, and it should help and provide some more information on the ministry I will be serving this summer, and what they are all about. Please take the time and listen to what God is doing in Kibera!

I know it was a lot of rambling, but I encourage you to keep praying. Be praying for the support for the interns to come in, be praying for the ministry we will be serving in Kenya, and be praying for Martha and Imbumi.

Imbumi & Martha Makuku's Family

Thank you so much for reading! I've been overwhelmed with the amount of support and how others are participating in this trip. I am beyond blessed to be able to go, and simply can't wait!

Broken, Needy, and Chosen.

Hey everyone! 

I feel like I have a lot of things I want to put on here, so you'll have to make sense of my rambling. Hopefully at the end it will all come together.

First, I picked up my journal I kept from my Kenya trip a couple of summers ago and I found this song  and thought I would share. Here's the translation: 

There is no God like our God.

I've looked everywhere.

I've searched everywhere.

I've been everywhere. 

There is no God like our God.

How true! I find myself always running to things that don't satisfy, other "gods" or idols that I make for myself and there is no God like our God! I am always in need of that reminder. 

Also, I have been involved in a Women's Bible Study studying Isaiah this past year, and I love it! Here are some verses that have been coming back to mind as I've been digging deep into this book:

 “But you, Israel, my servant, 
Jacob, whom I have chosen, 
you descendants of Abraham my friend, 

I took you from the ends of the earth, 

   from its farthest corners I called you. 

I said, ‘You are my servant’; 

   I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 

So do not fear, for I am with you; 

   do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

Isaiah 41:8-10

Look at the words God uses to describe us: Servant, Chosen, Friend. This is right where I am. I feel broken and needy, yet I am Chosen--his servant and friend.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 
When you pass through the waters, 

I will be with you; 

and when you pass through the rivers, 

they will not sweep over you. 

When you walk through the fire, 

you will not be burned; 

the flames will not set you ablaze. 

For I am the LORD your God, 

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Isaiah 43:1-3a

I have been taking a lot of comfort in these verses. I have recently applied to Covenant College, and last Wednesday I got my financial aid package back. To make a long story short, I am just waiting. Waiting on God to provide, or show me that this is not what He would have for me. He doesn't promise in these verses that if I follow Him, there will be no hard times. He promises his presence. He is right there with me. And I am so thankful. I am redeemed and loved by the King of the Universe, what good news!

And as I look forward to my trip this summer, I feel so blessed. I know I keep saying this, but I have no other words for the amount of support I have been receiving. I have been encouraged to tears at the generosity of my friends and family. Finances are tight. Budgets are tight. And yet people have been so generous. They are making a true sacrifice to further God's Kingdom and his work in Kenya. 

So now what? Well first of all, thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and taking part in this trip with me. I am so thankful for you! Please continue to be praying for the support to come in for all of the interns going this summer. Be praying that God will prepare our hearts, and that he will give us a true servants heart and compassion for the people in Kenya.  Basically, be praying. 

My support is at $2,075. And I have some money to turn into MTW this week sometime. Thanks for all your support, and thanks for reading!! 

God is so good!

As the warm weather came in this weekend, I began thinking about our trip and how incredibly close it is! Only a few more months until we'll be heading to Kenya for the summer. I got the final dates for the trip today: May 23-July 28th. Please continue praying for our summer there. We need one more guy to sign up so we can go. 

My support is up to $1,075 and continuing to come in! Please continue to be praying that the Lord will provide all the funds for me and the other interns to be able to go this year. I'm so thankful for this opportunity and will be keeping everyone updated on my support. Thanks for reading! 

These are a few pictures from our trip in 2007:

Me, Lauren, and Virginia in 2007

Kibera

While we were in Kibera, I remember singing this song with the kids. It was so delightful hearing them repeat: Nothing but the blood of Jesus. How true! 

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus


Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12


This is what it's all about, and I'm so thankful to be apart of it. 

Support in many different ways...

I am so blessed, more than I could ever know. Many of you know I work at East Lanier Community Church, and to be honest, I couldn't ask for a better church home. 


This note on the right is just one of the many ways the children, youth, and adults have already started to participate in all the aspects of my upcoming trip to Kenya, physically and spiritually. I am surrounded by a Church home that is supporting me in many ways, encouragement and prayer, not just the finances. And I couldn't ask for more! 


God has really been teaching me lately to just rest in Him. Not to worry about my support coming in, or the plans the Lord has for me, but that He knows what is needed, and He is faithful to provide. I am reminded of a verse in the Sermon on the Mount, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34. Please be praying for me, as raising support always challenges me. Pray that I would trust in God, and know that He owns a thousand cattle upon a thousand hills, and He is ALWAYS faithful to provide. 


For an update on my support account, I have $200 in my account, and A few checks and cash to turn into MTW next week. I'll make sure I keep an updated number on the column on the right.  If you feel led to contribute, please see the column on the right for ways you can donate. If you would like to have a letter sent to you, or have any questions, please contact me at cmcwhorter@eastlanier.org. 

Kenya Baby!

Well, let the craziness begin! I have my support letter written, printed, and soon to be stuffed and mailed out tomorrow. Now I get to wait and see how the Lord is going to provide!

Please let me know in the next few days if you have not receive a support letter and would like to receive one. Also, if you are interested in donating online, please Click here or go to:

https://www2.mtw.org/donations/donate/default.aspx

In the search bar, you can search my name, Courtney McWhorter, or type in my account #14569 to donate.

As far as the team goes, we have four other girls going and one guy signed up. Lauren, Virginia, and two other girls Rebecca and Rachel. Justin is the only guy signed up so far, be praying that a few more guys sign up so we can go! :)

During this process I am reminded of God's great promises!

Thank you for your support and prayers, I'll keep you updated on the support as it comes in! God is so good!

MTW Global Missions Conference!

Dear Friends and Family,

On November 5th-7th Lauren and I went to the MTW Global Missions Conference. Imbumi and Martha Makuku (the MTW Missionaries we will be serving in Kenya) were both there. It was so great to hear from them and attend their Seminar on an update on the ministry in Kibera.

This conference sparked my interest in missions and helped me to feel connected to other ministries around the world. It was amazing to be worshipping with missionaries and people around the world, a great picture of heaven!

I attended a Seminar on "When Helping Hurts" a book written by Steve Crobett & Brian Fikkert. His seminar really challenged my opinion on poverty. Brian Fikkert stated that the western culture (me) thinks of poverty as a material thing, if we send money and resources then we have fixed the problem. But when asked, a person in poverty would state that they feel embarrassed, ashamed, less than human. I had never thought of it like that. I go sometimes feeling superior, when I am just as broken and in need as any other person out there. And sending money and goods isn't what they need, they need the gospel, almost as badly as I do.

I'm excited to be able to spend the summer in Kenya and I can't wait to see what God is going to teach me and how he is going to use me and all of you. One thing I was convicted of while I was attending the conference was my lack of prayer, for the nations and for the missionaries I have served with and know. I need to be praying for Kenya, and all of the other places I have served or been apart of, we all do. They need our support.

For now, I'm working on my support letters, lining up babysitting jobs and house cleaning jobs, and any other services I can provide to help my support come in.

Pray that God would provide, and be praying for Kenya and for the nations.

The main worship service.

Now that's my kind of sign.

Imbumi speaking for his seminar.

"In His name, the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21