Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Summer DTS Update

Aloha family, friends, and supporters! I trust you are doing well and enjoying the warm, refreshing summer months. It is definitely warming up here in the islands both physically and spiritually.  My heart is full to overflowing at the faithfulness and work of God in these students' lives! We are finishing up our 7th week of lecture phase in our Summer DTS.  So far, our weekly topics have been "Intimacy/Intercession,” "Bible Overview,” "Hearing the voice of God,”  "Identity in Christ,” "Relationships,” "Postmodernism,” and others.  Each week has been full of revelation and transformation. As staff, all we do is give ourselves, our students, school, speakers, and every minute to God and step aside to let Him work. And He does! Sam (my co-leader) and I have been so blessed with our team. We have 2 guys and 4 girls who are absolutely hungry for the Lord and all that He has for them. We started the school with Opening Night welcoming the students into our YWAM family. After a fun night of celebrating the opening of the school, we announced that the following morning we would be embarking upon "Exodus". Exodus is our version of the Israelite's journey into the wilderness in the book of Exodus. DTS Staff and students spent 3 days and 2 nights "in the wilderness" without solid shelter, pillows, tooth brushes, hair 

brushes, makeup, deodorant, showers, mirrors, change of clothes, or various food (just top ramen and unseasoned oatmeal). The purpose of this challenging few days was to get to know the "real you". We were dirty, smelly, and vulnerable. It was awesome! We ended "Exodus" with an unexpected  "Love Feast" which consisted of all the staff celebrating our survival of "Exodus,” washing student's feet, and worship. This was the beginning of life change. Already, our students are not the same people that arrived here 7 weeks ago. Their hearts are being softened and mended, their minds are being stretched and grown in knowledge and wisdom, and their ears are being opened to their Father's voice.  "My mind is getting wrecked!!" is a common statement among my students.  The transformation and change is happening so fast that's it's almost too much but not enough at the same time. It's absolutely amazing to watch and be apart of.  God is daily teaching me what it means to find my strength and life in Him. He is giving me wisdom beyond my years. I'm so thankful. My prayer is to lead in Godliness, humility, integrity, holiness, righteousness, and purity. I am not one to be quick to lead but I'm learning how to step out and step up (with God's grace). 

We leave August 24 for Thailand where we will stay at YWAM Thailand for 10 days to finish up Lecture phase, make house visits, encourage the local missionaries and YWAMers, and get adjusted to the Asian culture.  I went to Thailand with my DTS last year so I look forward to returning to the place my love for Asia started. In a way, I'm going back to the beginning. From Thailand, our school will separate from the other team going to Bangladesh and our team will head to the island of Borneo. We will be flying into Kuching, Malaysia and then taking a 12 hour bus ride across the border into Indonesia. We will be spending the majority of our outreach in Indonesia where we will be backpacking through villages and living like the locals do.  Our ministry will consist mostly of house visits, building relationships, holding open air teachings and church services, intercession, and just sharing the love of God with those whom we come in contact with.  There is also a possibility that we will be teaching a week in a DTS in Samarinda. Overall, this will be a challenging outreach. Most places we will be staying at will not have electricity, beds, or showers. We will be sleeping on our own bed mats, bathing in rivers that are also used for washing and human waste disposal, and will be eating lots and lots of rice. But we are up for the challenge. God's grace is sufficient. Our team is ready (as much as we can be) and excited for what God will do through us and in us. I know we will not come back the same.