(Written on October 1st) Hello from the cornfields! This past month was so incredible! Here are a few things that happened:
- Our DTS (Discipleship Training School) Staff Training was September 8th-20th. We had a lot of bonding experiences as a staff, including a whole day of team building. We looked at everyone's Myers Briggs personality types and talked in depth about each one and ways we can all work well together. We spent a lot of time praying for the students as they prepared to leave their homes and start this six month journey of knowing God and making Him known. We have such an incredible Staff Team and I am so excited to be working alongside of them!
"We as a DTS staff team commit to follow the Holy Spirit's leading first as individuals and also as a team, pointing to God through a lifestyle of interdependence, commitment, gratitude, prayer, and vulnerability. It is through these relationships that students will be invited into the overflow of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, individually and as a community. In this environment, students will be able to pursue their relationship with God and personal destiny."
- The students started arriving on September 20th! They got settled in and we started with Orientation! The first day of Lecture Phase was Wednesday the 23rd and the topic was "Hearing God's Voice." It was so great to hear testimonies from the students of how God revealed things to them and spoke to them. We also had teaching on "Clean Conscience" during which we experienced a lot of healing and freedom!
- I've been living in Madison for almost two months and I've really been wanting to find a home church where I could get plugged into serving. I found one! It's called Heartland and is very similar to my church back home. I'm so excited to get to know the people there and have community outside of YWAM.
Three ways you can be praying:
- For the 30 students : that they would be able to feel at home and really grasp what God has for them during this school. That they would have a growing desire to go deeper in their walk with Christ.
- For the teachings this month : Character and Nature of God, Father Heart of God, Roots, and Spiritual Warfare. As I think back to last year when I heard these teachings, I'm reminded of the life change I experienced, the things I learned for the first time, the areas of hurt that God healed... I'm SO EXCITED, to say the least. This month of teaching is so important, so please be praying!
- For me : for wisdom as I start one on one's and small group. That God would speak and work through me. For confidence in leadership. That I would constantly remember my identity in Christ.
- Today we head out to the woods for Survivor. We will be spending a few days camping and learning a lot about God's heart for the people who are experiencing different injustices around the world. More to come on the next newsletter! Please be praying for the students as they lay down rights and get out of their comfort zone!
Every single day in wake up in the same building as 50 other on-fire, God-seeking people who are so much fun! I can't believe this is my job! Thank you all so much for reading these updates and for praying for me and this DTS!
Lecture Phase has begun!! These guys and girls are world changers!
It's not a joke when I say we are in the middle of the cornfields.
My small group! Cannot wait to grow closer to these girls as we learn from each other!
