Week 4 of DTS - Disappointing

Week 4... WOW! It doesn't seem like I have been living in Wisconsin for that long. This week was a pretty good week. Dawn taught us the whole week on then Fear of the Lord and it was very good. And she also shared with us her personal testimony, which I found very interesting and I admire her willingness, openness, and courage to share it with all of us. During this week nothing BIG happened like last week, but God is still working in my life - personally and He is also speaking to me. :o)

On Sunday, I went to church with Bekah at Mad City in Madison (again). We went to the early morning service, which was at 9 am - 11 am. So when we got back to the training center no one was there except Fara because she didn't feel well. That is why I was able to finish "week 3" earlier than "week 2". Then I spent the rest of the afternoon reading the book Father Heart of God, which I actually should have read throughout the week. I called my mom and dad and talked to them for about an hour. And that is pretty much all that I did.

On Monday, Dawn (one of the staff members) taught us on Intimate Friendship With God: Through Understanding the Fear of the Lord, which was really good. It really made me realize how much closer to God I want to be. And how God loves me and wants to have an intimate (close) relationship with me.

On Tuesday, we actually did something a little differently. We got to sleep in just a little bit, and then we had work duties, then quiet time, and then we had a time of intercession. We (just the 8 students) prayed for where we were going to go for outreach. We split into 2 groups and when we came back together to talk about what we felt God was speaking to us. We had some confirmation about the things that we had heard from God, which I thought was really cool.Then we had an hour of free time, which I spent writing thank you cards and letters. Then we went to the GMC for lunch and then class afterwards. Then we had a short break before we started getting ready for our local outreach. I went to Juvy (Juvenile Detention Center) with Emma, Bodo, Nils, Shawn, Bekah, and Missie. I was so excited because I knew that God was going to be doing so GREAT things. But when it was time for us to talk and pray with the kids that were there, the girl I talked to was not responding to me much. She just gave me short answers. Missie joined in with us, which I didn't want at first, but I became glad when I realized that Missie and the girl in Juvy were able to carry on a conversation. I was also disappointed because the boy that I had talked to last week was there, but he left shortly after we had started. I wanted to be able to talk to him a little bit more. I was glad that I was able be there, but I like I said I was disappointed because I felt like I didn't make much of a difference. Also, on the car ride it was encouraging to hear all of the stories from everyone else.

On Wednesday, we had a normal day of class. But after supper we spent some time as a group talking about some decisions that have been made for our International Outreach in January 2007. Michael wrote some names of countries on the board, which were some of the countries that we had been praying for. He told us that those places are English speaking places, and that when we go for our Outreach we will be going to one of those countries, along with 2 more countries. Then he wrote the other 2 countries that we will be going to; he wrote Dominican Republic (Spanish speaking) and Haiti (French/Creole speaking). I am so excited to be going to 3 different places, along with learning 2 other languages. I have always wanted to learn French, and Spanish would be the next language that I would want to learn. But as Michael was talking to us about some things that had to do with our outreach, I began to feel overwhelmed with emotion. So after we were finished talking, I went into the Recreational room (also known as the Rec. room) and began to pray. After a short time of praying God gave me a scripture : Psalm 74 which I then took to Dawn (because she is my one on one person). She said that she had received that passage of scripture before when praying for another country. I was so emotionally exhausted, so I went to bed as soon as I could, which wasn't until 11 pm.

On Thursday, we another normal day of class. I was still feeling the effects of the night before (being emotionally exhausting), so after class I grabbed a 2 subject notebook and my CD player and began to write thing things I had prayed about in the 1st section of the notebook, and in the other section I wrote the things God has spoken or shown me since I've been doing this Discipleship program. After some singing and reflecting on all of the wonderful things that God has been doing in my life, I became very happy. This feeling stayed with me the rest of the night and for most of the day on Friday.

On Friday, we had class and Dawn finished up on The Fear of the Lord and then around 4 pm Rufina, Fara, Nils, and Robin went to Nightmare (which is a youth event that teenagers come to watch - it's hard for me to explain but if you would like to know more about it go here. Sean also left for the weekend because he had a wedding to go to. And Michael and Emma left for the weekend with their kids. So there was me, Bekah, Bodo, Mandy, and Dawn left for the weekend. It was very quiet. After I had supper clean up, Dawn and I had our 1 on 1 time, which was very good. Then we all (well, the remainder of us) watched the movie Failure to Launch. I thought it was a cute movie. I thought it was very similar to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days , but I thought that the movie we watched was better.

On Saturday, I woke up at 10:30 am and then we ate brunch at 11 am, and then did some miscellaneous errands and shopping. On Sunday (today), we are throwing a surprise party for Michael and Emma to show them how much we appreciate all that they have done for us, and will do for us. Bekah helped me decorate the Rec. room for a couple hours. I think it looks pretty good. Then Bekah and I stayed up until 1 am just talking about stuff. :o)

I thought this week was kinda disappointing because I would have liked more to happen at Juvy and also because I felt like I did not get as much as I would have liked out of this weeks topic. But I really need to re-read my notes, and I think then I will be able to get more out of what I was taught.

I cannot wait, next week we are going to be going to the GO!Conference in Colorado and then also on Thursday the Summer DTS team will be coming back from Namibia, Africa. I am looking forward to meeting them, and also to hear their stories.

Week 3 of DTS - Emotional

Well we just finished week 3, which was very emotional. The topic was on The Father Heart of God which was taught by Claude Bonjour. I thought Claude was a very good teacher. We got a new projector, so Claude was the first one to use it by showing us slides so we could take notes. I learned so much about myself. I learned how God is like a Father, and even though my earthly father may have messed up in the past; God wants to take away that hurt and pain and love me the way my earthly father could/can not. I am not saying that my dad was a bad dad or anything, but he is human and humans make mistakes. It is sad, but I have never been able to fully forgive him for somethings until this week. I would love to share more with you, but I think that you'd have to experience what I experienced by yourself. Everyone has their own story about how their dad abused them, or said mean things, or even simply wasn't there for them... so everyone will experience what I experienced differently. I know that it may seem like I am not telling you as much as I did the last 2 weeks, but it's just hard to explain. But just know that God has been doing GREAT things in my life, personally.

Anyway, here is what I did throughout the week:

On Sunday I went to church with Sean, Nils, and Fara. We went to Mad City in Madison. I really liked it. Then I spent most of my afternoon on Nil's laptop because I was trying to upload my pictures on my free picture hosting website, but it did not work. :o( Then I had a a few phone calls and then I watched some of the football game with some people. I love Sunday's they are always so relaxed.

On Monday, we had our teaching with Claude. He taught us the first week that we were here and I really enjoyed it. So I couldn't wait to learn more from him. Monday was a normal school day for us and for those of you who may have wanted to know ... even though it was Columbus day (and we live in Columbus, Wisconsin) we did not celebrate it.

On Tuesday, we went to the GMC for class and then we went our separate ways to do our local outreach. I went to the Juvenile Detention Center near the capitol in Madison. Compared to the Evangelical outreach... I loved it. I know that it is what God wants me to do. I cannot wait to go back. When I finish this Discipleship Training, I would love to do something like that when I get back home. It made me feel so good talking to Jr. High aged kids about my personal testimonies and praying with them and just encouraging them. Every kid comes in for different things... some big and some small... but either way, they want to know more about God and the Bible, and I find that very encouraging. :o)

On Wednesday, our teaching was on the movie Antwan Fisher with Denzel Washington. It is a really good movie. I had seen it before, but it really tied in with our topic for this week. After we watched this movie (which was emotional for some people) we had an exercise to do. We had to go find something that reminded us of our earthly father. I looked at my pictures which I was going to show everyone how funny, loving, and caring that my dad is. But then I looked at my digital camera and brought it. I was in tears the whole time, and I do not totally understand why. When I decided to to speak and tell everyone why I chose my camera... I fought to choke back tears. It was hard to speak. But I just simply said, "I chose my camera because I had been wanting a digital camera for a while. Then for Christmas my parents got it for me. I didn't know what kind I wanted or anything, so my dad was the one who did the research. Then right before I came here my parents got me a docking station so that way I wouldn't have to keep recharging batteries all of the time. And this just shows that my dad always provides for me, for what ever I want or need. And I will always be 'daddy's little girl' and nothing can take that way". Something happened during that time... but all of the hurt that I had been keeping in for years was gone. I truly felt like I loved my dad. So after we finished our exercise and after I finished crying. I called my dad at work and told him the story and told him that I love him. This was a HUGE day of healing for me. I could not believe that I had been keeping all of this hurt and pain in for so long. I didn't realize it, but it had been effecting my relationships with other people, but it had been especially effecting my relationship with God.

On Thursday, we had more teaching, which was good. And another normal school day for us. After lunch we talked and prayed about where we might go to for our International outreach, which will be somewhere in the Caribbean area. I am so excited. I cannot wait until we find out where we are going to be going. :o)

On Friday, we had our last day with Claude. But we did something different than just the normal teachings. It is hard to explain what we did, but Claude and some other people prayed for all of us, separately. After we did this, I felt like we as a group had bonded more. Like we were more of a family. It was a really great feeling. I personally felt at peace about my future... whatever God wants it to be. :o) In the afternoon when we had free time, I took an hour and a half nap. It felt so good, because this week had been so emotional. After supper a group of us played basket ball. It was a lot of fun.

On Saturday (yesterday), Bekah, Fara, Robin, and I took Rufina's car to McFarland to go to Bekah's and pick up her car. We stopped at The Petal Patch where my Aunts work, but they were not there. So we ate at McDonald's, then went to Borders, then to WalMart, then back to The Petal Patch to see if my Aunt Karyn had come back from doing a delivery, and sure enough she was there. We stayed for about 5 minutes. It was really good to see her, but it made me really miss my mom. :o( Then I drove Rufina's car back to the Training Center where we hung out for a little while. Then after supper Nils asked if we all wanted to do something, so after awhile of no one deciding on what to do ... I laid the smack down (ha ha). We finally decided to rent a movie. So Bekah drove her car and Nils, Robin, and I drove to the nearest Blockbuster where we rented 3 movies. One of the movies was for Nils, while the other 2 were for all of us. So last night we (Nils, Fara, Bekah, Robin, Mandy, and I) watched The Bench Warmers .

This week has been really good. I was not looking forward to it at first, but once it started... I didn't want to stop learning about The Father Heart of God. Before I end this update, I want to encourage you to forgive your father (even if he has passed away) for anything and everything that he has done. If you cannot speak to him about this in person, write a letter to him and just open your heart up. You don't have to give it to him if you don't want. It might sound kinda silly, but just try it. Once you genuinely do this, you will not forget it, and you will feel so much better. I never knew what I was holding onto until I truly forgave my dad.

Week 2 of DTS - Busy

Well, I just wrapped up week 2 and let me tell you... we were really busy. We had to leave for the Global Mission Center (GMC) at 7:15am almost every morning, and most nights we would be busy doing things until 9:30pm or 10pm (lights out are at 10:30pm). So needless to say, I am really tired this week. But the weeks to come will not be like this.Because I am only going to be getting busier, I am not going to write as long updates as I did with week 1. Therefore, here is a quick summary of what my week was like:

Sunday - Was a wonderful day of relaxing. I took an hour nap after church, then I just did whatever. I spent most of my time writing out my last e-mail (titled: "week 1").

Monday - We had breakfast at 7 am, as usual. Then after having a quiet time and worship, we had a lecture with Warren Kepproth on The Nature of Sin . Warren is the director of YWAM - Madison. At 1 pm, we had lunch (as usual as well) and then continued on with our lecture until 3:30 pm. This topic was really heavy. Then we had work duties and then supper. After supper we had a scheduled study time. At first I was not liking the idea... but once I got started... I thought that it was really good. Because even though there is not much to do here, it is still easy to get distracted and not do your homework.

Tuesday - We had breakfast a little later at 7:30 am. At 10:30 am, we left for the GMC where we stayed there until 5 pm where we then went our separate ways to do our local outreach. This week I did my local outreach with David as the leader and Mandy and Rufina. David is in charge of the Evangelical outreach. Our little group went to a park in Madison where we were able to witness to a few homeless guys. We prayed with one guy and another accepted the Lord. It was exciting and sad at the same time to see that these guys had nothing. I so badly wanted to invite them back to at least shower, but of course that was not possible.

Wednesday - We had to leave for the GMC at 7:15 am, where we had worship and lecture until lunch at 1 pm. It was a long day; I struggled to stay awake. Then we came back to the training center where we had Intercession and then work duties until supper. After supper we had our first small group meeting, which we finished around 9 pm.

Thursday - We had to leave for the GMC at 7:15 am, again. We had lecture until 1 pm, again. Then lunch. After lunch we had Bible Class with Beth Anne on the book of Ephesians. She is teaching us about digging into the Word of God and trying to understand the history of "why" the letters from Paul were written the way that they were. It was really interesting. She will be coming to the training center every week on Wednesdays, but since we were at the GMC this week... it just made sense for her to come and teach us while we were there. After Bible Class we had a little bit of free time, but then we went to Fara's sisters house (in Madison) where supper was provided. Then we headed back to the GMC for a "YWAM Madison Community Meeting". I was so tired, that afterward I asked to go into the van to sleep while other people were enjoying a time of fellowship. We got back to the training center around 9:30 pm, where I soon went to bed.

Friday - THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY! I was so exhausted from getting up early and going to bed late. Some people refereed to this week as "Boot Camp". I'd have to say that it was pretty challenging for me to stay awake, when I normally go to bed (at the earliest) at Midnight and get up around 9 am or 10 am. Today we went to the GMC for the last time at 7:15 am, which was also the last time that Winkie Pratney taught us about The Nature of Sin. At 10:30 am we left to come back to the training center, where we had a quiet time. Then for lunch my small group (Mandy, Dawn, Rufina, Fara, and myself) went to Culver's. Then after Culver's we went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. I bought some chips because my mom had sent me in a package some homemade salsa (yum!). Then we came back at 3:30 pm and the rest of the night we had free time. I talked on the phone and wrote out some thank you's and miscellaneous letters. It felt so good to get caught up on those things.

Small Group - Rufina, Me, Dawn, Mandy, and Fara

Saturday - Well, I finally got a chance to catch up on some sleep. I went to bed at 1 am, but woke up around 9:30 am. If felt so good. :o) I ate some brunch (waffles, eggs, and toast). Then I got ready to go out with everyone. We went to the Arboretum where we walked on some trails. I took a lot of pictures, which I would love to share sometime soon. The weather was beautiful and the different shades of color throughout the trees were gorgeous. Then after the was walked some trails... we went to a Mall. But Bekah, Fara, and I went to Barns and Nobles where I had Starbucks for the first time. It was good. Then we went to Shopko where we just looked around. I took a few silly pictures. Then at 4:30 pm, we went back to the training center ( a.k.a. "home") where I helped get supper ready (leftovers) and then of course ate supper. After supper Sean, Nils, Fara, Robin, and I went out to go see a movie. Then we came back and just hung out.

A Continuation from Week 1 - Scavenger Hunt

Here are some pictures that were taken on Saturday, September 30, 2006. We, the DTS, went to Madison, Wisconsin (about 30 miles from Columbus - which is where we live) to do a scavenger hunt on State Street. This scavenger hunt was designed to help us get familiar with the city and the ministry that we would later be involved in.

Me - "Person dressed in UW apparel from head to toe"

"Team photo, everyone wearing 'cheese head' hats"

Left to Right: Emma, Linus (baby), Bekah, Me, and Michael, Judah -not pictured

Nils - "Team member trying on a bizarre outfit at a clothing store"

"Make a human pyramid including strangers (at least 3 stages)"

Top: Robin

Middle: Emma and Me

Bottom: Nils, Fara, and Todd (the stranger)

Me and Bekah on our way to Madison - before the Scavenger Hunt

Me and Emma (with Linus)

"get a picture with a person with 2 or more animals"

Bekah "milking" one of the many cows that are all along State Street.

State Street

Week 1of DTS - Interesting

I have officially been here at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) in Wisconsin for 1 week. This week has been very interesting. As I sit down and try to put together some of my thoughts and memories that I want to share with you... the word "Interesting" best suites how I want to describe my experience so far.

There are 8 people in this Discipleship Training School (DTS). We are small, but because we are small in number we are also like a BIG family.

So about my experience so far... well, like I said it has been very interesting just trying to get to know new people and learn about what it is like for them back in their country. It has also been interesting dealing with the shower in the mornings. There is only a small shelf in the shower to place your bar of soap, and the shower head sprays out far and hard and wide (plus they have hard water). I cannot wait to take a shower at home. Probably the thing that I miss the most would be my bed at home, because the bunk bed that I am sleeping in is hard and stiff, so may back has been stiff and I don't feel like I am getting a good nights sleep. I also am living in a room with all of the ladies plus Mandy, one of the staff members (but that is not that big of a problem because everyone is respectable to everyone else). But these are minor things that I am complaining about, because there are so many people that do not have the things that I have. I am so spoiled!

When I first arrived here a week ago today, I brought a lot of stuff. My parents mentioned that they might have to take 2 vehicles just to fit all of my things. I think I went mad (or crazy) when I was packing. But the next time I go home, I will bring some things back to stay just because I really do not need everything that I brought. I think all of the staff was secretly laughing at me when they saw all of the things I brought. And later on in the day when I realized how much stuff I brought, I realized that I am high maintained. I was kinda upset with myself, because I do want to be that way and I am only high maintained because I am spoiled. Therefore, I have a feeling that when I get back home I will have a whole new perspective on life and will no longer want the things that I want right now.

The first day (Sunday) we got to know a little about ourselves and about the staff. Then on Monday we answered some "Quaker Questions" (they are simple questions about yourself that are answered descriptively). This mostly consisted of the whole day. Then on Tuesday, we went to the GMC (Global Mission Center) in Madison. We will be going there ever week on Tuesdays. Then on Wednesday we began the teachings where we began to learn about Hearing the Voice of God. I took lots of notes, it was very interesting and good. On Wednesday night a group of us went to a Conference in Madison to celebrate 200 years in Missions. It was interesting, and kinda like a history lesson. This was optional; I sort of wanted to stay back to catch up on some sleep and other things, but I felt like I was supposed to go, so I did. Then on Thursday we had some more teaching on Hearing the Voice of God and then we put it into practice. When we shared about what we had heard God speaking to us all of the responses fit together like a puzzle. It was so amazing to hear God working in us separately and also as a group. Then on Friday we learned about Intercession (according to dictionary.com it means: a prayer to God on behalf of another.). Then we practiced it for a little bit. On Saturday (yesterday) we went to Madison (to the capital) for a scavenger hunt. We had to do things such as: ask someone if they are republican and get a picture with them (I got a video and about 5 people said NO! until this girl enthusiastically said YES!), we had to find the most expensive item in a boutique (our group found a 500 year old vase that was $1800), etc. It was a lot of fun. Then today I went to Michael and Emma's (my school leaders) church - then when I came back I took a nap. There are many other details that I could share with you, however you'd probably fall asleep reading this if I did. :o)

I look forward to many more weeks to come. I also look forward to learning more about God and also to get to know everyone better. After I am done with this DTS, the people I currently live with will probably be like my "new" family.