DR/India DTS Fall 2009 Lecture Blog

Jan 1, 2010!

Happy New Year! It is now the New Year and we have been in Germany for a few hours. Only 20 more to go and finally off to INDIA! It´s a slight detour here, but a very exciting one. With nothing but our backpacks and anticipation we huddled together on the train platform. We were waiting for the train to take us to the church where we would be staying. We seemed to be standing for a long time, and our fingers were frozen. There was already a train at the platform behind us and I loathingly watched people get on and get settled into their seats all warm and snug. Surely our train would be arriving soon. Just as I was about to sit down to relax, Andreas wonders if the train behind is actually ours...It was! Nothing more exciting than waiting to get on the train two minutes before it leaves. Hooray for adventure! It did seem to stir up some excitement rather than what we normally do. Which is know exactly where to be at and at what time, it was a nice change!

It may seem fascinating to be on a train in Germany, and I would like so much to say it was unique and exotic. But this German train is really is much like any other train you would ride. It´s on rails, has seats, plenty of people, windows and it moves very fast. You could say the most unique thing is the sprawl of backpacks and American bodies a few people have tripped over. In the rush we didn´t have priority seating, and some of us ended up on the floor. Fortunately I got a window seat! So far I have seen mostly flat land, and few farms. The houses here are different, absolutely lovely, and quaint. A few times we passed by these tiny houses in a small group similar to the shire where Bilbo Baggins lived! I really wanted to see a hairy little hobbit walk out of one. However, Beckie told me they are similar to apartments that people buy on a small lot of land, so they can have a yard or a garden if they live in an appartment. What else can I tell you about this delightful place? They do have a lot of graffiti, and I have no idea what it says and in a strange way I find it slighty artistic and colorful. I need sleep! -

Sorry for the pause, and unfortunately it was not because I was sleeping. I was rushing off the train to another one!  We are a sight to see, offering plenty of entertainment to many German´s average everyday lives. With only two minutes to get to platform 12 and we were at platform 1! 

I don´t think any other exciting occurences. Well atleast none that can top today´s adventures! So I will end with a traveling tip to remember on future missionary journeys...

When in Germany there are a few restrooms that will charge you money to use. If you are without Euros there is no shame in brushing your teeth, standing over a garbage can in daylight, around a lot of people. Even if a few people walk past and laugh! Well that´s all for today!

In God´s love,

Jackie Moore

PS: Something esle did happen! After we were settled in at the church we all went for a walk through the lovely city of Lich. The crazy Germans suggested someone jump into the cold river we passed by. We proved to be even crazier when three of our ´brave´ guys jumped in and swam to other side. No injuries, only a lost flip flop and a great start to our crazy YWAM adventure!

Lecture phase of the DTS is 3 week days away from being over!  in the past several weeks, we have had teaching on spiritual warfare, maturity in Christ, obedience, attributes of God, and also teaching on what can hold people back from freedom in Christ.  We have had a super busy, but amazing lecture phase.  The students as well as the staff have learned more about who they are in Christ and who God has created them to be.  The following poems were written by the students for a time of reflection on the spiritual warfare teaching last week.  Enjoy!

Aaron, Jackie, and Frank (inspired by The Hug Poem - Bradley Hathaway) "Beat Poetry"

I read about how you touched them and they were healed or even if someone just touched your cloak.  They were forever changed.  You let a broken woman bathe your feet in her tears.  And you washed your best friends´ feet.  But if you ever just fight demons?  I know its a silly question and all, but it´s one of those things I never knew about.  And how, where ever you touched someone, sins were forgiven and demons cast out!  Cause I remembered my life and I used to be pretty messed up, and really conflicted - and Dean helped me realize all I needed was some armor - I mean that´s okay for me to imagine right?  It´s not conflicting with any sort of theology right? Okay good!  Al I really need is a spiritual armor.  Not onr f those bronze chest plates.  Take your old school carpenter hands and give me something holy!  There are souls that need to be purged! lives changed! demons slayed!

Anna, Joel, and Tessa

Dean Sherman he taught us about how to fight

In a spiritual battle with all of our might

We are not to tremble or ever hold back

but vanquish our enemy with prayerful attack

To put on our spiritual armor each day

and know who´s authority with which we pray

Thru us God will change heavenly places

we´ll take back dominion and rule for the races

Cause God is the winner as well we all know

we´ll go to the nations His greatness to show

The Lord He has shown us that we can all win

and breakdown the stronghold that we know is sin

Jamie, Destinee, and Elsbeth

A teacher with a stash

standing in front of the class

what does he teach?

what does he preach?

he is training our lives more than our heads

Let´s pray away darkness, pray in light

Be bold, be strong, we use God´s might

putting on our armor 24/7

gonna kick satans butt

proclaiming victory for heaven

So you see God rules, using us as his tools

we close open doors

stopping satan´s strategies and schemes

is it as easy as it seems?

well yes!  dogs bark, we win!

Hope you enjoyed the creative writing from the students!  One week from today, the students will head home for the Christmas holiday, then come back before the end of the year for outreach.  Both teams will leave for their outreach locations around January 1st, then they will be able to put the things they have learned to practice!  Stay tuned for updates from the field after the new year!

it is hard to believe the lecture phase is halfway finished!  The past few weeks, students have had teaching on topics including personal relationship with God, character & nature of God, and lordship.  During the teaching on a personal relationship with God, we learned different ways we can go deeper with our relationship and also about how God has created us all in unique ways and we do not all have to relate to God in the same way.  The teaching on the character and nature of God included learning about who God really is and understanding where we stand in our views of who God is.  Lordship is a teaching a giving everything we have to God and ended with a time during which students were given the opportunity to voice what God has been speaking to them in regards to their personal involvement with missions.  

The following a quotes from the Personal relationship teaching and the character of God teaching.

"One thing that hit home was when he (the teacher) said ´being a disciple of Christ means being a learner´".  

~Aaron

"One thing that really impacted me was that our love is in response to His love (God´s love) and that if we desire to love him more we should seek and focus on His love - and once we see a glimpse of his love, our response has to be love towards him.  Also, I learned that value creates obligation, so the more we see His value - the more we treat our relationship with higher value...our relationship with Him should be first priority because how valuable he is and that relationship with him is."

~Laura

"God is the most wise, intellectual, and honest person on the whole earth and He´s also the best in every discipline, business, sport, etc."

~Frank

Here are some testimonials from three of the students about what God has been showing them so far during the DTS.

"YWAM was not what i expected, rather than a structural, "churchy" place, I am being stretched, meeting and learning about some amazing people and finding a stronger faith and trust in who God truly is."

~Tessa

"I feel like since I´ve started my DTS that God has become more tangible to me.  The more I learn about him, the more I love him; he makes my heart sing.  he loves to communicate with me and now I want to be there for the conversation, even if it is 3am.  He is giving me more boldness to speak the truth in spite of how inadequate i might feel.  I love the new joy he is bringing to my life."

~Tia

"...no matter what we´ve done or where we´ve been, God is always waiting with open arms to take us back.  I´ve learned how important forgiveness really is.  The freedom that i now have is amazing!  God has given my sense of worth back to me!  I´m learning why I really believe the things I´ve grown up believing.  It´s really challenging me to think and have a stronger foundation in my faith."

~Leah

This fourth week of the lecture phase has brought about teaching/learning about having a deeper personal relationship with God and also what it means to be walking in the "fear of the Lord".  The students also learned which country they will be traveling to for outreach (Dominican Republic or India).  Next week, we will be learning about the character of God, so be sure to check back for more testimonials from the students about their week!

Well, the first week and a half of the DTS Lecture Phase is over!  This past week, the students received teaching on hearing the voice of God and also intercession (basically means standing in the gap).  The students were able to put their teaching into practice on Friday as we all separated into groups and asked God to show us what was on his heart for us to stand in the gap for.  The students will be putting this teaching to use on a weekly basis during outreach intercession and also during intercession on Monday mornings.

This week, we are watching a series of teachings by Dean Sherman that is based around having godly relationships whether it is with your family and friends, or with a future spouse.  The teaching on relationships is a Biblically based teaching that both the students and school staff are enjoying.  

Next week, look for a few testimonials from students along with more photos from the school!