Meet the DTS!

They are cool, fun, unique, valued, worthy, righteous, caring, singers, passionate, kindhearted, generous, loved, hungry, different, chosen and interesting! A colorful bunch of people; teenagers and mid-age, loud and quiet, men and woman, strong and gentle. Each and everyone unique and special. 

They are from USA, Nigeria, Switzerland, Spain, England, South Africa, South Korea, Finland, Netherlands and Uganda. 

If you, dear reader, are a person around base I encourage you to get to know these awesome human beings! (Or you’ll be missing out)

Fourth week and the topic is Biblical Worldview. So we talked about how everyone has a worldview - how do we see the world, where do we believe we come from, what happens after this life, what is the truth and how do we view God. Our actions, our lives, reflect what we believe. 

I love it. Looking at what I believe and why. I want to dig deeper into the word of God. I want to understand the Bible, understand God (but yes, I have come to peace about that I cannot understand everything. My tiny brain is just too small and God too big. He is still good in all!)

There is a school here than runs for 9 months called School of Biblical Studies, where they study the Bible. I had a good talk with a friend the other day who’s currently doing the school. For her, she feels like she understands and knows God better. Before she thought she knew God pretty well but the Bible just revealed so much more of His character. Maybe just maybe, someday somewhere I would be so blessed to do the school. Maybe. But blessed we are, for our whole lives we can discover more and more of God. That is a blessing in itself.

God’s love is furious!

peace, love and understanding

/e.

Grace - I just can't get enough.

Last week we had Christ Lautsbaugh come and speak on grace (first week of teaching). It is was my third time hearing the message and in all honesty, I walked into the classroom thinking I’ve heard it all, I got this already. Quite arrogant. By the end of the week I appreciated the week so much realizing I need to hear the message of grace over and over again. I need to be reminded of what Jesus actually has done. I can’t get enough of grace, I need God’s grace everyday. 

Over to this week (third week already!) Fred Barington is talking about the Father heart of God. It’s been emotional, good and redeeming. Walking through forgiveness of our earthly fathers and accepting God as a Father and His love. 

I am really enjoying the times of worship together as a class - we listen to God, praise Him and He speaks to us. One of the students shared that during worship on Monday he really experienced the father heart of God and His love so deep. Like God was outside a door wanting to come in. God’s love is so great it moved him to tears. He hasn’t cried during worship before.

One of the highlights of the weeks has also been the time of student devotion, where they get an hour slot to share, show, create, lead the time with the rest of the class. :)

I feel so blessed to be part of this journey, it is really exciting what God is doing.

On a personal note, I feel like God wants to speak to me about intimacy with Him. Really knowing Him and not just knowing about Him. 

                                                               Student devotion. 

           Leading worship with one of the students. He has an amazing powerful voice :) 
                                                                        So gifted!

                                                        The men praying together. 

  Two of the beautiful students!

Home sweet home. I feel so blessed to stay in this place with 6 other cool people. 

And it's like 10 meters away from base :)

Love /e.

Life and the story told.

DTS has started! All students have arrived, staff team completed with the presence of the last staff member (thanks for the prayers) and week one of orientation gone by.

The first few days of DTS we shared our life stories. A definite highlight of last week. I realized we all have our stories, past, burdens but we are all here for the same reason. Jesus. 

This is my story (in a short version).

For so long I was lost, I did not know who I was. God pursued me. I didn’t think much of myself, so I treated myself as unworthy. God pursued me. Smoking and alcohol consumption until memory was lost, feelings numb and waking up next day embarrassed,  heavy and empty became a habit. God pursued me. I was seeking my value in other people, getting into bad relationships and getting frustrated with myself. God still pursued me and finally I started to listen and respond. That’s how I ended up here :) I needed Jesus. God showed me how He loves me and created me for more, created me for intimacy and relationship with Him. I am transformed by His love. 

On the Friday we walked down to the beach to have some time and listen to God. The sun was shining, the sea looked like eternity itself, the mountains standing majestic, the grains of the sand countless and even the moon was visible on such a sunny day. It was so beautiful. I closed my eyes, and God showed me a picture. I see all of us sitting in a row and wearing crowns. It’s almost unbelievable. The admirable majestic and beautiful creation makes my jaw drop but we are above all that and that blows my mind away. God LOVES us. The world reflects God’s beauty but we are the only thing in this world created in His image. We are valuable, more than anything in this world, not because of what we do but because who we simply are. How God sees me is so different from the way I see myself. He sees treasures, sons and daughters and beloved ones. 

This is what we felt the theme of our school was (Isaiah 61). God wants to give us beauty, joy and praise instead of all the heaviness, emptiness, burdens that we have carried and show us our true identity.

Isaiah 61 

To all who mourn in Israel,
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

Love and JOY 

/e.