It's crazy to think that we are already heading into Week 7 of this DTS. Time has flown by so quickly. Now I know I most likely say this all the time, but there has been so much that has happened over these last 7 weeks that it's so hard to sum it all up so I need to get better at this...but here's just a brief little glimpse of some big things that have happened recently.
Ultimate Frisbee - This past Thursday I took part in the annual Staff Vs. Trainees Ultimate Frisbee game. Last year I was on the trainee team and we went all out as you can see HERE. So this year, I was so excited to be on the staff team. I got up a little early, 6:45 AM, and walked outside with my frisbee in hand and it was such the perfect morning. The sun was coming up and the weather was perfect. This game was a bit different then last years due to the fact that not only was the trainee team made up of the January Impact UK DTS, but also the September DTS. That's a lot of trainees. It was such a great game and so much fun to see everyone out playing and having a good time. Don't worry, as is the tradition - The staff were the victors.
Wales - In a few weeks, we will all be heading out on a mini-outreach. We, the staff and trainees, have been split into 9 different teams to go out to a different YWAM base all across the UK simply to bless them in any way that we can. I will be co-leading a team with one other staff member, Kyle, along with 3 trainees. I'm sure you've deducted by this paragraph's title that I will be going to the YWAM base in Wrexham, Wales. We will be with them for about 4 or 5 days just blessing them by doing practical work around their base, joining in with different ministries they are a part of, going around the city itself and probably a lot more. I'm really excited for this opportunity and it will really be a great experience which will challenge me in so many areas.
Click here if you want to check out the website for the base.
Prayer Room - This past week the base decided to have a week of 24/7 prayer. Underneath the Chapel here there is a prayer room which is always open to go to anytime. So people signed up for time slots to go and pray. The theme for this week was HOPE. So last night I went down there with 2 others to pray. What's crazy about this is that we began at 2AM which came after a movie night and an amazing Oval dance party in the factory. So I was already tired and not wanting to stay there for the whole 3 hours we had signed up for 2AM - 5AM. But we were there and we prayed and just thanked God in so many ways for the things He has done in us through this past week. I have developed a great love for my guitar, especially in times of prayer. It was one of those moments that I won't forget of just seeing how God has prepared me and guided me and brought me to this place that I am now. It was a time of really and genuinely inviting God to make His home in my heart. I truly meant it this time and I felt that He was definitely in that room saying, "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." After that time, we decided that we just couldn't stay awake any longer and needed some sleep but we had absolutely no idea what time it was. As we walked back to #9, we looked at the Clock Building and it was exactly 5AM. We were down there for the exact amount of time we had signed up for without realizing it. So great.
Freedom Week - Like I said above, these past 2 weeks have been so incredible for so many reasons. I woke up yesterday morning and the first thought that came to my mind was - I feel different - and it's true. Something has shifted, something has changed. I knew that as staff I would learn and grow in so many different ways but I could never have seen this growth and change come in such a short time. Last week we had teachings on what it really means to live the Spirit filled life. This past week was what we call Freedom Week which is all about discovering so much more of who God is and who you are. It is this week that we as staff divide into groups and have a time to pray for each individual trainee about their Original Design (who God has created them to be) and also pray through strongholds in their lives which hold them back from becoming who God wants them to be. On my DTS, I was the one being prayed for (you can read about it HERE) and now, I was a part of the prayer teams. It was so incredible to be able to pray for someone and hear from God who He has made them to be. These last few weeks have been so great for these trainees and I can see the change beginning to happen in the group and it is such an encouragement and exciting to see where God is taking them.
I have just been able to see the way that God has been working in my heart these last few weeks and I absolutely love it. I have been able to see and experience God in new ways and to see what it looks like to walk WITH Him each day. I have been learning so much about truly trusting in the way that God speaks to me and really going so much deeper in my relationship with Him. If there has been so much growth and change in my heart in just these few short weeks, I can't even imagine in what ways I will grow in the coming weeks. It's incredible what happens when you finally open that door that God is patiently knocking on in your heart and allow Him to make His home there. It is in that love that casts out all fear and brings life and life to the fullest. It's hard to articulate what I'm feeling and where my heart is at right now but just know, it's good and God is doing so many exciting things in my life right now and I can't wait to see where He leads next. I am in this for the long haul and it is through all these pieces getting put together which is creating this picture of who I can be.
I like this puzzle.
I hope that's enough substance for now.
Just know - God is good.
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