Winnipeg Discipleship Training School

 

 

March 19th, 2007: Outside the YWAM office on Sargent Ave, you can here muffled noises. As you approach the office and peer into the window, you see a group of people sitting in a circle, clapping out a beat and laughing....yes....Monday morning, our exceptionally and delightfully fun(and educational...just make sure I included that, wink, wink... ) speaker, Chris Whitler, is having us clap out a beat while we holler out the name of an animal in alphabetical order. What a way to wake up! It was great, not to mention how he opened up the lecture by playing the game "I have never". It is the one where you say... for example "I have never snorkled upside-down", and if anyone in the crowd has, they immediatly bolt from their seat in search for another...and the one who isn't quick enough gets stuck in the middle repeating this cycle. Also, in the effort to make our "getting to know each other" process more interesting, Chris asked us the most intriguing question of all: What is your favorite ice-cream? Awesomely enough, I documented each person's reply (against their will...maybe...muhahaha!). So here you go...the favorite ice cream(s) of our DTS.

Staff

Matt: peanut butter chocolate
Jamie: chocolate chocolate brownie
Ree: Cold Stone Creamery's birthday cake bash or Ben and Jerry's peanut butter cup
Kim: lemon sorbet
Paul: pralines and cream

Speaker

Chris: Cold Stone Creamery's white cake batter with strawberries

Students

Ed: blue licorace
Lindsey: peanut butter chocolate
Brenden: heavenly hash
Stacie: pumpkin pie or cake batter
Robin: cookie dough
JP: rainbow or strawberry

This week's topic was Evangelism. I loved Chris's approach to teaching about it. Instead of giving us checklists of what to do, he shared about his experiances and what he has drawn from them. Through his stories, he has allowed each student to come to their own revelation of what is involved in evangelism. 

A specific story I was floored by was about him spending time in a Russian orphanage. He said something to this effect..., " The coolest part was seeing God's love and commitment to her (a little girl he had become friends with). You are not going to Uganda because of your caring and concern but because of GOD'S caring and concern for people. He cares so much that he helps you to raise the money and time needed to go to Africa and just share (even if briefly) in the lives of others." He also talked about how to love others, how evangelism is not just something done at a specific time, but rather, done everyday through our lives, how to have a balance of boldness and humility, how to walk through tension with grace, and so much more. He shared about moments of success, times of failure, and how God is using us to fill up every part of everywhere(in people, and in the world).

The illustration he used for that last point was genious. Two of us students went upfront. One held a glass tipped, the other a glass underneath, and Chris the pitcher. He then proceeded to pour water into the first cup, which overflowed to the second, and then all over the carpet( haha...I wonder how our staff was feeling about that). Honestly, I'm not quiet sure how to summarize all that our speaker taught us. I guess he imparted a peice of his life unto us, and I'm glad that through God using him, we could draw inspiration for our own lives concerning evangelism.

 
Highlights of the week:
Chris cooking Thai Food for dinner

Small group (boys and girls this week): We made mini-smores using chopsticks, votive candles, and miniaturized versions of the rest of the ingrediants. We played Mennonite maddness( don't worry, I had no idea what was going on either) , a game in which a single pen is placed in the center of the table, followed by the shaking of dice, and if a person rolls the correct number they frantically snatch-up the pen and begin to number a paper until they reach 100. When this happens, they win. It's pretty interesting to say the least, especially when you're surrounded by uber competive people. We also played a game invovling tape and frantic grabbing...the point was to rip the piece of tape of your peer's back...good times!

Outreaches: Our last ones... "tear".
 Note to reader: These are not exact quotes, but overall ideas shared by the students...

Ed's perspective: This week, we talked about what it means to be a Christian, and shared different ideas concerning it which included : forgiviness, loving one another, being supporitve of each other, being encouraging, and so on. There was definitly a sense of closure: the group of guys prayed for each of us, for our safety, health, and that we would be good and effective wittnesses. I really enjoyed meeting the people in the North End community and hearing about their journeys and day to day struggles. Many of their struggles were hard for myself to relate to, but they gave me a new appreciation and understanding for their lives and how they overcome/deal with the obstacles in their life.

Lindsey's perspective: LBE was pretty good. We as students preformed an object lesson, which went well, but what I felt affected the youth most was Stacie's testimony (concerning our illustration) because it related to them in a personal way.I also had the opprotunity to be involved in pickups, and it was good to see the living condistions of the youth because it enabled me to understand more so why they act they way they do.

Well...there you have it! Sadly, this will be my last time journeling about our school...I will be in Uganda next week! Jamie will recieve the honor of documenting our journey while we are there, and I want you to know....it's been a blast...and God bless you tremendously!

Lovin you in Christ Jesus,
Stacie J.

Hi again from Winnipeg! AHHH the topic of relationships.....mushy gushy love notes, cuddling, flowers, the works... hahaha.  Okay I'm bluffing, but seriously, our topic this week was Relationships. Unlike the previous statement, our discussions were not superficial and vague; rather, they were challenging, deep, and exciting. Our speaker, the caring, bright, and cheery Kara Thompson, is not only a founding member of YWAM Vegas, she is very insightful about this topic. I can remember a closing statement of "How can one be certain that a person is right for them - a.k.a. marriable? You can't...you just have to do your homework."  As I think to myself...."GRRREEATTT, I've never been one for actual studying and effort...hehe. Now...it is time to marvel, gape, and smile at the lovely update about the inner workings of YWAM Winnipeg's spectacular DTS!

Don't settle for the bitter, wait for the sweet. Kara mentioned how many of us are starving for relationships, and we tend to settle for anything we can get, and not for what is best. I know this thought inspired me. God has honey for us...not stale bread. That is exciting. She proceeded to discuss several problems that effect the beauty/joy of all types of relationships. She outlined the characteristics and behaviors we have developed from our family relationships. Seeing how a foundation of security is formed during our childhood, and how identity is built upon this reveals why our foundations can be  broken and/or filled with gaps. Being able to take responsibility for our own actions, knowing that we can pass on wholeness and not brokeness to our childern, and being able to empathize with others are tools we can use to mend family ties, and knowing that Christ heals and loves us. She also defined the fact that a healthy family relationship is defined by security and maturity.

The clinical aspects of brokeness (in relationships) were also discussed. This can be outlined as: Biological aspects: chromosomal issues; hormonal issues; and brain structure. Psychological aspects: setting; personal view; events and experimentation.  Supernatural aspects: fallen nature; demonic influences; "offering ourselves to idols"; and generational sin. It was great to hear Kara speaking about facets of relationships that are hard, touchy, or practical. We also discussed sexuality which includes types of it, struggles with it, and a godly approach to it. More advice and dialogue occured concerning non-negotiable qualities in a future mate, how to prepare ourselves to be good friends, mates, etc., and principles that can be used in the recovery of ourselves.


Deep Thoughts by Kara Thompson: As I learned thoughout the week, I noticed that Kara stated profound advice using straightfoward statements. These are not exact quotes, but I feel they convey the overall idea as I understand them....yeah it's goood stuff...so here is what I have gathered; enjoy!...or else...hehe:


Well...although I could not share the depth and fun of this week, I hope you could savor a taste of what we learned...take care!

God bless!

Stacie J.

Previous Post - Week 8

 

"Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart"
Mahatma Gandhi

Think about your favorite food; your favorite memory;your favorite hobby... It seems that so much of who we are is defined by our culture. Thinking of this, it is very understandable why we (the DTS students) need to be aware of not only our own backround, but that of the Ugandan people. It is vital (as I feel the quote is emphasizing) that we think outside of the box we've been raised in, and reach out with love, openess, and compassion to others, which is the culture of Christ's heart.

Missions was the focus of our week. Jack (John) McNeill shared with us not only his knowledge concerning this, but personal stories and smiles. He is truly intelligent and humble, possessing the ability to put the entire class at ease. We had some really great questions and discussions concerning this topic.

As one could guess by previous statements, culture was highlighted in his teaching. We reviewed information such as the stages of cultural transition which included the "honeymoon" stage, the "reality check", the "work to grow in understanding", and the "re-entry into one's own culture"stages. Identifying with a culture vs. using the extractionalist approach, communication aspects of cutlure, strategizing to reach a culture (yet being flexible to change), and acquiring cross culturalism were just a few of the topics emphasized.

Jack also revealed that the foundation of missions began in the Old Testament, outlining the fact that God has had a mission concerning humanity since the beginning of creation, and presenting us the question, "Do we want to be a part of God's mission or not?"

Speaking of missions...WE are going to UGANDA in three weeks! Three weeks people...think about it...that is coming up very quick! Since we are so passionate and pumped about our outreach, we came to the conclusion that you the readers would probably be super thrilled to learn about what we are going to be involved in! (Brace yourself people...)!

We, the lovely students, are going to be flying out from Winnipeg to Toronto, Toronto to London (England), London to Dubia (The United Arab Emirates), Dubia to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and finally from Addis Ababa to Entebbe (which is in Uganda, yes my friends, which means we'll have finally reached our destination...awesome!)

After this, we will bus into Soroti, and stay in the YWAM base located there for almost 4 weeks. While there, we will be involved in such things as serving the people of Soroti, digging wells, reaching out to people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, ministering to the Karamojong, and serving/working in the war torn regions of North Eastern Uganda and Southern Sudan.

For about the week (and a bit) we will relocate to the YWAM base in Jinja, serving in a variety of ministries which include everything from medical programs to awareness education. The last week we will receive the opportunity to work with street kids in the city of Kampala through an organization called Dwelling Places. What a wonderful opportunity we have received from Christ! I hope that you can take the time to check out these links, pray for the ministries, and pray for us! Thanks so much! God bless!

Sincerely in Jesus Christ,
Stacie J.

Previous Post - Week 7

Good evening ladies and gentlemen...reporting to you LIVE (well...maybe not) from Manitoba, the paradise of prairies. Behold, yet another update has arrived concerning the Winnipeg DTS of '07:

Angela Oliver, a member the leadership team at YWAM Vancouver, honored us with her presence as she shared on the topic of Intimacy with God. Angela was an interactive and insightful instructor, not only encouraging us with personal stories, but with warm kindness and the giving of thought-filled cards. We had a lot of fun this week, and to spice up the blog, we'll lay out the news in highlight-focused style.

Highlights of Week:

The Mask(s)

We were instructed to grab some construction paper, markers, and a handful of creativity to construct a mask which represented/stated aspects of our life or personality which hindered us from having a more intimate relationship with God and others. Realizing that such things as humor, shyness, past hurt, work, etc., could become cover ups for our true selves was healthy to realize. All took turns unveiling their masks, and sharing the qualities about themselves that keep us from knowing them better. We also noted how we could change this, and what steps we could do to improve our vulnerability to God and each other.

Bruce "ALL MIGHTY THEN"

Friday we huddled around the projector on comfy sofas to watch "Bruce Almighty." Angela prompted us to watch carefully and observe qualities in the characters that resembled some of our own, and to just take notice of what perceptions people have concerning God. After enjoying the movie, the group had some deep and enlightening conclusions about themselves and the world around us.

B. E. A. UTIFUL Introductions

Even introducing ourselves to our new speaker this week was interesting. She proceeded to ask the usual like, "What is your name, where are you from," and then out of nowhere we get a "What would be your superhero name and what are your powers?" Some of the answers were hilarious! We especially enjoyed Robin's answer, which was best described as "I'm Rapunzel Love Bug, because I lasso people in with my locks, and then hug them till they get all mushy!" Now that's a way to fight crime folks....hehe. Other enjoyable super-heroe names included, Captain Corny, Invisi-girl, and Captain Ninja. Nice!

"Like A Glove" Observations

We went through sixteen points (not complete representation, just an accurate overview) of what defines intimacy with Christ. It included such points as knowledge, participation, time, love, and passion. We also pondered why intimacy is important, and how to create/uncover more of it.

Re-he-he-heally Great Activities

Given a maximum time limit of one minute, we were asked to write a personal introduction of who God is. Being able to speak about how God moves/has moved in our lives, and not just in generalizations was challenging but very beneficial. Hearing the other student's perceptions of Christ brought a new depth of richness and understanding to our own knowledge of him. After this, we had a list of relationships in our lives, and then were asked what we expected and felt about each one. It began with such interactions as knowing a stranger, to an acquaintance, pastor, family, and spouse. As the list increased in intimacy level, it was apparent that we had more expectations of those relationships, and seeing how we related to others revealed how we related to God.

Note to reader: If you didn't notice, I'm using quotes from Jim Carey movies as titles...so please, don't be alarmed!


Outreach Groups:

Brenden, Lindsey, and Stacie

Rotating between LBE (Living Bible Explorers) and MYC (Manitoba Youth Centre), we get to develop relationships with many teens. At LBE, an inner city youth group, we preform skits, participate in worship leading, hang out with the youth, keep them in line (somewhat), and enjoy their company. MYC is characterized by getting involved in the recreation program and spending time with the guys. Through all of this, we hope to spread God's love, build relationships, and share joy with those around us.

Thoughts on MYC:

Running around, we tend to get sore....hahaha (meaning maybe we should work out more often). We have fun playing sports with the guys. They are great and hilarious, making up nicknames for some of us and being curious about our time there.

AND THEN Thoughts on LBE:

It is interesting to see the dynamics of inner city youth. Also, observing the differences between LBE youth and the those who come from the Waves of Glory Chapel mixing together is great! To see hurting teens and hungry hearts inspires us to love and give our time, hoping they will see how much God cares for them.

Ed, JP, Robin

We spend time with an inner city home group which meets all over the place for coffee, snacks, and fellowship. We discuss such topics as personal issues, relationships, temptations, struggles, etc. Celebrating each other, encouraging one another in Christ, and just enjoying life together defines the group.

Thoughts on the Care Group:

A highpoint for us was seeing the birthday of a certain gentleman being celebrated. He doesn't have his own family, so we the church are his family. He was given gifts, birthday cake, and the company of friends. To see the smile spread across his face and the joy in his heart was wonderful. Honestly, it made his year!

Some Staff Perspectives (summaries of their thoughts):

Question: What aspects of Angela's teaching did you find encouraging/challenging in your walk with Christ?

Paul: Understanding how we interact with God: If we cannot love (or develop relationships) with those around us, how can expect to do the same with God? I appreciated the teaching on this.

Michelle: Creating masks: It was valuable learning about the ways/things which hinder our ability to grow more intimate with Christ and others.


Well everyone. There you have it. Sharing in the life's of others is so amazing! Good day, and if I don't see you later, Good morning, Good evening, and Good night! Take Care!

Always a sister in Christ,
Stacie

 

 

Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.'