 | Many of you will remember supporting Rebecca in her endeavours to travel to America to work with the charity YWAM. She left Bread and Butterflies at the beginning of the year to travel to the States to learn about how best complete her mission. |
She has been kind enough to keep us in the loop about how she's been getting on and sent this update of her first few weeks meeting new people and deciding where she will continue her missionary work.
week 1:
ARRIVAL IN LOS ANGELES
Thursday 9th January, I got on my plane heading out to Los Angeles. After a long and tiring ten hours, I arrived at LAX. This is my stepping out the boat moment; a line in the sand. I don't know anybody in this city, I have to fully trust that God has prepared the way ahead of me.
I got to immigration, expectant to be bombarded with questions, but instead, almost miraculously, I was let straight through and met by one of the DTS staff, Mahi (she's really cool & funny!).
Our first weekend was relaxing and focused on settling into the routine; then classes started on the Monday. We follow one theme over a week, for just over two hours a day. Our first lecture was on 'The Character and Nature of God' taught by Peter Warren, who used to lead the Los Angeles base before moving onto Denver, CO. I found the teaching really interesting and eye-opening to how God is portrayed in the old testament. He then talked a little about world suffering and linked it back to the character and nature of God. We also started work duties; so, we're helping around base, keeping it clean, babysitting etc. Me and one of the girls, Emma, were put in the kitchen helping with dinner prep Monday and Wednesday every week. It's been really fun and rewarding preparing food for everyone on base and working in the kitchen!
week 2:
GETTING INTO A RHYTHM
In our second week, in class, we moved onto 'Hearing the Voice of God' which was more difficult to learn in a classroom environment, just because it requires a lot more practise. Unfortunately, the women meant to be speaking got the flu, so our DTS leader Christie stepped in to teach, but she has so much wisdom, I found it really interesting listening to her speak and talk about the stories where God spoke to her.
We got given the two outreach locations on the Monday, one team going to the Philippines and the other going to Kenya and Mexico. After our school leaders talked a bit about the ministry in each location, we had 10 minutes to pray and decide. I felt drawn to the Philippines, even though, before coming to DTS I'd felt like God was going to use all the Spanish I'd learnt. Once we'd chosen where we wanted to go, the leaders prayed over our names to give God the final decision and collectively they felt like God was telling them to switch me. When they told me this, it was confusing and overwhelming. I had felt so sure God wanted me in one place and I couldn't understand why that had changed. Whilst I was praying over the switch, I felt God say "I will use you anywhere", almost as a reassurance that he still had better plans for me and I just felt so much peace over the decision. I had to trust my DTS leaders that they wanted what was best for me and that God was involved and in control of the situation.
This is my outreach team; together we're going to Mexico and Kenya! I'm super grateful for this amazing group of humans <3
ARRIVAL IN LOS ANGELES
Thursday 9th January, I got on my plane heading out to Los Angeles. After a long and tiring ten hours, I arrived at LAX. This is my stepping out the boat moment; a line in the sand. I don't know anybody in this city, I have to fully trust that God has prepared the way ahead of me.
I got to immigration, expectant to be bombarded with questions, but instead, almost miraculously, I was let straight through and met by one of the DTS staff, Mahi (she's really cool & funny!).
Our first weekend was relaxing and focused on settling into the routine; then classes started on the Monday. We follow one theme over a week, for just over two hours a day. Our first lecture was on 'The Character and Nature of God' taught by Peter Warren, who used to lead the Los Angeles base before moving onto Denver, CO. I found the teaching really interesting and eye-opening to how God is portrayed in the old testament. He then talked a little about world suffering and linked it back to the character and nature of God. We also started work duties; so, we're helping around base, keeping it clean, babysitting etc. Me and one of the girls, Emma, were put in the kitchen helping with dinner prep Monday and Wednesday every week. It's been really fun and rewarding preparing food for everyone on base and working in the kitchen!
week 2:
GETTING INTO A RHYTHM
In our second week, in class, we moved onto 'Hearing the Voice of God' which was more difficult to learn in a classroom environment, just because it requires a lot more practise. Unfortunately, the women meant to be speaking got the flu, so our DTS leader Christie stepped in to teach, but she has so much wisdom, I found it really interesting listening to her speak and talk about the stories where God spoke to her.
We got given the two outreach locations on the Monday, one team going to the Philippines and the other going to Kenya and Mexico. After our school leaders talked a bit about the ministry in each location, we had 10 minutes to pray and decide. I felt drawn to the Philippines, even though, before coming to DTS I'd felt like God was going to use all the Spanish I'd learnt. Once we'd chosen where we wanted to go, the leaders prayed over our names to give God the final decision and collectively they felt like God was telling them to switch me. When they told me this, it was confusing and overwhelming. I had felt so sure God wanted me in one place and I couldn't understand why that had changed. Whilst I was praying over the switch, I felt God say "I will use you anywhere", almost as a reassurance that he still had better plans for me and I just felt so much peace over the decision. I had to trust my DTS leaders that they wanted what was best for me and that God was involved and in control of the situation.
This is my outreach team; together we're going to Mexico and Kenya! I'm super grateful for this amazing group of humans <3
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