Title Page + Goals & Expectations

Welcome to my DTS Journal! I am hoping that this will be a place where I am able to process some of the things that God is doing throughout my time in Europe/Africa, and later be able to look back on as a testament to the Lord's faithfulness and provision in my life.

I am coming into this whole experience without many goals or expectations - it is something that David and I felt called to do, and we jumped in without much research on what exactly we'd be doing. In fact, it wasn't until less than a week before we left the USA, when I was out walking with my mom one morning, that I realized I couldn't answer any of the questions she was asking.

What would we be doing all day? What would our classes be about? Would we have a schedule? Guest speakers? Field trips? Free weekends?

All of these were questions that I just didn't know the answers too - but I had a plane ticket. I was leaving.

The whole idea of YWAM in general was introduced to me while we were in Haiti with our church, Christ Fellowship. While staying at the Gonaives base, we heard Pastor Maula passionately describe his dream of building a YWAM Training Center and Orphanage in a rural area in the mountains. He told us that he believes people from our group would be back to help run it, and I believe that is one of the [[many]] reasons that David and I are here now.

More importantly, though, I am hoping that our time here prepares us for the time that we will spent in Mongolia with the Peace Corps...and eventually for a life of missions. Although we will not be allowed to "proselytize" while serving in the Peace Corps, my eyes have really been opened to the the many different ways that we can show Christ's love without handing out tracts or preaching on a street corner.

My prayer is that this would be a time of growth in my knowledge of and relationship with God, and an opportunity to be stretched out of my comfort zone. I want to think so hard that my brain is exhausted at the end of the day, I want to make new friends - even if it means learning French, I want to strengthen my marriage, learn what it means to fully rely on God, and see the realities of the world - even if they break my heart.

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or Lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)