Sunday, January 13, 2013

It's Really Happening!

Well It's officially begun! And we're already at the end of week 1 for Engage DTS 2013. 
This time leading up to the school has been pretty hectic but very productive. I think we as a staff team had the equivalent of about 1 day off since Christmas. We've been busy decorating the classroom, getting together student info, welcome baskets, and the like. But it's been so much fun. I absolutely LOVE the staff team I am working with. I am blessed. 
  The students arrived on Jan. 3rd. 52 of them for our school! My job that day was to welcome them and get them to their room with everything they needed. There was so much excitement and enthusiasm because we'd been looking forward to that day for the past 4 months. It was hard to not be overwhelming to the students- who'd just traveled crazy amounts of time to get here. The next couple days were orientation which included honoring the Hawaiians for letting us be here, learning about the different ministries on campus, and setting the heart piece, tone, and expectations for the school. We ended the weekend and started the week with a BBQ on the beach at sunset. A great start!
  Every Monday begins with an hour of corporate worship. A good way to bring everyone back into focus. Then we jumped into classes with Donna Jordan as our speaker for the week. An amazing woman who teaches on 'Listening to God'. She has the authority to teach on it because she walks it out in her life. In every area. Every once in a while she'd stop and ask God what we were to talk about or do next. One time God told her we needed a break time- so we had a much needed break! It was so great to watch the students grow throughout the week. The first day we were all challenged as to what making Jesus Lord of our lives actually meant. So you can imagine it pushed some buttons! Throughout the week students were laying things down and opening up the the fact that God really does want to speak to us, that he desires relationship, and it will cost us our 'junk' that we want to keep hidden, but so very worth it in the end. Because when we give everything to God, Jesus is getting the reward of what he paid for on the cross. It's a beautiful exchange. There was allot of 'letting go' and 'stretching' done this week. It's so good! 
  I am having so much fun getting to know the students. They are amazing men and women who have left everything behind for the sake of getting to know God and serve him for the next 6 months. That's no easy thing to do. But I'm excited to see how God meets them in this place. I'm excited to see the identity he speaks and the dreams he awakens in each one.  

Pray for
- God's will to be done in us this week. That all the glory for what's happening would go to him alone.  
-Open hearts for the students as we go into this next week of teaching on the 'Nature and Character of God' as many previous beliefs will be shattered. 
-Strength in us staff. It's an amazing yet tiring journey for us. 
-That we would be able to build solid relationships with the students this week. So they will feel able to share what they are working through.  

 Thank you for your prayers of support of what I'm doing!
I pray that YOU will have a greater revelation of who God is and his unending love for you this week.
Colossians 1:9-14

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing Lindsay on what God is doing in you and through you!

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  2. Still praying for you Lindsay! I know God is doing amazing things in your life and through your life to impact those around you. Never give up hope or submit to fatigue--our God's power and grace is made perfect through our weakness and the areas in life in which we fall short. Hope to hear from your soon.

    2 Corithians 12:9-10

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