diversity

Considering YWAM is known and established all around the world- it is going to be quite diverse whatever base you're at. But being here in the diversity and experiencing it is way different than just knowing about it! In my DTS class there are canadians, germans, americans, dominican republicans, costa ricans, mexicans, and even a malaysian! But thats not even everyone living on the base! There are around 70 people who live on/around the base and within that number there are 30 different countries! The fact that we can all come together and worship the same God in english, spanish or even german is so amazing! Worshiping in a different language just brings it to a whole new level of communication with God. But to help we are doing spanish classes in order to train for outreach and be able to communicate with people in latin america.
 But what are the chances that I would have ever met any of these people before? Even a person from O'Claire, Wisconsin I would have never met even though he lives an hour and a half a way. God is so cool and he planned this all! He has a purpose for each one of us being here and coming together. Right now we are studying the book of John and the beginning is all about Jesus choosing and gathering his disciples. Each one of the disciples came to Jesus in a different way and had a different calling- just like every person in my class came to be here in Costa Rica! Each one of us was brought here for a reason and it is already apparent that we are all so different and have such different talents that are going to balance out very well. Even our 1 boy out of 18 girls feels that He was led to be here and be our protector! But I think at times it will be a challenge for him- so as my texan friend Justine would say "if ya'll would pray for him" I'm sure he would appreciate it. 

crazyness

This is a sock puppet... named fuzzles. He was in our fabulous puppet show that helped explained the 17 values of YWAM. They are:


1. Know God
2. Make God Known
3. Hear God's Voice
4. Practice worship and intercessory prayer
5. Be visionary
6. Champion young people
7. be broad-structured and decentralized
8. Be international and interdenominational
9. Have a biblical worldview
10. Function in teams
11. Exhibit servant leadership
12. Do first, then teach
13. Be relationship orientated
14. Value the individual
15. Value Families
16. Rely on relationship-bases support
17. Practice hospitality 


All of these are things we are going to learn about and really apply to our lives not only here but when we go back home too. And looking at these values it makes me so excited because that is who I want to be and I can't wait to help others with that too! 

September 24th: The beginning

The past 48 hours have been the longest and scariest times ever for me. I said goodbye in Minnesota friday morning and there were many tears shed, and from that moment forward I was nervous and scared to fly alone. I was really stressing out and was freaking out a lot of the time. My plane landed safely in San Jose at 7:30 (Costa Rican time) yet I was still really nervous. Then God happened to plan to have me meet a classmate of mine at baggage claim! What a sigh of relief we talked and freaked out together. Then we went out to find our leaders and there they were! Yet through all of this I still felt so unsettled. We drove to the base and moved in our stuff. On all of our beds there was a card with our name and a bible verse. Mine was Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" At that moment I was so happy and felt so comforted and like all my fears had been washed away. That note just comforted me and helped me realize that God really is with me wherever I am and he is speaking through my leaders in classmates to guide me and keep me safe. I am so excited for what is next to come! It was a wonderful first day and I just pray that tomorrow is just as good :)