cheeky update

DTS is great

I love it here. I haven't genuinely been this happy and content in months... It's so quickly felt like home and I've felt more comfortable here than back home at the Lodge (oops?!). There are about 35 students on this DTS and about 15 staff (random guess) and they all have become family so quickly (apologies for the cliche). Seriously though, the fact that I've been here for just over 2 weeks is blowing my mind- it feels like it's been months, but also only a few days which is guess is why people say that DTS flies by..

The first week we were here was just orientation week which gave us time to get to know each other better, and then last week our first lectures started and the topic was the character and nature of God. This week was taught by Pastor Blake Mattocks who was an amazing and humble guy- he really showed me God's heart and who He is through his teaching. Just a few topics included in that week were honesty, obedience, contentment, courage, forgiveness, kindness and others..... It's been really challenging and humbling to see each characteristic in depth more.

On one of the first nights here, our school had a session of learning about rights and ultimately laying them down to Jesus since he gave us everything anyways. Afterwards during the processing time I could have cleared out a small section of the Amazon rainforest through my tissue consumption... It was so hard to give up some things that I held so close and hadn't seriously considered ever giving up. Thankfully my amazing small group leader walked me through some of that processing.... It really showed me that I need to constantly lay things down to God because holding things close will actually move me backwards instead of pressing forwards.

This week the topic is 'Fear of the Lord'. Our teacher is Mark Davies who is on staff here- just one of the things that we learned that really stood out to me was that there are absolutes and relatives... an absolute is that Jesus is Lord, love must be a main priority, Jesus is the only way to salvation, etc. Other things like music preference, tattoos, alcohol, movies etc. are all relatives (defined by our conscience and convictions). To force our own convictions upon others of what we believe is right or wrong isn't loving. However it's important that absolutes stay priority and the focus of our lives... once the relatives take over and become more important to the point of disunity and division then there's a problem! Moral of the story: love one another and God over anything else. This was pretty cool to see and apply.

(Inserted inspiring picture of a lake that we hiked up to see last weekend)

DTS is challenging but I love it. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I'm having to face a lot of hard things in my heart face on. I am also asking God and myself a lot of hard questions because I don't want that half-hearted faith stuff. My friends are awesome and supportive and I know that with God is the safest place to be.

This next week we'll be away in the mountains learning about the Father heart of God. Yay. Thanks for all of your prayerzzz and love! I really appreciate.

If you want to send me mail (which you do) then my address is

YWAM Denver
Elisa Leage DTS
12750 West 63rd Ave,
Arvada CO 80004

xoxoxoxox

Words from a German Castle....

Germany is beautiful.
Every prejudice I've ever had has gone. Strangers here are friendlier than they are in England (oops??!), everywhere is so clean and the houses are so cute. It's so so quiet here at the castle too...  I can hear myself think.... Probably because there is no A5...

Yesterday I was sick and my cold was at it's peak so I napped and sneezed and sipped tea. Today I am much better. Yay! My dad is teaching on the SBS and I have just come with him for a break.... I am currently on a weeks holiday from school and work, and resting at home is not always easy. Its nice to be away somewhere different where I can actually rest because I don't have my laptop or phone or TV ... or even friends :o ... I am getting ultimate introvert time and its awesome.
We are staying in a 1899 castle in Hurlach which is a little village in the south of Germany. It's so cute. Also it's really flat and the sky is really big!!!

When I get back home I will be carrying on with life. This will include College (school) 3 days a week, working at the cafe over the weekend and then 2 days a week at my new job (yay!). This new job is the opportunity I talked about my college providing and it's such a blessing! I am working as a Personal Coach for year 10 students (14-15 yr olds). This involves meeting with them fortnightly to see how their doing academically, mentally and emotionally, providing support where needed and then helping them come up with targets and realizations by themselves. This requires lots of questions and listening on my part! It's awesome! I am still getting the hang of it but when I am in each session with a student I feel in my element and I'm doing what I love to do. Whenever I am not coaching I go into different lessons like maths or English to help out by being a teaching assistant, supporting students as necessary and just being an extra hand. I also really enjoy that too!!

I feel like such an adult; working a 9-5 job, driving to work, having so many responsibilities. It's scary at times. I come home and am completely exhausted, lights off by 10pm. However I've never been pushed to rely on God's grace more. I'm learning that intimacy with God doesn't just happen and I need to pursue it on my part as well. Similarly, you can't just find a friend and instantly have a deep relationship with them. It requires time, trust and effort. Each day I am choosing to trust God. It's hard and it cuts my pride but that's necessary to walk in humility, right? Whenever it gets hard I remind myself how God created time, earth and the little blood vessels in my heart and mind so I should be pretty safe to rest in his timing and ways. He is the smartest.

On another note, it's less than 4 months til I head west to the land of the free!!! So close. Almost 4 months until my DTS starts. I can't wait to spend 3 months living in the mountains of Colorado. It will be such a special time, I'm sure. 

With the 2 jobs I am working at the moment, I should have nearly enough monies for my DTS by June! So much provision. I have nearly $1000 saved already (£600) :D. I will only need to fundraise for a couple more hundred and then I should be set. If you would like to give and join with me on this crazy adventure that will take place June 2014 then please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Thanks so much for reading this! I know blogs are a thing of the past but I will proudly keep mine going. Viva Blogger! 

http://www.ywamdenver.org/school/youngpeoplesdts (take a look to see what I'll be up toooo :) )