This update is going to be full of media. When I read emails or blogs I find myself skipping over the long descriptive paragraphs and straight to the photos or videos the author has to offer. Like someone very wise once said, a picture of worth a thousand words so here's a few thousand for you.
This is a photo of the Youth Street Dance Team that I have had the honor of leading for the past few weeks. We are small, only brining in two youth a week, but we have so much fun and are always learning new things and having heaps of fun. Leading the teams means that I am in charge of my two staff members (in the black shirts), organize the teams weekly activities, pastorally care for our youth and hear God on the overall vision of our team. It has definitely had its challenges but the biggest thing I have learned through the difficulty is how to hear God on the small things and let him take care of them. The first week I lead the team was a disaster because I approached the day without involving God or hearing what he had to say about what we were doing. The next week I took the time to hear from God and was inspired to try some new things that made the day run really well. I love that we can hand God both big and little things and trust that he will take care of them far better then we can! Currently we are choreographing a new dance and preparing to perform in the next few weeks!
I am now actively apart of a local church here in Newcastle and have loved getting involved and meeting new people. This is a photo of the "Cell" that I am apart of on Tuesday nights. It is basically a bible study/community group that gets together to hang out and encourage and love on each other. I have been a huge part of me getting further invested in the church and pursuing more then just going to church but actively participating in the community as well. It is an amazing church full of wonderful people! I have also been given the opportunity to lead a cell for 6th graders on Sunday afternoons. I have loved getting a chance to minister to more youth outside of Youth Street and have learned a lot about young people growing up in the church.
July is only two months away and Jeremy and I are staying busy with the preparation for DTS that we will be staffing together. I have learned that my favorite part of this prep time is encouraging the students that are interested in coming on DTS and helping them with the logistics they need to know in order to come. I spend most of my days online chatting with accepted or potential students. I help them with the application and visa process and encourage and pray-a lot. God has again and again proven that I have no power to get students here on DTS. It is only God that can bring students to our school and thats the way I like it. I would rather have a school of six students that strongly believe God has brought them here and are ready to change and bring change, then twenty students whom I have convinced to come. We are praying for a school of twelve students. I would love for you to join me as I pray for our school to grow and watch as God provides.
I have added the link to July DTS 2012 promo video that I was able to be apart of! Take a look and let me know what you think! I loved being able to share a testimony in order to promote the amazing things you can be apart of on DTS!
Here's the link: http://vimeo.com/39807666
I hope this gives you a good picture of what my life is looking like these days! I would love to hear any feedback you may have and answer any questions you come up with.
I'm excited to share more with you as we get closer to the school starting. Please keep me and my staff team in your prayers!
Cheers!
