DTS Constanta 2009

It’s been 7 weeks now in Constanta, Romania!

Here is what I have about first three weeks.

In the first 3 weeks, God showed His Might and Power in worship, in every praise song, and everywhere I went – He has been revealing Himself.

The first week in Constanta was an introduction week. There are 12 students and during the first week we had great time to get to know each-other and go through the DTS manual. We had time to hear about the ministries they have here: street people ministry; ministry with children from neighborhood; ministry in Day Center – here kids ages 5-17 come after school to do their homework and also spend some time together, they play, learn to do things together, they become friends, become family together; the New Wine Café ministry mostly for youth – to spend time with youth and show them the way to the Lord. Each one of our team is signed for one ministry and we join it once or twice a week.

During the introduction week I heard so much. The worship songs that I have been singing before I now heard in a new way for my heart. I realized how blind I was to His word and how my soul was thirsty for His water. Every single sentence I was singing to Him turned up as my prayer.

We are scheduled for quiet time with God every morning after breakfast. I am learning how to do this and I hope I will be able to discipline myself in this lifestyle.

One of the requirements in DTS is to work on a Journal to reflect what God has taught us during the week. During the introduction week we had to work on our cover page to show what our expectations from God for the coming few months are and to write a letter to God. On my cover page I have sand, a desert and ice – craving for water to fill me and warmth to melt the ice in my heart…

The second week of teaching, we were taught about Hearing God’s Voice. We heard a lot, and by the end of the week we were praying for each other. When I went for prayer, the Lord really spoke to me. Each one of the words was an answer to the cover page of my journal. God simply said that He sees me and He will pour His water on my inner desert.

In our Journals we outlined short messages which we can share with people from what we’ve learned.

Titus and I visited the Day Center. We shared with children about our countries. We had time to play with them and Titus shared with them biblical story. Children of all ages were interested to know more about us. It was interesting to answer their questions about location of the countries as well as about our customs.

The third week, we heard about the Kingdom of God. It was so remarkable for me!! I am so excited now to be able to share with my friends the secrets of His Kingdom, the Kingdom of God which surrounds them and is everywhere! It is available for all the children of God! The Kingdom of God, the power of God, His wisdom, and most of all relationship – that is desire of God. I realized that people all over the world is longing for His grace! I am so happy we could learn this and will be able to share it with them and serve them.

We left for small outreach after first three weeks of teaching. We visited two small villages – two groups in two different places. I will write about this next time.

Astrid L

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Wow! I can’t believe it’s already August! Not only that, but August is almost over. The time has really begun to fly.

The teaching this last week was on our identity in Christ and what the cross did for us. To be honest, last week was a little rough for me. Emotionally. The teacher (Andi) was the pastor from the church I am attending here in Constanta and I really enjoyed learning from him more than just what I hear on Sundays. He’s passionate and knowledgeable and just an all around encouraging person to get to know.

For me, I have heard sermons on “The Cross” many many times (as I’m sure many Christians have), but this week-long teaching was very powerful to me.  Especially salvation past, present and future. I have never heard this teaching before, and it was difficult for me to process, but thanks to God and to the some people I am in DTS with, I feel like I understand a bit more.

Our spirit was saved when Christ died for us and we accepted it. Our soul is being saved. We are working out our salvation of the mind, emotions and will everyday and God is working through us. We have future salvation when we speak of eternal judgement and the rewards for the good deeds we do that were planned for us. This is not to be confused in saying the we can do good works to be saved, but we do good works BECAUSE we are saved. Salvation is the frame work of what God has given to us.

Three questions that were asked of us in the teaching were:

1. In what I did, did I do God’s will or my will?

2. In the works I did, did I draw attention to myself or God?

3. In what I did, did I do through my power, or His power?

I have been challenging myself with these questions daily. I think they are important for us to consider on our day to day lives.

Another part of the teaching that was very powerful for me was the reiteration that we cannot rely on our own strength, we must rely on God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

This is so true. We will just exhaust and frustrate ourselves if we try to fix our own problems. We need to give our burdens and struggles to God. He wants to take care of us! We all have strongholds from our past from what people have done to us, what we have done to others and what we have done to ourselves, but we need to release these lies that we live our lives by and give everything up to God. Nothing is too powerful for Him. Nothing is too much for Him. We need to turn everything over to Him with our hearts and trust in Him and HE will overcome these things for us.

Well, it’s starting to get late. Our entire base went bowling tonight in the mall instead of having small group and it was so much fun!! Hardly any of us can bowl, but we had a blast anyways. A few of us are meeting throughout the week to either study the bible together or to learn Romanian, including the ministries that we are part of and plan. There is always something going on!

Happy update : The store down the street got more Transformers in!! Haha, we’ll wipe them out in 3 days

Peace be with you all and I will try to update some more pictures to this site! God bless!!

Melissa

Popularity: 38% [?]

Last week, me and 5 other students went for a small outreach at Medgidia (an hour away from Constanţa) with the staff Leah L. and Calin. We visited 2 villages and have kid’s club with the children there. They are very different from the kids that we serve at the neighbourhood. They are quiet and gentle. They enjoyed the time with us and love the song and craft. Kids from Volea Dacilor, one of the village, suprise me. Their families are so poor and their house were built by the church. Most of them are not going to school and they just wondering around. They are all so sweet and love to spend time with us. They smile is timid and I just like to know their stories.

Coco from the local church took Me, Nat and Lead L to an old lady on our first evening at Medgidia . The lady cried once we all settled down. She said she felt embarrassing as her home wasn’t in good shape and not clean. But for me, the pink broken wall is warm and loving. She shared her difficulties, financial problem is one of the main issue. She worried that she could not pay for the heat in winter. And her body is pain and her heart is pain because of the problem of her daughter. Her tears really broke my heart and I could feel her loneliness.

The other day, we visited a widow. In an Orthodox society, being a Christian could be describe as “crazy”. And as the lady is a widow, she’s in a very difficult situation. But she has so much faith in God even I couldn’t see a smile on her face. As she has leg problem, she couldn’t go to church. Her money has been stolen and once again not enough money for food. But she told us that she know God is with her. What a faithful lady. We always care about the orphan but have very little time to the widow. How could we help them? How could we reach them?

Three nights four days at Medgidia. Tired but fruitful. We got back yesterday at about 5pm and I love being home. “Home”, yes! A month since the school have started, I already feel that the YWAM base in Constanţa is my home.

Nat just woke up and she is going to prepare a big pancake breakfast. Yes, pancake is our usual Saturday breakfast. Sun shining in my room as usual. I am glad to be here. And I am waiting for the stories from the other outreach team.

Popularity: 30% [?]

“Father heart of God” is the teaching of this week. Be RELAX, He loves you. Don’t compare and His love will find you.

Yesterday Harald Jensen, teacher of this week, asked the students to write down a few things on a piece of paper. One corner for our names, one corner for our expectations of this week, one corner put down what we think we are good at and the last corner put down what we think is most important in our life. I wrote down “LOVE”. To love God, to love people, to receive love from Him as well as from other. Then today, I found out that it is not a simple thing to recognize the importance of Love in our life. And I am so glad that I never doubt about His love. I got that in my heart and I have nothing to scare of.

We will have a small outreach next week. We will split into 2 teams, 1 team will go to Babadag and the other team, my team, will go to Medgidia. They are both an hour away from Constanţa. I am very excited and looking forward for the trip. And for the Big Outreach, from mid October to the beginning of December, it comes up to 2 destinations:  Serbia and Manila, Philippines.

OK. Meeting for tomorrow Kid’s Club ministry in 30mins and going to the Street People ministry tonight. Praying that my heart is ready for all that. Amen.

Hazel Chang (Student, DTS Constanţa)

Popularity: 40% [?]

August. Time passes so fast. I have been here for more than 20 days. I feel that I have been in Constanţa forever but on the other hand I couldn’t believe that the 2nd week of teaching has finished.

God’s Kingdom was the topic of the teaching last week. I am sure I need much more time to think about this subject. Random thoughts/ notes… Jesus talked about The Kingdom more than any other topics… “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” … on earth, yes, on earth…, concern about Justice, Poverty and those who are oppressed, the Kingdom is a place to serve…. to FOLLOW Jesus and to invite people to follow Him, not about repent from sin but a new mind, a new way of thinking…not about IN or OUT of the circle but following… shine the glory, make Him visible…

Last Wednesday I joined the Kid’s Club ministry. Our team went to a poor neighbourhood and we just played games, sang songs and drew with the kids. I love them so much and we had so much fun. I will keep working in this ministry and I am looking forward to meet them again.

Friday, Coffee House Ministry. We had the “New Wine Cafe” at the ground floor and it opens every Thur and Fri evenings. This Friday I went down to try to see what I could do. There wasn’t any new visitors but the 2 boys who always come. Then I realise, it’s not about making a good business. Sometime, it seems like “nothing” is happening. But it’s just because we haven’t seen the whole picture yet. I enjoy the night at the cafe. Don Stevens, our teacher last week, gave us a short message at the cafe. And he played beautiful piano for us. Sweet.

Popularity: 50% [?]