The DTS has now completed the lecture part of the school and we are now packing up to go to VANUATU for outreach phase
The Quick Recap:
I have moved to New Zealand and am volunteering at the YWAM base Marine Reach in Tauranga. I moved in February by no small miracle and have now spent a total of three months on the other side of the world. I have been growing a lot in leadership as I’m helping to staff the February DTS (discipleship training school). There are 37 students here for five months. As a staff I am leading the MedCom (Medical Compassion) stream consisting of eight students. For the last three months each week all of the students have learnt different topics in the Bible. I have watched each of the students grow in their walk with God. Within each week I have been able to teach the MedCom students’ different medical topics from wound care to common tropical diseases. The next two months will be the outreach phase and so now I am preparing my MedCom team to go to Vanuatu to apply what they’ve been learning.
In Detail:
The week which we spent in the Marae was such a unique time for our school. It lead to deeper bonds being formed, more patience being practiced, and lots of learning from some of the Māori elders of the Marae and from our school leader Ashley. The week’s teaching was on hearing God’s voice, and it was a significant week for a lot of the students as it was a challenge for them to hear clearly from their Heavenly Father.
As a whole school throughout March and April there have been many more areas covered. Some of the other week’s lectures were on topics such as the Holy Spirit, fear of the Lord, the Father heart of God, the gospel and missions, identity, relationships, and worship and intersession. Through this season it has been such a privilege to walk alongside the students, see them learn more and watch their hearts open and find freedom.
Each week the MedCom stream has been able to either hear teachings from guest speakers or me. Several of the students I teach are interested in the medical field, but some are not. The focus though, which is important to stress, is that the stream I am teaching centers around practically showing compassion. Topics that we have covered are developing world health, compassion, how to teach (health education), nutrition, patient assessments, vital signs, common tropical and chronic diseases, eye health, oral health, antenatal care, and wound care.
It is a bit of an understatement to say that these past few months in New Zealand were eventful. On the personal side of things, I know I have been stretched (and am still being stretched) as a teacher to make room for others. It is a bit difficult to put into words but although this journey has been hard, challenging, and requires me to dig deep, it is highly rewarding. This is where God has led me to be and the role of discipling others- I cannot and would not wish to be anywhere else.
I mentioned in my last blog that I was being kept busy and I explained what the usual school schedule looks like. One day we had worship with the whole base and another day with just the DTS, intersession was the same, evangelism, small groups and much more. I also have been able to become a base driver so I am often asked to take students places (appointments, outings, etc.). In between teachings some of the other fun highlights I have been doing (on weekends) are white water rafting with the Wild Heart stream, kayaking at Cathedral Cove with MedCom, abseiling (or rappelling) with Wild Heart, traveling to Auckland to pick up students and visiting Hobbiton with a group of students.
Some challenges over the last two months have been student’s health, lack of rest and some ‘growing pains’ in becoming a better leader. One of my students in my MedCom stream has had ongoing health issues since almost the beginning of the school and it has now led to her not being able to go on outreach as planned. It is a big disappointment for her, one that I cannot imagine, and affects our whole team. She is being seen by New Zealand doctors and is in contact with her family, but we are still waiting to hear what the doctors find after all their investigations. I know I already mentioned lack of rest, but I think it goes along with one of the challenges involved with becoming a better leader to an extent. I think that leading a team of students especially into outreach has its own challenge because we will all be living together for 6-7 weeks straight. To be a good leader as Jesus was, I want to be compassionate and loving, but I also need to work on giving loving discipline to my students.
Looking Forwards:
Over the last month and a bit, I have been preparing the MedCom team to go to Vanuatu. We have our plane tickets booked and we will leave on May the 7th. Our team has had some adjustments since one student will not be going with us and another has joined… and I have a co-leader now! I will be leading our team with Jack who is a kiwi and led a MedCom team last school to the Philippines.
We have been preparing medical supplies, learning lots, preparing health lessons, and pulling together many other things that we will be able to use over our time in Vanuatu. Our plans are not concrete as island time is very much a standard in Vanuatu. Some ideas of the things we might be doing on the main island are primary health clinics, wound care clinics, health education in schools, women’s prison ministry, street evangelism and church ministries. I am hoping that our team will be able to go and visit another island, but I am not certain where, when or how at this point. For most of our time our team will stay at the FCC (Family Care Centre) based in Port Vila, Efate. It is both a YWAM base and a medical clinic where our team will be able to help serve. Since Vanuatu experienced two category four cyclones in March a lot of their foods and land has been striped. While we are there, I hope we can help take part in rebuilding what they’ve lost.
If you feel led to support me in my journey you can financially on my donation page of the website. I know it is a little outdated, but I need financial support for my rent at Marine Reach ($126/week) and soon outreach rent at the FCC ($160/week) for 6 weeks. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting me here, I really cannot thank you enough for your generosity.
If you would like to support me in prayer you can by praying for our team as we head into outreach May 7th-June 19th. Specifically for team unity, to be led by the Holy Spirit to the right people and places, for Jack and I’s time as leaders to be fruitful, and for health in every way.
The Team:
Left to right- top: Jack the Kiwi, Jessica from Switzerland, Hannah from Canada, Fernanda from Brazil, Rachel from USA and Turkey, Abby from Canada, Nina from the Netherlands
Left to right- bottom: Celest from Singapore, Lianna me, Amalie from Norway
More of the team:
Our team trip to Cathedral Cove, it was an adventure:
The small group I co-led throughout lecture phase:
Baptisms at the beach- what a special day:
The team after 'Survivor' team building challenge, while in the rain:
Culture night with the team in island dresses:
I hope you enjoyed my update. Please, as always, feel free to reach out. Communication will look a little different in the next seven weeks but after I hope to give you another update on how MedCom team does over outreach- there are bound to be many crazy amazing stories!
Lots of love,
Lianna
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