Why I love DTS...

The 2010/2011 DTS outreach team with Chad Chomlack (our prayer & worship speaker).

Our last Justice Discipleship Training School (JDTS) having ended on February 25th, we are now well on our way to planning the next one, which starts on September 26, 2011.  It will be the sixth DTS run at our base, and the fourth I’ve been involved in (once as a student, three times as staff).  Considering I had absolutely no intention of staffing DTS when I first arrived, I find it hard to believe sometimes, but there is a reason I’ve stuck around.  As such, I have compiled a list of the top three reasons I love DTS.  Here they are:

1. Meeting new people.

Not only do I get to meet new people (a.k.a. the students), but I also get to see them almost every day for five months!  To some people, that might sound like a nightmare, and I will admit there are challenges, but it is also a beautiful thing to behold… a group of people who probably would not have met otherwise, bonded together with common goals and purpose.  And of course the memories which are created as we share life together are completely unique to each group!  On the last DTS multiple videos were produced, interpretive dances were a common occurrence, and, well, let’s just say certain songs have been rather permanently burned into my mind.   Living in community is also an excellent place for learning, which brings me to my next point…

2. Hearing some incredible speakers.

The first three months of the school are called the “Lecture Phase”, and for most weeks during that time, we have speakers come in and share on a whole range of topics, from evangelism to relationships.  Of course, being a Justice DTS, we also have a whole week devoted to talking about various issues of injustice around the world and what we can do to change things.  We try to invite speakers with a variety of teaching styles, since we realize not everybody learns the same way.  Most of them stay in the house with us, and sometimes the time spent hanging out in between scheduled times is just as good as the “lecture time”.  I’ve heard some of these speakers four times now, and have learned something new from them each time, which is great!

3. Outreach.

I love travelling.  I’m not really picky about location either, although there are definitely some destinations I get more excited about!  Two months of the school make up the “Outreach Phase”, and for about five weeks of that time we travel to an international location.  So far with DTS I have gone to Uganda, Thailand, and Mexico, and there were aspects of all those places I loved.  Having lived in Nigeria for two years, Africa will always have a special place in my heart, but I also enjoy experiencing and learning about new cultures, and observing as DTS students do the same.

So, in summary, DTS is great.  I really believe it has the potential to be a life-changing five months for pretty much anyone.  There are Discipleship Training Schools all over the world, and sometimes I wonder why I didn’t go overseas to some exotic location to do mine, but at the same time I can’t imagine having done my DTS anywhere else.  That being said, our location in Winnipeg isn’t necessarily the best fit for everyone.  If you would like more information on our DTS, please feel free to contact me... I would love to hear from you!

Also, check out the YWAM Urban Ministries Winnipeg website for more info.

Chiara House

One thing which makes me very happy is taking what most people would consider garbage and finding a use for it, or using it to make something beautiful.  This tendency of mine doesn't necessarily have the same effect on other people (in fact, sometimes it produces rather impressive amounts of frustration), but regardless, I have realized if done properly, it is a very good thing.  I have also realized it is one of the reasons I am so excited about Chiara House!  I've provided a link to the website if you'd like to know more about the project, but basically, we are renovating an old apartment building with the intent of eventually turning it into a place of intentional Christian community: a group of people living out their lives together, practising radical hospitality, loving God, and loving others in the context of our neighbourhood.

So far the main thing I've actually been able to help with has been cleaning out all the garbage from the building, and in that process I have had many moments of sadness as I saw neat old doors get tossed in the dumpster, claw foot bathtubs which I know we won't be keeping, and all sorts of other treasures which got thrown away.  I've been able to rescue a few things, but I'm also trying to resign myself to the fact I don't really have much of a say in the project, and nor should I - I know nothing about renovating an old building or re-finishing old bathtubs, and don't really understand the implications of most of my ideals, or of keeping all this old stuff.

Anyway, all that being said, I'd like to share some pictures.  I and my two house-mates, Kathryn and Brenden, went to visit and do a photo shoot the other day... these pictures were taken by me and  Kathryn.

Ok, so this picture has nothing to do with Chiara House.  It's a Singer sewing machine (from the 1950s) which Kathryn co-found by a dumpster, and my dad fixed up so it's usable.  I was pretty excited about it!

Alright.  This is Chiara House.  Most of the building has hardwood floors, and most of the bathrooms have claw foot bathtubs, but unfortunately both would cost too much to re-finish.  Plus, the floors wouldn't be practical in the long run.

I hope we can keep the stairway banisters!

I love radiators!  I know they are completely unpractical, but I hoped at least we could keep that pretty silver one.  This picture is of the scrap metal collection, so I don't think there's much hope.

Walls I am completely fine with getting rid of.  In fact, I am looking forward to potentially getting to help demolish some!

Here's the address... 490 Maryland St.  It's not much to look at from the outside, but I do like the brick.