16th March 2011

Overview of staffing a DTS
Here is an overview of the last 9 to 10 weeks in Finland during the DTS:
The first two weeks before the DTS started we had staff training. The DTS students arrived on the 14th of January.
At the start of staff training we were only expecting four students, but in the last few days before the DTS started we received two more applications. So all up we have six students. Four of the students are Finnish and the other two are from overseas; one from USA and the other from Holland. There are two girls and four boys. There are three leaders, one another girl and I plus the DTS school leader. We have a lot of staff on the base who help us during the DTS lecture phase.

The first week's topic was the Nature and Character of God and our identity in Christ. The second week we learnt about the Fear of God, which it was brilliant! The third week we had Topi Kivimaki teaching us about the Father Heart of God (for those who do not know him, he is a family friend, so it was nice to see a familiar face). Father Heart of God teaching was good for everyone because sometimes we can get the wrong image on who God is if we compare Him to our earthly fathers. Week four we had teaching on the Holy Spirit and evangelism. We watched a movie called Furious Love (produced by the same director who made Finger of God), it was a really good movie that stirred my heart. I would highly recommend watching it.
The fifth week we had teaching on Relationships in life, in every area; family and friends etc. We announced the outreach locations. God had spoken to us before the school started that we would be going to Poland for 6 weeks and Estonia for 3 weeks so all in total 9 weeks for outreach. I will be one of the outreach leaders so this will be another big step in my journey.

Our sixth week's teaching was about Spiritual Warfare and Intercession, and then we went away from the base for two weeks. The first week of our trip we were in a place called 'Perheniemi' which has a Christian university there. We had lectures with another DTS group. The topics taught were Biblical worldview, money, love, relationships and marriage. I was not able to be in any of that week's teaching because I looked after two three year old girls. It was a learning experience for me because these little girls did not talk any English and were always busy wanting to do many things. God gave me strength to talk to them in my broken Finnish and look after them; it was sure a test for me.
Our second week away, we had an outreach week in Finland in a city called 'Hattula', it is about one hour drive from Helsinki-the capital of Finland. We stayed at Hattula Koti Kirkko (a pentecostal home church) and we served in many ways while we were there for a week. We led church meetings at the church, did evangelism on the city streets, went to an elderly home, we spoke at a Lutheran Bible college and joined them in a youth night, and much more. It was a great and fruitful week. We did have some hard and challenging days but it caused a breakthrough within the group. It was great to see the students use their gifts and talents to glorify God.

I had an opportunity to MC and preach on tuesday night at the church's prayer meeting. I spoke on to 'stand firm' as believers in this wicked world, to stand on the foundation of the rock (Luke 6:46-49) and live by the Word of God. We then we spilt the people in three groups to pray for people in authority positions in Finland, pastors and leaders in the churches, and for all believers to take their place as sons and daughters of God (1 Timothy 2:1-2). It was great to pray with the members of the church for their city and nation.


On Thursday night we had meeting for young people at the church. It was a great evening, all the students and DTS staff served in some way that evening. The students led worship and praise, they did a few drama/skits, some shared their testimonies and others served in making coffee. God spoke to me to share a bit of my testimony in the meeting. I always find it a bit hard to share my testimony because I had so many challenges growing up and trying to fit in at school. I spoke on how God cares for us and loves us, and that He will never forsake us even when we are in the valley of death, the dark times in our life. As i shared it from my journey I saw a young girl start crying in the audience, I knew God was speaking to her and doing something in her life. After I spoke I felt led to ask if anyone wants to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, this young girl put her hand up and gave her life to Christ. Praise God! Afterwards she came up to some of the students and myself and said that she needed exactly what we said and shared, I had the opportunity to pray for her. Although I found it hard to share a little bit of my testimony, i understand now why it was so important to share it, someone else understood and it helped them draw closer to God. It was an encouragement, so if you feel your testimony is maybe not so significant; know that it is, because it is your story and journey with God, through your life people will get encouraged and certain people will understand and will draw them closer.
I was so delighted to see the young girl come to know the Lord from that meeting. The week was definitely fruitful, we may not see all the results of the week, but sowing seeds does not mean you will see the harvest straight away, it is a process but it surely is a joy to be part of the harvest.

This week we are back at the base and we have the topic Sin, Repentance and Restitution, so i believe it is going to be another breakthrough week for the students. In five weeks time we will be going on outreach to Poland. We are excited but there is still a lot of planning to be done.

I hope you all are well. I pray that each of you will find your strength in God daily for all the things you need to do. I also pray that God would give you each an opportunity to share a bit of your testimony to someone, at the right time. Don't look down at yourself, but know who you are in Christ and walk as the son or daughter He has created you to be.