This is still just the first week of my YWAM DTS course at Holmsted Manor, Sussex, England, and I'm loving it. Today we experienced the power of God in our teaching sessions, and the 'devotional' periods for reflection on His word.

After breakfast we had our 'quiet times' again. Today we were all given sheets of paper with messages from the staff which they felt were given to them by God before we came to the school. I really connected with what was said, and saw how it fitted with how I feel now. I really appreciate the fact that the quiet times are built in to the timetable. It can often be hard to find a few spare minutes in a "normal" day to just sit still and spend time with God. To be able to come here and have a whole hour of this time every morning is fantastic.

After a break, we listened to several presentations from local outreach leaders. There was youth work, street evangelism, leading services in an immigration detention centre and a homeless ministry. Once we had heard all the presentations, we were asked to give our first, second and third choice of which we wanted to be involved with for the rest of the course. Again, I'll let you know when I know which I have been accepted to.

After another break, we resumed our lesson on hearing God's voice. This was a great lesson and I was very much encouraged by it. After some of the teaching, we were asked to take an envelope with our name on it, and we were told inside was the name of a student. We had to go and ask God for a message for that student to encourage them (without opening the envelope to see who it was). I think we were all encouraged by the messages we received, and it was a very powerful tool to help us hear God's voice. After that, we took part in another amazing practical exercise, where we all got to ask God for a message or vision for another student while they were there. The message I was given was so accurate to how I am feeling, it could, in my opinion, have only been God who had given it (the people giving the messages were blindfolded at the time, so they couldn't know who it was they were talking to, and have that affect what was said). When it was my turn to give a message, even before someone came to me, I had a vision of a modern windmil, but I wasn't sure what that was about. When we shared a few of the things we saw at the end, I talked about the windmil, and was then happy to hear that someone else had also had a vision of a similar windmil! I shouldn't be surprised by such things though: God is bigger than we could possibly imagine, and if he sees fit to give a vision to 2 people in a room, He can certainly do it. The message I received mentioned about how even though I may have heard a lot of the course content before, I can still learn from it now too. I think I had mentioned something very similar in yesterday's blog entry!

After lunch, we got cracking on with our 'community care' projects. I am on the toilets and shower room team, so it is my job, along with two others, to make sure those areas are nice and clean each day. It is funny what things God does to prepare you for a course like this: only a few months ago, I was using some of the same window washing techniques at church that I used today for the windows and mirrors in the toilets.

Once we had cleaned all the toilets and shower rooms, we had the final session of sharing our journeys to faith. Again, a lot of powerful and emotional stories were told, and again I became so thankful to God for protecting me in my childhood from so many damaging things. These times got me thinking about youth work again. Youth workers have such a very important role to play. Childhood is a pivotal moment in a person's life. The decisions made and actions taken as a child can affect a person for their whole life. I'm so glad I have found a relationship with the creator of the universe, who can heal the pain of the past, and give hope for the future. He has bought back the time spent on rubbish in the past, and enables you to live each day in His power and under His authority. You don't need to worry about the opinion of others-only God's view of you matters. Youth workers can help young people to see their place in God's plan, and help them find the motivation to press on in to what God wants for them.

Then we had dinner: a nice traditional English Shepherd's (or maybe Cottage) pie.

I'm still so thankful for being here. The YWAM DTS is such an amazing course. It is able to cater to new Christians and older believers alike. I've given up a lot to be here, but it was certainly worth while.