mini outreach & outreach!

On Monday, a sign caught my attention in the bathroom at the castle. It had been there for a couple of weeks, but I hadn’t thought much of it until Monday. It was an informational piece about the Cheb (pronounced “yheb”) YWAM base and it was encouraging people to join in helping with the first DTS in February. I looked it up online and thought that I might want to visit it in the coming weeks, to see if it would be someplace that I would be interested in helping with. The region between Czech and Germany is the window of human trafficking from east and west Europe, so Cheb is located in an ideal place for working with human trafficking victims. I’m not sure what their plans are related to this, though. And then on Tuesday, I found out that my DTS will actually be going to the Cheb base for the mini outreach beginning in two weeks, for two weeks. !!! I’m really excited to learn more about what they are hoping to do!

This past week we studied the nature and character of God. I was reminded of how incredibly exciting and amazing God is all the time, and of how infinite all of his characteristics are. I am so lucky to be able to be in relationship with Him. My God is amazing. Seriously!!! :)

There will be two teams for the three month outreach that takes place after the lecture phase (I think we’ll be leaving sometime in November). One team will go to South Africa, and the other will go to Eastern Europe. We were asked to pray about it, and the team leadership will organize the teams based on their prayers and what we communicated about our prayers. There have been a few things in the past couple of weeks that have drawn my heart toward Eastern Europe, and I feel that that is where I’m supposed to be. God is doing amazing things in Eastern Europe, and I was able to hear about some of them from another DTS that returned from their outreach last week. Sex trafficking is big in Eastern Europe, which is the area of justice that my hearts breaks for the most. We’ll see what team I end up on! Your prayers for cohesive teams and outreach would be so much appreciated.

Love & prayers!

culture here at ywam herrnhut!

There is so much happening that it’s hard for me to pick one thing to focus on and write about. I’m in my third week of DTS. I absolutely love it. Maybe I’ll spend this post trying to describe the culture of my base.

Community – the structure is based around communities, and communities within communities. I’m a part of the town, the YWAM base, my DTS, my small group, the Justice House (where I live) and my church group. Right now I’m transitioning from trying out a church in town called Jesus Haus to a house church being held at the Justice House where I live.

Earlier today, I went to my next-door neighbor to ask her to help me open a can of soup because the house I bought a can without having a can opener. In case you don’t know, I don’t speak German. So I memorized “Haben Sie” (Do you have) and then brought my German-English dictionary opened to the page with the German word for can opener (too long to memorize when I have a headcold) and rang the bell. She knew what I needed as soon as she saw me holding my can and dictionary (ha). I found myself wishing I would’ve memorized the phrase “How are you?” instead. There were a lot of thank you’s coming out of my mouth and I tried to communicate with body language. I think she said I could come over for any reason, but I can’t be sure!

Bilingual – the base is completely bilingual with German and English. Because of this, and because all the Germans know at least a little English, I have been able to get by extremely easily with just English. Since there is so much going on, I haven’t dedicated much time to learning German. Sometimes I feel guilty about it, and it’s in those times I remind myself that my primary reason for coming to here is to learn about the Lord and how he sees justice and not to learn German. But as someone who loves languages and cultures, I hate to see this opportunity fly by without even learning the foundation of German!

Discipleship – we have one-on-one meetings with group staff. There are five staff leading the thirteen students in my DTS. My one-on-one is Mona, and she is incredible! She is the one who is leading our group. She is an amazing artist and a wonderful leader. I am excited to be able to process things alongside her.

Many Schools Simultaneously – this YWAM base is hopping! I went on a tour of the town and the tour guide told me that the Herrnhut YWAM base was the biggest in Europe. I haven’t really checked into that fact, but I’ll go with it! :) I am in the Justice DTS, but there are three other DTS groups on the base currently (Fire & Fragrance, Mobile & Marriage of the Arts). When I arrived, there were two secondary schools finishing up. Secondary schools are more focused schools that can be taken after completing a DTS. The MOTA (Marriage of the Arts) school is by far the biggest! They have 120 students and started a week after I did. I love that the average person here is artistic!! Most of our lectures are separate from each other, but sometimes we are together. For example, this week we have a visiting speaker who is teaching on Intimacy and Fear of God, and he is speaking to both my school and the Mobile DTS. As far as lectures go – we officially have two a day but usually there is at least one more event that is as wonderful and insightful as a lecture for a total of three!

Feel free to ask questions! I only bring my computer to the castle about once a week, so my responses might be a bit delayed, but I will answer. :)

first week of DTS!

So I’ve been here at the YWAM base in Herrnhut, Germany for a little over a week. It feels like home already, like I’ve been here for longer than just 9ish days.

Here are some bullet points that will help draw a picture of my life right now for you:

• I live in a house in town with 7 other girls as well as a couple, and all of us are doing the Justice DTS (Discipleship Training School). The boys live in a different house closer to the Water Castle.
• It’s about a 25 minute walk to the Water Castle from the Justice House (where I live). We have meals and class in the Water Castle. The walk is pretty—I go through town, down (or up, depending on which way I’m going) a hill called Slow Death and then through the forest. It feels like a fairy tale!
• There is a café in the water castle!!
• I had a few classes this week! We have had lectures about definitions of justice, prayer and God’s calling in our lives as made evident by talents, passions and interests.
• I’m in far eastern Germany, and it’s beautiful. I can see hills of the Czech Republic and Poland in the distance when I am walking down Slow Death (the hill).
• I pass a lot of huge slugs on my walks.
• It’s not humid here, which is a wonderful and welcomed change from Indiana.
• My weekday schedule: I wake up at 6, have lectures in the morning, do my work duty in the afternoon (mine is cleaning the Justice House) and then do whatever activity is planned for the evening (movie night, community dinner, worship service, etc.)
• My weekend schedule: I wake up a bit later, go to the Castle for brunch (brunch here means that you eat breakfast and then pack a lunch from the breakfast that is set out) and participate in different activities. Last night we had a BBQ to welcome new students. Yum!

It’s so neat to be in a community with people from different countries and with different Christian church backgrounds. Like I said earlier, I already feel at home. I am so excited for everything that the Lord is going to be doing throughout my time here!

Hugs!

Meghan

in the munich airport

A post I wrote yesterday morning while still in transit (more to come in the next few days!)--

8.23.12

9:37am

I am sitting here in the Munich airport and my computer says 3:37am. I’m on my third cup of coffee though (they are smaller here, so I’d say I’m rounding off my first American cup), so I feel awake enough!

It doesn’t seem like I’m physically in Germany. Except when I purchased a bottle of water (I couldn’t find a drinking fountain anywhere!), the woman spoke German to me, and more than just a pleasantry and the price. I felt so American when I said “What?” I wished I would have said, “I’m sorry; I don’t speak German yet” instead. Apparently she needed my boarding pass in order to sell me water.

The airport is designed a bit like IKEA and there is unlimited free coffee on my airline. Free coffee and paying for water? That’s the opposite of what I was expecting. J

I’m still not sure what I’m doing once I arrive in Herrnhut, so I’m off to try to find a phone. My parents paid for an international plan, but I’m fairly certain that I’m roaming on my international plan, which could be extremely expensive. Mom, I can practically hear you saying “Don’t worry about the cost! Just make the call!” but I have two hours and walking around a bit looking for a phone couldn’t hurt… maybe I’ll even find the elusive water fountains!

I am about 70% done with reading Is that You, God? by Loran Cunningham! That was my project on the plane, in addition to reading a few letters from family and friends. Is that You, God? is the story of the founder of YWAM and how it came to be. I usually don’t find biographies riveting, but I absolutely love this one! It’s incredible to read about the miracles—yes, miracles—that have happened on Cunningham’s journey being obedient to the Lord. I’m learning all kinds of “principles,” as he calls them. I can hardly believe how much knowledge and practical application is in this book. I can’t wait to arrive to my YWAM base and experience this first-hand!

in the airport

Hello! I can't believe that today is the day that I leave the US.

As you may know, itown church is currently doing 21 days of prayer. I began my day at prayer, and the hour ended with the prayer team praying over me. Some sweet friends were there and we said our goodbyes. I wasn't planning on crying, but I was just so overwhelmed with gratitude for the past couple years at my church home. My mom introduced me to itown and my life hasn't been the same since (in the best way possible)! I have been so incredibly blessed by all of the sweet friendships that have developed from my time there. Thank you, Lord!

Here are just a few of the cards that I've gotten. I love how varied the messages are!

So, I have a word picture for you. Imagine that there are two cliffs facing each other, like in the cartoons. I'm jumping off one and planning to land on the other. At this point, I am practically off of the first cliff, but I don't yet have much to physically hold on to: I haven't quite reached the cliff I'm landing to. Physically, that's a bit how it is of flying overseas. But I feel like everything else in my life is kind of like that, too! Socially: I don't have any friends overseas yet! Life-wise: I have no idea what I'll be doing after YWAM! YWAM-wise: I don't really know where I'll be living, what country I'll be in three or four months from now, or what the program itself will be like. Honestly, I don't know much. But I still feel convicted that is the right move!

I'll miss you guys! I'll post again as soon as I am able. :) 

die letzten tage

...I think that means "The Final Days." At least, that's what Google Translator told me! I had a to do list for my last month in the US with "Learn German" on it, but I haven't been able to cross that one off quite yet. ;)

I leave for YWAM 5 days from right now!! How unreal is that? My trip consists of a flight with three legs (Indy to Philly, Philly to Munich, Munich to Dresden) and a bus ride (Dresden to Herrnhut). If everything goes as planned, my journey will span approximately 19 hours. Germany is six hours ahead of Indiana. I will be arriving at the YWAM base around 8am Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, August 23. I am so excited!!! Prayers for smooth, safe and linguistically comprehensible travel would be much appreciated. :)

These past few weeks have been filled with incredible blessings. God has provided in so many ways through the people in my life. I am incredibly thankful that I serve a God that cares about details! We talk about this a lot at church, but it has been particularly amazing to experience this provision first-hand. From prayer support to emotional support to financial support, and all the way down to specific items I had been meaning to purchase for my trip, I have been cared for and loved through all kinds of support. If nothing else, the tangible items that serve as proof that my God loves and provides!

Do you like snail mail? I do! I would love to be penpals with you (yes, all of you!!)! You can write me at:

Meghan Cross
JMEM / DTS
Untere Dorfstr. 56
02747 Herrnhut
Germany

Here are a few pics from a surprise goodbye party thrown earlier this week by some sweet friends!

Love and prayers!
Meg

i love the people

I love the people God has placed in my life. From my family to friends to co-workers, I have been blessed beyond imagine. What kind of workplace encourages you when you put in your two weeks? Mine did! I love the people in my life.

Honestly, I have never been happier with where I am at in life than right now. So how could I pick up and leave it all? My great longing for comfort has been trumped by a deep peace. A deep peace that I am going where I am called to be. And I know that the peace that I feel is from the Lord. This is the first time that I've felt called to do something and I couldn't be more excited to be obedient.

Chances are that if you are reading this blog, you are one of the people that I care so deeply about. Thank you for your support and encouragement! :)

Oh and one more thing--you can learn more about what I'm doing here: http://dts.mission-live.com/! I am doing the Justice DTS.