Our last week here at YWAM Harpenden has been a real joy! Last Friday, as you might recall, the new Discipleship Training School and other school and seminar groups moved in, so we had to move into an old factory located on the property here. In some ways, we feel like we’re already on our foreign outreach as we’re camped out on the floor with sleeping bags. The night we moved in, our wonderful school leaders gave us an extra special treat of takeaway pizzas and cookies and ice cream for dessert! We played games late into the evening and made “human sandwiches” (as many people as possible squashed in between as many mattresses as possible…) People woke up a little sore the next morning…..On Saturday and Sunday we enjoyed the hospitality of some great YWAM Harpenden staff friends, people we’ve grown to love here over the past three months. We enjoyed an apple festival held in the orchards here, with fresh apple juice and delicious cakes and jams available. It was such fun and was a great chance to abandon inhibitions and become a kid for the afternoon climbing trees and collecting apples in wheelbarrows! My parents also came to visit me and took me out for lunch, which was very special. It was hard to say goodbye before I leave for my two-month outreach to Uganda, but it was a privilege to spend time with them.

We began lectures this week in a slightly different style than we’ve become accustomed to…namely, with no lecturer…or not one we can hug anyway! We spent the week watching a series of videos by Dean Sherman on Spiritual Warfare. Much of the content was new to me. Dean describes the authority we have in Jesus Christ as well as the insignificance of the forces that oppose us compared to the greatness of God. He has made it possible for me to believe that, as the Bible tells us, prayer is powerful and effective. This teaching will be so important when we get to Uganda and face situations that most of us have never dealt with before. We’ll have many opportunities to pray and then see God work…. I can’t wait to get on that plane!

In the next couple of days we will be saying goodbye to our DTS Italy team as they prepare to start their outreach in Cornwall and Brighton here in England before flying out to Italy. It will be very quiet without them here, but we are thrilled that they can begin this next adventure. Team Uganda leaves next Tuesday. Although sad that we’re saying goodbye to friends and family, nothing can take away the excitement of being led by God into the world to partner with Him in seeing lives change. Who would say no to that? So, here ends the lecture phase of my DTS…and I’m as ready as I’ll ever be!!

The next time I write it will be from Nairobi, Kenya, en route to Uganda – see you then!

Kim