I have never done a DTS myself, but I have had the opportunity to live at the YWAM Maui base and can tell you what I have observed.
THE YWAM COMMUNITY
When I first met the people on base, I was greeted with open arms (sometimes literally). The people here on base are from all around the world all with their own unique story of how God called them here to Maui. The community here is like a family. They can all lean on each other and speak words of encouragement. Everyone is very genuine and honest with who they are.
THE IMPACT
Arriving in Maui, I met the current SBFM team while the DTS teams were still on outreach. Every person in SBFM has graduated from DTS and has talked about how much it has changed their life and their personal growth. Being in this program allows you to focus on your faith and set a firm foundation for your life as a believer. It allows you to learn more about yourself and let go of the things that have been taking you away from your faith. Through this program, you will be pushed out of your comfort zone through new experiences, stretching your knowledge of who God is and what he says about your life. One thing I have observed is this is not always easy, it is challenging but rewarding. It is recommended to those who are serious about their faith and ready to commit. Are you up for the challenge?
I am about to graduate college and am praying about doing a DTS myself. I come from a Christian family. Both my parents found God as adults and once they were married, they planted roots in a church and raised me and my sister knowing God so we didn’t have to search half of our lives to find Him like they did. For this, I am forever thankful. Although I grew up knowing God, it was until my freshman year of college that I found a Christian community that took me in and taught me what it meant to live out your faith. I do not know where I would be if I never met this community. That being said, one reason I would do a DTS is the community. A community that loves, accepts, laughs with you, keeps you accountable and lets God lead the way. The biggest reason I would do a DTS is to truly put my faith first over everything else and be equipped with the tools to share the Good News and know how to respond to God’s great calling. Whether it is across the world, campus or walking down the street, it is always a good skill to express what you believe in a way that is pleasing to God.
OUTREACH
While living here on base, I got to observe the excitement of teams coming back. One of the nights after the teams got back they shared their experiences. This was a very impactful moment for me because I feel like I got to get a better idea of what outreach looks like and how it impacts the people who went on outreach. The teams talked about what they had learned from the culture they had been living in for months and the cultural barriers they were able to overcome. As they were speaking I could feel their excitement from what was just accomplished and God moving in their lives. They all found a new sense of purpose for their lives and it was obvious in their interactions. I desire to be changed in the same way. Something that I have never really thought about before is that God is a Global God and touches lives all around the world. God is working in everyone everywhere whether they acknowledge it is Him or not. The teams were able to plant seeds on the other side of the world.
CONCLUSION
I would recommend doing a DTS because it transforms your faith and understanding and gives you the ability to change your life and those around you. God has a purpose for all of us and invites us to be a part of something greater than ourselves, letting go of earthly concerns, and focus our hearts on Him. YWAM Maui does exactly that.
By Vanessa Gums