Our first week has been filled with meeting our 23 classmates and staff and getting to worship and fellowship together.  There are many nationalities represented here, including Thai, American, Canadian, Chilean, Ukrainian and the Shan hill tribe (from Burma).  This is a DTS of many firsts.  It is the first time that our director, Bruce, will be leaving for a month to come visit the States.  It is the first time that the Shan couples plan on training at our DTS so that they can start a new YWAM base in Burma (which doesn’t have one).  It is also the first time that this base has had a transsexual (a “lady-boy”) apply and be accepted into the DTS.  This is the first time that there are 4 married couples (us, the 2 Shan couples, and 1 Thai couple).  As we start this adventure, we are excited knowing that each individual was called here according to God’s purpose and plan.

Our first day in class was spent introducing ourselves and getting to know each other. We went around and each one shared a little bit about their background and expectations for the next 5 months.  It was astounding how many people said that they were the first in their families to become Christians.  People seemed to be encouraged that we came from “Christian households” because that is the vision that they want for their families.  We heard stories of redemption and promise of the Lord’s favor, across our different languages and pasts. The Lord made it clear that He was and is sovereign over everything.  He has good gifts in store for all of us! It has been very encouraging to pray and worship together in different languages and to experience the raw genuineness of people.  I will admit that upon our arrival, I was assuming that Thais do not show public emotion (as we learned the cultural etiquette of “saving face”).  Perhaps this was relevant to the general population, but I was so happy to admit that I was wrong! During conversations, worship and sharing times it was amazing to see everyone’s genuineness.  People smiled, laughed, cried, and became simply undone and open.  Praise God!  From day one, we have had Thai staff and students willing to pray for us, share their lives with us, and be honest.  We have been impressed with the hospitality, the Biblical foundations and the intentional community that has already been established.

Living is quite simple here.  It is so green! We have a huge property (that is a favorite of Alisha Geske), complete with a community classroom/kitchen area, a girls house (which our room is located off of), a boys dorm, a garden, chickens, a pig named Tinkerbelle, seven dogs, a campfire pit, a volleyball area, the Geske residence and an awesome tree-house. We are 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai in a subdivision called Mae Taeng.  You can hitch a ride with anyone for free (don’t worry Mom, in groups of course) or pay a few baht to ride a “song-kow” (or “white truck” that is a flatbed truck with two rows to sit on).

Our weekly schedule (starting 9/12/11):

Monday- Friday:

*6:00 = Wake up

*6:30 = Breakfast

*7:00-8:20 = Personal Time with God

*8:30-9:15 = Worship/Intercession

*9:20-9:30 = Devotional/Foundational Values

*9:30-12:20 = Teaching

*12:30- 1:30 = Lunch

*2:00-3:00 = Free Hour (M/W)

*2:30-5:00 = Work Program/Outreach

*5:00-6:00 = One-on-One/Fitness Activity

*6:00 = Dinner

*7:00-9:00 = Mission Night/Reflection/Teaching/Study Night/Family Night

*10:00 = Bedtime (let the dreams, visions in the night season commence…)

Saturday:

*FREE DAY*

Sunday:

*Church in Chiang Mai*