United with Dan on a Mission

Part of the application process for DTS, required a reference from a church leader. This was rather awkward, as I hadn’t been to church in a long time, so to cross this hurdle, I decided to give in to my youngest brother (Benjamin)’s demands to go to Church with him. Apart from getting the reference that I needed, attending services at the Worcester United Church, led to another chain of events…

While attending church, I learned about, and decided to get involved with a grief share programme that the church would be running. This is where I met Anne. A few weeks later, one Sunday morning, Anne introduced me to Padam from Nepal, and the rest of the group that were doing a ‘Word by Heart’ school at YWAM, under his leadership. Collectively they invited me to join them the following day, as a seminar student (just for the day). I was reluctant at first, as I had planned to start job hunting: I needed an income to contribute towards going to Scotland. But then, considering that it was only one day, I decided I could probably spare the time.

The Monday morning class was so enjoyable that I decided to attend the afternoon class as well. We started to learn the story of ‘Emmaus Road’ (Luke 24:13-35). The warm welcoming atmosphere and the friendly, happiness of the people there, was exhilarating. I wanted more! So, in a spur of the moment decision on Tuesday morning, I headed back to YWAM for more. I decided that I might as well finish what I had started (learning this week’s Emmaus Road story). I decided I could spare a week before needing to start studying for my final Psychology exam.

After an absolutely fantastic week of experiencing the Bible like never before, came Friday, when we had to recall and present the Emmaus Road story to the rest of the class. Earlier that week, many had doubted their ability to do this. I simply decided to do my best, optimistically thinking that if I make a fool of myself, I probably wouldn’t be seeing any of these people again anyway, so it wouldn’t matter too much. Surprisingly, (I think) I managed it pretty well. It made me think of an old animated series on TV called “The Story Keepers.” I was excited by the realisation that I too could be ‘a story keeper’! The possibility of being able to carry the whole Bible story with you like that was a marvellous realisation.

After our Friday presentations, we reflected on the week. I spoke briefly about how the Emmaus road story was a good example of Jesus going after two lost sheep, to joyfully bring them back. I drew a comparison from that and what had been happening in my life since deciding to do a DTS, and the ‘Ryan encounter’ on my Birthday. After I had spoken, Anne asked permission to tell the class, on my behalf, about the fateful bus accident from 8 years prior. Once she had finished, the atmosphere was like nothing I had ever experienced before. It seemed like everyone was really absorbed in my story. I had no idea how, or if, it had spoken to any of them, but something even better happened… Bruno said that he had recently taken over leadership at the base when the accident occurred. The loss of Grant (who was one of the casualties) had shaken the entire base. They were aware of others who had been badly injured, and so they had prayed a lot about it. Bruno said it was wonderful to meet me – one of those he had prayed for – and to hear my story. I had been with them the whole week, but he had no idea that it was ‘me’. Then Padam said that he also remembered that incident.  He too had prayed for me. As the tragic event had shaken everyone at the Worcerster Ywam base, it was shared with bases internationally. Just WOW! That was all I could think. I know my family has told me of friends and family praying for me, but experiencing it like that, was just amazing. It was also a really humbling experience, knowing that at that time I was incapable on praying for myself due to the injuries. More than ever before I realised what a miracle it was that I had not only survived the accident, but also made the recovery that I did. Being on the receiving end, I finally realised and experienced the power of prayer – and how much it can accomplish. I know that there are many more people like Padam, whom I don’t even know about, who have also prayed for me. If any of you read this, I want to give you a hearty, “THANK YOU!” for your prayers…

At the end of the week, I said goodbye to everyone I had met during that amazing week. Once again God demonstrated his love for me and how important I am too him! And all of you are too!! What the world honours is detestable in the sight of God! Even if you feel like ‘a nobody’, you are you; and the only you ever! Embrace who you are, as God made you!

The following week, I slept late on Monday, before waking up to start studying for my final Psychology exam – that had to be written on Friday… but when I logged onto the university site, I realised that I was mistaken and that the exam was only due the following week Friday. The First thing that came to mind was: “This means I can squeeze in one more week of Word by Heart!!!” Elated, I headed in rather late, and announced that I shall join them for one more week. They were as welcoming as before and another great week began. That week we learned ‘the passion story’, which in length was double that of Emmaus road. It was daunting. But again the thoughts of, “ah well, I’ll just do my best, if this fails horribly it is okay” came up. Again to my surprise, although more difficult, I managed, and finished Friday with another successful presentation. I now had two weeks of story, and it was really exciting. I was reciting the story whenever I got the chance. After again bidding a final goodbye to everyone, as I would be studying the next week, I went home.

During the 2 weeks I had come to realise the international scope of YWAM. I spoke with people about where they came from and what they had done at YWAM. Three major things stood out for me: there was a Ywam base in the state of Montana in North America, very close to Yellow Stone National Park, a place I dreamed of visiting sometime! Secondly there is a base on a ranch with the slogan “Cowboys for God” where they teach people to ride, maintain a horse, as well as do horseback ministry and even do outreaches to Mongolia, where the follow the tracks of Genghis Khan! Lastly, there is a YWAM base in Paris, France, which has a French Language school. Thoughts like ‘I would like to experience things like this, get involved and maybe even become a pioneer for YWAM’ came to mind. Looking back now, a seed may have been planted. I do not know how things will turn out, but I know one thing for sure, I can’t wait to find out!

As I had done the previous week, I woke up on Monday morning to start studying for my exam. It was late afternoon before I logged into the university site again, to just quickly check something. To my horror I realised that either somehow I had made a really bad mistake, or the exam date had been moved! Either way, the 3 hour online exam was scheduled to be completed before midnight that day!! Fortunately I felt reasonably confident that I did know my work quite well, and so I set out to write it, grateful that I had not totally missed the deadline.

Then I thought about the way everything had turned out and realised: I wouldn’t have gone to church if not for Benjamin; I joined grief share; I met Anne, who introduced me to Padam and the rest of the team; they convinced me to join them instead of looking for a part time job; I met Grant’s mom at Ywam; I learned the Bible like never before; I had that wonderful experience the first Friday, after learning the Emmaus Road story; returning the way I did for week 2 to the Word by Heart class and learning of YWAMs international scope; the way the final exam turned out so that I can continue with the Word by Heart class, not having missed a week or anything… This whole sequence of too many unlikely coincidences to be just coincidences had me feel like: “surely it can’t end here… it would be too much of an anti-climax.” Then similar to my experience in the vision (I will describe in the next chapter) I felt a voice, a spirit from within, say: “Now you have no excuse not to do Word by Heart, I’ve cleared the path, made it straight. Now go!” To everyone’s surprise I showed up again on Tuesday of the 3^rd week, and announced that I would be completing the Word by Heart school.

Amidst all this, something continued to bother me… I had planned to get a part-time job to help pay for Scotland. But then came the 4^th week, which contained a story that spoke to me like never before. It was the story of the ten talents, found in Luke 19:11-27. The nobleman in the story resembles Jesus returning to Heaven and becoming the King. In Mathew 25:19 the parable ends with ‘to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’ With that came the realisation of how the world, and everything in it, actually belongs to God. It is his possession. If he wants me to go to Scotland for a DTS, He will work it out. For now, if he wants me to do Word by Heart, I need to be like the servants who used what was given to them. If He gave me the Word by Heart opportunity, I should do it. Learning 80% of Luke off by heart would be an amazing tool to carry with me anywhere. If I am faithful with what He has given me; He will give me more. It’s a promise, and that is something that I really can have confidence in!