Bringing up the depths.

This past week was a rough one for most people on the DTS it seems. I hope that I didn’t concern you to much right there as when I mean “rough” I mean a good rough. This week was all about the character of God and inner healing. This week really touched on some deep area’s and uprooted a lot of emotions for most people. Suzy’s parents, Peter and Trish, really spoke some powerful words into everyone’s lives.

One of the days I got to sit in on class they were talking about the character of God as a father and a mother, Pete and Trish taking the appropriate roll. We talked about how God is not only the father figure that we long for, though that is a very big aspect of things, He is also a strong mother figure in our lives as well. Something that I rarely think about, but God is certainly a mother figure as He is sensitive and caring as any mother is. These area’s is what touched most people the deepest as we talked about how things our parents did, no matter how long ago, really make an impact on our lives. Things that we may have totally forgotten about really make us who we are today. This can be for the good or for the bad.

One of the big areas that we talked about was all about self cursing, such a large topic that stretches over many different things. It’s amazing to see that this is something that really touches everyone deeply. Talking with one of the Malawians during some one-on-one time he mentioned how this really hit him hard as he has always doubted where God could take him, most of that is because he thinks as a black/Malawian he is unable to go very far. This is a typical way of thinking for most Africans; thinking that they are to poor, or too little for God to take them anywhere in life. This is definitely something that I could relate to, though it’s hard to try to relate to them as I know that I have been blessed with so much growing up in a middle classed western home. But four years ago I would have never thought that I would have ever gone to Africa in the first place, let alone be living here for a good length of time. Like i mentioned last week about the skit we did about being in a box, I think I just put myself into a box and really though little about the power of God and the things He could do with my life. Now that I’ve jumped out of the box and am really letting God do with me as He pleases I’ve seen some amazing acts of God, met some wonderful people from all around the world. I even know that this isn’t the end of my path and that God has so much more in store for me and I’m so excited to see what adventures God and I will embark on over the years.

Something that really caught my attention this week when talking about God’s character was that He is a God that loves to Bless. This is something I’ve always known but we heard it in a bit of a different way this time. Pete and Trish talked about how even when praying for things we need to bless them. They told a story about how as pastor of a church really thought that God wanted them to have an orchestra within the church. So he was crying out to God for this to happen, but one day God told him to just start blessing the idea instead of asking for it. The pastor was confused but went on and just started praying a blessing over the people who would be in it but the orchestra all together, within 3 months that church had a full orchestra. We learned that you don’t always need to pray into something with big details or big dramatic words, but the power of praying a blessing over something is incredible and God really sees that we just want the best for Him and whatever we are praying for.

It was a real blessing having Pete and Trish here this past week, they are truly a couple who are devoted to what God has for them. It was great to see them teach as individuals but yet always willing to let the other speak whenever they saw fit. They are also such loving and gently people to be around. They were always encouraging each one of us and being so uplifting even when we didn’t do much to deserve it. I know that each of us is so grateful for them to be here, them giving up all of their time for us as we rarely gave them time to themselves as each student got to meet with them for some one-on-one counselling.

Now after along week of some deep teachings we finally got to the weekend and started it off strong with some prayers being answered on Friday as one of teams went to a local home for disabled kids and really felt God’s presence there and really felt like it is somewhere we can continue to work in and see God’s hand of healing but also just His hand of love as well. The second area of answered prayer was that we finally God some gas (petrol as they call it here) as there has been a shortage for some time due to government issues. We were really struggling to figure out what things was worthy of using a car for due to the lack of gas as well as running our generator here at the base for when the power goes out. But thanks be to God for providing a large amount of gas (though we had to drive for over an hour to get it).
On Saturday while on our day of rest we all got to get off the base for a day and go spend some good time in fellowship at a local lodge up on a mountain. It is such a beautiful place with a large pool overlooking the valley below, as you can see in the pictures attached. It was really a great day just to hangout, relax and enjoy each other’s company. The thing that was kind of a shock for me and never really occoured to me was that for some of the Malawians this was the first time ever in a swimming pool. It was so much fun to be able to experience it with them and just to enjoy the thrill of jumping into the water with them. Taught them some fun ways to jump into the pool: cannon ball, diving, flips etc. Finally was able to land a backflip into a pool so that was pretty cool.The only bad thing about the whole day was that we had so much delicious food that Sunday morning I woke up and was sick all day Sunday due to stuffing my face the day before. But alas it’s Monday now and I’m feeling much better. (also why this update is a day later then I’d like it to be)

Well we are unto week 4 already and it’s great to see that everyone still has lots of energy, though sadly most people have been sick for a couple days already.

Prayers:
-That no one gets sick very badly
-for over all strength for all us
-we are planning a big outreach this weekend so pray that God is opening doors for that
-God continues to transform everyone here on the DTS
-That things we learn are life long and just for today

Thanks again for all your prayers and support during this time.
Love and Many blessings from Malawi

God revealed in the Village

Wow, what a weekend we just had. Depending on how much I write about it I’ll write about the week as well, but this weekend, (mostly Sunday) was incredible and I need to testify about it.

Sunday, it was a draining day. I got home and went to sleep so quick and felt absolutely empty, but my goodness it was so worth it. In the morning a team of about 15 of us, went to a local church. When we first walked into this mud walled shack of a building we were blinded. Blinded by the sun since the roof was only partly done and there was a gapping whole in the middle of it. When we turned to the front we could see roughly about 10 people sitting on old unstable benches. In front of them where 8 nice, solid plastic chairs set out for the team. We were greeted with warm handshakes and shown to our front row seats. Once the pastor had spoken for a little bit we were called to the front to be introduced. One of the big parts of YWAM is the fact that we are not denominational, so we each spoke of where we are from and our home church, after which Daniel spoke about how we come from different places but yet are one body and that our desire has a movement is to bring churches together for one purpose. Once we introduced ourselves we had a time of prophesying over the people and church as a body. This wasn’t planned, as it never should be, and we really saw God speak. Roughly five of us or so spoke words over people and the body of people. They received it very well and after words we hurt from other people that our words spoke right into people’s lives, all by the power of God. From there we did a skit about how we can put ourselves into boxes and only God can set us free. It’s a powerful skit and really spoke to people. God continued to move as Suzy’s father preached the gospel and really was empowered and spoke God’s words over everyone. Once the word was preached God moved through His Spirit of healing and healed a couple people from different body pains. One of the big area’s we see of healing is that of headaches and backaches. This is usually caused by dehydration but it’s always a place where God moves and places healings over people. It was really amazing to be praying for people and God using you in that area. (I’ll write more about healings further down) This church was incredibly open to all the things we brought to the table and drank of the water that God was pouring out. It’s inspiring to see such small churches with such power and such depth in their faith. As much as I love big corporate churches I’m really coming to enjoy the intimacy and fellowship of small, local churches. They really know what it means to love your neighbour, or in their case, the person in the next pew. It really moves me to want to have that deep relationship with in a church setting. To those of you reading this from my church family back home, I’d like to ask your forgiveness for not being involved in the church in that area of relationship. I was frustrated by the church for a while and separated from myself from it. I know regret that I wish to be able to connect with all of you on that deeper level. I know it is not an instant, duck tape, kind of mix, but one that takes time, time that I’m willing to put in once I am back home. I appreciate all of your friendships and support very much.
Thank you church family.

Now onto, for me, the most excited part of our day. After coming back to the base and eating some lunch we packed up the big car with all of our gear and 9 people and set out to get a pastor who was going to take us to one of his village churches in which we were going show the Jesus movie in. I really don’t think we could have fit anything else in that car with us, 10 people in total now and all of the great. Five of us sitting on each other’s laps in bed of this truck as we set off down dirt roads and through small villages and markets filled with people. We drove for about an hour or so and finally reached our destination. We got to this small village and we thought there was a large welcome party coming down the road as we could hear loud drums and singing from far away. We sat on the tailgate and patiently waiting as the sound grew louder and louder. We were saddened to finally realize that the party wasn’t for us but was a celebration of a wedding that was to partake in the next week. It was great to see how the people all stood together and celebrated such a joyous day together as a body. The people did stick around though to see why we were there which was wonderful. The thing I always love about showing up into a remote village is that people tend to just stand and stare (especially the younger kids). Though there was a couple of us “western” folk there I’m usually the one being stared at due to my blonde hair, blue eyes, and the biggest thing is my piercings. But my favourite thing to do while all these kids are standing around me staring is to suddenly move to where the crowd is, scaring all the kids. It’s interesting how they are so interested in you, and yet are so scared to be within an distance of you at all at first sight. It’s always great to just ask for a high five from one young kid and just see him step out with some guts and be the talk of the town for a little while and everyone laugh at him.
Once we had figured out a good place to set up the Jesus kit we got everything arranged and started by playing some music to draw in the crowd but also because it wasn’t yet dark enough to start the movie. As we sat around waiting for darkness to flood over this small and unknown village I walked around and took some photo’s (some of them posted) and really just enjoyed people with the people. Some of the locals who were passing by stopped and saw the camera and asked for their picture to be taken. They mostly just want to see themselves on a media device, makes them feel more worldly I think. After I had come back where the team was waiting I noticed one of the small boys had a “soccer ball”. I use that very loosely as it was just a ball made of foam wrapt in stripes of an old tire, they are very inventive here. I walked over and asked him for it and just started juggling around with it for a while, once everyone saw what I was doing I was swarmed by kids of all ages. Staring intensely at me as I kept the ball up and did some cool tricks as best as I could. I loved just kicking the ball around with the kids and enjoyed them laughing and running around as I’d just kick the ball into the ground just to see it flying back to my feet within second of my kicking it away.
Now onto where God really moved this weekend. Once we had gotten to the part of the Jesus movie where He has been crucified we paused the movie and suzy’s Mother came forward to preached the gospel. Very simply and just speaking of God’s love and what He has done for each and every one of the people there. After she had spoken she had Ali, her interpreted and a student on the DTS, say a prayer that everyone said in response. Then we had those who gave their life to Christ for the first time come forward and write down there name in a book and be invited to the local church. 78 people came forward and said they gave their life to Christ that night. 78, read that sentence again and rejoice with me and the Angels in heaven.
After we had watched the rest of the Jesus movie Suzy’s father came forward and spoke of God’s healing hand, and called the team forward as he encouraged people who were sick to step forward so that we could pray for them. This is one of best parts of any Jesus showing for me. It’s the part where God comes and pours out His love on His children. God moves and speaks to us and everyone around and releases people from sickness. Like I stated earlier, many of the healings that God does is of headaches and back pains. So almost all of the healings that God used me in had those attached to them, though some add other pains on top of those ones. One of the things that I’ve really learned so far while being here, from both the DTS speakers but also from Daniel and Suzy as well is just the matter of stepping out in faith even when you think it’s something unimportant and silly. So when praying for different people God spoke to me about where to either place me hands or different things to do. The interesting thing that happened twice I think was that God would confirm faithfulness to me through the people that I’d pray for. When about to pray for young man who had pain in his leg God spoke and told me to place my hands on his ears, strange I thought but I obeyed. When God healed this man the next came forward and spoke of how he had pain in his ears. And yet I knew that even before we prayed for him that God was going to heal him, and of course God did, because He is a great God.
God continued to heal people that night and we think that roughly about 75-100 people where healed by God that one night. It was incredible to be part of that and it’s really why I came out to Africa, to see and be part of God’s salvation and healing being poured out on villages like this. I hope that this small testimony, though it might be brief and not very descriptive, might strengthen your faith in God and inspire you of His great strength and the power He holds. I know that doubt continues to build up in my humanly body but I know that God is good and is capable of all things. I daily have to repent of my doubtful being and ask for more and more faith to be poured out on me. May you also be doing likewise that God can do is work within you and through you to other people.

Thanks for reading this whole thing if you actually did. I ask that you pray that God continues to pour our His presence on this team and on the ministries we get to do.
Thanks again for all the support and daily prayers that I know are being sent from wherever you might be. God bless you as you daily walk with Him.

Blessings
-Travis

Be Thankful!!

This week was the beginning of the DTS. All the students where here by Sunday night and were “registered” and ready to go. Monday morning we started off by praying for each student and just having a great spiritual morning. The DTS started off very differently than we expected it to with some issues coming up on Monday morning already. Thankfully though we found out that there was no real issued (though we had to take the precautions in case there really was) and everything worked out in the end and was just more just a pain in the neck in the end. Thankfully it didn’t bother any the students once we told them all sides of the story and things were sorted out properly.
The rest of the week was really incredible though, we had some great encounters with God during different parts of the week. Though I missed a couple of the lectures, do to being needed in other areas of the base, the one’s I did get to hear where really incredible and made some good impact even on myself. I really saw that all the students were interested in what was going on and were focused on what Kobus was speaking about.

As it is thanksgiving today, (Though we don't celebrate here) I'd just like to say thanks to everyone for all your support and prayers. A Special thanks goes out to my family for all your support with planning this trip despite doing so while planning a wedding as well. Also thanks to my close and dear friends Ben, Jake, April,Jaclyn, Liny and Kristine. Ya'll have been great friends, either for a short amount of time or for many years,and I don't know what I'd do without you guys. Of course there are many other close friends that I could mention but I don't want to be listing off lots of people. But thanks all you Mac people for your love and friendship even though we haven't known eachother long.
Also like to thank all the members of FAITH CRC. You have been a great home church to me over the years growing up there. Thanks for all your support and kind words in the last couple years. I really hope that God blesses the church in the years to come.
Thanks everyone, hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving and are really thankful for the little things that you have.
I've really come to realize how much I take for granted and don't thank God enough for. There are so many people around the world that have so little and yet give so much and really honor and worship God full heartily. I'm really coming to understand the parable of the widow's offering. When we feel like we have so little we need to remember to always give to God. Even this morning in church a lady testified about how she was in some finical debt but once she started to give God back His money He started to bless her with more than she could imagine.
So first off I'd like to remind you to daily be thankful for the things that you have. And never forget to be thankful for the things you see being as little. As most people around the world don't have those things.
Second, when you feel like you have little, whether financially or spiritually, just turn back to God and give Him what He deserves.
Third, maybe this weekend in your thankfulness you were reminded of how much you have. I'd like to challenge you to give away some of those things you have been blessed with. I know there are lots of shelters in hamilton or around the area that would love to take anything your willing to give. Also there are lots of organizations online that you can donate to, you just need to take the time to look into it. So please take the time to pray about what God wants you to give away and to whom He wants you to give it to.


The big thing that needs prayer around here is just that the students are really getting impact and that the weekend ministry will go well and people can step out in faith.


Be blessed all.

*Remember to feel free to e-mail and questions or other things you may be interested in.
travis.vanroot@hotmail.com

A new Face for the beginning of Something Great

I can’t believe that I’m already writing about another week. This one has gone by so quickly, meaning that it was a great one seeing as good things always happen quickly. It was also very busy and I’m sure that helped with the speediness of the week. We had a great speaker named Kobus from South Africa come and speak to us staff members. It was great to pick at his brain and see what he has pulled from his DTS experiences. He’s been with YWAM for a while and has let/staffed a couple different DTS’s in the past. The great thing about him is that he was very easy going about times and also just about what we talked about within his teachings. Though he always had things some whatly planned out, he was always willing to answer questions or go off course for things. He was also very good at keeping us engaged in what was going on with asking us questions and just having general discussion on a topic. Which for me was so great seeing as I can’t just sit and listen to someone lecture to me about things. He also never minded my random doodling in class either.

Though we did a lot this week, I can’t really recall much of it. Most of the things I was doing were little practical things around the base. More cleaning and prepping to start my recording studio and just running about picking things up and fixing other things around the base.

But yesterday(Saturday) was a crazy and hectic day. Had some meetings in the morning and then had to go pick one of the students up (Norman) and do some other shopping. We had the first rain fall of the season while I was out and about. So much rain came down so unexpected and really early for the rainy season. It was also really interesting to see how everyone just seems to stop what they’re doing when it’s raining. They really just don’t want to get wet but also they just don’t care about time at all. Time here in Malawi isn’t very set in stone like it is in the Western world. It’s much more chill and relaxed and people aren’t planning everything out minute by minute. Which is rather interesting since the DTS is very time structured, but I guess with school like things you need to be.

Today was the day we finally kicked things off. All the students are here with the last one just showing up in the last hour or so. We had our “registration” this afternoon with some financial stuff, getting to know eachother/name games. Also had dinner together and now most people are just kicking around laying some games and relaxing after a busy afternoon. It’s rather interesting sitting in this room; I’ll see how well I can paint a picture for you instead of actually taking a picture. I’m currently sitting in the corner of the room at my own big table with my back facing the outdoor where our class room is. The big table across from is alive with laughter and the sound of marbles clanging together as two Malawians teach one of the school leaders, a middle aged women from the UK, a typical Malawian game that I lack the name of though I have played it before. At the other end of that table, more directly in front of me sits three Malawians and a girl from Switzerland. Here is where most of the laughter comes from as it seems they are playing “UNO” with a normal deck of cards (we do have UNO cards somewhere though). Across the room sitting on one of the 4 couches is Norman reading a book while a Malawian and German, who have known each other for a couple years, discuss how the DTS will work. During this whole time Andy and Anna have been running in and out looking for Daniel, trying to figure out if they will be leaving to head to Worcester to be doing there DTS lecture phase there instead of here. It’s a very lively and dynamically different place.
Earlier during our time of getting to know each other we briefly mentioned how we got to be here on the DTS. Now sitting here looking at the people that I’ll be living so tightly knit with for the next 5 months it amazes me that God has planned this since before we ever could think of it. In my mind I can go back about 6 years and clearly see how God’s hand was part of this, and I’m sure others can go back a ways. But every little thing has come to play perfectly for us to be here, living together at this moment in time. There have been doors that have had to open and we walk through, doors that are opened that we look through but may not enter. Doors have closed with our fingers grasping onto the door frame not wanting to leave, as well as doors that we have burst with joy, excitement and possible even fear for what was happening. But each door has served its purpose and made us to be who we are and bring us to this place today. There will different doors opening and closing during and after the DTS. Even if we never see each other again in the future God has placed us here right now, this moment in time for His purpose and serve His Kingdom.
I’ll leave those thoughts of opening and closing doors with you to pondering on.

Area’s of prayer:
-That this first week of the DTS will run smoothly and that each student will feel welcomed and will find their place here.
-Andy and Anna as the idea of them leaving is lingering and needs to be sorted out soon.
-As a base we are struggling financially. Some of the students don’t have their full lecture payments and the price of our rent is possibly going up as well.
-There has been a bad sick bug going around lately. So pray for God’s healing hand upon each of us and that this bug won’t spread now that there are lots of people here.


Thanks again,
Much Love
-Trav