Great expectations

Twenty seven nationalities, eighty five students and hundred and twenty staff. This is how we start this year at YWAM Worcester. As we fill up the Glory Hall at our first meeting of the year,  we have an expectation of great things that we believe God wants to do in the lives of every one involved with YWAM Worcester. The schools that we have running currently is the Discipleship Training school, Family Ministry School and English Language school. Then there is also a three week Troubadour  performing Arts Seminar that has been running with students coming from as far as Namibia to come and join in this time of equipping. Rozelle my oldest daughter has also been doing the seminar that has been running mainly in the evenings and over weekends and she has been enjoying it tremendously. Join with us in prayer for each one of the students that are with us us this term. Pray that their lives will be impacted and changed forever as the grow in the knowledge of who God is and his love for them.

Troubadoer DTS students talk about their experience on the school

Attending the 3ed term ELS Graduation

This term has come to an end and yesterday Mariska and I  had the privilege to attend our English Language School (ELS) graduation for the third term. With students from Angola , Korea, Chile and Brazil it was a fun affair with much bubbling and talking as we sat down for a lovely breakfast. The school had about 40 plus students divided between four levels and  is very popular for those wanting to learn English . Many of the students are on their way to the mission field and learning English is the next step they need to take to reach their goal.  Certificates were handed out and good buys where said to those finishing their fourth and final level. Students had the opportunity to introduce fellow students and teachers , all in English, of course and it was great to see them step out and speak in public in their newly acquired language. I commended them for their courage and encouraged them to go on and accomplish everything that God has called them to do.  Soon the new term will start and the new intake of students will start to arrive.

Girls choir School Eisteddfod

Both Rozelle and Chané have been part of their schools Choirs this term taking part in the school Eisteddfod. Below are the two choirs performing. Both Choirs got above 90% for their performances on the day. 

Life on the YWAM base......

It is winter in the Boland and the rain is falling outside. The rain is needed  and every drop is welcome. Here at the YWAM base we are trusting God for more of his spiritual rain to be poured out on us daily (Eph 5:18).

We currently have two outreach teams visiting us. The one is from Korea and is being lead by one of our previous staff members that has gone back to Korea and is now working as a pastor of a church. He brought a group of the young people from his church to come and do an outreach here in South Afirca and they have been working in and around Worcester for the past week.They have been active on the farms and especially reaching out to the young people at the farm schools. We also have a team here from the Netherlands that will be working here for the next three weeks. They have a specific focus on working with the Kibbutz in Worcester but will also be reaching out to other areas of the local community.  (Kibbutz El-Shammah is a multi-purpose community centre run by a ywamer). 


Villiersdorp is one of our neighboring towns and last week a team from YWAM Worcester went there for a week of ministry, teaching and informing. Their focus was on drug abuse and healthy Godly families. They spoke to the children in their classes, during the school hall meetings and in the Hostels in the evenings. The testimony of a former Heroine addict that is now disabled after a drug overdose made a lasting impact and also brought hope as they see the transformation that Jesus brings. 


In closing I would like to tell you about our intercession outreach we had this week. Everyone present was encouraged to break up in smaller groups, hear from God and obey whatever God told them to do or where He told them to go. With great excitement and a little bit of fear the groups left the Glory Hall and went on their different assignments. Already we have heard some beautiful testimonies of how God ministered physical healing as well as emotional encouragement  and blessing to people in town. Tonight during our community meeting we will have a time of feedback and I look forward to hearing more stories of what God has done.

River Sounds

Being in the outdoors and enjoying Gods beautiful nature and listening to the sound of a river flowing is most probably one of the most relaxing things you can do. Today that is exactly what I did and enjoying the time with my family in the mountains was such a great pleasure that I decided to share a little bit of the experience with everyone. So relax and enjoy the sound of the running river and for a moment imagine yourself in the Du Toits Kloof Mountains sitting next to the river.

As the term draws to an end.....

We are at the end of our second term of 2011 and as usual this is an eventful and busy time as all the schools come to an end and the outreach teams prepare to go to their different destinations. On Wednesday night I attended the final presentation of the Humanities and International school students research projects. They each had ten minutes to present the research on the topic of their choice that they had been working on throughout the school. Last night we commissioned the BCC (Bible Core Course) students as they finish their three months lecture phase and for the first time on the base this specific school is planning to go on outreach to apply and impart that which they have learned during their lecture phase. They will  be going to Mozambique for four weeks to work in a town called Xai Xai. Then we also have the TDTS (Troubadour Discipleship Training School) that ended their lecture phase this week and within the next 10 days the three different student teams will be leaving to Kenya, Mozambique and the Western Cape for their outreach. For now the base is quieting down,  getting ready for the third term that will start on the 3rd of July.