11/21/10

The speaker this past week was Tim Pratt and the topic was team building.  It was different week then the ones because it was interactive.  The week started with Tim talking about freedom and bondage.  He challenged us to dig deep and find what was keeping us in spiritual bondage.  He also wanted us to open up more with each other and allow the people in our DTS to get to know each other on a deeper level.  So on Tuesday we say around in a circle and shared with each other the hardest or most challenging things we went through in our childhoods.  There were some tears shed, but it was really good to learn about other people on a deep level.  During the week we also did a lot of team building excersises.  Some of them were really challenging, they required us to work together as a team and use lots of communication.  The activities helped me to understand the importance of leadership, listening, communication, and patients when working with a team.  Tim was a really cool guy and helped a lot of people work through things that they were struggling with or were in bondage to.  So it was a really good week to get to know my team better and to work through some of my own issues.

prayer request:

- financial support for my teammates

- continued revelation on what we have learned

- energy

- unity within our gourp

- a heart for our outreach locations

- that we will be able to hear God's voice and direction and respond in obediance

- that we will not burn out, but find strength in the Lord

Love you guys.  I hope everything is well back east.  

Love Elliot


below: a picture of me on the right and people on my team doing a  team building excersise

11/14/10

This past week was really good.  The speaker was Art Collins.  The topic was marks of a disciple.  I liked him and his teaching style a lot.  He was very generous.  Two or three different days for our breaks between lectures, Art bought us doughnuts.  One night he even took our DTS out for pizza and paid for the people that weren't able to pay for themselves.  The reason I liked his teaching style a lot was because he frequently used the bible.  If he was making a point, he would give us a scriptural example.  What I got most out of the week was the importance of scripture and just to be able to rest in Jesus.  By the end of each week I am mentally, spiritually, and usually physically exhausted.  When Art talked about resting in Jesus that really resonated with me.  The scriptural example he used for resting in Jesus was luke 10:38-41.  Jesus came to the house of mary and martha.  While Martha was busy getting things in order for Jesus Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet.  Martha was upset with Mary and tried to get her to help, but Jesus said that what Mary was doing was better and will not be taken away from her.  So whenever I get tired,  I just need to relax in Jesus' love. I don't need to be doing something all the time, and it is ok to say no.

This coming week the speaker is Jeff Pratt.  The topic i think is team building and from what I hear it should be a exciting week.  Also, I found out this past friday that my outreach fees are paid off.  I have been blessed with donations so thank you so much to everyone that has donated.  Although my personal fees have been paid, some other people in my group struggle with finding funds for outreach.  So if you would like to help them out and donate that would be awesome.  If you know how to do donate already just do it the same and i will give the money to the people in my group when it gets here.  If you don't know how to donate, send me and email. elliodo803@gmail.com.

prayer request-
- that we don't burn out, that we will keep having a desire to learn and grow.
- That we will continue to be transformed into the image of God.
- Continued revelation on the things that we have been taught.
- Continued revelation on outreach.
- and anything else.

Thanks.  I love you guys.  Hold down the east coast for me.

some of you might be receiving this picture in the mail shortly....

pictures

Ensenada has a large port that barges and cruise ships come in and out of

The cement slab that we play soccer on in back of the base.

                                     A of the base from right outside of my room.

A view of Ensenada from the ocean.

                                                    A view of the base.

The view of some of Ensenada from the roof of the base.

Another view from the roof.

                                                       Another view from the roof.

view of the ocean from the roof.

Another view.

Another view.

Downtown Ensenada.

A view of the base from the roof. 

The classroom

My bed with my room mates.

11/6/10

Sorry i havn't updated the blog in two weeks.  Life has been busy.  But two weeks ago the speaker was Kenny Peavy.  It was a really good week.  When the week began I first felt challenged.  Kenny is a very prophetic speaker, and his teaching style was basicly responding to what ever the Holy Spirit told him to do or say.  He spoke with a lot of faith and confidence in the Lord.  So that week God was really present throughout the week, in lectures, in worship, and in intercession.  I was able to release some things to the Lord that i have been holding on to.

This past week, Brenda Lewis was the speaker.  The topic of the week was destiny.  One of my things that i wanted to recieve from the Lord during my DTS was guidance.  I want guidance on where and what he is my next step in life.  So the topic of destiny was something i was interested it.  There were a lot of things talked about throughout the week, some of them more related to destiny then others.  What helped me the most, about what God has for my life, was different exercises Brenda had us do that brought to the surface dreams we've had for our life.  She said that God puts these dreams and desires into our lives and he wants to use them.  So i was able to get vague ideas about what i would like out of my life.  Some of the dreams or ideas that surfaced were; working with political leaders,  having an influence on government policies,  traveling,  getting married, living in community, working with bring peace to different people  groups or like war and peace issues.  Kinda vague dreams and ideas but it is a start in finding direction for my life.

Other cool things that have been happening... There is this guy named Jeff who runs a surf ministry at the beach infront of my base.  It runs every Saturday from 9am to 12pm.  Some DTS students and me have been going to it the past two weeks.  It has been a blast to go surfing.  Its harder then i thought it would be lol.  Also, the illnesses around the base have drasticly decreased.  We also found out how much we need for outreach.  For my trip to mexico city and Pechuca i need $2000, so if you want to donate just let me know.  Thanks.  Another thing, the past week we had a time of interecession.  We prayed about what God wants us to do on our outreach, so basicly we are planning what we are going to do.  So during this time, and previous times of interecession when ever i prayed about outreach an image of a bridge came to mind.  I shared that with the group and someone else said they also had an image of a bridge, he described it at the same as the one i saw.  Kind of crazy.  So whether that is symbolic or not, I don't know.  Other people thought about other things that were cool to.  Something that stood out to me was that this girl in the group saw my friend Miguel and I leading a soccer ministry for a bunch of kids, so well see what happens with that.

As far as prayer request, they have not changed to much. Some things to continue to keep in prayer;
- unity with the DTS
- that our hearts will continue to feel for our outreach locations
- that we will have further revelation on things that we have learned
- That we will be able to continue to become valnuerable with each other
- That we will have further revelation on what exactly God wants us to do on our outreach