Outreach + A Day In the Life

This week we found out the Outreach locations we've been assigned to. It turns out I got my first pick, which is Ethiopia! The excitement I felt when I found out was like being accepted to YWAM all over again. All of my options were in Africa, so I probably would have gone there either way, but I had a feeling I would go to Ethiopia even before I knew it was an option. Even before I knew I was going to do YWAM at all! For some reason I've wanted to go to Africa for a while and had a specific feeling towards Ethiopia.

There were three choices in Africa (Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia), then one in the Middle East, and two in Asia. I didn't feel drawn to any of the other countries so when we were asked to choose three places in ranking order, my order was Ethiopia, Kenya, and Burkina Faso. The choice was easy, and even if I didn't go to Ethiopia I knew I would go where Papa God wanted me to. I didn't tell people around the house what my choices were (though you can imagine it was a very popular topic of conversation) until it was announced. I didn't tell my family either, but they didn't seem to mind. The reason for this was so people would not put their opinion into my decision or make me second guess what God had told me, not that they would intentionally.

Hannah² in the studio.

On another note, being one of the Music Track 'students' means I now have a band to participate in. There are three Hannah's in it. So basically it's Hannah and the Minority. At first we were apprehensive of the way out leaders set us up, but it's turning into a pretty awesome group. Five female vocalists means that there's a lot of harmony and minimal instruments for the time being, which I'm okay with now. Our track leaders seem pretty okay with it as well. Things are coming together, even though we've only met twice in the last two weeks. Good thing it is coming together because we have to go on a mini tour in two weeks...

I don't think anyone really understands what we do here or what a YWAM life looks like. I cannot speak for all of YWAM attendees, because all bases and DTSs are different, but for interests' sake I will try to take you through a day in my life in Nürnberg.

Typically I wake up at 7 am for breakfast which is mainly all kinds of bread and toppings laid out on the table in the basement. I live on the third and top floor and have to walk down two flights of half-circular stairs whilst still waking up. You can imagine how exciting that can be. Breakfast goes for an hour, but if you don't get there as early as possible there's no guarantee that there will be the items you like to eat, or food at all for that matter. People eat like horses here, and it's completely reasonable considering how much cardio (walking and bike riding) we do.

The thing about breakfast time, is that we also have to make a sack lunch at the same time. We make up sandwiches with yet more bread and toppings and take a fruit or granola bar. The reason we have so much bread is because we get crates of it donated every day from a local cafe called Der Beck (I may have already mentioned this in my last post).

Princess Peach (my bike) and I going to Lecture one morning.

After food is consumed and prepared for the afternoon. I get dressed and hunt down someone that's ready to leave for Lecture. Our Lectures are held in two churches (alternating) that are a fifteen minute bike ride from the DTS House. We ride through the forest, the park, the graffitied tunnels, the city and end up at one of two churches where a three-ish hour lecture is held. They are usually similar to a church sermon, but definitely more active and application based.

Once Lecture is over we usually have a bounty of meetings, that include ministry groups, core groups, worship nights, outreach teams, and work duties. And those can continue for the entire afternoon or will set up times to meet later in the day. Then when we are finished with whatever we need to do, we bike back home. Maybe stop for a shower on the way. Funny story about the showers actually... we didn't have any for the first week we were here. Then we had the miracle of showers but they are a ten minute bike ride away at a public pool, which means it is a communal shower that we share with each other and all sorts of strangers. Yay for showers!

Once home sometimes people take naps, or they do their work duty like they're supposed to. I'm on one of the four dinner crews so I only work every few days, but some people have to clean every other day. After that we do whatever we want, which is usually just socializing or working on something artistic. There's art happening all the time, whether it be harmonizing in the hall, photo editing, knitting, puzzles, or people being tattooed with an ink pen. The house is full of voices and laughter late into the night (long past quiet hours despite all the sshhhhing). It's a very exciting atmosphere to be in.

A walk in Herrnhut last weekend.

Then I journal the days events and sleep like a baby... And I wake up the next day and do the same thing, but not. Because no day is the same as before...

Hope this enlightens your curiosity even more! Blessings to all who read.

Love,
Hannah