A MMDTS Studentīs Story
David Skeat
Sunday, November 13th 2005
 A few years ago, I went on a short-term missions trip to Thailand, and loved the experience. I then felt God calling me into the area of missions as perhaps a full-time ministry. Thats a pretty huge step, and well, was I really ready to put myself into that kind of thing? 10 days training and 3 weeks overseas wasnīt quite enough to ensure me that this is really what God was calling me to do. I put it aside for a while, not forgotten, but just decided to continue with my studies and then see what happened.
Well, I felt like God was telling me to take the next step. Well, what is that? I felt like I needed to go and have some training, but I also wanted to go overseas for a missions trip a little bit longer so that I could actually see what it would be like. I didnīt want to be someone that was naive and then burnt out quickly when they got over there, I wanted to be fully prepared.
Thats when someone told me of a Discipleship Training School. Here they give you practical training, like Godīs character, Hearing the Voice of God, Spiritual giftings and many other topics. They also helped teach you practical ministry skills. These skills you would learn and then be able to take and use as you went on outreach.
This was what I felt God calling me to do. The reason I felt like the Mercy Ministries DTS was specifically the one God wanted me to go on, was that Iīve always had a heart to help people practically. I may not be great with words, but give me a shovel and Iīll dig, give me first aid and Iīll help people. I love the idea of a two-handed gospel. Meeting peopleīs needs spiritually and physically. Putting the Bible and what we preach, into action. To me, actions do speak louder than words. And that was where I wanted to be.
I had the privilege of spending my outreach time, for the most part, living in a village in East Timor. I had never before felt like East Timor was a place that I desired to go, but God certainly gave me a heart for this nation! I got to live in a small village for almost 2 months. We worked along side the two women living there, teaching in the preschool, doing construction work, helping the nurse with medical aid, painting a house, teaching songs, dramas, and lots more. This was a great opportunity to be inspired by these two women who had devoted their lives to serving God in this community. By watching their lives each day, God was teaching new things. Its not always easy, and things certainly donīt go to plan, but these two ladies will always be held in high esteem in my eyes. They were an inspiration, and their dedication to the people was immeasurable.
This Mercy Ministries Discipleship Training School was exactly what I needed, and God really used it to open my heart to new things, and to confirm the calling that I had felt God had placed on my life. It teaches you to be flexible, to resolve conflicts quickly, and to bond with like minded people who have that same desire and passion to serve God, as you do. They teach you, grow you and come along side you to help you achieve all that God has destined in your life. Don?t think about it, do it! |
