English Second Language?
October 19, 2020 - January 1, 2030
English Second Language?
Is English Your Second Language?
With so many people going to YWAM bases internationally, there is a high possibility that you’ll want to go to one that isn’t your home country. No need to fear; DTS is a beautiful opportunity to become stronger in speaking another language that isn’t your first.
Here at Marine Reach, we value internationals and LOVE learning from different cultures and languages. That definitely doesn’t discredit any worries that you may have to fully commit to stepping into an English speaking country. Are you worried about doing a DTS that isn’t in your native tongue? Here is one perspective who went through the same experience!
Andrea Wenger, 25, Switzerland
To be honest, the language wasn’t really a concern when I was choosing the location for my DTS. Growing up in Switzerland, I had learned English in school – not that I was really good at it – and after my apprenticeship, I went to a language course in London, England to
improve my knowledge or lack of it. That’s when I really started to love English. A couple of years later, I arrived in New Zealand. I realized pretty quickly that, while my understanding was decent, I often had a hard time finding the right words and would need to stop mid-
sentence. As a perfectionist, that was pretty annoying but since most of the people around me didn’t speak German, I didn’t have a choice but to try and make mistakes to learn and improve. The people were amazing, most of them were so willing helping to find the right words or were just really patient letting me work it out. A couple of friends I had asked to actually correct when I made grammatical mistakes, so while the Lord was working on my heart, healing wounds and redefining my identity, I also improved in my English.
Something else I realized as soon as lectures started was that my christian- / church English was lacking. I mean I never really needed those expressions and I sometimes didn’t get it. I needed to learn to ask for help for people to explain what these words meant or I had to look them up. Again, people were so willing to help and explain meanings, so it was not at all frightening or worrying, I think having to speak a different language, having to ask and learning to make mistakes was something that was part of my DTS experience. The patience people had towards me and the way they were willing to support revealed a part of God’s
heart for us. That he is patient for us to learn and to teach us…
Something that I really recommend that helped me getting into the language quicker was reading the Bible in English. It not only helped get the vocabulary faster, but I ultimately rediscovered the Bible. Because I had to read intently not skipping words or sentences as we
do when we know a language really well. The “new” way of saying something touched my heart in new ways. And I had to look up words again and again, the meaning of them. I questioned more why these words were used for that context, I was more aware of what I was reading. This is something that stuck with me, today I keep looking up the meaning of words – just in their original language. I keep asking myself why the author chose these words and what they wanted to emphasize with them. But I also keep trying to read the Bible as if it was
my first time, to not lose the wonder of it and to cherish the small discoveries.
It was a beautiful journey to do my DTS in another language, it had its challenges for sure, but I would do it this way all over again.
“The Justice Movement stream really opened my eyes to what justice looks like through the eyes of God. Justice is more than making wrong right, it’s walking in mercy and humility. Justice is bringing light and life to orphans, widows, immigrants, and hope to anyone who is oppressed.”
Naomi Wilson, 18, AB, Canada
“We had been married for 5 years when we came to Marine Reach. As a married couple, we learned a lot about each other and ourselves and gained a lot for our marriage. What we enjoyed most during the GO PAC stream times was the mix between the depth we dove into God’s Word, getting to know His plan for us better, and the times thinking and learning about the interesting Pacific cultures. We think it is so important to get to know new cultures. At the base, there are many different cultures, but you really want to get to know the one culture where you live and where you’re going on outreach. We experienced that when spiritual basics are understood with the heart and not only with the mind, that is what brings change into your daily life, and that is what you can carry home after DTS.“
Tobias & Annika Dietrich, 26 & 26, Germany
“God showed me that true worship always comes out of a place of intimacy and revelation of what Jesus has done for me. I realized that this is were I want to be – sitting at His feet and pouring out my love and affection before Him, because He’s so worthy.”
Julianna Suter, 20, Switzerland
“In the Kingdom Come stream, we really focused on what the kingdom of God is and how to live that out on earth. The most impactful aspect of this was walking out a miraculous lifestyle and being in an intimate relationship with God, where you can expect miracles to happen.”
Peter Seip, 25, Virginia, USA
“I have just finished my Worship DTS at Marine Reach NZ.
When I signed up for the worship DTS I thought it was just about praising God. It’s about the role we play as worship leaders, it about how you lead the worship session, when to pray, and when and how you end. I recommend the Worship DTS to everyone who is inspired by the worship at your home church.”
Adam Pelletier, 36, BC. Canada
“Being apart of Wild Heart has really helped me find out what it means to be wild for God. It has helped me break out of shells I didn’t even I know had. The stream transformed my way of thinking when it comes to being a disciple of Christ, teaching me to take action in faith. It has given me many things I will be able to take home and apply in my daily life, crazy awesome!”
Deylan Santy, 19, Idaho, USA
“Being a part of the Pilgrimage Stream impacted my life for the better. Not only did it teach me how to function in a small community (as we shared the burden of climbing those mountains together), but also how to rely on one another, have fun and worship together, and, most importantly, how to be vulnerable with each other. The focus of our Stream taught me what it looks like to be on a pilgrimage for God. God calls us out of our homes to the wilderness, where we’ll see Him face-to-face, and are forced to fully depend on Him before we receive His inheritance.”
Harty Dumalagan, 21, B.C. Canada
“Doing SPHC was an amazing experience. Not only was I given the opportunity to continue to grow spiritually, but I learned things that can be used in a very practical and much needed way. SPHC gave me the opportunity to show the Father’s heart to people in a very unique way and love on the person in front of me while helping them in such a simple way.”
Karunia Been, 20, Portugal
“Before I did the Go Pacific DTS, I was expecting the Lord to do a lot of amazing things through me; and He did. However, I never expected Him to do so much work in my own heart. I drew a lot closer to God, experienced freedom, and I learned to believe in the ‘Jonas’ that He says I am. My relationship with God has become deeper and more serious, but at the same time it has become more fun and casual.”
Jonas Sørensen, 21, Denmark
“The Medical Compassion DTS magnified my love for those in need. It stressed the importance of the power of prayer and how I can go to God in all the medical and daily situations in my life and the lives of those I minister to.”
Noah Armbruster, 20, Michigan, USA
