first weeks

It is pretty amazing to be back to where it all started with us and Torchbearers. The first week of BML has been exciting. Already I can tell we will be challenged and learn a lot through this training course, which will prepare and equip us for the work we will do with Torchbearers, as we serve on the Communications and Development (C&D) team,  in our roles at Tauernhof and in the future Lord willing. The course aims are:

To identify and challenge ideas, attitudes and behavior that originate in the world but do not match up with God’s Word.

To establish God’s principles for Christian living in ALL areas of life, especially in the workplace.

To learn how to deal with and work through conflict at work as a Christian

And to be equipped with administrative skills that will help us to work in a manner that is professional while maintaining integrity.

We hope to learn skills that will help us to work and administrate in positions of leadership, or simply, in positions where we will be responsible for others (students) in a way that is professional and efficient. That we will be Christ-led ourselves in the way that we lead and teach young people. That we will work in a manner consistent with the gospel, as one whose life is hidden with Christ – Colossians 3:3

Although some things have changed here, a lot has remained the same. It’s great to see the same staff, and experience meeting other people from all over the world. Out of 13 students, we are the only Americans. Our peers whom we will get to know and learn alongside for the next 9 weeks hail from Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Ethiopia, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand too. It’s cool how God can bring a group of people together with such different backgrounds to learn from each other more about HIM.

We participated in a team building exercise the first week, we got to cook our dinner  over the fire till it got dark when we floated on a river through a gorge that was covered in glow worms that were as brilliant as the stars above.

A few mornings a week we are able to attend a short worship time of singing with the rest of the Bible school students.

Here is the seminar room where we meet for lectures during BML. Dave runs the course and is also lecturing this week on the Authority of Scripture.

All the students are also split up into to “family groups” with the staff members. This is a time for fellowship and discipleship where each week a different student shares a Bible study over morning tea. We just so happen to be in Dave’s family- which means that right now he is our boss, our teacher and our dad. 🙂

Later we had a family night of eating sweets and playing games. these are my sisters. one canadian, two germans, and one also from the states.

The people are what makes being at a Torchbearers center so special. They come from all over the world, learn together, grow together, share meals and ‘family time’ together. All to grow in Christ.