On October 5, 2001, the forty-four students shown above, from nine different countries, arrived in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and boarded the M/V Anastasis as they began a five month journey together, known as "Discipleship Training School", or DTS for short. The purpose of this collective journey was summed up by the school motto, "Knowing God and Making Him Known". Thus, the first 11 weeks were spent aboard the flagship of the Mercy Ships fleet as it took on supplies in Europe and sailed to Freetown, Sierra Leone to begin five months of medical outreach. These weeks were spent getting to know each other, but more importantly in developing our relationship with our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Our time was filled with lectures, book reading, Bible Study, intercession, and lots of worship! We also found a little time for exploring the ports we visited, playing Ultimate Frisbee, tracking down places to eat, and just enjoying each other!

The second phase of our school centered on making Him known, as we divided into four outreach teams and scattered to Banjul, The Gambia; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Johannesburg, South Africa; and the bush of Guinea, to do our best to share the love that Jesus had for those who had never heard or understood or contemplated the love it takes to die for someone else who may not even appreciate the sacrifice! Drama, worship, testimonies, preaching, work projects, friendships, and really every facet of life were an opportunity to attempt to communicate the Good News. This was also an awesome opportunity to develop deep friendships within the smaller groups, or perhaps even new friendships with people that you had somehow never really spent time with before. It also showed us the power of unity and focus as a group works together under the direction of the Holy Spirit with a single goal!

Finally, the four teams converged on The Gambia for one week of debriefing and goodbyes, enjoying a few last times of worship and prayer amid a flurry of exchanging contact information and promises to stay in touch.

A church in a Sierra Leonian fishing village (above)

Margit presenting the Gospel in Lesotho (below)

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