BLOG AT YWAM HARPENDEN

Hi everyone!

My name is Edier, I’m from Bogotá, Colombia and I was a Discovery Intern for about four months last year (2017) at YWAM Harpenden (locally known as “The Oval”). As you can imagine it was a great experience.

First of all, and the most important thing I learned about this place, is that it is a place where you can grow as a person and as a christian. It is a place to be loved and to love others. You can feel it from the moment you arrive, everyone is so welcoming and willing to make you feel comfortable. I think the fact that there are so many nationalities here and so many people passionate for the Lord makes this place an environment where you feel accepted. No matter your culture or background, you are challenged to get into a deeper relationship with God beyond the habits or traditions of your specific culture.

There are a lot of things you can do here. In my case, I was serving on the Grounds and Maintenance team, in The Oval Café, the Worship team and a couple of times in the kitchen. It was quite cool because I had never done many of these before, so I learned several things. There was always someone willing to teach me and guide me in those activities, no matter the language barrier or how many times they needed to show me, they became teachers for me and I’m really grateful for them. They didn’t just teach me the about those activities, but also about having a helpful and willing heart for God and for people.

You can be sure that everything here is always centered in Jesus and His kingdom. Worship, prayer and bible study are so important and there are different times and spaces to practice them and grow in them as a community. Some of these times are the weekly community nights, worship and prayer meetings and Bible Study (this one specifically for the Discovery Interns) and they take place every week on The Oval. Other events or activities are Unveiled Worship, At Home Days, Gatherings, The Oval Summer Fair, etc. There is so much more to enjoy and be a part of.

I discovered a lot about missions and the life of those who have decided to be missionaries. I learned that there are a lot of ways you can do missions in several areas of society; Sports, Media, Technology, Government, Religion and Health, just to name some of them. There is a lot of work to do and a lot of ways to do it according to your likes and abilities. If you are considering or feeling a call from God to become a missionary, this is a very good opportunity to learn and to experience what would it be like close up.

I am so happy for the embracing of friends and, I could say, family that I found here. They made the time in Harpenden precious and despite the distance the love and care still continue. As Discovery Interns, we could count on two lovely and amazing ladies who always were taking care of us, praying for us and teachings us. They Rock! :D. There is also the “Personnel Team,” a group of people who take care of you and help with various legal and practical areas. They also help you to find the place you would best like to work in.

You can have some “one on one” meetings, where a mentor helps you to digest the things you are learning and questions you may have. They encourage you and challenge you to go further with God and your calling. It is really awesome the care they take of people at YWAM Harpenden and how interested they are in you making the most of your abilities and potential. You can count on everyone here as a friend and part of God’s family, a very big family from all across the world.

I met friends from England, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, USA, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, France, Ecuador, Chile, Netherlands, Poland, etc. That was SO COOL, because you also learn about their cultures and the way they experience God and see the world. It is a very enriching experience that I totally recommend!

To finish, I just want to say, it was a fantastic experience and a wonderful time of growing and learning, and something I would totally do again if I have the opportunity. So, if you are thinking about doing it, let God direct you and be ready to join the Oval family.