The YWAM Thickett Plantation

(L-R: Back row: McNeal, Samuel, Sarah, Dean, Laura, Kadeen, Josh, Jessica. Second row: Alef, Claudia, Stephanie, Nicole, Jordan, Solomon, Suzanna. Front row: Celina, Riikka, Faith, Bekah)

Today was the start of orientation. We started with an amazing time of worship. We were really encouraged to let it all out, to just be us and to really give it all up to God in our worship. It was beautiful and a little emotional for some. After worship, we basically just went over the values of YWAM, the history of YWAM (which was presented by Sandy who has been at this base for the last 12 years, it was really quite interesting actually to hear how this all began and the reliance on God and listening to his call), as well as the book reports and projects we will have to complete while we are here. We got a bit of a taste of what the lectures will be about and we also got a tour of the grounds.

The grounds here used to be an old plantation. It is so beautiful and green. There are sugar cane fields which with them bring mice, and cockroaches (thus no open food in the dorms) as well as monkeys!!! That's right I saw a bunch of monkeys today. First outside our window and then later when we went for a walk, so cool. There are 5 cabins down past ours which are called the youth village. These are used by local churches for retreats or for children's ministries. The monkeys live down by the youth village. There is the great house, which is where we come for internet. It has a family room with a TV to watch movies, a library where we can borrow books from, a kitchen where of course all the delicious food is prepared as well as housing upstairs for guests. Their rooms are much nicer than ours and Alef had the pleasant opportunity to stay in them when he arrived early last Wednesday. We will be having a little shop soon in the family room where those from the neigbourhood as well as ourselves will be able to buy snacks and drinks during free time so that is kind of cool. Then there is the classroom which is also where we have worship. It can hold about 30 people so it is fairly small, but it has fans and is nice and cool. In fact a few were wearing sweaters!! Imagine that (though it was a cooler and rainy day today, nice). There are 5 houses on campus where the staff and their families live, and then there are the students dorms. There are 4 rooms each with a number of beds. The room I am in I share with 4 girls at the moment. Another is hoping to come but we don't know yet.

Well that's a little bit of what the plantation is like. I do hope to put up some pictures soon but amazingly I really haven't take any of the plantation. Surprising I know!

Take care!