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Y-LTS Report
YOUTH-LTS REPORT There were 36 students in the Y-LTS, ages 7 to 16. They represented 13 nations: Colombia, United States, New Zealand, Chile, England, Mexico, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Brazil, Venezuela, Finland, South Korea and Canada. Because the YLTS ran alongside the Leadership Training School, the students had the opportunity to meet many international leaders serving in Youth with a Mission worldwide. They spoke to the kids about their ministries and roles, also sharing about the beliefs and values of YWAM. These guests included: Darlene Cunningham (co-founder of YWAM), "Mama Dar" Enid Scratch (Darlene’s 90-year-old mother), Joseph Avakian (Lebanon), Wayne Snow (Haiti), Alejandro and Martha Rodriguez (Argentina), Jose and Adriana Curiel (YWAM National Directors, Mexico), Erica Morales (USA), Nice (Rattiporn) Kusavadee (Thailand), Anna Leitao (Brazil), Jorge Jimenez (Nicaragua), Kishor Rana (Nepal), Karen Cunningham (USA), Krista Harris (UK), Anya Shagin (Russia), Gwen Berquist (Canada), Marquino and Wendy. The Y-LTS met every day from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and then from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm (whenever the LTS was in session). The program included a daily quiet time (personal devotional time with the Lord), worship, intercession, Bible study, language class, crafts, sports, dance & choreography, research of a nation and its culture, and a weekly guest speaker. The class also celebrated many birthdays, and went on outings to the town of Chapala, the swimming pool, the Guadalajara Zoo, the Coca Cola Company, a candy factory, the Kodak lab, etc. They also hiked a high mountain overlooking the town of Chapala to have a morning of intercession for Chapala. The Y-LTS had fun times together, they made new friends, visited new places, learned elements of various languages, and learned more about God and His Word. But the most basic goal was for every student to have a deeper personal encounter with Jesus. The Y-LTS participants also had the opportunity to share the Gospel and their personal testimonies during outreaches to the following places: --Children’s Ministry in Church started by YWAM in nearby Ixtlauacan --Nursing Home Ministry in Chapala. The Y-LTS had a dance presentation for the elderly there. There were about 20 in attendance, some of them bed-ridden. The children visited with the people after their presentation and prayed for them. Marlene Dunham, the director of the nursing home, said that it was first time that a group like the Y-LTS had visited them. She was happy, excited and invited them to return. --Street Kids’ Ministry in Guadalajara. This was an awesome opportunity for the Y-LTS to go and meet approximately 30 children and adults who live on the streets. They were able to talk to them, sharing how special they are to God, and also pray for them. They gave them candy and cookies, donuts and coffee. When the Y-LTS sang the song "We have so much to be grateful for," the street people joined in. Through this experience, the Y-LTS kids saw the sad reality of the conditions in which so many people live in Mexico. –*Secundaria Tecnica 83, Technological Junior High School with 500 students –*Jose Encarnacion Rosa, Elementary School with 298 students –*Colegio Chapala, Private Catholic School with 410 students *In each of the schools, the Y-LTS kids gave a music and dance presentation. They also shared testimonies and encouraged the students to follow Jesus. Matthew Hamilton did a Samoan fire-knife dance and others performed dances from various nations: Berenice Gonzalez (Nepal), Jackeline Zuniga (Hawaii), Jonathan and Jessica Torres (Colombia). Some of the boys also danced and taught a New Zealand Maori warrior "haka" to the students and the teachers in the schools the Y-LTS visited.
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