DTS so far

Let me start by stating who I am and what this blog's purpose is! I am Gabby Hurt, born and raised in central Illinois with two wonderful parents, a sister whom I love, and a niece that is my world. However, in September, God made it possible for me to make a new home in San Francisco, California, at least for the next few months. I was very excited to come, but had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I live in the Tenderloin, which if you Google that or or look it up on Wikipedia, you can get a pretty good idea of where I live. To make things more intimidating, I walked into the building that I live in to the entire first floor being a huge common area with couches, pool tables, a ping-pong table, and an air hockey table with homeless people hanging out and making themselves at home.

My first reaction to where my new home was, "Oh no, I've made a huge mistake," but I could not have been more wrong in that statement.I've learned to love these people that are here, but it is definitely a choice everyday. I've also learned that there is no way I would be able to live here on my own strength, and it is amazing how the Lord fills you up with His love and His strength when you call on Him.

Anyway, I'm just going to hit a few of the highlights thus far, because otherwise this first blog would be way too long and no one would ever come read it again, nor would anyone finish it. Discipleship Training School has been such a blessing. Every week during the first 3 months a speaker has been flown in to speak on different aspects of discipleship or the Christian walk or God and different aspects of His character. It has been such a breath of fresh air learning basic truths that I've always been taught in a deeper way and learning new things daily.God is so good! Also, I am truly blessed with the YWAM community that has been hand-picked by the Creator to be in this season of my life. Every week, we do about 12 to 15 hours of lectures and do a bunch of different ministries in the city. Some people work in the Ellis Room, (our apartment building) putting together Bible studies, other people do street evangelism, other people go to North Beach to meet people and build relationships, a lot of the boys play basketball at a local school with the people there, and my roommate Kelsee and I go to the Salesian Boys and Girls Club to tutor and help with arts and crafts! It has been such a blessing and we have totally fallen in love with the staff and the kids there.

This is actually our last week of lecture, then we will begin doing full-time outreach in the city for the month of December and then we leave December 30 for Thailand for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks in Vietnam! I don't really know exactly what all we will be doing in our city or overseas to be honest, but I know God is working extraordinarily in every single one of us, and He will put us wherever He wants us to be!

So, there is my first official blog, I hope it wasn't too short, too long, or too boring for anyone! I'll be sure to update it regularly though, now that I finally got around to putting one up! God bless! :)