I am so thrilled to announce that I have been accepted to participate in the Discipleship Training School (DTS) from Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Costa Rica this September. I decided to participate in a YWAM program after learning about it from people our family loves and works with. I believe that this particular program will help me grow in my faith, serve others selflessly and share God’s love in a tangible way.

What drew me to this particular program is the focus on children. As you may know I’ve become an advanced trainer for Jacaranda Communities of Hope. I have co-facilitated trainings in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and I am preparing for a training in Ghana now. 

The DTS program will have an intensive time of learning, discipleship and then an outreach period first in Costa Rica and then we will join missionaries to practically serve with them. I have grown up on mission with my parents, and this YWAM program will allow me to experience missions in a different way. I hope that the new experiences will challenge me and prepare me for what God has next in my life. But I can’t do it alone! I would be honoured to have my friends, family and framily to join me. You can support me through prayer, encouragement and fundraising for the financial cost of the program. 

YWAM missions programs encourage us to fundraise the costs of our program including the flight to Costa Rica, and fees for both the Lecture and Outreach phases in order to establish a team of people who will partner on mission with us. I have been working to save money as well — leading Feelings Club, babysitting and dog sitting. This week I'm launching my fundraising and beginning to build my team. 

I have 180 days to raise a total $7180. If you would like to be on this journey with me please contact me for information. In the coming week, I will be organizing a WhatsApp group and email list to send updates and prayer requests. If you’d like to be on that list, please email your name, WhatsApp or email address to ruthchari975@gmail.com. My first goal is to raise $3,800 50% fees + flights by April 15, so that I can book flights while they are less expensive.

And of course, if you’d like to financially contribute, I would be so grateful. Once off or monthly donations can be sent to Refuge: Zimbabwe (tax deductible) or through paypal (not deductible.) Please put COSTA RICA in the comment box once you’ve chose the donation amount. 

With Gratitude, 

Ruth

P.S. If you have fundraising experience or advice, I would love to connect and learn from you about how I can creatively raise these funds.