MAD EXPECTATIONS

The MAD DTS is a special time where we will meet God and some wonderful things will happen. When GOD is doing things we never know what can happen. But no matter what GOD is doing it is important to clarify specific things and to bring clarification on one important goal of the school. The MAD DTS is not intended to make you more skilled in music art or dance. This may happen simply being in such an environment and being around other talented artists. Often in such an environment and in the presence of GOD we can be inspired and our skills may develop. BUT it is important to know that the deliberate intention of the school is to help you to learn to use your existing skills and talents to worship and to celebrate the life of Christ in a personal and corporate way. Secondly to help you to use your existing skills and talents to minister to others and to share the message and life of Christ to others. there is tremendous potential around the planet. So many people who know God and with special talents and abilities but many are unconfident or unaware of how they can use these abilities to minister to others. This school is designed primarily to help you to be able to use your special skills to minister to God in a personal way and also corporately and to help you to be able to minister the life of Christ to others.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

The following is an overview of some of our expectations for the school. Firstly, we all come from different cultures.  Your culture may vary greatly from that of the person you're sharing a room with.  What may be acceptable in your culture might not be acceptable to someone else's culture.  We have to be sensitive to those around us.

Beyond this we also need to remember that, though we all believe in the same Jesus and are trusting Him for our salvation, we all come from various denominations. Since this is the case, we have to put forward an extra amount of effort in order to be loving to those around us. This will require us at times to sacrifice our own ways and our own desires.  Other times, it will just simply require us to be gracious to others.  The bottom line is that we must lovingly prefer others.  The Bible gives us the specific instruction not to cause another to stumble whether they are a believer or a non-believer.  Let's all keep this in mind as we get adjusted to our new surroundings and community life.

Lights out

Because many like to go to bed early on weekdays, lights out time is 10pm in your rooms.  Feel free to stay up a bit later in the community area.  Please be sensitive to those who are already asleep by being quiet and keeping the appropriate lights off.  Use a flashlight or a bedside lamp if you are reading, etc.  You will need the sleep to be able to keep up with the schedule and to receive all that God has for you, not to mention the consideration that needs to be given to others with whom you live.

Quiet Times/Devotions

This is one of the most important times of the day, therefore we encourage you to spend this time with God- talking to Him, listening to Him, praising Him, reading His Word, etc.  The rewards of this time cannot be over emphasized.  We are not insisting a particular time, but we do insist that you do at least have one a day.  Be prepared to be asked if you've had one.

Meetings/Lectures

You are expected to attend all meetings and to be on time.  If you are not well, please see one of the school staff so we can be kept informed. If you are not well enough to get a staff member yourself, please ask another student to get one for you.  Please don't just send a message by another student.  We want to touch base with you and see what we can do to help you get back into action.  If you need to miss a scheduled event, please do not wait to the last minute to inform us.  Please inform us in advance.

Skills development

Each student will be assigned an area for skills development.  Each duty will be described in specific detail.  This will be approx. 2 hours a day.  Areas of involvement will be such things as wash up, dinner preparation, maintenance, etc.  Occasionally there may be other things planned.  Be prepared to be flexible.  We will keep you informed as the school progresses.

Music

We encourage you to bring a Discman if you have one so you can enjoy music in privacy.  When we have so many people around it becomes difficult to play everyone's music publicly, so we encourage the use of Discmans.

Mentorship

We are here for you.  Please feel free to come up to any one of the staff if you need prayer or just someone to talk to.  Occasionally there might be the one-on-one talks with your small group leader.

Special Relationships

A "special relationship" is when two people have developed a natural friendship and after sensing that there is more, they begin to pursue it.  We acknowledge that attraction is a natural thing, but we request for this season of time that you refrain from pursuing attraction.  This is not because attraction is wrong but because this is a special time devoted to being with God.

Dress guidelines

Modesty and discretion need to be exercised in the following:

• Length of shorts: This is for the fellas and the ladies.
• Tight fitting clothes - again for the fellas and the ladies.
• Loose tops (neckline and armholes).
• In regards to tank tops/singlets, please make sure they are the ones with wide straps.  Let's not have them too low cut or having arm holes that show the chest through the side.  (again, this is fellas and ladies.)
• Please wear a slip with light weight dresses and skirts.
• Please wear bike pants under skirts above the knee.  This will help you feel more comfortable when being active during lectures.
• One-piece swimsuits are preferred to two pieces, however, modesty is the standard.
• For men, board shorts are required, no Speedos.
• Please wear proper cover-up between bathrooms and bedrooms (eg. Ladies- knee level and not see-through bathrobes.  No towels please for the men and put on a shirt in public areas).

We want to not be a stumbling block to others and act in a loving way towards each other.  We aren't just speaking of guys stumbling, but we are also aware of offence to women of various cultures.

Something else to be considered is that many of our lecture times can be quite active.  Appropriate dress certainly gives you more freedom to be involved.

Another consideration is that we would like to dress in such a way as to respect an incoming speaker who is offering his/her time to us.  Some older folks have really different thoughts on this.  Let's try to respect them and not come to class looking like we are on holidays/vacation!

Please note, we are not saying the above is the only right standard, but since many of us come from different places, we may have different standards of what being "modest" is.  Because of this, it is the staff who will need to determine modesty standards for this season in our lives.  If you are in doubt as to whether some of your clothes are "OK", please see one of the staff.

Miscellaneous

No smoking or alcohol consumption on any YWAM premises or in their immediate vicinity (i.e. footpaths and gutters).  If you are a smoker, please seek one of us out so we can prayerfully develop a strategy in order to help you quit because no one is allowed to smoke while on outreach.  Until such time, please refrain from smoking with any other student or in the neighbourhood.

Although drinking is culturally appropriate for some of you, we ask that you not drink with any other student while on the school.  You might be surprised by another's history of alcohol abuse, or you may be unaware of the offence you cause to another.  Smoking and alcohol consumption will also not be allowed on outreach.  Although we do acknowledge that the freedom that some have in this area can be used in an appropriate manner to identify with various cultures on the base, within our neighbourhood, and within the countries we visit.  Again, we are addressing the issue of causing one another to stumble, whether that be a believer or a non-believer.