03 November 2015

Training the nations


Butterfly Art Project - discovering theories of child trauma healing

Butterfly Art Project Method - practicing a child trauma questionnaire 

Personal Healing Retreat - discovering our need for God's healing

YWAM Children at Risk School students 2015
Last week I had the privilege to help train a group of students from Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Muizenberg. This is an international missions group with a training base in South Africa. Students are in South Africa for 12 weeks learning about how to minister to "children at risk." I got to jump in their week of learning about Trauma.

These YWAM students represented many nations: France, Zambia, South Africa, USA, Netherlands, India and Sierra Leone. It was an amazing experience to be with God's people from around the globe.

On Thursday, I introduced them to the work I'm part of in Capricorn. They learned about Art Therapy and the value of teaching traumatized children artistic coping skills. I shared about the value of being in the secular world with spiritual eyes. It was a great day of township, cultural education!

Then on the Friday, at their personal retreat, I was asked to lead a creative session on "healing personal trauma." This was a unique group time - using clay and play dough to make a little person that represented themselves. Each person spoke about what they love about their creation and what the little image "needs" in its life. The group gave feedback and spirit-led words to each person. We also had a personal processing time with scriptures to meditate on, silent solitude, and group worship. Of course we ended with a South African Braai (BBQ) and got to relax and get to know each other by the lake.

I was so thankful to make this connection and share my love of art and "personal spiritual processing" with the world. There are so many new and beautiful doors opening for me in ministry. GOD IS GOOD and so faithful!

Thanks YWAM, Aukje and Toby for inviting me to serve your students!

Melanie Dill

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