TRAINING
Kona, Hawaii
Learn • Grow • Worship • Prepare
a newchapter begins...
I’m Going
to YWAM!
Hi everyone!! In case you don’t know me, my name is Tessa, and I’m so excited to share what God has planned for me this coming year!!
In January, I will be leaving to be a part of YWAM Kona’s 2027 Discipleship Training School! This will be a time for me to serve the Lord, share my testimony, and work alongside a team of believers like myself.
I will spend the first few months at a training base in Kona, Hawaii, and will then be sent somewhere else to do mission work for the remainder of the time. I won’t know where until I get there, so stay posted!
HELP ME GET THERE →
a little about me ♡
About Me
I am an 18-year-old who loves Jesus, her family, and theater! I am a homeschool graduate who has been in over 20 musicals, works as a nanny (and loves it!), and is the only daughter to some pretty awesome parents and sister to two great brothers.
I grew up in the church but did not give my life to God until I was 13, after the Lord saved me from a dark season in life and showed me unconditional love and safety. Now He has become my identity and the reason I’m going on this crazy adventure in the first place!
Why YWAM?
If you know me, you know that I am the definition of a homebody, which is why I surprised everyone (including myself!) when I decided that YWAM was the next step for me.
My older brother did his own DTS (Discipleship Training School) back in the fall of 2024. I remember thinking,
“This is so great for him, but I will literally never do this.”
That was until we were able to visit him that December, and mid-worship service, I felt the Lord actively soften my heart to this program.
Later, at camp the next summer, I remember a friend sharing a conviction about being too comfortable with their future. This majorly struck my heart, and in that moment, I knew that YWAM was a step of faith that I had to take.
Now I cannot wait to see what God will do in and through me in this process!
What is a Discipleship
Training School?
So...what exactly is a DTS?
A Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a 5-month program through YWAM designed to help students grow in their relationship with God and learn how to make Him known.
I’ll spend the first part of my DTS at the YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii. During this training phase, I’ll be learning about things like hearing God’s voice, studying the Bible, prayer and worship, sharing the Gospel, and living out my faith.
Then comes the outreach phase! I’ll be sent somewhere in the world with a team, where we’ll work alongside local believers, serve communities, share the Gospel, and put into practice what we learned during our time in Kona.
And the exciting part? I don’t know where I’m going yet!
OUTREACH
Location TBD!
Go • Serve • Share
want to be part of the adventure?Help Me
Help Me
Get There!
The total cost of my five-month DTS is $8,095, and I am raising support to help cover that cost. If you feel led to financially support me on this journey, I would be so incredibly grateful! Every donation, no matter the amount, helps me get one step closer to Kona.
Thank you so much for being willing to be a part of this adventure with me!
More Than Money
Financial support is not the only way you can support me! I would also love your prayers as I step into this next season.
I would love prayer for peace as I do something that scares me, for my mental and physical health so that I can be fully present while I’m away from home, and that I would find a community where I can thrive and feel comfortable being myself.
Knowing that I have people back home praying for me means so much!
PEACE
as I do something that scares me
HEALTH
mental + physical, so I can be fully present
COMMUNITY
where I can thrive and be myself