staff introductions

Hey everybody! Here are a few bios from our staff team:


School Leaders:

Hi, my name is Dominic. I’m 24, born in New Zealand, and grew up there most of my life. At the same time, I’ve been in YWAM since I was 3 yrs old, so that’s an interesting dynamic. I love putting on a shirt and khaki’s, getting on planes, and flying to crazy places. I love different nations, climates, cultures, foods. Anything to do with traveling and exploring gets my heart going. I’ve been on staff here with YWAM Muizenberg for a year, and lead the January DTS. I came here a few years ago to do a school of Biblical Studies, and felt God prompt me to stay and get involved. I really enjoy the DTS environment because I love learning, relating, and being with others who also do. My belief is that God can speak at any time through anything and anyone. So I always want to be open to Him in this. Recently, God has been encouraging me that there is more of His heart He wants to reveal to me in the nations…. Of course, I’m pretty excited! There’s always more ideas and possibilities to explore!

Hey... so I'm Michelle but I am also called, Mish, Meesh, Ameesh, Shelly, Mitch, Mitchy, Mitchkonovish, Mitchovski and more recently Chov's, I somehow seem to draw different names to myself, so I respond to all. (except Shelly belly)
I am originally from a place called Durban (East coast of S.A.- where it is almost always hot) but most who meet me, find that they cannot place my accent (which I use to my advantage on different occasion). My age is another mystery to most... so I'm not going to share it with you, until the right time. I come from a family of 5 (mom, dad, brother & sister) and pretty much grew up in a Christian family. I have done many different things - bookkeeping (basic), hockey coaching (field), worked at a video store, worked at a pre-school (kindergarten), worked at a veterinary clinic, volunteered at church, worked as an orthodontic assistant and now am a YWAM Missionary. (hopefully this does not give away my age). I have enjoyed most of these job.....So hopefully that gives you a little information about me.....peace out.


Staff:

My name is Henk van der Merwe, a mouth full for foreigners. I am South African, from Johannesburg . I have been staff with YWAM Muizenberg for 4 years, working with DTSs and also with the Intercessory Prayer School . I like Africa , soccer, people, but by far most of all I like seeing God show up and change peoples lives. He likes doing it too, and that is why I am here. I ride a bike, but I am not a biker. I surf, but I am not a surfer. I love God and His ways and that is what I want to be known for. I am intimidated by sharks, quite gullible, must not be asked to sing in public and still have not figured out how to fly with my own arms. I cannot wait to meet you!!!!


Hey everybody! I’m Elise, and I’m from the US. I grew up in a Dutch-festival- and-wooden-shoe- filled town known as Holland, in the state of Michigan. I did my DTS at this base last January, and studied psychology for a semester back home in Michigan before coming back here to staff. I love to draw, and being creative in general really. I enjoy being outside (especially here in beautiful Cape Town :), traveling, reading, and taking pictures. I’m also known to be somewhat accident-prone; I recently walked into a glass door, split my eyebrow open, had half of it shaved off, and got four stitches, so I might look a little peculiar when I meet you if it has not grown back by then . I love talking to people, really talking, and I’m hoping at some point in the future to open up a coffee shop (not of the Dutch variety, ha) that will be a place where young people can come and talk and be encouraged in their dreams and the gifts that God has given to them. That’s about it, I think, for now. I can’t wait to get to know all of you!


Hi Everybody! Welcome on the january DTS 2009!
I am Jenneke Zwijnenburg. I’m coming from the Netherlands where I studied social work. I have three brothers, one sister and two sisters in law  (most of them younger then me). After my study I worked for a little while. But I always wanted to go to foreign countries and ‘do something with my faith’ so... now its happening. After my DTS in january ’08 I am back in Muizenberg again! I love people, music, sports, friends, beautiful weather and....God! I am really excited for the DTS and for what God is going to do in and through our lives. I am convinced that there is a lot that Gods want to show us, a lot of who He is and what He has given us. And that He is so glad to see us here, all of us, with a different purpose, different personality and gifting... Living for the same God. I pray that this will be an amazing time of growth for all of us.
Bless, Jenneke

Hey everybody! My name is Justin and I’m from the sunny and really hot city of Johannesburg (at least it is right now!!). People have called me everything from Justo, Justification, Justintime and Justincredible to Jman, Jlow and even Jdawg... you could probably just add a J to the beginning of any word and I would respond!!
This is my first DTS I will be staffing, as I just did my DTS January of 2008 at the beautiful YWAM base in Muizenberg. My heart is for the young people of the world and seeing them come to know and walk in their God given destiny. Seeing young people on fire for God, filled with His power and unconditional love is what I’m all about!!
I love learning new languages (even though as an English South African I can only fluently speak English!),one of my favourite things to do is worship (so I’m trying really hard to learn to play the guitar!) and I love music, food, working out and reading a good book! I also enjoy being around nature (one of the main reasons I love Johannesburg) and getting to know people from all over the world!
Words cannot express how excited I am about meeting everyone, and witnessing how God moves in you and through you during this time!