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Outtatown participants celebrate returning home and finishing program

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The 30 students who traveled to Guatemala as part of the 2012/2013 Outtatown Discipleship School sing and dance at their graduation ceremony. Another 31 students traveled to South Africa.

Winnipeg, April 23, 2013 – Stories of love, hope, community and transformation characterized the 2012/2013 Outtatown Discipleship School Graduation Celebration on Sunday, April 14 as 61 young people graduated from the program.

“For years to come, we will be influenced by the experiences we’ve had as a community, as well as the things we have learned individually,” Ross van Gaalen, a student from Outtatown’s Site 2 South Africa group, shared with the crowd of family and friends who gathered to welcome the students back home after their semester abroad.

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“For years to come, we will be influenced by the experiences we’ve had as a community, as well as the things we have learned individually,” Ross van Gaalen, a student from Outtatown’s Site 2 South Africa group, shared at the graduation ceremony.

“No matter how impactful our relationships have been, no matter which crazy stories will stick with us, and no matter which lessons or insights will affect us most deeply, I believe this year has made us all better prepared to face the rest of our lives.”

Bethany Bustard, a leader from Outtatown’s Site 1 Guatemala group, shared that she and the students learned of God’s transformative love during their time together.

“God’s love is not passive or timid,” Bustard said. “It is a powerful and active force as Christ offers to live in us, place his love in our hearts, and empowers us to go forward giving, receiving, and finding love in both expected and unexpected places.”

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L to R: Erin Harder, Brette Elias, Erica Deighton, Tara Hansen, and Louisa Hofer from the 2012/2013 Site 1 Guatemala group celebrate their graduation from the Outtatown Discipleship School.

The celebration included a time for worship as well as a message by Outtatown instructor Nathan Rieger, who challenged graduates to use their experiences from the program to look at the world differently.

“You have to see differently – that is the core of discipleship,” Rieger said. “To say, ‘Jesus, I want to see with your eyes.’”

Before praying for the graduates, CMU President Cheryl Pauls likened the university to a rich mosaic and spoke of Outtatown’s place in the mosaic.

“Outtatown is definitely a vital part of what makes it glistening and gritty, real and holy,” Pauls said.

Reflecting on the stories he heard students sharing about their experiences, Outtatown Director Cam Priebe said common themes included hope, freedom, and the value of learning in community.

“Our own journey impacts those around us, and their journey impacts ours,” Priebe said, pointing to Outtatown’s mission to inspire students in their life of discipleship with Jesus Christ in a journey towards knowing God, knowing yourself, and knowing the world.

“When that’s done on an individual level, it’s one thing,” Priebe said. “But when it’s done with others, there’s incredible value in that.”

In addition to the South Africa and Guatemala teams, this year’s Outtatown program also included a team that traveled to Burkina Faso. That team graduated this past December.

The Outtatown Discipleship School is a unique and enriching program of serving and learning for students seeking a life-changing experience of adventure, travel, service, and Christian studies.

Through participation in Outtatown, students may earn up to 18 university credit hours for the academic work completed during their programs. Outtatown offers two-semester programs at site locations in Guatemala and South Africa, and a one-semester program in French Africa.

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Audio Outtatown Staff interviews

Stefan Kliewer – Outtatown South Africa Site 2 Leader (2011-2012)

Stefan Kliewer (far left in photo)
Outtatown South Africa Site 2 Leader
Interview Date: April 13, 2012

In this interview, Stefan shares with David Balzer – host of Sunday@CMU Radio, insights into the value of an OT experience and muses about what color he would use to describe South Africa.
[audio:http://www.cmu.ca/media_archive/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Site-2-South-Africa-Stefan-Kliewer-leader-April-2012.mp3]
Play/Download Here 

For more information about Outtatown, CMU’s one-year discipleship program, click here

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Audio Outtatown Staff interviews

Josh Dookhie – Outtatown South Africa Site 3 Leader (2011-2012)

Josh Dookhie (far right in photo)
Outtatown South Africa Site 3 Leader
Interview Date: April 13, 2012

In this interview, Josh shares with David Balzer – host of Sunday@CMU Radio, a moment in downtown Vancouver where homelessness became very personal for Site 3 participants.
[audio:http://www.cmu.ca/media_archive/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Site-3-South-Africa-Josh-Dookhie-leader-April-2012-Final1.mp3]
Play/Download Here 

For more information about Outtatown, CMU’s one-year discipleship program, click here

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Audio Outtatown Student interviews

Alanna Johnson – Outtatown South Africa Site 3 (2011-2012)

Alanna Johnson
Outtatown South Africa, Site 3 student (2011-2012)
Interview Date: April 14, 2012

Take a listen to candid reflections from Outtatown South Africa Site 3 student, Alanna Johnson, during celebrations on Saturday, April 14, 2012.  David Balzer, host of Sunday@CMU radio, waded into the crowd of over 100 students along with their family and friends that had come on Family Day to celebrate the OT experience from four sites – Guatemala, South Africa 1 & 2 and French Africa.

Site 3 South Africa
[audio:http://www.cmu.ca/media_archive/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Outtatown-South-Africa-3-Alanna-Johnson-Final-April-2012.mp3]
Download/Listen

For more information about Outtatown, CMU’s one-year discipleship program, click here

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Audio Outtatown Student interviews

Outtatown South Africa students offer candid reflections (Site 3, 2011-2012)

Matthew Kopperud and Julie Letkeman
Outtatown South Africa, Site 3 students (2011-2012)
Interview Date: April 14, 2012

Take a listen to candid reflections from Outtatown South Africa (Site 3) students during celebrations on Saturday, April 14, 2012.  David Balzer, host of Sunday@CMU radio, waded into the crowd of over 100 students along with their family and friends that had come on Family Day to celebrate the OT experience from four sites – Guatemala, South Africa 1 & 2 and French Africa.

Site 3 South Africa
[audio: http://www.cmu.ca/media_archive/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Outtatown-South-Africa-3-Final-April-2012.mp3]
Download/Listen

For more information about Outtatown, CMU’s one-year discipleship program, click here

Categories
Audio Outtatown Student interviews

Outtatown South Africa students offer candid reflections (Site 2, 2011-2012)

Andrew Letkeman and Emily Brubaker-Zehr
Outtatown South Africa, Site 2 students (2011-2012)
Interview Date: April 14, 2012

Take a listen to candid reflections from Outtatown South Africa (Site 2) students during celebrations on Saturday, April 14, 2012.  David Balzer, host of Sunday@CMU radio, waded into the crowd of over 100 students along with their family and friends that had come on Family Day to celebrate the OT experience from four sites – Guatemala, South Africa 1 & 2 and French Africa.

Site 2 South Africa
[audio: http://www.cmu.ca/media_archive/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Outtatown-South-Africa-2-Final.mp3]
Download/Listen

For more information about Outtatown, CMU’s one-year discipleship program, click here

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Audio Outtatown Sunday@CMU Radio

Steve Klassen – Outtatown South Africa Site Leader

Steve Klassen
Outtatown South Africa Site Leader
Interview Date: April 25, 2011

In this interview, Steve shares with David Balzer – host of Sunday@CMU Radio, a moment in South Africa where his mentoring role became very real and personal.

[audio:http://www.cmu.ca/media_archive/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20120115SteveKlassen.mp3|titles=20120115SteveKlassen]
Play/Download Here 

For more information about Outtatown, CMU’s one-year discipleship program, click here

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Audio Outtatown Sunday@CMU Radio

Sandy Town – Joyful reflections on Outtatown South Africa

Sandy Town
CMU Outtatown South Africa Site Leader
Interview Date: April 25, 2011

In this interview, Sandy Town speaks with David Balzer – host of Sunday@CMU radio, about the tremendous joy she has encountered in people during her time spent with Outtatown.

[audio:http://www.cmu.ca/media_archive/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20120108SandyTown.mp3|titles=20120108SandyTown]
Play/Download Here 

For more information about Outtatown, CMU’s one-year adventure discipleship program, click here