Dear Supporters,
It’s been one month since I arrived back in America and my DTS came to a close. After our outreach ended, we spent one final week in Montana debriefing the entire experience which was crucial before heading home. I came into the week speechless and scared to go home. However, I left feeling excited to go and share. In hindsight, debrief ended up being one of my favorite weeks because of how well everything was tied together and brought to a close.
Looking back I can say that this experience was definitely life-changing. I know it’s a cliche thing that people say after these types of experiences, but I truly mean it. Everything from the environment in Montana to the work we did in the Himalayas was centered around Jesus. As a result, it wasn’t DTS that changed my life, but it was Jesus who changed my life. I grew in my understanding of the Bible, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. I experienced deep and authentic Christian community. My perspective and my heart for God’s people were expanded. I had to rely on God and saw His power at work in a variety of ways. I learned how to live as a Christian, stay connected to Jesus through spiritual disciplines, and what a life of missions may look like. I am so excited to continue living life more intimately with Him. This experience will play a crucial part in my testimony and likely serve as a pivot point in my faith. I’ve always said I believed in God, but now there is not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that God is real. I would love to dive into more detail about what the experience was like, but I don’t have the space to do that here. Instead, I invite you to go to my website (jacobfrenzenywam.com), read the old newsletters from my time in Montana and the Himalayas if you missed them, and watch the new videos I just made recapping the entire experience.
Following debrief week, I flew back to my home in Colorado for the first time in 5 months. It was weird to be back but so good to see and spend time with family again. I spent that first week celebrating Thanksgiving with family. Up to that point, my re-entry was more successful than I thought it would be. However, I hit some lows the following week when I was home alone for the first time in a long time and didn’t know what to do with myself. Learning how to implement everything I learned now that I’m home has been a challenge for sure.
God has been good, through the ups and the downs, and He is reshaping my next steps. Since my life and perspective have been radically changed, I don’t think my future is going to look like how I thought it would 5 months ago. I am feeling a calling towards continuing in missions in some capacity, but also want to continue with a traditional career path as well. I believe the answer for me personally may be blending my interest in business with missions. The next step in that direction for me is going to be another YWAM program called a Bridge School based out of Colorado Springs. I learned about this opportunity back in Montana and have felt God calling me to it ever since. The idea behind the school is to bridge the gap between your DTS (what I just did) and whatever is next.
The Bridge School doesn’t start until April though, which leaves me with some time to spare. Unfortunately, the GCU in-person semester would overlap with that school, which means I had to pick one or the other. Since I feel God calling me to the Bridge School, I decided to lengthen my break from GCU to a full gap year. Though I won’t be attending GCU in person this Spring, I will be continuing toward my finance degree through GCU’s online program which is structured with more freedom and flexibility to move through my degree faster. I am leaving open the possibility of returning to GCU in the Fall of 2024 depending on where I feel God’s leading at that time. For now, I’m excited to have a few extra months at home with my family and am looking forward to working and serving in some capacity while taking online classes. I am in the application process for an internship in our church’s youth ministry which I’m excited about. Additionally, I have a cool opportunity to work with a Christian company we met on outreach in the Himalayas.
There’s a lot to be grateful for and a lot to look forward to. I can look back at the last year or so and see the crazy adventure that all of this has been. I’m in awe at how the Lord led me to GCU, to Passion, to a crazy calling to the Himalayas, to YWAM, and then how he fulfilled that calling. It’s been a journey that has been more rewarding than I could ever imagine. I truly don’t know where I’m headed after the Bridge School, but I’m confident and trust that following God’s plan one step at a time will lead me to where He wants me to be. That place is way more fulfilling than any idea I may have for myself.
In wrapping up this portion of my YWAM journey, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you one final time. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything! This experience could not have happened if it wasn’t for each and every one of you. You’ll never know how much this truly changed me, the trajectory of my life going forward, and prayerfully the lives of those we encountered. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to get to have such an experience, and I appreciate how each of you partnered with God to make that happen. Enclosed is a small token of my appreciation, a flag reminding you to pray for those we shared Jesus with, and all those who haven’t heard His name yet.
Until Next Time,
Jacob Frenzen
“I thank God for the help you gave me while I preached the Good News” (Philippians 1:4-6 ICB).
*For those interested in following the next portion of my YWAM journey at the Bridge School, please follow along through my website (jacobfrenzenywam.com). If you feel called to continue any level of financial support through the Bridge School, you may donate on my website or to my home address. You may also connect with me via phone at 970-488-9235 or email at [email protected].
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