Who can apply to do a DTS?

The main qualification for studying in a DTS is that you have a relationship with God, want to grow in Him and want to help other people get to know Him.  The other qualification is that you are at least 18 years old and/or have completed High School.

What should I expect during the application process?

You will need to fill out an application form, health form, personal history form and ask three people to fill out reference forms for you.  All forms are downloadable here.  We must receive all the forms for us to consider your application.

Once we have received your entire application we will pray and discuss it as staff.  We will be conducting phone or skype interviews with you at this point.  These help us to get to know you better… and help you to get to know us better!

We will then let you know whether your application has been successful or not.

What will my day look like during the lecture phase of the DTS?

As Christians and YWAMers, we highly value our relationship with the Lord, so all are encouraged to start the day with Quiet Time – taking time on your own to be with God, read His word, worship Him and listen to His voice.

DTS schedules differ from school to school but our mornings usually start with intercession for other nations and worship, and then continue with lectures.  Afternoons are filled with studies, small groups, one-on-ones, work duties and other activities.  It is definitely an exciting time!

What is it like to live in community?

We currently don’t own our buildings but live near each other in apartments.  We have a family atmosphere in our community.  The key, we have discovered, is having a mutual care and concern for one another. We want to obey the word of the Lord to love one another and respect each person’s unique cultural identity.  Everyone works together to keep communal areas clean and you are expected to keep your personal area clean and tidy also.  You will have work duties that reflect this during DTS.

Three times a week the whole YWAM Lutsk family comes together for intercession and family night.  In this way DTS becomes a part of the big family.

What moral standards should I expect?

Our lifestyle supports the foundational values of U of N’s missionary calling. We have high Christian values and moral standards for our community and trust that you will experience a combination of Godliness and naturalness to help you project a strong Christian testimony.

We require that you abstain from drinking alcohol (including wine and beer), smoking, drug abuse, or sexual immorality. It is our desire to maintain this standard both in and outside the DTS living areas.

I don’t speak any Russian or Ukrainian.

That’s ok.  All lectures and official meetings will have translation into English and Russian/ Ukrainian.  People are usually very open to help you learn the language if you try.  This can go a long way to help build friendships.  Those who speak some English will probably be very eager to practise it on you!

How can I adjust to living in a different culture?

Come with an attitude of openness to learn.  Many things, including ideas and behavioural norms, will probably be different to what you are used to.  This will take some adjusting.  It is all part of the experience, and if you remain flexible and dependent on God, it will definitely add to your time here and prepare you for a life time of cross-cultural and cross-generational missions.

During the course of the lecture phase you will have a weekly one-on-one meeting with a member of staff with whom you can discuss any concerns you may have.

What is the dress code?

Please respect local culture and customs.  Ukrainian culture focuses on outward appearance, so appearing clean and orderly is important.  We dress modestly- if unsure, err on the side of modesty.  We also tend to dress informally, so you won’t need to wear a suit for class!

What is my mailing address while in DTS?

You can use the following address to have people mail you things.  If a package/ parcel is bigger than two average size books, you may need to collect it from the post office yourself.

YWAM Lutsk

<<Your name>>

P.O. Box 264

Lutsk

Ukraine

43025

Do I need a visa to come to Ukraine?

There are a number of countries that DO NOT need a visa to come to Ukraine.  Citizens of other countries DO need a visa, so you will probably need a letter of invitation from us.  Ukrainian immigration laws change frequently so it is best to ask us directly.  Please be prepared that things may change without notice.

Once you have been accepted as a student, we will be in contact with you about the visa process.  The visa process normally takes up to 2-3 months to complete, depending on your country of origin.

How do I get to Lutsk?

Please let us know how and when you are getting to Lutsk.  If you need help getting from the airport to Lutsk, please contact us so we can make arrangements.

Flying through Lviv- The closest airport is Lviv International Airport (LWO).  From the airport you will need to get to Lviv bus station.  There are limited bus services from the airport, so a taxi is usually the best option.  At the bus station buy a ticket to Lutsk.  The bus ride is approximately 3.5 hours long.

Flying through Kyiv- There are two airports in Kyiv.  The easiest one to get to is Boryspil International Airport (KBP).  From KBP, take the shuttle bus to Kyiv central railway station (Voksal).  From there you can either get a bus or a train to Lutsk.  Buses are located on the same side of the railway station as the shuttle bus from the airport and the journey to Lutsk will take around 6 hours.  There is also a sleeper train to Lutsk which would take 10 hours.

Arriving by train- There is a railway station in Lutsk connected to the line to Kyiv.  Contact us with your approximate arrival time so we can have someone meet you.

Arriving by bus- There is a bus station here in Lutsk.  Contact us with your approximate arrival time so we can have someone meet you.

What should I pack?

This is a basic, non-exhaustive list.  We suggest bringing a backpack and, if needed, a suitcase.  We have limited storage available.  For outreach we suggest only bringing what you can carry.

1. A Bible, notebook, pen, pencils

2. Sheets.  Your room will have either a bed with a mattress or just a mattress for you.

3.  A valid international passport.  The expiry date of your passport should be at least 6 months after the end of outreach.

4. Clothes.  Please bring nice clothes for church, ladies will need to bring a knee length skirt for the more traditional/ conservative churches and a long skirt for outreach.

5. Shoes.  A good pair of walking shoes will be useful as you will be doing a lot of walking.  Sandals, flip-flops, shower shoes, church shoes and slippers may also be useful.

6. A sleeping bag, preferably lightweight.

7. Cup, plate and cutlery for outreach.

8. A Torch/Flashlight

Optional items: board games, musical instruments (no grand pianos please!), Russian/Ukrainian/ English phrasebook or dictionary, an adapter for Ukraine (220V), a cookbook

Can I bring my laptop and will there be internet available?

Yes, you can bring one laptop per person. Make sure you bring an adapter (Ukraine has 220 volts) – these can be bought at a local hardware store/ airports.

It is important that you remain in contact with family and friends while you are here. There are many internet cafes in Lutsk which cost about 6UAH per hour (less than $1USD) which you are free to use in your spare times.

Can I bring my musical instrument(s)?

A musical instrument is a great item to bring!  You may be able to use it during worship times in DTS or during our centre’s worship times and even on outreach as long as you don’t mind carrying it.  Grand pianos are inadvisable.

Can I bring my mobile/cellphone?

Yes, you can bring your mobile/cellphone.  You will, however be asked to switch it off during lectures, meetings and other class activities.  Also remember that it is important to build relationships with your classmates and members of YWAM Lutsk as this will be of immense value to you during the outreach phase and even later in life.

Can I bring a camera?

Yes, this is definitely recommended if you have one.  Cameras are a great way to record memories of this special time for a lifetime and share with your family and friends.

Can I bring my iPod/MP3 player/ CD player?

Yes, as long as you don’t let this distract you from building relationships with those around you or what God is wanting to do in your life.

Can I come early?

If you come to Lutsk before Welcome Night, you will need to do so at your own expense.  We have limited space available, so requests need to be made ahead of time.  Also be aware that coming early may cause problems later on with your visa as foreigners may only stay in Ukraine 90 days at a time before needing to get registered or leave the country.

What is the climate like in Lutsk?

We have four very distinct seasons.  Spring is usually wet but gets warm and dry towards May, when everything comes alive and there is lots of colour.  Summers tend to be warm between 25C and 38C (77F to 100F) and last to the end of August.  Fall weather is not so much cold as it is rainy and umbrellas are easily available.  Winter weather starts around October and tends to be very cold, snowy and icy between -10C and -30C (14F and -22F) lasting until March.

When are the fees due?

Fees, including the registration and book fees, are due on arrival and will need to be paid in full as soon as possible and before the start of outreach.  You are responsible to make sure that your fees are paid in full.

What is/isn’t included in the school fee?

The school fee includes housing, 3 meals a day, the cost of travel when we go somewhere as a team, and travel to and from our outreach location, as well as food and housing on outreach.

Current Ukrainian visa laws require people to either register or leave the country every 90 days even if they have a visa.  Please contact us for more details and how much extra money this may cost.

The school fee does NOT include transport to Ukraine and to your home country and visa expenses to Ukraine or to outreach. All personal expenses incurred while involved with YWAM Lutsk are the responsibility of the student (such as medical costs, food and snacks away from the DTS house/apartments, toiletry items and mail). It is a good idea to bring some spending money for things such as snacks or personal items.

You will need extra money for the registration fee and school books.  Costs to be announced.

How do I pay my fees?

The easiest way to do this is to bring cash.  We have many banks and ATM machines here in the city for you to be able to withdraw money.  The majority of people have had no issues in doing this, but some people have had problems extracting money through a bank.  Foreigners can bring up to $10,000 USD in cash to Ukraine.  Registration for DTS is usually within a couple of days of arrival.

What is your refund policy?

Refund policies may vary slightly from school to school.

Prior to the first session of class-               100%

During the first week of class-    90%

During the second week of class-             80%

During the third week of class-  70%

During the fourth week of class-               60%

During the fifth week of class-   50%

Beyond the fifth week of class- 0%

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance is advisable for your stay here in Ukraine.  You can buy your own or purchase one cheaply in Ukraine when you get here.  For outreach we will purchase travel insurance at your expense if you are not insured already.  We will let you know if we need to do this.

What sort of housing is there available for families?

We do not yet have our own buildings and rent either a house or apartments for the lecture phase of the school.  We do our best to provide a separate room for families.  Please contact the school leader for more information.

When we go on outreach, we may live in pioneering conditions and will not necessarily be able to provide you with a separate room although we will certainly do our best to accommodate your family’s needs.

Missions is a great place for the whole family.  As YWAM we believe that families should serve together and they are of great value to us.

I have young children, will childcare be available?

You will be busy for most of the day taking part in lectures, small groups, work duties etc.  We would ask you to hire a nanny to watch your children as needed.  In previous DTSs, we asked some people from local churches to provide childcare- these are people who have looked after our own children!  You will need to pay for the nanny yourself, or share the cost with other families who have children who will also be studying in the DTS.

My spouse has already done a DTS, does he have to repeat the DTS?

This decision has to be made by you as a couple, depending on how the Lord is leading you together with the team of DTS staff.  Please contact us directly about your case.

I would like to do a DTS, but my spouse will not be coming.

We will ask that both spouses take the school together.  The DTS is a time where you are growing closer to the Lord. It is best for the marriage when both can grow together in the Lord and in their marriage. We do not take spouses separately.

What is outreach?

Outreach is the field assignment part of the course.  It is usually 10-12 weeks in length and a requirement for the successful completion of the DTS course.  It is the part of the DTS course where you get to practically apply the things you have learnt in the classroom such as preaching, teaching, evangelising, mercy ministries and more!  You will be part of a team of students and staff to go and make God known!

Where will we go on outreach?

During the school staff together with the students will pray and seek the Lord about the outreach location. Our main three focuses are on the Islamic, Jewish, and Slavic world.  Past DTS outreach locations have included Egypt, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Israel and Armenia.

We usually announce the outreach location during lecture phase.

Do I need to take part in outreach?

To successfully complete the DTS, you will need to take part in outreach.  This is the part of the school where the main focus will be on putting into practice what you have learnt over the course of the lecture phase.  It is a fantastic time with ­many new experiences and opportunities to teach, preach, tell testimonies, pray with people and help others practically.