So, you want to do a YWAM discipleship training school (DTS)? Now that you've decided to answer God's call and step into the future He has laid out for you, it's time to pick which DTS you'll apply for.

YWAM has hundreds of locations across the globe, each with its own unique features and beautiful location. At YWAM San Diego/Baja, we believe we have one of the best YWAM DTS locations of all! While our headquarters are in sunny San Diego, California, our DTS students will stay at either our San Antonio Del Mar (near Tijuana, Mexico) or Ensenada (just outside Baja California, Mexico) campuses.

Ensenada is tucked just an hour and a half south of the U.S./Mexico border. Only a couple of minutes walk from sprawling beaches and ocean views, this campus is in the heart of a local community. Staying at our YWAM DTS location in Ensenada gives you the unique opportunity to spread both your DTS lecture phase and the outreach phase at an international location.

We know you have a lot of YWAM locations to choose from, all with varieties of discipleship training schools, but we truly love our YWAM location in Ensenada and we think you will too! Here are 10 reasons why.

1. Hands down, the food

From tacos, sushi, ramen, and falafel, to basically any other kind of food you can think of, it’s here. And it is so good. All over Ensenada and within walking distance of our YWAM bases, there is an abundance of little restaurants and food stands with unbelievably delicious and cheap food.

If you ask any staff or former students what they like to do in their free time, you will probably hear a majority of them say that they love to go out to eat with their friends. It’s basically our biggest hobby and we are so proud of it.

My personal favorite is any taco stand that I can find and Nigori Sushi. This quaint sushi restaurant has a classy dining room and offers all the standard rolls you love to eat at home as well as some unique dishes that put a local twist on the cuisine.

2. The Coffee shops

From amazing aesthetics to cheap prices on specialty coffee and amazing chai, there are so many different coffee shops to enjoy in Ensenada.

There is one to match whatever type of mood you are in and the majority of them have really great coffee! One-on-one, small groups, friend outings, DeVos, reading, and studying are all the perfect excuses to pop into your favorite cafe, get comfy, and enjoy yourself.

Coffee shops are my love language so if you join us, you can find me in one multiple times throughout the week.

I go to Black Coffee so often that they've opened a tab for me. Seriously. But who can blame me? Their creative, house-brewed coffee creations are irresistible and they also have a range of tasty treats on the menu, such as the ice cream-filled chimney cakes.

When I want a comfy spot to crash, I go straight for the couches at Cafe con Leche. Don't forget to try a brownie while you're there, but I'll warn you - once you have one, you'll have to keep coming back for more!

3. The Ocean

The most popular beach in Ensenada is a whopping 30-second walk from our YWAM school. It is fittingly named, Playa Hermosa, or Beautiful Beach.

It is perfect for walks, surfing, sports, swimming, hanging out, runs, introspection, or whatever you like to do outdoors. It also isn’t the only beach in Ensenada. There are tons of other beaches open to the public within walking distance.

My favorite thing about the ocean here is that no matter what beach you are at, you are guaranteed to catch an incredible view at sunset. There have been countless nights when our entire staff will stop what they are doing and walk down to the beach just to watch and document the sunset.

We have all traveled to multiple destinations and seen tons of different sunsets around the world, but most of the staff here would agree with me when I say nothing compares to an Ensenada sunset!

4. The Mountains

Along with the ocean, we have a beautiful background of mountains surrounding Ensenada on the opposite side. They make for great views of the city, but if you prefer hiking and foliage over sandy beaches, then this location is for you.

At YWAM San Diego/Baja, we have taken it upon ourselves to put a cross at the top of our most popular hiking route as a reminder of God’s faithfulness. The mountains complement the ocean beautifully, and Ensenada would not be the same without them.

5. The Fish Tacos

Ensenada is the birthplace of fish tacos...and they are amazing.

‘Nuff said.

6. LOCAL CHURCH SERVICES

A lot of the staff here at Ensenada attend a church called Horizonte and we love it.

They have a bilingual service with amazing worship, preaching, hipster vibes, and a coffee shop. What else could a traveling young person want or need?

In all seriousness, we all love getting out of our little bubble on the YWAM campus to take part in another Christian community. Many of our staff also help serve in the church. My YWAM San Diego/ Baja experience definitely would not be the same without Horizonte, and I think a lot of other staff here would say the same!

7. The Chill Vibes

The skate and surf culture, the ocean air, the beautiful views, and the relaxed Mexican culture, all combine to create the best atmosphere for your lecture phase free time.

Ensenada is such a laid-back city, and you'll have the space and time to adopt that mindset as your own. A chill environment is also the perfect cultivator of self-reflection. When your world is quiet, your mind can be as well, so you can focus on listening to the message God is sending to you, and spread that to others in a more effective way.

I am all about vibes, so the relaxed, go-with-the-flow culture here has really helped me feel comfortable even though I'm far away from home!

8. The People

A huge part of a city is the people. I absolutely love meeting the locals in Ensenada.

From the modernized and hipster “Ensenadans” in the coffee shops to the indigenous people in the mountains, they all bring such a beautiful aspect of Mexican culture to the city and our YWAM location.

They show the diversity between urban and rural, and modernized and conservative that this city encompasses so well. Walking between cultures and meeting new people is a critical part of DTS, and living in Ensenada is the first step for our students to meet these goals and practice what they learn in the DTS classroom.

9. We can walk everywhere

One thing I love about Ensenada is that there are a lot of places that are close to each other and within walking distance. I love that I can walk to a grocery store, the beach, the base, a coffee shop, an OXXO (a Mexican convenience store), or any of my friends’ houses from my place.

Most of the time, the weather is amazing for a walk, which is so good for the soul. Let’s also not forget the physical and mental health benefits of walking, and the environmental benefits as well. Hello, healthy body, clear mind, and a cleaner Earth!

10. The YWAM Base (obvi)

The YWAM San Diego/Baja campus is obviously the biggest part of our experience in Ensenada.

Here lies the majority of our intimate friendships and community. This is where we do life together, encourage one another, and keep each other accountable. One of the biggest reasons Ensenada has a huge hold on my heart is the people on the base.

No matter where I am in the world, I know I have a close-knit community to come back to that loves, supports, and is always there for me.

How to Choose Your DTS Location

All of YWAM's DTS programs will bring something to your life. However, choosing the YWAM community that is best for your personal goals and will allow you to deepen your faith to the greatest level is just as important as the missionary training itself.

A good way to find the best DTS locations for you is to make a list of what is important to you in your DTS. Factors on this list could include:

YWAM DTS cost
World missions destination
DTS elective offerings
Where God calls you to go
What different cultures appeal to you

It's okay to take time to think it over. We understand it's a big decision! If you're feeling conflicted about where to do your DTS, speak to one of our staff today. They can provide you with information about both our YWam San Diego/Baja locations, including everything we love about Tijuana, and connect you with resources on other YWAM locations.

Do a YWAM DTS Today

Want to experience Ensenada in all its glory? Join us at our Ensenada campus for a discipleship training school or one of our secondary courses for DTS graduates through the University of the Nations, or DTS for older students such as the Crossroads DTS.

Ensenada is waiting for you. Don't miss your chance to live in this breathtaking location - Apply for YWAM San Diego/Baja today.

Comment

10 Reasons We Love Ensenada And Why We Know You Will Too

There’s been a handful of moments throughout my walk with God where I’ve felt like I was lacking direction. The door to one season would close, and I would be left staring blankly ahead, not sure which way to walk, not sure which door to knock on next. I feel like we all experience those moments of uncertainty. Maybe we don’t hear God clearly about what He wants from us moving forward, or maybe He opens a door for us that we least expected, or for some of us, a door is opened that don’t even want opened. But it’s in those moments where we have to trust Him. These are the moments where we take those baby steps in faith, and in obedience. More often than not, God knows what we need before we do ourselves. And then after the fact, we find ourselves looking back and being amazed at all God has done, all He has spoken, simply because we said “yes.”

For me, this was my experience with the School of Worship.

I was at that point of staring blankly into the future, wondering what was next for me in my YWAM walk. And that was when the idea was presented to me of doing the school. Worship is my heart, and I know it’s something I was to pursue further in my life. Though I’m still figuring out exactly what that looks like, I figured the school would be a good place to start that journey and along the way, further my skills and deepen my knowledge.

Little did I know how much I would “need” the school, how much God would use it to speak to me, and how it would be my refuge through what was about to become a very broken season in my life. God was walking ahead of me. He was preparing the way for me to be wrecked and to grow, to be changed, and challenged in my heart and in my mind throughout the journey of this school.

And what a journey it was.

I didn’t realize a secondary school could impact my life just as much as a DTS had, if not more, in some areas. God moved weekly through the different teachers that came to pour into us. Each topic was unique and God continued to speak into the areas in my life where I needed to grow, or needed something to be awakened. There was something special about the teachers that came throughout the school. Each of them were so in-tune with the Lord and it was amazing to see each of their giftings being used to impact our lives, and it wasn’t just during class time. They spent their meal times with us, they attended our open-mic nights, they came to our workshops to teach us more practical skills. Every week there was something God wanted to hit on personally for me, but also for the other students involved. We were challenged in our knowledge, in our faith, and in our practical skills.

During this school I learned so much more about the heart of worship and all the different elements encompassed in leading worship than I have leading worship and being part of music ministries during my entire Christian walk. I grew in confidence, and was truly able to get my heart in line with worship and wrestle with God about what worship truly looked like and how, through my personal worship and quiet times with Him, I could grow as a worship leader leading a whole community.

To be honest it wasn’t always easy and there were moments I wanted to quit, but it was definitely worth it. Half way through the school, I was ready to leave and be done with YWAM. But God spoke to me and told me I needed to stay. I remember feeling so far from Him at that point, so to hear His voice after being somewhat in the “desert,” I knew I had to listen and obey. He asked me to stay, and write a song for my people, for New Zealand. I argued and wrestled with Him about it. There was no part of me that wanted to do that. I was struggling with doubt and comparison and I didn’t think I had it in me to write a song for something as big as that. But there was something in the process of surrendering in that battle, where God came alongside me and gave me the lyrics and the melody. I found myself sitting at the piano writing an anthem of sorts for my country. I didn’t enjoy the process of song writing up to that point. But I knew that this song had something special about it, because I’d allowed God into that process and had written it with Him. I had allowed Him to give me His heart for my nation and to write, and then sing it out for my people. I was so challenged, but to then see how it had already started making waves in New Zealand before it was even released, I knew that God was doing something. I knew that God was honoring my decision to say yes and stay in the school to complete what He wanted to do in me and through me. He knows us so much better than we know ourselves. He knows what we need, and He knows our capabilities, and it’s incredible to see how He helps us harness all these things when we are willing to surrender our own desires and follow His.

I learned this lesson over and over again during the School of Worship, and each time I surrendered to Him, there was something so beautiful that came out of it. A renewed heart, a joyful spirit, a closer relationship with my Father, and something I’m most proud of: Kia Kaha. My song, God’s heart for my people.

I left this school a completely different person than I started, in the best way.

Healed. Whole. Changed. Challenged. With a fresh view of God and worship. And really, that’s all I could have asked for.

Want to check out our Torch: School of Worship album on Spotify? Click HERE.

Interested in doing the School of Worship? For more information about The Torch: School of Worship click HERE.

Kristy Lagarto, our author is staff with YWAM San Diego/ Baja at our Ensenada campus.