School Leader
Loren // 30 // Alberta, CAN
Loren calls Edmonton, Alberta home despite living in many different places throughout his life. He comes from an awesome and supportive family including his parents and five brothers. Sometimes you might find him in Canada, but the last couple of years he’s spent more time in New Zealand and abroad. Years ago he was trained as a mechanical engineer and even though it’s something he still works with his passions lie elsewhere—mostly adventure, exploring, and seeking new places and experiences.
Loren had his worldview and perspective on God’s work in the world rocked by his Around the World in 80 Days DTS in 2009. Loren developed a greater appreciation for what the ‘body of Christ’ means to us as a church body–finding that we all have unique giftings and talents that come together to further the Kingdom.
As a dreamer, Loren has had many dreams, but he has endured some of them shattering. Through these disappointments he has come to find that there is a single greatest dream–that being, to know Jesus Christ as savior and having a real relationship with him. Loren’s hopes for this year’s SDTS is to see revelation come upon each of the students—to see them live freely, love God, love others, and to have a heart after God’s own.
This is one of his favorite verses:
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ” Phil 3:8 (NIV)
School Staff
Mandi // 27 // Minnesota, USA
My name is Mandi and I’m from the great state of Minnesooooooota. I was raised in the church and blessed with an awesome family that includes many godly women: an amazing best friend, 2 wonderful sisters, and one-going on two fabulous nieces who’ve stolen my heart. God has blessed me with many awesome friends and a supportive church. I help supervise a ski school here in the winters and work at a primary school on the edge of Minneapolis.
I finished my Snowboarders DTS in Oxford in 2007. Since there I spent some time in University studying missions and have lead short term trips around the US and Mexico with different youth groups. My DTS was one of the most challenging, stretching, amazing times of my life and I have been anticipating and praying for God’s call back into the field full time. I am excited to be heading back to Oxford to staff this years school!
School Staff
Brendan // 22 // Calgary, CAN
Hey there, I was born and raised in Calgary, Canada, just a short drive from the mountains. I didn’t start snowboarding until I was in high school because I was too busy playing box lacrosse, as it is my other passion. Thankfully, I’ve discovered the beauty of the mountains and the thrill of floating through powder and hanging out with God in nature to be a way better lifestyle. I was born into a Christian home but it took me a long time to learn what it takes to make my faith my own and not just go to church because that’s what my parents or my friends did. I’ve been blessed with good friends and family and they have always been there to support me. I was rocked at my SDTS in 2011 and I hope to be as big a part of others’ growth as my staff were in my walk with Jesus. I went to uni for a bit and have worked as a framer building houses, but nothing satisfies like serving the Lord. Maybe I’ll find a career in that some day, but for now God wants me in the small town of Oxford, New Zealand.
