I want to go to Switzerland. I know I've been saying that New Zealand is my first pick, but now I think it may be my second choice. YWAM Lausanne sounds like so much fun, and I've been searching online and looking at the website for Geneva (which is apparently really close to Lausanne), and it seems like the place for me. So many gorgeous sites to see in my free time, and Lausanne itself, especially the base, looks like a beauty too. (They have TONS of pictures on the website: www.ywamlausanne.com). I think I spent a total of 5 hours looking at that site, and the one for Geneva (www.geneva-tourism.ch/eng/index.php3)! I haven't been able to find more on taking a YWAM course, other than what I've already read and heard from others who've taken a DTS. I know every experience is different though, but I think the biggest key factor is your attitude going in. If you have a positive attitude, and keep looking for the bright spots, you'll enjoy yourself. If you have a negative attitude, you'll just keep looking for the downsides and make yourself miserable.

Anyways, I still really want to do a DTS. The cost for Switzerland is just under $4000 USD, and I think that's a little more managable than the $6400 USD for New Zealand. The only thing on the application that worries me is the references. They want three: Pastoral/Spiritual Reference (Karl?), Teacher/Employer Reference, and Friend Reference. Now, I'm not real worried about the friend reference, I've got a few good friends that I know would help me with that one. The teacher/employer reference is a bit difficult. I'm not really in school at the moment, nor am I employed anywhere. I know the most common solution is to go to the most recent employer and ask them to fill it out, but I don't feel that that's going to be a good reference. I know I did an okay job there, but it definitely wasn't my best; there's so much more effort I could have been puitting into my job at Publix. The pastoral/spiritual reference also worries me a tiny bit because I'm not sure of who to ask to fill it out. I'm not really close to any of the leaders or anything, and I know they don't know me real well--or at least not well enough to be able to complete the reference form. I think I'm going to talk to Pastor Karl or Jay about it either this Sunday or next. (Hmm..Jay. There's an idea..)

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Today I finally submitted the first part of my application for the Discipleship Training School in New Zealand that's to begin on February 23, 2008. It appears that a lot of people think I have decided to do this next semester after only a little time in prayer about it. That isn't so. I have been praying about doing a DTS since last October, ever since I learned of Youth With a Mission. Now the time has come to get all of my paperwork together and sumit the application. I've decided to do what I can online, so as not to lose the information before it's sent out., although I know there is still going to be a bit of physical paperwork to be done as well. I'm excited! I am also a little sad, because I absolutely love it here at Trinity, and there are so many things coming up in the spring semester that I know I will have to miss. (GCMF Missions Trip, Female Basketball Team, etc.) And I am seriously going to miss living just across the hall from my best friend. There are a few things back home that I'll miss as well, like my Uncle Clyde's wedding, and my dad's birthday. But I anticipate that the joy found in serving the Lord overseas will be beyond anything I can imagine, so I'm not terribly terribly upset about having to miss those activities. And it's not as though I will not have the opportunity to participate in some of the aforementioned activities at a later date.
I'm going home next weekend for fall break, so I'll get to be home for a little longer than in the past when I've gone home for the weekends. I don't have any real plans for while I'm at home other than visiting Emily (Ed's mom) and attending my home church, Cornerstone on Sunday morning. I'm also toying with the idea of visiting FUMC, the church that I used to babysit at on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.

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