Well, Ed says to stop worrying about the money for the DTS, but I can't, no matter how hard I try. And as I printed out the application I realized I misled myself. When I was looking up the cost and dates of Lausanne, Switzerland's DTS on the website, they list 3690 CHF as the cost. But that's only for the lecture phase-NOT the outreach phase. The outreach phase (as indicated on the application form) is another 3500-5500 CHF making the total cost about as much as New Zealand. (The total would now be closer to 5000/6000 USD.)

I have a ton of questions I want to email and ask them about though. First of all, I'd need to let them know I'll be needing a Visa if I go. (They actually request you inform them of need for a Visa before completing the application.) My other questions are listed below. (Some of the answers I can kind of guess at the appropriate answer, but it never hurts to ask and always better to know for certain than to assume!)

The website donations page mentions donating toward a scholarship fund. I'd like to know how one demonstrates need for financial aid and/or how to apply for this scholarship? I may be able to raise enough money for the lecture or outreach phase, but I don't know about raising enough money for both phases of the DTS.

I'd also love to do a little exploring while I'm in Switzerland. Is there going to be any free time on the weekends to visit tourist sites such as Jet d'eau? If there is not, and I wanted to come or stay a week or so before and after the DTS begin and end dates, would I need a host family to stay with during those times?

As for the outreach locations, I've noticed a few bases state that the students are allowed to choose and outreach site. I was wondering if YWAM Lausanne allows students to pick their preferred outreach location or if it is assigned come time for the outreach portion of the DTS?

All of these sorts of things are what I'm going to be worried about until I'm actually over there, or when the DTS begins without me. I'm not so much worried about the application itself though, nor about getting references. (Well, other than the teacher/employer reference, but I got other more important things to worry about.) I think I'm going to try and call Esther tomorrow and tell her to call me if I can't reach her. I've got some questions for her as well.

If it comes down to me having to raise a few thousand dollars, I really don't know how I'll do it. Esther tells me that I'm a creative person and will probably be able to make some things to sell, but I dunno about a couple thousand dollars worth. Jewelry making, Website making, and babysitting aren't real big moneymakers. Not unless one manages to sell A TON of the product. Or gets A LOT of babysitting gigs.

Ugh. This is so frustrating. Lord, HELP ME! I know it will all be worth in the end, whether God wants me to be there now or later. I think it'd be kind of cool if Ed and I could do it as a couple, but I don't think that's possible for another couple of years, granted we have the money for it and he's wanting to go and do something like this together. I dunno, maybe it'd just be easier to buy a laptop (since I didn't get it for Christmas as previously expected..) and start saving for another couple of years or something?? I don't know. I'm just so confused, I really don't know even know what I want anymore other than Switzerland is beautiful and I would love to go to YWAM Lausanne someday. Hopefully someday soon, like April!

Categories: Edward [t], Life In General [t], Friends [t], DTS [t]

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