Pre-game: September 25. Three days until departure.

Well, I'm leaving in three days, and I've still got a bunch of stuff to do, but here's what I've done so far:

-set up this nifty blog
-bought this sweet backpack
-almost gotten my Eagle Scout (my board of review is tonight. wish me luck)
-got some new clothes, and a sleeping bag
-set up my plane ticket. I'm leaving on friday morning, and arriving in Zurich on saturday morning (their time)

I also went up front at church and spoke about what I'm doing, and the elders blessed me, and it was pretty cool.

So, here's a description of what, exactly, I am doing, and, to do that, I've prepared two versions of the description, a short version, and a long version:

SHORT VERSION (for friends, kids with short attention spans, etc.): I am going on a 6-month long missions trip, and I'm probably hanging around Europe for 1-2 months after that. if you want me to get you something nice, email me, and I'll think about it.

LONG VERSION (for people, adults, mostly, keeping tabs on me and my story, and actually wondering how and what I am doing): I am going to Switzerland for a Discipleship Training School with Youth With a Mission (YWAM), where I will learn how to do missions work, develop my spiritual gifts, and strengthen my relationship with god. That part lasts for about three months. The next part is a 3-month long missions trip somewhere else in the world. I'm not sure where, probably a third-world country. I'm not sure what we'll be doing there, but I am confident that the first part (the missions school) will teach me how.
I decided to do this school, because I wanted to do something before going to college. I will be going to college (north park college in Chicago), but I wanted to take a gap-year to actually do something. I've been straying from God's path for a while, and this experience will definitely help in getting back on the right path.

Well, my camera is currently at my Cousin Colleen's house, so I'll post some pictures of me, my friends, and me speaking up in front of church later. See ya.

God bless,
Frederick Beuttler
macrovore@gmail.com