Hi Everyone,
Update Time!
So yesterday was the two-month mark for me being in Switzerland which is crazy.
It has gone by so fast. I think its because we’ve been doing so many books.
Since my last update in October we’ve gone through Luke, Acts, 1 and 2
Thessalonians, Colossians, Philippians, Ephesians, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians.
The part that is almost disheartening is the fact that by the end of this
quarter, we will have only done 17 books. Which is no where near a third of the
66 books in the Bible. So, the quarters are going to be even more packed.
Things to look forward to. It has been crazy and awesome and I am learning so
much from each book.
I was
struggling for awhile over the past couple weeks, feeling like there was just
too much information that I was learning that I just couldn’t take it all in.
It felt like it was blurring all together and like I couldn’t remember any of
it. I prayed about it because it I didn’t want to be missing out on anything or
feel like I’m wasting my time here. But around a week ago (as close as I can
pinpoint) there was a change. I started making connections to real life and the
things we’ve been learning in the books. Certain situations that would make me
think of different scriptures that were more applicable because I could recall
the situations of the original readers of the book. Things were starting to
come alive, things were starting to bubble up in me and I didn’t realize until
then just how much I have been taking in. Yes, it is still a lot of information
but now I know that lots of it is sticking, lots of it is making a home in me. That
just really encouraged me.
I’ve done
some pretty cool things outside of the classroom as well. One Monday as a base
we had what is called a Prayer Day. What was so cool about this is that everyone
was split into teams and together every single canton (province or state) in
Switzerland had at least one team pray over it while they were in that canton.
Yes, we sent people literally all over Switzerland to pray for each area. My
team went to Zurich which the largest city in Switzerland. We went to a
cathedral and went up the tower and while we had a view of the city we prayed
for it and the canton. One Friday a lot of us from the base went to Geneva and
visited the UN and attended a lecture on Reconciliation Through Forgiveness. It
was part of an event called YWAM Peace Week, this was the first time this event
has happened and they are hoping to continue it. The event is all about trying
to get peace between nations and people groups.
We had a huge
thanksgiving dinner, there was over 170 people there so it was a bit chaotic.
But it was a great night with a wonderful amount of amazing food. Then on
Saturday we had a good old fashioned Turkey Bowl Tournament. That was a lot of
fun.
So, to sum
it up, I’ve been learning a lot and having a blast while doing it. God is so
awesome!
Also, some
last big news, I found out where I am going for outreach. So after my nine
month lecture phase which ends on June 22, there is a trip to Israel. That trip
will be around two weeks and will be a sightseeing trip, visiting places talked
about in the Bible. After that will be the actual outreach and that will be two
to three weeks long. The location of the outreach is Egypt! We don’t know many
details yet but we do know that we will be teaching whole books on our own. Our
school leader said that there would be help preparing but we will be able to
teach the book our self. I am so excited for that.
Just one
prayer request. It’s getting near to our Christmas break, only a couple more
weeks, so, a prayer request would be that I continue to push strong into my
studies and don’t let myself slack off just because it is almost time for the
break. Apart from that God has been sorting things out as they come.
I wish to
extend a thank you to the people that have prayed for me and supported me so
far in this journey. It means the world that you are helping me in this
endeavor with God.
If you wish
to partner with me in helping me achieve this journey, I am raising money for
the outreach portion of this adventure. I have opened a GO FUND ME account, and
that is the easiest way you can donate to help make this dream become a
reality.
Cheers,
Tyler
Alspaugh
