Fahren um Deutschland

It's been a few weeks. Been busy, in and out, up and down, left and right, over and under, through and around... (I can't think of any others)

There was a freestyle sport competition in Zurich September 22-24. My dad and I went on the last day for the finals. It is Europes equivalent of the X-Games. Freeski, skateboard, Moto-X, and best of all, snowboarding. I compiled the video I recorded of the snowboard finals. Watch it here!

I had a slow start to the service month because of getting settled and all, so I had a big push the last week of September. I went out every day. I started a study with a young African refugee from Tanzania. He is so appreciative of the Bible and for help in understanding it. The last few weeks, though, he has been depressed. There was a voting not long ago on immigration policy and he may be exported from the country, along with hundreds of others. He had left Tanzania because of political oppression so he cannot be sent back there, so he has to figure out where to go. He is going to have to start his whole life over, he said. My mother and I were able to give him some scriptural encouragement and it seemed to cheer him up a bit. I heard that many refugees actually burn there passports and other documents once they reach Switzerland so they cannot be sent back. I also just started a study with two young Hindu men who have never read the Bible, but are eager to study it.

Such horrible things going on in the world today. These school shootings are so unbelievable, three in one week. Five young Amish girls age 6-13 bound and shot. It must be terrifying for every parent to send their child to school every day, knowing how random this all is.

We are in Germany right now. My Oma (grandma) flew over here to see the places she was born and grew up. So we have been driving all over Germany through her life. It's pretty fascinating. She was born and raised during the time of WWII, in Germany. If you can imagine what that would be like. At a young age she left the town she was living in with family friends to get away from danger. The next day that town was bombed and leveled, killing her aunt as she was running from her store to a shelter. At a youth shelter near the end of the war, she was sleeping one night when released Polish prisoners who obtained rifles broke into the shelter to steal food and supplies out of desperation. She had the gunmans flashlight right on her and still kept her composure. "There is an American guard down the hall," she said in German to try and scare the man. She escaped without harm. She is a brave one. Amazing resilience.

Some of you are off to West Virginia for unassigned territory today. Have a great week! Drive safely. To everyone: I miss you all very much! I enjoy reading all of your comments and posts. To the Gaidens crew: The stories are looking fantastic! A new one seems to roll out every few days; it's awesome. I better get writing!

Tschuess!