| | In the Summer of 2006, I was an assistant leader on a missions team to Wales, comprised of 20 American and Canadian young people. Though the summer had it’s share of difficulties, I came away a changed person, blessed by the people I had met and the experiences I had encountered.
Ever since then, it has always been on my heart to go on another team, but for the past few years, my summers have been spent attending college and building my career as a web developer. I have been waiting and praying for the opportunity to lead a team to Europe once again.
Well, my opportunity has finally come! This summer, from June 15th to August 13th, I will be co-leading a team of young people to the country of Switzerland, in the area around Lake Thun, a region with a long history of being a retreat for those seeking spiritual rest, purpose, and fulfillment. True to it's heritage, the area has many religious communities and retreat centers, making it a hot-spot for modern spiritual "seekers."
We will be partnering with Schlössli Le Rüdli, a Christian missionary training and retreat center that caters to those "seekers." The ministry’s property is expansive, with several buildings, thirteen acres of farmland, gardens, and a walking park. The team will be renovating some of the buildings and landscaping the grounds while staying there.
Working at Le Rüdli will also give us a unique opportunity to meet and mingle with people from all over the world that have come to find rest and retreat. Pray for us that God would give us wisdom and understanding in how to interact, whether to the seeker or to fellow believers.
Before we go to Switzerland for the summer, the team will spend two weeks at Teen Mission’s primitive “boot camp” on Merritt Island, Florida, preparing ourselves for a summer of serving by leaving behind the distractions of the modern life. There are no cell phones, computers, or iPods allowed in boot camp. Not even modern conveniences like showers or laundry machines are available for use. All this is to focus the team on what their true purpose for going overseas is: not to go on vacation or to be comfortable, but to serve God by serving others.
Being a leader on this trip will be an extra challenge for me. A team leader’s mission field is not just to the people of the country, but to the members of the team. It isn't just the responsibility of taking a group of 20+ teenagers overseas while making sure they're safe and provided for, but of doing my best to ensure that they get the most out of the Summer, both physically and spiritually. Please pray for me in this respect especially.
My goal is to try and give those on the team, especially those going for the first time, the wonderful experience that I had when I first went on a missions trip. It was a life-changing experience for me. One that really began to shape me into the person who I am today.
In order to go on this missions trip, however, I need to raise over $3000 by June 15th. If you wish to support me, just click here to donate online! (Be sure to select "Team Member" and then type in "Andrew Beck" in the comment field.)
But even more than your monetary support, I value the support of prayer. Believe me, I'll need it!  Please pray for me, my team, and my fellow leaders.
I'm really going to miss you all over the summer! If you want to write to me, feel free! I'd love to hear from you! Letters are a great comfort and encouragement overseas, especially to a guy like me. (Big family, you know. I get kinda lonely. )
Here is the address:
Teen Missions Team 09015
Schlossi 'Le rudli
Steinacherweg 29,
3646 Einigen
SWITZERLAND
Thanks everyone for supporting me, whether in money, in letters, or even in prayer! God bless you for your friendship. |
| | Posted 4/8/2009 6:43 PM - 20 Views - 4 eProps - 3 comments
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I have always admired and respected you, and I think that those you will be working with and those you will be ministering too will be really blessed to have you there. I believe that your life is a blessing to others!
David Birch
The LORD is my Shepherd
Psalm 23.1