Swensen Family

We had the special treat this week of having a pastor from Togiak and his wife spend a night with us. They had attended a local conference and stayed with us the night before going back home. It was a time of sweet fellowship and encouragement. The village ministry families never cease to amaze me. To describe their work to minister and live as "hard" is an understatement. Please keep the village ministry families in your prayers. Pray for endurance, good health, financial provision, wisdom, clarity in communicating God's Word, and blessings to shower them. Pray that the staff of MARC are a source of help, encouragement, and trusted friendship to confide in to these families.

Yesterday was a bitter-sweet day for me. After a wonderful, uplifting, convicting, challenging, self-searching worship service and message at church, we got to have the children of a fellow staff family go home with us while their mom and dad headed to the hospital for the birth of their third child. Our car was full, and I voiced that with our 2 year old and 1 year old afternoon wards we might get a taste of what it would be like to have six children. Well, I think we would have to have the children in our care a bit longer than an afternoon to truly experience what it would be like, for they were cared for and doted on by our children all afternoon that I barely had the opportunity to play an active role in caring for them. We also had friends and their children visiting with us for the afternoon, so it was really a relaxing afternoon for us even with nine children in the house.

The bitter part of my day was finding out that one of my best friends miscarried that morning. It is heartbreaking to see the loss and hurt experienced by those you love. Please pray for them, for comfort and peace, physcial recovery, and understanding for their 3 children ages 6, 4, and 2.

It was around 6:30 when we found out that our little guests have a new baby brother. We quickly packed them up and anxiously headed for the hospital, bursting with excitement to see him.

On our way, we saw MARC's King Air approaching to land from their day's flight, so we detoured to the airport to help the pilots take care of their passengers and the plane. In the picture below Mark is putting the plane away in the hanger. It is always an encouragment to the pilots to have someone at the airport to assist them after a long day of flying.

As we left the airport I got this great shot of one of MARC's navajos with the sunset in the background. The sunset was an incredible display of God's glory.
Finally arriving at the hopsital, we got to revel in the most breathtaking display of God's glory -- one made in His own image. Elisha James was born at 6:02 weighing 6 lb. 15 oz. Mom looked great. Big sister was tickled pink over her new brother. Big brother will come to realize the new addition to the family in the days to come. Please pray for the Boettchers as they adjust. Pray for quick recovery. Grandparents will be arriving in a couple weeks (Elisha decided to make his appearance two weeks early), pray for safe travel for them.

May all glory and honor be unto God in and through our lives each moment.