Swensen Family

Mark was taxiing out for a flight and the nose tire went flat. With wheel and tire changed out, he was once again ready to go. He arrived at Anchorage International to pick up more passengers, but now was stuck out in the middle of the taxiway with another flat tire! The one he had just changed! The airport had to close the taxiway. He sat there watching the 747's and other airliners taxi by and takeoff. Arrangements were made to move his passengers to the pick up area where they would stay while Mark waited for another MARC plane to arrive with another new wheel and tire. Thirty minutes later the "cavalry" arrived, the wheel and tire replaced, planes switched for there was no way Mark was going to take the chance of having another flat tire in the course of the day, passengers loaded, and he was off - a little late in the schedule, but on his way. The passengers were excited to finally be in the air. Mark took them to Council on the Niukluk River where they would go by boat down to Tom and BJ Gray's fish camp where Jonathan and Indira Maraj will hold evangelistic meetings. Jonathan and Indira spend two to three months a year here in Alaska filling empty village pulpits and conducting Bible Studies. Many lives are changed as they proclaim God's Word. Alaska is one of their many stops around the world. They spend the winter months in India, Malaysia, and Trinidad. It is our privilege at MARC to be a part of their ministry. Please keep this dear couple in your prayers. Pray the Lord will bless them with continued health, with strength and endurance to minister to the hearts and souls of the people, with the finances they need to continue in their ministry, with wisdom and discernment, and with overall protection.

Katelyn had the privilege of being a flower girl last Saturday. What a thrill it was for her. The wedding was a beautiful one that seemed to not have even one glitch occur. The bride was stunningly beautiful. The groom was just plain ecstatic that after waiting seven years for her, she would finally be his. The reception was delightful, a genuine celebration. I had a hard time keeping the tears in check. If I am this way about a dear friend that I had babysat at one time, I am going to be a mess at my own daughter's weddings. However, I was told I would be too numb from all the preparation and the event itself to become emotionally unstable. There may be hope for me yet.

Neakita had one of the best weekends of her life. Sunday was her 12th birthday for which she invited six friends to celebrate with a slumber party. We shipped Jeremiah off to a friend's house so he would not have to suffer with a house full of girls or was it so the girls would not have to suffer with his presence. Hahaha. The girls had a blast orchestrating a "dance contest", painting each other's nails, eating carmel corn and watching movies, making bead jewelry, working a puzzle, playing with the various critters we have, and just hanging out together. I was told the next morning that they didn't settle down and go to sleep until 4 am. They did a good job letting us sleep. On Tuesday, as a special birthday Daddy-Daughter date, Mark took Neakita to see a Lipizzaner Stallion Show. It is an event I don't think she will ever forget about.

My neighbor and I have been facilitating a rock class for our kids this summer. We are learning about Igneous Rocks using the Ring of Fire curriculum. The kids are having fun while they learn and I am learning stuff I never knew before -one of the side benefits of homeschooling. It is all very interesting.