A Quick Update

It's hard to believe that it's almost been a year since I returned from Ecuador. I've traveled quite a bit throughout the last year, spoken at a few churches, been in many homes and have had an amazingly blessed year. It has been such a blessing to get to visit with so many friends and family and hear how the Lord is working in your lives. I am so thankful for the privilege that it is to share in those works and blessings with you. Thank you!

Well, after a short jaunt through the South, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky I am back in Chicago and back to the work of helping my parents with some of the work on their remodel as well as time at the warming center and with Earl. Earl surprised me yesterday by showing up at my parents house and hanging out with me for the day. Earl was surprised when that meant painting. On Wednesday we will again be walking the streets of Chicago together. Please join me in praying for the various men and women that we encounter, that the Lord would give us his eyes to see them and his heart to love them in whatever way he would allow us to participate in their lives.

Prayer Requests;

1. Continued prayer for support. I am slowly getting the support that I need in order to return. It has been such an amazing blessing to see God's involvement in this process as so many have expressed a desire to both pray for the work in Ecuador, pray for me and provide the financial backing that doing missions in Ecuador requires. As of today, the official % on my monthly report puts me at about 64%. While in a previous report I had mentioned being above 70% that was based on verbal commitments that are not yet officially counted by Covenant World Mission. So what does this mean? As it stands right now I am $20,000 short of my full two year need. Once some of those other pieces are put on the books it will cut that number in half. Thank you for your continued prayer.

2. Continued prayer for Earl and the warming center as well as the men and women that the Lord puts in my life as Earl and I hit the streets.

3. I would like to ask a favor of you. I don't see our relationship as a one way street in which you pray for, and support me. I desire to be praying for you as well. At any given time when I am speaking to you via chat, e-mail, phone etc I will ask how I can be praying for you. There is no need to wait for us to be in conversation to tell me how I can pray for you or your family. Would you please, at any time, respond to any of my messages and just share with me how I can be lifting you up, interceding for you and bringing you before the Lord. It is such a privilege to be able to go to my savior in prayer so don't hesitate to share with me.

Finally, I wanted to share two things with you. 1. The Covenant finally was able to get my online giving option up and running. The link is http://covchurch.kintera.org/give/swenson. I will also be updating the give button on the website so that it includes this option. 2. I was asked to preach at my home church in Chicago on mission Sunday. The sermon was recorded and as a few people have asked to hear it I put it on the website as well. It can be reached via Clicking HERE.

Blessings from Chicago.

Josh