It has been a long while since I last wrote you. Much has happened in the last few months as I have left Ecuador to return to the states to fund raise. In part it feels like I just arrived yesterday while at the same time feeling like I've been here forever.

Let me start off by sharing an amazing answer to prayer. For nearly a year now you have been reading my prayer requests for my back. At first a doctor had told me that it was scarring in my foramenal gap which was constricting my nerve. A second doctor and second MRI revealed that it was actually a herniated disc. In either case the options always seemed to point towards surgery. Not being insured and being fairly low on the financial totem, surgery was not an option. In any case, I am glad to report that I have been relatively pain free for about 3 months now.

While making my California rounds I went and spent time with my friend Marty who is a chiropractor. In addition to working on my back Marty told me I should be taking high doses of fish oil. He gave me to big bottles and instructed me to take eight a day. A week and a half after I started taking these I had my first pain free day in nearly nine months. In addition to the fish oil, I was able to spend three weeks in Utah doing some intense core training with my cousin. The combination of the two has meant that I have been nearly pain free every day since then. I still have some days where I don't wake up totally comfortable but it sure beats living on pain killers. Thank you for your prayers, I truly believe that your faithfulness has been answered.

So, here I am in Chicago, living in my parents basement wrestling with all of the joys and frustrations of fund raising and wondering when I will be able to return to Ecuador. I say joys and frustrations because it is surely a mix of both. The economy has made this a very interesting time to be in the fund raising game. At times when I look at how much I have to raise and how little has come in it can be discouraging and yet for some reason I feel overwhelmed by joy. It seems that despite the process not being an easy one at the moment, I am enjoying life more fully that I ever have before. I believe this is in large part due to the way that the Lord has been working in my life. Please continue to pray for me during this time, that the Joy of the Lord would continue to be present in my life and that I can share that joy with the many people I encounter while I am here in the States. Please also continue to pray for the process and join me in thanking the Lord for his provision and plan.

In the next couple of days I hope to be sending out another batch of prayer/support letters. If you already have one and receive another it is only because I have gotten several calls from people saying that they had misplaced the first one they received. If you have not received one yet....its on its way. Finally, if you have not received one and desire to partner with me in the work the Lord has allowed me to be a part of in Ecuador you don't need to wait for the paper letter to arrive. There are three easy ways to get involved right now.

1. I have posted an electronic fund transfer form on this very site. Simply click on the "give" link. You will be prompted to download a PDF that you can print out, fill out and mail in.

2. If you prefer the credit card rout, unfortunately we are not equipped to do that online but it can be done via the phone. All you need to do is call Joyce Viken direct at 773-907-3366. She will walk you through the process. My account number is 5500-2859-50-29.

3. Checks can be sent to Covenant World Mission 5101 N. Francisco Ave Chicago IL 60625 Account #5500-2859-50-29

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support.

Blessings. P.S. If you would like to receive a support letter but are unsure if you are on my list please e-mail me at joshua.swenson@covchurch.org