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

Yes I know the title sounds like a load of fun...kind of like the circus is coming to town. Perhaps I'm not unlike a circus or at least a makeup wearing employee of the circus.

Well, my first year in Ecuador and my time with Youth World is officially up. I had a wonderful summer working along side Chet and Katie Williams leading short term groups into the jungle with the Waorani. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Waorani. They are an indigenous tribe from Ecuador that gained a world renown in 1956 after killing five missionaries that attempted to make contact with them. Shortly after the martyrdom of these five missionaries, one of their relatives was able to move into a Waorani village and begin to Minister to them. Sixty years later I have the privilege of entering into their villages and into relationships with them.

It was an amazing blessing to be in the village of Ñuneno this summer during an evangelistic campaign put on by the organization Ecuador for Christ. The whole week was an incredible blessing but one particular situation and person really touched my heart. I want to tell you about a young 17 year old girl named Valeria. Valeria is the daughter of a Waorani woman who most likely worked as a prostitute in one of the nearby cities. Valeria's father is a non Waorani, likely a colonist that moved into the area from Quito or one of the other sierra cities.

In the Waorani village during that campaign, Valeria stood out like a sore thumb. She is a tall woman with very distinct (non Waorani) features. I first encountered Valeria when my friend Sixto (from Zancudo) and I were sitting next to her watching a soccer game. Sixto in his standard evangelistic fashion began to ask her questions about her life and her future. Valeria's answers were those of a hardened angry young woman who's goal and purpose in life is FUN. When Sixto stepped away for a little while I overheard Valeria say to one of her friends that she lives to drink, smoke and have sex. I didn't need to hear that to know it, her persona said it all.

I began to ask other Waorani about her and soon found out that Valeria had been living in the nearby city of Coca where she was rumored to be a part of an organ trafficking gang who kidnaps children who they then kill and exploit for organs to be sold on the black market. At this point my cynicism decided that this girl was beyond hope. I continued to talk to her and attempt to share with her but still always felt like I was speaking to a wall. Every encounter I had with her cemented my feeling that she was beyond hope.

I praise the Lord for the fact that there is no such thing as a hopeless person. The final night of the campaign I was sitting next to Chet during the service when he pointed out to me that Valeria looked to be crying. The following day after all of the other tribes had started their journey home I had a chance to speak to Valeria and much to my humbling joy found out that the Lord had been softening her heart that whole time. She admitted to being in tears that night and told me that she had no desire to go back to her life of sex, drugs and alcohol. She testified to the transformational power of the Holy Spirit and said that she was a new creation. I was able to request a Bible for Valeria and continue to pray for her as the Lord continues to work in her. I am humbled by my lack of faith and vision but glory in the the Lord's amazing love for his children.

Please join me in keeping Valeria in prayer. Her journey will not be an easy one. Please pray that the Lord's grace and mercy will be showered upon her every day and that she will come in contact with others of faith that can encourage and teach her as she journeys with her savior.

As for myself. I will be returning to the US on the 3rd of September. As you know I have decided to leave Youth World in order to join the Evangelical Covenant Church as a missionary. I will still be working in Ecuador and will continue to use Soccer as the platform for sharing the Lord's love with others. I will also likely have an opportunity to teach in a missionary training seminary that the Covenant has here in Ecuador.

So, I return to the US to re-visit the support raising process that so many of you have partnered in with me. I will be in Houston from the 3rd to the 9th of September after which I will be going to California until the 30th. My journey will then take me to Chicago for a few weeks and then to Utah and Colorado before returning to Chicago.

Please pray; 1. That I will be able to clearly share what the Lord is doing in Ecuador 2. That my support team will come together 3. For the people with whom I have been sharing here in Ecuador.

Stay tuned for more updates regarding my travels. I would love to see you if you are available.

Blessings from Quito.

After some time not hearing from us this is surely a valid question. To say the least, it's been a very busy time of transition for both or us. Joey mentioned in his last post that he was going to be transitioning out of Ecuador to attend Seminary in Chicago. I am proud to say that not only has he been accepted but has been granted a full ride Presidential Scholarship. This comes as an incredible blessing and answer to prayer.

After my one year internship which ended in May I was slated to return to the states where my plan has been to go through the process of becoming a full time missionary with The Evangelical Covenant Church. While I was processing what my timing for all this was going to look like, one of my good friends here in Ecuador approached me and asked if I would be willing to help him leading summer short term teams (Still with Youth World). Chet (my friend) is in charge of a department within Youth World called Adventure Missions. I jumped at the opportunity to both work with Chet as well as delay my next phase of fund raising.

In May I did return and go through training with the Covenant after which I returned to Ecuador to get to watch what the Lord is doing in the Jungles of Ecuador. Our first adventure was to go into a set of three river villages just off the Northern coast of Ecuador. The three villages are mostly comprised of descendants of slaves who escaped off of ships. During the time of the slave trades, boats full of slaves would pull into rivers to kill barnacles that could then more easily be scraped off the ship's hull. The process took about a week to ten days and was the opportunity that the slaves took to escape from the boats.

It was an incredible blessing to be able to witness God's work in these three villages through the commitment and passion of Sixto and Libio. Sixto and Libio are native to these villages but have been trained by the Biblical Institute in Argentina and despite desiring to be missionaries and teachers to Africa and beyond have really felt that the Lord was calling them back to their own homes to be salt and light among a people that don't really know the Lord. I was thoroughly inspired and humbled by these men's desire to serve the Lord and their spiritual depth. Please pray for Libio and Sixto as the continue to seek the Lord's strength and will.

On Sunday I will be leaving to go to Ñuneno with another team from a church in CA. During our time there we will be a part of a large conference for the Waorani (The tribe that killed the 5 missionary martyrs [Jim Elliot]). The team is already here and I've been getting to know them as we prepare for the seven hour bus ride and 4 hour canoe ride into the village where the conference will take place. Please pray for the conference, we know the Lord is already at work so we ask that we will be wise stewards of our gifts as we seek to join in with what is being done.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1. Please Pray for Joey as he enters into a new phase in life. We are confident that he is doing what the Lord has asked him to do but he is going to face some new and difficult challenges.

2. As you know I've been dealing with some serious, daily, hourly back pain. Last week I had a free day so I went in to see the doctor, got and MRI and found out that I have another herniated disc. The Doctor prescribed some medicine that he says will help the nerve but I will at some point in the near future need to deal with my herniated disc. Please keep me in your prayers as I deal with the daily pain as well as the vast amounts of travel (sitting) that I have to do this summer.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support. The Lord's work in Ecuador is an extension of your own generosity and commitment to prayer.

Joshua

One of the ministries that Youth World has here in Quito is called Casa Gabriel. Casa Gabriel is a house where former street kids live. There are currently 10 boys living in the house. All of these boys used to live on the streets of Quito. These are guys that for one reason or another decided that life on the streets was better than living at home. After years on the streets these boys are now living at Casa Gabriel. Casa G's purpose is not just to provide housing and basic care for kids in crisis, but to provide a training program in all areas of life, that will give these boys the opportunity to achieve their God-given potential as leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ. The training is an intentional and integral part of every attribute of Casa Gabriel. Each aspect points to developing a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The hope of Casa G is that every young man in the training program will become a successful Christian leader in their home, church, community and world.

I have had the privilege of knowing many of the boys that have come through the program over the years and this year I was given the honor of mentoring one of the boys. I also attend church where the boys from Casa Gabriel attend and it is always such a joy and pleasure to worship with them.

I mention this ministry with you because just about a month ago 6 men with guns stormed into the house and robbed Casa G while most of the boys were home. All the boys were face down in the living room as these men walked through the house grabbing the things they wanted.

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The countdown to 2009 has begun! Well, lets just say that the hour count is reasonable. Joel and I are currently in Houston passing the holidays with our family and gearing up for the new year. 2008 has been both wonderful and difficult with 2009 promising to be a year of transitions. Big changes will be taking place in our lives and we are praying for wisdom and peace as we make some key decisions.

We have not had a chance to share with you in the last few months because there have been some incredible things going on with F.C. United as well as with our general, "life ministry," in Ecuador. Since I arrived in May, as you all know we have been working on both starting and discovering what soccer ministry looks like in Ecuador. Our approach has been a relatively simple one. Get involved in soccer teams as well as host tournaments where we can begin to develop friendships within the Ecuadorian soccer community. In the meantime we have been praying that the Lord would open doors and create opportunity for us to share his love and gospel with others. Most missionaries will tell you, the process can be long, slow and sometimes frustrating. This has most assuredly not been our experience. The Lord has been opening so many doors and has put us in some very exciting situations where we have been given the chance to share his love with others.

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Dear Friends and Family.

It has been a while since I updated you on what has been going on in Ecuador. You have received a few updates from Joey related to our tournaments but it is time to bring you up to speed with a few other things that are going on. I have now been in Ecuador for nearly five months. Over all my time here has been wonderful but there have been a few speed bumps in the road (what process doesn't have them?).

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On Saturday September 27 we successfully ran our 5th 4 vs 4 soccer tournament. Its such a cool feeling to see how this ministry is starting to take form and shape and the excitement and feedback that we are getting from the teams that are participating in the tournaments. I yet again was reminded of the amazing opportunity that we get to build relationships with people through soccer. Photo Gallery

Once again we were faced with some challenges when it came to getting teams to actually commit and come to our tournaments. Our goal has always been to have 16 teams participate in each tournament. The day before our tournament we had 16 teams that were confirmed and excited to play. By that evening we were down to 10 teams and then the day of the tournament only 9 teams showed up. Culturally everyone says yes when asked if they want to participate because its easier to make up an excuse later and avoid being directly negative from the beginning. Although this is very stressful and ultimately very frustrating, I know that God has this ministry in his hands and we will only continue to grow and get better at it.

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LATEST NEWS: On Saturday, Aug. 2 F.C. United hosted its third 4 vs. 4 soccer tournament

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In the wake of the Euro2008 tournament we decided to theme our own tournament after said prestigious European clash. Photos

After holding a one day tournament last time and hearing a few complaints about the toll that many games took on players we decided to split the tournament into two days to give the eight teams that qualified to the elimination round a night's rest. The tournament was held on the 12th and 13th of June at the Nazarene Seminary at the north side of the city.

The first day of the tournament was chaotic. It can be a lot of work to manage twelve teams and four fields between just a few people. It felt like we were running from the moment we arrived at the field and started setting up till the moment we hopped into a car to leave for the day.

The Seminary field is surrounded on three of its sides by the enemies of the ball. On one side there is a very steep hill with all kinds of bushes along the path that leads to its bottom. Adjacent to this is a fence with large spikes on the top and last but not least, parallel to the hill side is a busy street on a very steep incline. Two of these sides proved to be not much more than a nuisance. The few times the balls met the hill they were caught by bushes or by attentive onlookers who chased them down before they could disappear. Fortunately no balls were popped on the big spikes but many did go over the fence where guards on the other side were kind enough to toss the balls back.

The busy sloped street was not so kind. The three balls that made their way over the fence are now the property of people that are in no way associated with F.C. United. On two occasions when I saw the balls go over the fence and I quickly climbed over to chase them down. I sprinted down the street in hopes of catching up to them or finding them lodged in a gutter. Much to my chagrin or perhaps my physical relief, I was informed by passers by that someone in a car had maneuvered into a blocking position, stopped the ball and quickly swooped it up only to resume their journey away from me.

Needless to say, I slept like a baby that night.

The second day was much less stressful as there were only 3 game sessions. Since eight teams qualified for the second day we stared out with four games. The winners then moved on to the next round which only meant two games after which the victors played the final.

As before while we were running around we always took the time to chat with players to get their thoughts and feelings and again everyone was very pleased with the tournament. Even teams that lost all of their games seemed to have a lot of fun and requested to be invited to the next one.

After our last tournament Joel and I had the chance to go out to lunch with a few players from one of the teams. During lunch one of the players asked us about our faith and we had a chance to share. While the setting and timing didn't really permit for a lot of depth it is an answer to prayer. I have been asking the Lord to open up doors for me to share his love in a real way and this was a clear sign of his faithfulness. Please pray that the Lord continues to give us opportunities to show and share his love.

Prayer Requests 1. Continued wisdom as we forge our way through this new work. There is much that needs to be done and many obstacles that need to be navigated along the way.

2. Fields. One of the most difficult aspects of this ministry is finding space. We would like to at some point buy a piece of land that can both serve as the venue for our tournaments but also become a place for a soccer academy as well as a place where camps can be held.

3. Open doors. We are passionate about our desire to see soccer as the avenue for sharing the gospel. We believe the soccer field can create bonds that will give us chances to love people and become a part of their lives but those doors require the Lord's key.

Answered Prayer Than you so much for your prayers for our fridge. Joey had already lived here for five months without a fridge and I made it through a month myself. At any rate, we received an anonymous donation that covered 2/3 of the cost of a fridge that we were able to buy off of a missionary that was leaving the field. We now have a fridge that we hope to be able to fill in the very near future.

Blessings.

July 12 and 13...

Remember us on these dates. Please be praying for our F.C. United team as we host our second tournament. The details seem to be coming together as we continue to confirm teams.

Please pray with us. Pray that again we would be given the opportunity to build relationships with the people who participate in the tournament. Pray that Christs love would shine through our lives and that He would be glorified through this ministry.

We are humbled at the fact that God has chosen us to use soccer to share the message of the cross. Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we take the next step in our journey and ministry.

F.C. United