Oh Canada! We never thought we’d live here but we are really enjoying it. Paul and I are currently taking courses on Relationships (team conflict is often the reason a missionary will leave the field), Foundational Bible Teaching, and the Big Picture of what God has been and is doing through the church. The kids are loving preschool, 4th, 5th and 7th grades. We have to be very intentional about family time because they all want to play with their friends all over campus at any chance they get. As a family, we have spent time with many families on campus and have started meeting folks in the local churches as we settle into a church here. This campus is much smaller than the campus in Missouri which has been a pleasant surprise. It is on the edge of a town in a rural setting and has an intimate, family feel to it. There are about 14 families and singles training here currently and about 30 staff families and singles working at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and the New Tribes Mission of Canada headquarters (NTMC) …also on the campus.
“YembiYembi”:
Do you want to know how New Tribes Mission goes about spreading the gospel? Please watch Yembi Yembi, a 30 minute video that we have listed here on the sidebar of this blog. You could be helping us do this very same thing with another tribe someday!
“Holding the Ropes”
And “how can I help?”, you ask. Have you ever heard of William Carey? Mr. Carey translated the Bible in India for much of his life. Before he went, however, a group of men were asking who would go. Carey’s famous response was “Well, I will go down, if you will hold the rope.” This group of friends and collegue’s then pledged “whilst we lived, we should never let go the rope”. We are asking you to hold our rope. Pray for us, support us financially, be part of reaching an entire group of people that have NO access to God’s Word!
On a Lighter note: What have we learned in Canada???
1. Dew worms= night crawlers
2. 30 degrees is really hot…We also miss pounds.
3. Pea meal= Canadian Bacon (no idea)
4. centre, colour…
5. Eh? (it’s catchy too, Noah has already started using it unconsciously)
6. mostly bags of milk… not jugs
7. Cheese, meat and gasoline= EXPENSIVE! (cheese is at least double the U.S.)
8. “washroom” not bathroom
9. serviettes = paper napkins
10. Very friendly people… okay the U.S. has those too…
Thank you for your prayers,
The Swenson Tribe
Family e-mail: ellenpswenson@gmail.com
Financial Support: checks can be written to Grace Brethren Church memo Newfields/Swenson and sent to….
Grace Brethren Church
P.O. Box 217
Grimes, IA 50111