{"id":550,"date":"2017-11-13T14:27:48","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T19:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/paul-swenson\/?p=550"},"modified":"2017-11-13T14:27:48","modified_gmt":"2017-11-13T19:27:48","slug":"what-we-are-thankful-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/paul-swenson\/2017\/11\/13\/what-we-are-thankful-for\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Are THANKFUL For…"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s hard to believe as I sit here now writing this that we are coming up on 10 months of being here in Papua New Guinea.\u00a0 In some ways it seems like just yesterday we were saying our goodbyes to friends and family back home, but in other ways it seems like we\u2019ve been here in PNG forever.\u00a0 Now you could take that to mean that time is going by really slowly here and that it\u2019s tough to make it through each day, but that\u2019s not exactly what I mean.\u00a0 While some days are hard (I remember plenty of those days back in Vermont too!), it feels like we\u2019ve been here forever because this feels like home.\u00a0 As we come up on our first Thanksgiving here in PNG, I\u2019ve been thinking about so many things that I\u2019m thankful for.<\/p>\n

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Welcoming us hikers.<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n

What are we thankful for?\u00a0 For God\u2019s faithfulness as He made the way possible for us to come here in January.\u00a0 For our adjustment as a family to life in PNG.\u00a0 For how we have been able to see God\u2019s hand at work here building His church.\u00a0 For the elders that God has raised up to lead churches here and the wisdom that they have.\u00a0 For a church close to the center here that we can worship with each Sunday and be fed from God\u2019s Word in Tok Pisin.\u00a0 For the continuing prayers and support of family and friends.\u00a0 For the work that God has given us while we wait on Him for the future village He would have us serve in.\u00a0 For the progress we\u2019ve been able to make in our language learning while taking on a full-time workload (Paul is officially checked out and Ellen is not too far behind).\u00a0 For the beauty of God\u2019s creation here in PNG and the many ways we\u2019ve been able to see that: by foot, car, boat, plane, helicopter, and swimming.\u00a0 For the example of those who have gone before us living life by faith and awesome coworkers.\u00a0 For the challenges that God brings into our lives to refine our faith.<\/p>\n

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Gathering sago leaves for roofing.<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n

What are we up to?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have been helping with the orientation program (e2) for three families that came to PNG in July.\u00a0 Those families are now moving on to other parts of their orientation before they eventually, Lord willing, end up as part of a church planting team serving in a village in PNG.\u00a0 The time went by quickly and it\u2019s exciting to see the families moving on for their next steps.\u00a0 We\u2019ve also been helping with different jobs on center which have included the boys and I coating plywood with polyurethane so it\u2019s ready to go into a missionary\u2019s bush house and then driving it 3 hours up the road.<\/p>\n

Over the next couple of months, we\u2019ll be getting ready for the next e2 orientation program that starts in January, doing some maintenance jobs around the center, going to doctors and dentist appointments (we\u2019re thankful for the support of the missionary doctors), homeschooling, and continuing in language and culture study.\u00a0 In January, we\u2019ll be starting the new orientation program here as well as orienting some new center managers for this center.\u00a0 We are also starting some initial team talks with others that we hope to work with in a tribal church plant location!<\/p>\n

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Painting flooring for a missionary house being built.<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n

You are all a big part of this ministry.\u00a0 We are SO thankful for your support of us along this journey.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prayer Requests:<\/strong><\/p>\n