We bring much anticipated news this month and desired to get it to you a few days early from our usual prayer letter schedule! On Wednesday, October 12, we received word from New Zealand Immigration that our visas have been approved! It had been thirteen weeks since our visas were submitted, but we praise the Lord for His providential timing. Many blessings have fallen into place as a result of the extended wait, not the least of those being a non-stop flight to Auckland starting back up! This is a great blessing when traveling with an infant.
We leave on November 2 and our flight will land November 4 in Auckland where we will be met by Pastor Dan Fraser to make our way to Tauranga, NZ. We praise the Lord for working out many logistics such as housing, transportation, and banking. He always places the right people in our path when we are following His call. (Proverbs 16:9)
This month we had the privilege to present our ministry in two churches, something out of the ordinary for us since June. Pastor Mark Oprzedek chartered a church in July 2022 and he invited us to be the first missionary to present in their church. After the service the brand-new church family voted to join us in financial support! Later that week we traveled to Santa Clara, CA to be with North Valley Baptist Church during their missions conference. The highlight of the meeting was the opportunity to hear Missionary Rick Martin preach throughout the week. These are the type of missionaries we desire to model our ministry and lives after, as he is approaching five decades of missionary service!
It was also a privilege to preach for Providence Baptist College’s chapel service earlier in the month. To have a few minutes of influence with so many young people is an opportunity that cannot be passed up!
Please pray especially for our families throughout this next month as we transition to the field. God’s grace has been evident in our hearts as this is what He’s called us to do. They, however, are along for the ride involuntarily and therefore we ask for your prayers to be specifically for them as you pray for us this month.
God Bless,
Josh, Alyse, and Bentlee Szwarga
