Sweerin Update

Greetings, family and friends! 

     Summer fun has come to a close and now we are moving into Fall. I am still amazed at how God created each season, and with each transition of seasons we get to see the wondrous works of His hands. The changes of seasons remind me in many ways of our seasons that we transition through during our time on Earth. Even though your seasons may not look like our seasons we all can still hang onto the promises of God. We are so thankful for the hope we have in Jesus.

     We have decided to update all of you on our family and how the Lord has led us over these last 6 years from returning from Zambia. By reading this update we pray that each of you will be able to gain a better understanding of our hearts and the direction the Lord is leading our family. We desire your prayers as we continue to move forward in obedience.

     We are entering into a new season of ministry and we want to share with you all that we have begun making plans to go back to the Mission of Love in Zambia sometime within this next year. This ministry is where we have served in the past. For those of you who have journeyed with us, you know of the ups and downs we encountered while on the field and returning in November, 2013. Our understanding of who God is has grown deeper but not without some heartaches along the way. We are especially sharing this in regards to the loss of our son Elijah while we were in Zambia in 2013. Initially we were shocked, which then led to frustration with God, disappointment, loss of zeal, and for a time we suffered with the guilt and shame of not doing enough to save our son. Many of these emotions will still resurface from time to time, but prayers and a returned openness to God’s love has helped us heal. We are beginning to see how much God has taught us through our loss, and He is strengthening us again to keep moving forward in Him one step at a time. We have now come to understand more confidently about the forgiveness and love of Jesus. We have been speaking truth into our loss as the adversary speaks lies and condemnation, but praise the Lord that in Him there is no condemnation from the moment we accepted His blood covering us. Now we can walk in freedom as servants and follow the call he has placed on our lives. He is a good father and we must never stop believing that. 

       In regards to our current plan, God has begun to reveal more of a vision. I (Nate) am continually growing in discipleship tools and service opportunities. Each year I have been able to devote more time to ministering to others and it gets me more excited every year. The harvest is plentiful and I am so thankful to see it and have more compassion. I know God will continue to direct me in His time about how the tools I am learning here will be used in Zambia.

      Melanie is trying to get as much of the curriculum together as she can before we leave. She has restarted her ladies cutting night with some women from church who are willing to cut out many of her laminated materials and that has helped immensely. What a blessing it is to see how the Lord has provided for this project. Melanie and I have talked with our children about Zambia and they are getting more excited too. The children have always sensed the importance of Zambia in our lives and are curious to see what's in store for them too. God continues to provide our family with encouragement and support. How faithful He is when we have the faith to take steps in the direction, He wants us to go. We truly serve an awesome God. We are also so grateful to all the people that have been praying for us. Our spiritual healing has not been easy, but God provided many of you to fulfill the needs we had of affirming God's love and purpose for us.

As a family we are earnestly asking for your prayers as we begin taking steps towards ministering in Zambia

• Please pray for us as we begin to make decisions on what we should take, sell and leave behind in regards to our possessions, our cabin, and supplies we should bring with us. 
• Please pray for our family and friends as we make this transition overseas. This transition will be difficult and we need God’s peace and grace as we begin to take steps. 
• Please pray that we will trust in the Lord’s provision. 
• Please pray with us as we begin to write up a budget and consider how quickly we should begin raising support to build a house, purchase a vehicle, and etc. 

 Please call (319-243-5664) or email us at (nmsweerin@hotmail.com) if you have further questions or would be interested in meeting with us to hear more.

**Visit out blog for updates: https://nathanandmelaniesweerin.blogspot.com.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8