The Six-Month Blues?

It’s hard to believe we’ve been living in Shelby for just over six months now. It has been a transition with ups and downs, good times and hard times, but for the most part things have gone well. Or they were, until the last week or so. I was expecting the slump. I remember Andy …

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Mission Aviation : who does it?

Sorry for the delay in the next in the series on mission, I’ve been busy in the hangar. Over the past month I’ve been blogging about Mission Aviation, what is it and why use planes. So who would do that then? Pilot’s of course! But it involves more than just the drivers of the plane. …

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Friendships

We were so blessed to have the first official visitors to our apartment yesterday (other than my parents who helped us move down here around 3 months ago). One of the coolest parts of having visitors was that they are our really good friends we met in Ohio almost 4 years ago! They moved to …

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Mission Aviation : why use planes?

I’ve written about what mission is and what mission aviation is but the question has to be: Why use aircraft? The answer is simple: speed! In the western world we have been spoiled by paved roads, something that doesn’t exist in many areas that overseas missionaries serve. I heard a statistic last year that most …

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Mission aviation : what is it?

Having explored a little of what mission means I’d like to expand further on my last statement of “People just don’t get Mission Aviation!” If mission is the activity of the church that shows the world Jesus, then mission aviation is the use of planes to further the spread of the Gospel. It has been …

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The Six-Month Blues?Mission Aviation : who does it?FriendshipsMission Aviation : why use planes?Mission aviation : what is it?

May 09

The Six-Month Blues?

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It’s hard to believe we’ve been living in Shelby for just over six months now. It has been a transition with ups and downs, good times and hard times, but for the most part things have gone well. Or they were, until the last week or so.

I was expecting the slump. I remember Andy going through some of these feelings after he had been in Ohio for about six months. Even though I had seen someone else go through it, and was expecting it, this last week it has hit me pretty hard. I’ve wanted to go “home”, even though this really is home now. I’m not really missing friends (I am missing my parents a lot), but more just the feelings of things being “normal”. In Ohio, I knew where to go for almost anything I needed – even if it meant I had to drive a long way to get those things – I still knew where they were. Here, I am still learning. Trying to figure out where we should go to the doctor, how to get meats and other grocery items, where to take the car to get repairs done, etc. It’s been challenging. It makes me tired.

Why do I tell you all this today? Maybe you are not facing a big move, but maybe you know someone who is? Maybe you have met a new neighbor who has moved several states with their family and are now in a brand new town? Know that there might be a time when they face these same feelings and emotions. Pray for them. Hug them. Send a note to encourage them. Offer to be the friend they can call and ask questions and find out all the important things about their new town. Just be sensitive. Hug them. Let them cry if they need to. Hug them. Let them express their frustration. Have I mentioned, hug them?

I am so thankful for the friends God has put in my life here in Shelby. I’m thankful for my friends across the world. Those who have sent notes (mailed hugs), called to encourage me, helped with this transition process. So, if you have the chance, give the new person in your life a hug today.

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Feb 21

Mission Aviation : who does it?

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Sorry for the delay in the next in the series on mission, I’ve been busy in the hangar.

Over the past month I’ve been blogging about Mission Aviation, what is it and why use planes. So who would do that then? Pilot’s of course! But it involves more than just the drivers of the plane.

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Like cars planes breakdown and need fixing, that’s where mechanics or engineers come in!

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But then you need someone to check the work, a chief inspector.

You also need to make sure you are following best procedures, a quality manager.

With so many parts inside an aircraft you may also need a parts or inventory specialist.

 

That’s just the list of jobs it takes to maintain the aircraft.

What about putting fuel and cargo in the plane, ground handling personnel.

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Then there’s the place that  you operate from, that needs a base manager.

Everyone knows that computers are vital now, so you will need an IT support officer.

How do you know the location of the planes while they are out flying, that’s flight following’s job.

Also people can’t just turn up and expect a flight to their destination, that’s the bookings manager.

Finally you will need to get people to and from the plane so you’ll probably need a transport mechanic for the trucks.

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I think that all the jobs are like the workings of an aero engine. The propeller won’t turn unless all the parts are there. The same for Mission Aviation, unless there is a vast array of skilled and talented people the Gospel will not be taken to the end of the earth.

So how do you become a part of this amazing work? That’s the next topic!

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Jan 28

Friendships

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We were so blessed to have the first official visitors to our apartment yesterday (other than my parents who helped us move down here around 3 months ago). One of the coolest parts of having visitors was that they are our really good friends we met in Ohio almost 4 years ago! They moved to serve at JAARS after completing their training at MMS (which is how we met them originally). Kristin has been one of my dearest friends and has been a huge encouragement as we have gone through this transition. In some ways our situations are similar – both going through moves, new organizations, new places, new people, etc. Yet, we’re very different as well – this is my first move, definitely not hers and she’s doing it with a family and we’re not, etc.

All that to say, I am glad that God moved us so near to one another, at least for now. Sure, we’re about an hour and a half drive away, but it’s a lot nearer than NC and Ohio. We’ve made the trek to visit them several times, so we loved that they came to see us. It’s just been one of the things that has helped me through this move. Sure, we could have moved and been completely separated from friends and done well in all that, but God also takes care of us in the little things. For me, this was one of the ways that He poured out His goodness on me.

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Flowers from our fabulous friends   

I am thankful for the friends that God has blessed me with over the years, Kristin is just one of many. I may not always be so great at keeping in touch or we may not get to see each other often, but with several of them it just seems like no time has passed since our last chat and that means a lot to me. So to my friends (those of you that I have known a long time or those who I’ve just recently met; those near and those who may even be on a different continent), thank you for blessing my life.

Also, just a plug, if you ever want to come and visit us, we would love to have guests! :) We live in a beautiful area of the US, with a fabulous climate and a lot of fun things to see and do (especially those of you who may be living in cold, rainy England or snowy Ohio!). Just let us know, we would love to see you!

 

Thank you all for your friendship, support, and encouragement. You are such a blessing to me (and I know that Andy is blessed and encouraged by y’all as well).

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Jan 21

Mission Aviation : why use planes?

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I’ve written about what mission is and what mission aviation is but the question has to be: Why use aircraft?

The answer is simple: speed!

In the western world we have been spoiled by paved roads, something that doesn’t exist in many areas that overseas missionaries serve. I heard a statistic last year that most mission stations are 80 miles from the nearest paved road. So imagine the time it takes to travel over dirt roads, that may look like this:

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Then imagine the problems when it rains and the dirt turns to mud!

Or how about those places that don’t have roads, maybe the best access is by river.

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I was told today of a journey that would take 3 days by land that only took 35 minutes by air.

Also think of the times when you need emergency medical treatment. Speed is of the essence in a situation like that but you maybe a days travel by road away from a hospital. An aircraft like this can get you there fast:

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So a few reasons why we use planes in mission work. I like to say that we use planes to overcome obstacles. That obstacle could be roads, could be access to medical facilities and it could be never hearing about Jesus Christ. Planes make taking the Gospel to the entire world possible.

Who would do that then?

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Jan 18

Mission aviation : what is it?

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Having explored a little of what mission means I’d like to expand further on my last statement of “People just don’t get Mission Aviation!”

If mission is the activity of the church that shows the world Jesus, then mission aviation is the use of planes to further the spread of the Gospel.

It has been likened to the Good Samaritans donkey, mission aviation carries the good news to people, provides assistance in the name of Jesus and takes people to safety. It’s a tool that we can use to show people Jesus.

What that looks like in practice can vary dramatically, here’s some uses of aviation in mission:

- An individual missionary who uses a flying car to save travel time.

This is the Maverick flying  car developed by I-TEC, click the photo for more info.

 

- Flying regular routes to delivery supplies and mail to missionaries around the Mexico gulf coast and islands.

This is Missionary Flights International’s turbine DC-3, (a plane I have worked on) again click for info.

 

- Large agencies that fly in many countries and provide a huge support network to missionaries and aid agencies.

This is a Quest Kodiak serving with MAF in Papua, Indonesia, click for info.

 

A small company that seeks to give experience and encouragement to candidates seeking to serve in mission aviation around the world, that also aims to provide labour cost-free work on ministry and mission aircraft.

This is Compass’ Cessna 206 (my major project) that is being repaired and restored, click for info.

 

So just as there are many ways to be a missionary there are also many ways to be involved in mission aviation.

But why use planes? Tune in next time for the answer!

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Jan 14

Mission Aviation ???

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It has been a while since I posted and as Esther wrote yesterday it’s my turn today.

Also as she shared honestly I think I will too: People just don’t get Mission Aviation!

I know that some of you reading this will be very familiar with mission aviation, some of you will have been told about it by myself and some will be vaguely aware. If you’re reading our blog you probably aren’t the people I’m thinking of.Quset Kodiak mission aircraft

Average church member haven’t heard of mission aviation, let’s be honest and say that a significant number of church members don’t really understand mission!

So with this in mind, and also the fact that we are part of this community, I thought I would write a series of blogs. Starting with mission, then mission aviation : what is it? why use plane? who does it? and how? I even think I’ll outline the journey into mission aviation.

 

So what is mission?

The word mission is used in all types of context, businesses have mission statements, people have a mission for life and churches conduct mission. So what do I mean by mission? Simply put mission is the activity of the church that shows the world Jesus; so that includes, outreach to the local community, working with other churches in an area, spending time doing something practical, even travelling overseas to do one of these. In short it’s showing the world the love of Christ.

With this in mind your mission field, in my opinion, can be; the place you work, your neighbourhood, your local church activities, specific mission trips (both domestic and overseas) or a specific people group. Any member of the church should be involved in mission.

Men's Bike workshop mission project

This was our men’s group bike workshop that was a mission project to connect with the local community.

 

As everyone should be involved in mission this makes us all missionaries but there is however a further definition of missionary that is used to describe those set apart for mission work. Those people with a distinct call on their lives to serve a particular people group or in a specific ministry. The majority of whom are supported by their fellow Christians praying for them and contributing financially.

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We (Esther & I) are missionaries called to serve within the mission aviation community. More specifically to serve in the US as part of a ministry to enable the next generation of mission aviators.

So thank you for your support that enables us to serve in this unique way.

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Jan 13

Feeling More at Home

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We haven’t had a chance to write as much lately. With Christmas happening, we were traveling, spending time with friends and family, and it always just seems that it is a time of busy-ness. Now that the holidays are over, we’re back home in Shelby, NC (even though we got lost on the way home…it was a long story and not maybe our finest moments).

I’m going to admit something to you all now. This move has not been easy for me. You may have figured some of that out before now, but if not…there it is. I’ve said it. Leaving everything I knew for the past 30 years was HARD! I tried to put on a smile and pretend like it was all a big happy adventure, but truth be told, I struggled. I missed my family. I missed my house. I missed our home church. I missed knowing how to get anywhere I wanted to go in the entire state! I missed so much.

Yet, through it all, God has been faithful. We have been really struggling to raise financial support to be here in Shelby. I have been applying for any possible job with not so much as even a phone call for an interview. I have been questioning God, trying to understand why He would bring us almost 500 miles from home, just to leave us struggling. But, as we look at all of it, I can definitely see His hand in all of this.

He has brought us some friends to support and encourage us. So far, He has provided the needed finances. We don’t have much extra right now (in fact, we don’t have any extra right now), but He has allowed us to borrow a car from one of the guys who volunteers at Compass Aviation so that Andy can get back and forth to work and I can still run errands when I need to. I finally have an interview this week. It doesn’t mean there will be a job, but at least I have an interview.

All of that to say that today, I am finally feeling a bit more like this is home. It was church this morning that really blessed me. I went in and hugged some new friends. We laughed with new friends in Sunday School. It just felt so much more comfortable than it has since we arrived and I exhaled. The feeling of relief just finally getting to know some people has just encouraged me so very much today.

So, if you get nothing else from my blog today, please keep praying for us. It’s not that every day will be so easy. There will be hard days where I miss friends and family from home…but God is good. Also, if you know someone going through a hard move (or meet someone new that’s just moved in), encourage them. Hug them. Send them a card to let them know you are thinking about them. Find a way to be a blessing to them. And for those of you who have been my encouragement these past couple of months, I want you to know that I appreciate you so much more than I can ever express.
Blessings,

Esther

A photo from our drive back to Shelby from Ohio following our Christmas celebration.

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Dec 11

Advent 11

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Jacob wrestles all night and get’s a name change to become the father of a nation.
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Gen 32:28 “Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.’”
He also took sheep as wages! Gen 31: 32 “Jacob replied, ‘let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-coloured lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages.’”

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Dec 11

Advent 10

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The promise is continued with Abraham’s son, Isaac.

Gen 17:19 “Then God said, ‘Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.’”
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He wife arrived on a camel!

Gen 24:64&65 “Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?’
‘He is my master,’ the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.”

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Dec 09

Advent 9

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God gives a promise to Abraham

Gen 12:1-3 “The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."”
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Gen 13:2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.

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