Headed to Africa

     Many people over the last few weeks have been asking what it is that I'm doing now and what my plans are for the near future.  I feel almost ashamed when I came to my blog site to find an"update" from September.  Since that time, I was in the Middle East for three more months (my last rotation) with Dynamic Aviation, returned to the states for Christmas and New Years, spent six weeks in Australia, and now I am once again back in the states for the remainder of the year.  To explain this past year would take much more than a simple blog entry.  But God has been good and taken me places and allowed me to experience things I never would have experienced otherwise.  

    After arriving back to the states from Australia the last week of February, I attended Candidate Week with AIM (Africa Inland Mission) and was accepted as a full-term missionary with the organization.  Acceptance into AIM Air (the aviation division of AIM) is a two part acceptance.  First I must be accepted by AIM and then by AIM Air as a pilot/mechanic.  In August I go through the final acceptance process with AIM Air.  Assuming things go well with the evaluation, I will continue on with the technical orientation in September and October.  If my support is raised by the end of November I will be leaving for Africa just after Christmas.  

Much needed update!!

Wow, I even shocked myself when I came to my own blog and noticed the incredibly outdated information posted. Since the last post I returned to the middle East for three months, made a short visit to the states, and then returned to the Middle East for my last full rotation, where I am currently. September 10th I arrived back in Iraq where I will remain until December 18th.
I almost don't know where to start. God has been so good to me over the last year, teaching me things I probably would never have learned anywhere else. There have been ups and downs and arounds, but I can say for sure that God is good and abundantly gracious. He has challenged me recently to be content wherever I am. How easy it is to forget to be content and joyful in all things; especially when we are not necessarily where we want to be. We do not serve a place, we serve an incredible God who is worthy to be praised all the time.
If you noticed, I did say this is my last full, three month rotation in the Middle East. My goal is still to serve as a missionary on the mission field as a pilot/mechanic. Right now I feel the Lord is leading me to serve with AIM Air in East Africa. The next step in the process of acceptance with the organization is a candidate week in Pearl River, New York starting on February 23rd. If all goes as planned and I am accepted with the organization, I will be going through the JAARS Technical Evaluation in August and then the Technical Orientation immediately following the evaluation. Following the orientation next fall (09) I will be raising support. Once the appropriate funds have been raised I will leave for Africa, hopefully in January/February 2010. Of course these are my plans, which are always subject to change according to my sovereign God. I ask that you pray along with me as I prepare for this journey.

The African Rainy Season

I love Mangos. I have a beard. I love Africans. Elan is very tasty. The sun is shining. Africa is beautiful. Airplanes are flying. Time in Africa is always too short. About the time I get comfortable driving on the left side of the road, it's time to leave. I've been in Africa since March 11th working with AIM as a mechanic. How quickly the time is/has gone. On May 16th I return to the Middle East for another 3 month contract with Dynamic. Before returning to the Middle East in May I will be spending 2 weeks working on Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania. I will be working with Dale and Chris Hamilton (no relation) fixing boat engines for their ministry among the islands on Lake Victoria. Thank you for your prayers and support. I will post an update upon reaching the Middle East in May.

Time is flying...flying is time!

The time really is flying by here in the Middle East. I've been here for over 2 months now with just 7 weeks remaining before heading to Africa. This time in Iraq has been a true learning experience but I'm very much looking forward to returning to Africa once again.
Last fall as plans were coming together for this trip to the Middle East I was told the weather would be nice, even in the winter time. For the first time in sixty years in snowed in the Al Anbar, Province last week. The people called in "white rain from the sky." The temperatures at night can dip into the upper teens to low 20's. During the day temperatures reach into the 50-60's so I really don't have anything to complain about (especially where some of you are this winter).
The flying still continues to go well. The precious flight hours are building faster than I ever expected. I thank the Lord for this opportunity to work here and build turbine time in a place like this.