NTM

We had a fairly recent change of plans that involve helicopter training and a delayed departure date. We have been a little slow to communicate this but better late than never.

About a month ago we received word that the Philippine field would like to pursue purchasing a helicopter to meet the needs of that field. Helicopters don’t work so well without a pilot so they asked me if I would be interested in getting my helicopter rating. I of course was interested but we were reluctant to delay our departure to the Philippines. After thinking about it (and praying) for a couple of weeks we decided that there were several very good reasons to pursue the rating now rather than later, plus knowing there is a real need makes it much easier.

What this means is that in February I will be going back to Arizona for two months of helicopter training. Jane and the kids will come down for a couple of weeks some time in March. Other than there visit, my life will consist of helicopter training 24/7.

After I get my commercial rating I will come back to Alaska for a few months but this is where things get a little hazy and uncertain. I really need to get about 350 hours of flight time (to meet NTMA requirements) and I am hoping and praying that the Lord will provide that next summer. It is far too expensive to just rent a helicopter for that time so I need to get a job flying. The problem is no one wants to hire a person without experience…it’s a vicious circle.

If things go well and I get enough hours next summer we will be leaving for the Philippines around October. That would delay us about 8 months. We hope it is not more than this but we have no idea what the Lord has in mind. Please pray with us that the training will go smoothly and that I will be able to get my required flight time next summer…oh yeah, and that I will be able to pay for it.

After carefully considering the reasons for using helicopters on the mission field, we decided that it was worth the cost and delay to pursue my helicopter rating. One of the questions we had was, why not just stick with what we are currently using in the Philippines? The Cessna 185 has served well for many years and compared to helicopters it is cheap. So why change?

The fact is things are changing whether we like it or not. Worldwide, Av-Gas, which is what the Cessna 185 uses, is becoming scarce and prohibitively expensive. Last I heard, Av-Gas in Africa cost $12 a gallon and in Indonesia, with our last shipment of Av-Gas, we where told we may not be able to get more. Fortunately we can still get Av-Gas in the Philippines, but we can not assume that it will stay this way forever.

Assuming we will not have Av-Gas in the future forces us to consider using different aircraft, either diesel powered or turbine powered airplanes. Currently there are no airplanes that fit this bill that can also handle the rough, short strips in the Philippines. Enter, the helicopter! With a helicopter we can safely operate on all the Philippine airstrips including airstrips we no longer use because they are too short.

The idea right now is to try using a Robinson R44 helicopter to test the effectiveness and see how usable it will be for our Missionaries. An advantage of using the R44 is it burns auto fuel (which is readily available).  We can actually operate the R44 cheaper on an hourly basis than the Cessna 185 because of the difference in fuel costs.

To sum up, we are looking at operating helicopters partly because we are being forced to, but also because they work very well and in some ways better than an airplane. For example, it can take up to 3 years to build and airstrip suitable for a Cessna 185 but a helicopter alleviates the need for a airstrip at all! This falls in line with one of the most basic reasons we use aircraft in missions, and that is to speed the spread of the gospel. The only real draw back is the cost, but that just puts us in a position where we have to trust the Lord all the more. After all it is He who is building His church and He knows better than us the tools needed for the job.

 - click on this link

www.ntm.org/video/

 Please pray with us that next summer I will be able to get a job flying helicopters so I can get my required hours quickly.

The helicopter will be a big expense please pray that the Lord will provide the needed funds.

My check ride is scheduled for April 14th.  Please pray that I will be well prepared. 

I will be flying a lot these next few weeks as I prepare for my April 14th check ride.  Please pray that I will be well prepared. 

Please pray for safety.

Praise:  The Lord continues to increase our monthly support.  We are now over 50%.

Miah walked into the living area today, dressed up  in her favorite princess dress.  Tov noticed her entrance and seeing her looking so fancy, asked "Miah, will you marry me?"  in a pleading voice.  You could tell she appreciated the compliment but to everyones surprise, said no.  Avery then rushed in and said "You can marry me Tov!  Marry ME!!  Like it or not, our little Tov is learning a lot about the unpredictability of the female race

So Tov has gotten over his shyness with bugs.  For a while he admired them from a distance.  Then he began poking them with sticks… but just today I saw him stuffing something in his pocket so I asked him what it was.  He replied, " a playin’ massis!"  (Translated "praying mantis" )  Sure enough it was!  That explains why his last pair of shorts reeked like stink bug.

I was brushing Avery’s hair the other day at the bathroom sink when after looking very closely at particles on the counter she exclaims  "Mommy!  Daddy’s mustache is all over the place!"  I of course agreed that yes – that is exactly what it was!!

Avery all deck out in her flower girl dress complete with pillowcase veil  throws herself on the couch.  I ask her what she is doing and she says matter-of -factly "I’m getting married."  I ask, who are you getting married to?  A little peeved and annoyed that I even ask she throws her head back and says " Just ANYBODY!"  I hope she becomes contented in her singleness soon or daddy is really going to start to worry.

Tov is at that adorable age where he gets his phrases all mixed up.  It’s so cute.  He will say "Mommy is that yours samwhich?  I’ll ask him where he is going or what he is doing and he will say "anybody" or "everywhere."  I love it.

Miah is very clever and has perfected the bedtime stall tactic.  After she is tucked in, watered, kissed, hugged, prayed over and reassured that the hall light will in fact stay on…she has started to say, "But mommy – you didn’t read the Bible.  Elise’s mom reads her the Bible every night!"  She knows this is a request that is almost impossible for a parent to refuse.

Whenever I find myself in Tov’s way  he will say  "beep beep, mommy! Beep beep!"

After discovering a huge mess of mud on the floor I asked Avery (who happened to be standing there) if she was involved in making it.  "Oh no mommy, I didn’t do it."  She said very confidently.  "So who did?" I asked. She replied very matter-of-factly…"Anybody did."

Avery garbed in princess dress:  "Tovie will you marry me?  My other prince died, him did get eaten up by a tiger."

"I had a joke but I forgot it."
                                  Miah
 
"Mommy are you poopy"
                            Avery

"Little kids shouldn’t drive because they don’t know which way to go."      Miah

6:30 AM 
Avery: "Mommy can I get in bed with you?"
Mommy: "No, go back to your bed."
Avery: "But Mommy I have boogers in my nose."

"I like to eat moose meat but I don’t like to eat moose."
                                                                           Avery

"Daddy I gonna grow up tomorrow."
                                          Avery

Daddy:  "Are you grumpy this morning."
Avery:  "No, not yet."

Mommy:  "Avery, what do you want to do when you grow up?"
Avery after much consideration:  "I not eat play-dough anymore."

Avery on potty…
Bumma says, " Avery,  are you done going potty?"
Avery says,"  Bumma, when you hear the plop I am done."

  "I really love all the dinners mommy cooks…except the ones I don’t like."                           Miah

Avery, crying, after she wipes out in the driveway:  "These boots don’t run very fast".

Tov, as we drive up to our cabin:  "Mommy I don’t like our cabin."  Mommy: "Why not?"   Tov: "Because its not purple."

Avery looking very thoughtful on the couch:  Mommy: "What are you thinking about Avery?"  Avery: "I’m working on an idea."  Mommy:  "What is your idea."  Avery: "Mommy It’s not done yet!"