The Engine Arrived--Full Speed Ahead At MMS

The engine I mentioned in yesterday's blog post arrived at MMS! The guys spent a good portion of the day preparing the engine and getting ready for installation on the Navajo. Lord willing, they'll hang it on the airframe Tuesday or Wednesday.

The overhauled engine still in its shipping crate.

Me? I spent the day in my office pounding on my keyboard working on emails, answering the phone, directing calls, updating documents, supervising approved candidates, recruiting, record keeping, compiling reports, and preparing for upcoming meetings. I did break away a couple times to take the photos on this page. With the institution of our Substance Abuse Program I've been provided a whole new avenue of activity to pursue.

We had some nice weather today. It was clear and in the mid-20's. We are, as of this evening, under a Winter Storm Warning for the next couple days. We'll see what we get out of it.

In other parts of the hangar:

Jim worked with Paul G. on the Skipper annual inspection.

Chuck continued installing the Navajo's crew door.

Paul J. and Andy S. ran the the Aztec engines in preparation for the airplane's annual inspection.

Paul J., our most senior apprentice, is leading Andy S., our brand new apprentice, through the inspection process.

We now have two "Pauls", two "Andys", and one "Mark" in apprenticeship.

Thanks for your friendship, prayers, and gifts. We daily thank the Lord for each of you who are paying and praying so that we can serve. Without you at our side, we'd be unable to be here preparing people and planes for worldwide mission service.

Week's Re-Cap & Winter Storm Watch

The last week of January has come to a close, February is set to start, and another Winter Storm Watch has been issued.

The big news from the mission is I have a new role as part of my HR responsibilities. I'm now the "Administrator" of our Substance Abuse Program (otherwise known as random drug testing). While not typically a problem in a hangar situation like ours, it is a standard aviation industry practice for random drug testing to take place where commercial aircraft are maintained or operated. While we don't fall directly under that industry standard (as we don't work on aircraft that fall into the "commercial" category) the MMS Board felt it would be a good testimony to our customers and partners to voluntarily initiate such a program.

After working with a substance abuse consultant for nearly a year, Jon Speckman of ADATC, Inc., we finalized our specific policy with him in December. Karen and I had the privilege of hosting Jon in our home two nights when he arrived Wednesday evening to provide the required group and individual training on Thursday. There were three different training sessions which encompassed the entire day: one for the whole group, one for specific supervisors, and then a final session specifically focused on policy administration with an inspection of our local "collection point" at Coshocton County Hospital. I was part of every session as was Terry McClary, our production manager who is my Assistant Administrator. Jon did a great job leading the training. His 35 years of experience in the field provided depth of insight and information not many others could share. We greatly enjoyed having Jon in our home and I look forward to working with him as I grow in my new responsibilities.

Karen and I spent yesterday working in the basement. It must have something to do with the weather outside that drives us underground this time of year. With the basement cleaned and straightened we had worship this morning and then took the rest of the day off.

Speaking of taking Sunday off...here's a rather typical way we spend part of our Sundays:

Here I am surrounded by my books and covered in Cocker Spaniels. It won't be long until nap time.

Karen works a puzzle. According to the container, this puzzle is the smallest 1000 piece puzzle in the world.

Those are some tiny, tiny pieces and the sky pieces are all the same shape!
(Thanks for driving Karen crazy, Lynette!)

Sundays are restful days for us. We hope you are able to enjoy a day of rest on Sundays as well.

A winter storm watch has been issued for the region with rain and ice and snow predicted to start Monday night and to run through Wednesday. We'll see what we get and keep you posted.

Thanks for your prayers and gifts which enable us to serve! We'll be back at ministry tomorrow!

Asas 206 Engine Run & Taxi Test

It was an exciting afternoon at the hangar yesterday as Ian and Paul pulled the Asas amphibious 206 out to run the engine for the first time and take it on a taxi test. After extensive restoration and repair, the airplane started on the first crank and performed well. And yes, it was snowing lightly which contrasts somewhat with the tropical environment the airplane is headed for down in Brazil.

The upper cowling was left off to facilitate engine inspection and access.

Here's the video I put together this morning:

Cabin Fever: Or How to Enjoy a Walk in 11 Degrees

It doesn't me or Tanner long to develop the need to get outside and go for a walk. We'll walk almost anytime as long as it's not raining or icy and it's light. Both of us greatly enjoy walking and we have a regular three mile loop that we take across the railroad tracks (right behind our house) and through several Coshocton neighborhoods. The snow hasn't gotten icy yet so ice really wasn't an issue and THE SUN WAS OUT! The last two snow storms have been very un-Coshocton like. The snow has been dry and fluffy and the sun has come out and stayed out the next days after the storm. I like that. Colder, drier, and sunnier makes things much more enjoyable.

However, with a -3 degree temp outside when we got up this morning, we didn't rush right out for a walk. Tanner slept in and I met a friend for breakfast returning around 10. After that, Karen and I settled down to discuss a devotional book we're working through and before we knew it it was noon! By then I needed to stretch my legs and Tanner had his "If you guys are done talking can we go for a walk NOW?" look on. It's really clear when he wants to go for a walk He just comes up and sits and stares at me with a very expectant look on his face. He just sits there and stares. Follows me around and then just sits and stares. When I go for my shoes he perks up and when I grab his leash he is very pleased that I finally caught on.

Heading out


Happy to be outside on our nicely plowed side street!

It was 11 degrees when we took off for our walk. We had a GREAT walk! Tanner was an icy, snowy, mess on his legs and belly but that's just part of the experience. He LOVES being toweled off once we get home. We stop along the way so I can check his paws for ice and then we keep moving. It took us a little longer today because not everyone shovels their sidewalks, the snow plow covers others, and I don't have snowshoes (nor do I want any!). Consequently we took some side streets as alternatives as the streets were clearer.

Tanner slept most of the afternoon after his big day out. He likes wearing his snappy little green sweater that Karen made for him.

Tomorrow's supposed to be cold again with a low of -5 predicted for the morning. So wherever you are it's either colder or warmer (my Dad said it was 70 out at their place in Southern California) or colder (praise the Lord, God didn't call us to Minnesota or Canada!) so stay warm! or stay cool!

Thanks for your friendship, your gifts, and your prayers.

The Great Raisin Bread Experiment

We did get six inches of fresh snow out of the storm. It was a nice snow (again)! Light, easy to shovel and the snow plow even plowed our side of the street along the side of our house. It NEVER gets plowed. Well, almost never. I was so excited I ran out (and promptly slid down our embankment on my back) to give the snowplow driver a bag of cookies! The fall and slide to the street was the most "fun" I've had in the snow in a very long time. Karen was just hoping we weren't making a trip to the hospital. HA! I'm fine, the snow plow driver was pleased, and all is well with the world...

Plus (get ready, Karen was in the kitchen again) home made RAISIN BREAD! Karen's wanted to try baking raisin bread and the six inches of snow put her in such a wonderful mood I couldn't hold her back.

Karen works the raisins into the dough.

Raw raisin bread...

And now, a little video.

We're going to have it for breakfast tomorrow!

3" - 6" of Snow on the Way

While the next weather system sweeps in from the west, we're still working away up at MMS! We had snow flurries on and off all day today and I had to scrape a light coat of freezing rain from my car windows when I left the shop this evening, but it's just Coshocton winter as usual.

Karen stuffing receipts for mailing.

Karen's been busy with an extra day of receipting each week filling in for Rena who is recovering from surgery. I'm still working on documentation: updating for 2011, revising, designing in Microsoft Publisher, and then turning them into active PDFs in Acrobat Pro. I know just enough to make a simple PDF that can be filled in, saved, and then attached back. Little by little I'm transforming my paper world into more of an electronic one.

I did spend an our so so working on a new prayer card for one of our mission families. We shot the photo yesterday and I was able to PhotoShop the file this afternoon. Praise the Lord I saved a "template" and then worked from a copy because right in the middle of everything--I made a standard left click to transfer color from the "Paint bucket" into the MMS logo and PhotoShop informed me that something bad had happened somewhere and shut-down at the same instant. There wasn't any form of that file to be found ANYWHERE...Bummer, dude. Lost a little work, but not all of it. I should be able to pick back up tomorrow at nearly the same place as the crash occurred.

Working on the prayer card before the crash...

The Missionary Mutts hadn't had much of a presence on the blog lately so we'll add a couple snapshots from the Cabin Fever Cockers. They, as well as we, miss the walks we regularly get in when the weather is nice. It can still be "nice" when it's cold, we just can't walk when it's nice and icy...

Tucker

Tanner

Thanks for your gifts and prayers that enable us to serve!

Another Monday at MMS Aviation

Pretty much every Monday morning at 10:15, you'll find me meeting with Bob, Terry, and Tim in Bob's office. Bob is Director of Training, Terry is Production Manager, Tim is Director of Maintenance, and I'm Director of Human Resources.

Even though MMS is a small mission, the nature of our ministry necessitates an extremely high level of ongoing communication. Our weekly meeting provides the forum for an integrated approach between maintenance, production, training, and HR. It's a privilege to serve with such dedicated men committed to preparing missionary airplanes and missionary airplane mechanics for service around the world.

L to R: Bob, Director of Training; Terry, Production Manager; Tim, Director of Maintenance; and me, Director of Human Resources.

With a break in the weather (sunny and 32 degrees), one of the missionaries we serve flew his Piper Aztec in this morning. With the next weather system predicted to arrive tonight and his airplane in need of its annual inspection, it was prudent for him to deliver it a little bit early. We've maintained his airplane for several years. You've probably seen pictures of it on earlier blogs. John brings his airplane in for inspection every January.

John Pfeifer's Piper Aztec on our ramp before being positioned in Hangar A.

The Cessna 206 being restored for service in Brazil is very nearly completed. Lord willing the engine runs and taxi tests will be conducted next week prior to the airplane making its "return to service" flight, or RTS. The airplane looks rather impressive towering over everything in our hangar. I look forward to shooting some video of the engine runs, taxi tests and shake-down flights. Stay tuned...

The Asas de Socorro Cessna 206

Keith in the Kitchen: Sticks and Scones?

Well, it IS warmer today (33 right now) and the snow continues to melt. The wind's blowing, so AccuWeather says it actually feels like 21 degrees outside. There may be a few light flurries later but it's winter so that's okay.

Here's our little house on the corner

In The Kitchen
My brother-in-law, Ralph, evidently made Swedish pancakes for breakfast the other morning and the event has become a lengthy and animated Facebook comment thread as many of Karen's family, and several friends, hadn't ever seen the "Swedish Chef" before (one of the featured characters from The Muppet Show), "Bork, Bork, Bork!" Karen had linked to the Chef's donut making episode on YouTube.

While not having the Swedish ancestry that Ralph does, I did feel compelled to cook breakfast for Karen this morning. No, Ralph and I aren't COMPETITIVE...but our wives, as sisters, do talk rather frequently...

Anyway, in keeping with the international flavor (pun intended) and family context, I boldly entered the kitchen this morning with the intent to whip up a batch of cinnamon & pecan scones from a mix from Karen's cousin, Tammy. Scones are one of the major food groups in England and with three families from the UK and two from countries in Africa with colonial roots in the UK serving with our mission, scones are not unheard of in MMS circles. However, this is the first time this native Californian ever attempted to make a food he'd never really eaten. For those of you non-scone eaters, a scone is kind of like a flavored biscuit. Basically it's a pile of dough without icing (though it is okay to cover scones with something like cream and/or jam which are two UK topping favorites). This mix provided a pouch of powdered sugar to turn into a topping using orange juice which is then "dribbled" over the warm scones before serving.

So there I was. I had no idea what "cut in the butter" meant and was about to use two sticks of butter (for one cup) when the recipe called for 1/2 cup or one stick of butter. Sticks and scones can break my bones but too much butter never hurt me...no wait a minute...Karen walked through the kitchen just in time (God's sovereignty?) gave me the appropriate directions and corrections, and I continued on my merry way. Big dish, small dish, blend the ingredients, makes 12-16 scones...I went for twelve MONSTER MANLY scones...

Mixing the 1 egg, 3/4 cup milk, and teaspoon of vanilla.

Fresh from the oven after 13 minutes at 375 degrees.

Ready to serve and "dribbled" with the sugar/OJ topping glaze. Not too bad...

Well Mark & Jenny, Andy & Esther, Andy & Heather, Mike & Isobel, Dale & Deborah, do these look like REAL UK scones?

What do you think?

Karen and I ate several the scones a few hours ago and we haven't had any negative side affects so I must have done something right.

Back in your court, or kitchen, Ralph...

End of the Week

This past week I developed a couple new documents with Adobe Acrobat, shot/edited/posted another video on the MMS blog, handled a stack of email, worked with prospective candidates, gave a tour of the facility, supervised the approved candidate's support raising efforts, and answered the mission phone nearly every time it rang.

It was also a week of meetings. Department Head meeting, Senior Management Team meeting, a meeting with representatives of another mission organization, a meeting of hangar and admin staff to review our revised Standard Operating Procedure's manual, and before too much longer the hangar crew will sit through a review of our Certificated Repair Station manual. I'm exempt from that meeting.

Meetings move mountains. Prayer and faith do too, don't get me wrong, but in missions (as in any business or ministry) the better the information flow, the higher the level of communication, and the greater the level of combined creativity. When a group of well-informed, hard working, creative people all pull in the same direction with a high level of commitment motivated by faith in a Cause...God can really work.

Meetings and paperwork probably don't come to mind first when most folks to think about what it means to be a missionary, but after 14 years as a full-time missionary...communication is critical and meetings, good meetings, facilitate, enable, and provide a forum for effective communication.

Karen handled her own paperwork all day Monday, Thursday, and Friday, worked for the accounting department Monday/Friday, and worked for me Thursday.

Locally, the high temps are climbing into the 30's, the snow is slowing melting, and the Cleveland Browns have a new head coach. That may not be news to you, but for a transplanted Californian who misses the Los Angeles Rams and has adapted to rooting for the Cleveland Browns, it IS news. It hasn't been easy being a Cleveland Browns fan since they returned to the NFL in 1999. After 2, 5-11 seasons, the fifth head coach in 13 years is on his way into town. Of course, I guess I could always root for the Cincinnati Bungles...NOT.

We've Signed On For A Fifth Term

New Year's greetings from Coshocton, Ohio!

We're somewhat surprised to wake up this morning and find January 2011 already half over. Wow. And yes, there's snow on the ground out here. Six very fresh inches of it...but as Karen, Tucker, and Tanner love the snow, I'm doing my best not to hate it. And actually, this snow isn't all that bad.

I guess the big news is we've just renewed our commitment for another three year term with MMS Aviation!

MMS Aviation, January 12, 2011

There are lots of exciting things going on up at MMS: aircraft projects are being completed, operational and staff changes continue to be discussed and implemented, one of our apprentices will complete service next month and has been accepted for service with a mission in Guatamala, discussion about expanding our administrative area has renewed, and we're only a few hundred dollars short of the Lord's full provision of the $140,000 need to complete the Raise the Roof Campaign! And along with that, the installation of the new hangar door and replacement of the roof is scheduled for later this spring.

Thanks for being part of it all through your prayers, your gifts, your love, your friendship, and encouragement. We look forward to keeping you regularly updated on how the Lord is working in us and through us at home, in the hangar, and at Fresno Bible Church.

Amen? Amen! We'll see you around the blogoshere...