First Grill Session of 2011

Our weather's been rather unpredictable lately. Today the temps dropped 25 degrees in four hours. We had robust, nearly tropical thunder showers at 6AM this morning and by 10AM it was cold enough to snow...We had a frigid Saturday and a summer Sunday and our six inches of snow has mostly melted off.

Speaking of Saturday, Karen nominated me to be Head Cook that evening. After consulting the recipes and nutritional info I always keep nearby, I decided to prepare my bride a meal of The Perfect Food, and braved the elements to conduct the First Grill Session of 2011.

Karen caught me in action and documented the event.

Keith and his Grilling Associates.

Just another perfect evening at 368 McClain...

On a more missionary note, we've been blessed to host a volunteer in our home for the past week. Trevor is up from Texas to work with Bruce Wolff of Brigade Air. MMS is performing a complete inspection and restoration of a Cessna 172 donated to Brigade. Bruce and Trevor arrived last Tuesday and are preparing the airframe for paint. They may even try to get the airplane painted before they leave later this week.

I'm working on another video project at the shop. This time I'm trying to incorporate narration instead of having to enter type overlays on the various scenes. I'm also trying to incorporate a video overlay. Lord willing, I'll have that clip up in the next day or two. Beyond the video, I administered two apprentice performance reviews today and am organizing the details for a work team of students from LeTourneau University who are to volunteer in the hangar March 14-18.

Karen's back working 3 days at the mission this week.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

Video: A Glimpse Into MMS

Weekend Report
We had a great visit with Duane, Cindy, Josiah, and Joanna over the weekend. We laughed, we ate, we snacked, we were tourists up in Amish country, we broke out the HO train set...and did I say we ate? Oh man...did we eat. We also saw our first pair of Z-Coil shoes up at Charm Boot and Harness. Very interesting. We didn't buy any, we just looked and wondered what in the world they were thinking when they designed them. They do explain their thoughts and technology on their web site.

Weather Report
We also got hit with six inches of snow Monday evening through Tuesday morning. Now we're supposed to get hit with heavy rain tonight that's supposed to turn to snow tomorrow. We'll see. The heavy stuff appears to be staying just south of us for the time being. But after looking at the radar, it appears as we may get wet, yet. Temps are up in the 40's right now.

Video Report
But wait...there's MORE! Here's my latest video project about MMS. Enjoy. Thanks for making all this possible (the video and what you see in it) through your prayers and your support!

Into the Weather-Wonderful Weekend

Weather Report
The past few days we've enjoyed TREMENDOUS weather! It's been over 60 degrees, blue sky, sunny, a bit windy, but we'll take that over subzero temps and ice and snow (more typical for this winter and the month of February). After such a hard winter this short pause is most refreshing and encouraging. There's more winter weather to come, you can be sure of it...but right now we're rejoicing in what we have. Actually, we're heading back into the cooler weather today with highs in the low 40's and snow/rain predicted for tomorrow.

But that's tomorrow! Today the sun is out and there's not a cloud in the sky!

MMS Aviation
I was pretty much tied to my computer up at MMS this past week. I was either staring at the monitor punctuated with intense moments keyboard activity or roaming around the facility and grounds shooting video. I have some shop footage I'll put together for you next week. It's amazing how much time it takes to put a two minute clip together. I hope you enjoyed the RTS flight video in the previous post.

Friends in Town
We have some friends in town from PA! Duane, Cindy, Josiah, and Joanna are in for the weekend. They arrived yesterday afternoon and we're headed out to Amish Country for the day today. Last night (after a meal of Karen's World Famous Taco Bake) we spent the evening in a rousing session of SCUM. It's a card game that is well known in this region of the world. During the course of the game I worked my way down from Vice President to Scum in rather short fashion but came back and finished as Vice President to Karen's President. We laughed, we cried, we ate a pound bag of peanut M&M's...

This morning we'll be off to Charm, OH for stops at: Miller's Quilt Shop, Keim Lumber, Charm Boot & Harness Shop, the Polish Pottery Niche, and Miller's Bakery. Then to Walnut Creek for a few minutes at Walnut Creek Cheese; and then up the road to Berlin, for stops at: Zinc's Fabrics, the Amish Flea Market, and Cindy's Diner. It's always a fun day and the weather just makes it better.

Tucker and Tanner Get Ready For Guests
When Tucker and Tanner heard we had guests coming they begged for a bath so they would look, smell, and feel Cocker Clean. We, of course, obliged their wish.

Tucker-wash cycle

Tucker between cycles

Tanner-wash cycle

Tanner-rinse cycle

Tanner-dry cycle

The Piper Navajo Takes To The Sky!

The Arctic Barnabas Piper Navajo made its Return-To-Service flight yesterday afternoon. Here's the video I put together:



After three months of heavy repair and modification, there are still some adjustments to make and some fine tuning to take care of before the airplane's ready for release, but it won't be long until the Navajo departs Coshocton for a paint shop and then heads back to Alaska for ministry.

Thanks for being part of the project through your gifts and prayers!

Video: Arctic Barnabas Navajo Engine Run-up

Here's the latest video clip from MMS. I shot and edited it this afternoon as Dale and Chuck ran-up the engines on the Navajo operated by Arctic Barnabas. Matt, the pilot of the Navajo is in town from their base in Alaska and the guys are wrapping up the paperwork and getting everything in order for the airplane's return-to-service flight tomorrow. It should be an exciting day.

Lord willing, I'll be out there with my camera to capture the event! I hope you enjoy this clip:

An Aztec, A Navajo, A Skipper, And A CEO

Here's a quick update from the hangar at MMS Aviation:

The Aztec belongs to The Pfeifers, a Southern Gospel singing group, who use the airplane as transportation between the various venues and events they have scheduled all across the United States. Andy S., our newest apprentice, is breaking in as part of the crew conducting the Aztec's annual inspection.

Andy S. and Terry repair engine baffling on the Aztec.

The Navajo belongs to Arctic Barnabas, a ministry of encouragement and support to missionaries in remote, inland Alaska. The overhauled left engine is on the airframe, the crew door is in place, and the annual inspection is nearly finished. As soon as a spinner bulkhead arrives, the airplane will be closed up, the paperwork completed, and airplane returned to service.

Chuck and the "crew door" he installed on the Navajo.

The Skipper is a local, non-mission airplane, that we're inspecting and repairing. Mike, Mark, Jim, Andy, and Paul G. have worked their way over the airplane and through its various systems and structures for three weeks now. The project should be wrapped up and back in its hangar "across the field" any day now.

Jim makes some adjustments on the Skipper's engine.

Mark inspects beneath the Skipper's floor panels.

The CEO is Dwight Jarboe, MMS Aviation President & CEO and holder of an FAA mechanic certificate for 42 years. Dwight led the apprentices in a special class on "carburetors" this morning blending "theory" with hangar floor reality.

Dwight explains a diagram as Andy S., Bob, and Andy P. look on and listen in.

There's always something interesting going on around our facility whether administrative or operational, whether dealing with people, with planes, or both people AND planes. Thanks for being part of God's work through your continued interest and involvement with us.

Spring in the Air?

There may be snow on the ground but spring is in the air....or at least in the tree in our back yard! The temperatures are below freezing this week and the ground is still pretty much covered with snow but as I have worked on the kitchen computer this week there have been a whole flock of Robins in the tree outside of the window! It makes me think that perhaps they know something we don't. Maybe spring is coming sooner than we think!

Looking at our tree from the upstairs window

For the last 3 years we have had robins come and build a nest and start their families on our front porch post. We've totally enjoyed watching them each year. By the looks of this tree I'm thinking those three generations have all come back to roost! Can you count how many robins in our tree? There are 16!

16 robins!

It's good God made birds with feathers they can fluff out because it's cold out there! I don't recall ever seeing such "puffy" robins. They are beautiful! I have to admit I had a small moment of feeling sorry for them and wanting to invite them in to get warm....it passed quickly as I thought that fully through...

"Puffy Robin"

It was an encouraging thing to see these creatures that make us think of spring weather. It was actually Ground Hog Day when I saw them the first time, right after Punxsutawney Phil said we'd have an early spring this year. Between he and the robins I'm beginning to feel convinced! We can always hope.

Keeping Watch For Spring

So keep an eye out! Spring is surely on it's way and most assuredly, we'll be ready.

Eating Kim Chee on a Rainy, Sleety, Snowy Saturday

We've had snow, rain, and sleet so far today. It's a good day to be inside though, all things considered, it's not all that bad outside. Rain at 32 degrees can go either way.

I ran some errands this morning but have spent most of the day here at the computer working on missionary stuff. It's all part of the ministry. Karen's at a baby shower for one of the MMS ladies. Tucker and Tanner are curled up on their fleece-covered bean bag beds.

By the way, my chop sticks are in hand and I'm eating Kim Chee. Karen buys it for me because she loves me...not necessarily the Kim Chee. She doesn't eat the stuff. Won't eat it. Refuses to eat it. Doesn't even like the smell of it. Kim Chee is a Korean side dish made by fermenting cabbage with all kinds of odds and ends and then stuffing it in a jar to continue its fermentation. It's the only snack food I know that's labeled with a safety warning:

"Contents are under pressure due to constant natural fermentation. DO NOT PUNCTURE. To prevent spills cover cap with napkin and open slowly over sink.

I recommend following the instructions when you open it and using chop sticks to eat it.

Doesn't that look good? Actually just the photo makes my mouth water.

I think it tastes pretty good (hot, spicy--heck they crush shrimp and anchovies in it so it HAS to be good) but not everyone agrees with me. Hoever, everyone in the room or building does knows when someone's been eating Kim Chee. It has as distinctive of an aroma as it does flavor. You should be able to find it in your grocer's deli. If I can find it here in Coshocton, you can find it there wherever you are.

Enjoy your weekend! I have the breath mints standing by...

Doing the HR Thing

On Thursdays, Karen and I have the pleasure of working together at MMS. Tuesdays and Fridays Karen works for the MMS Accounting Department but Thursdays she works for me in HR. That's right, on Thursdays the HR staff doubles in size!

The MMS Aviation Human Resources Department

Today Karen spent a good portion of her day updating and troubleshooting an Excel file that I use to track information from the hangar floor. She handled the mission phones; worked through her "HR To Do" folder that I fill during the other 4 days of the work week; logged data from other forms I collect; and stuffed, sealed, and posted a special mailing of 232 pieces for one of our candidate families who'll soon be moving to Coshocton to begin ministry. She managed the mission mailing list, tracked new support, and sent partnership response letters. She also worked closely with Dave, our facilities manager/safety officer/network administrator/groundskeeper/information technology and software guru as he set up an additional workspace for receipting, tied it into the network and linked it to a shared printer. Yes, at a small mission we all wear a lot of hats.

The staff had its ICQC meeting today. The first Thursday of every month we all get together for Information, Communication, Questions, and Comments (ICQC). As part of the meeting I gave a short presentation regarding our project tracking logs, explained the results of the 2010 log summary, and discussed the data collection process for 2011. The guys had some good ideas regarding the form and the process and we'll be moving ahead with what we discussed.

The second and fourth Thursdays of the month I participate in the Senior Management Team meetings (SMT), and occasionally I'll be involved with the third Thursday of the month Training Staff Meetings. Of course every Monday is our Department Head meeting. Would you like to have a meeting, too?

Around the meeting I handled a slew of email, finished the prayer card project for one of our staff families, edited a newsletter for another family, compiled performance review documentation for two of our apprentices (Lord willing I'll administer the reviews next week), ordered a cake (like I said, we wear a lot of hats at MMS) for tomorrow's celebration of Paul Jones completing his apprenticeship, had a short meeting with our CEO, shot photos and blogged for the mission, and reviewed some recruiting related forms and documents.

All in all it was your typical day in HR at MMS Aviation. Thanks for your gifts, prayers, and continued interest as together we prepare people and planes for worldwide mission service.

Airplane Icicles in Ohio

The winter storm arrived as predicted though, around here, it hasn't yet proven to be the "Storm of Historical Proportions" many media outlets, weather prognosticators, and politicians have prepared us for. That being said, "the rest of the story" is supposed to blow through over the next 24 hours.

The freezing rain was real enough though not to the degree of causing power outages or tree damage. The local street crews have done a good job of keeping the roads passable. Here are a couple icicle shots of the one airplane that's tied down outside our facility.



Meanwhile, back in Hangar C, the left engine is being hung on the Navajo.

Dale sorts out part of the wiring harness.

A good portion of my day was spent in a meeting. On either side of the meeting, I worked on fine-tuning a prayer card for one of our MMS families, handled several inquiries about apprenticeship, updated more forms, worked with a prospective candidate who may tour the mission on Monday, began the process of organizing for our newest apprentice family to move to Coshocton in March, took photos of the hangar activity, organized reports, and pulled some items together for a special mailing I need to organize for later this week.

Karen was up at the shop taking care of the receipting for the mission.

Thanks for the part you play in enabling us to prepare people and planes for worldwide mission service. We couldn't be here without you being back there!