In The Office

Administering apprentice performance reviews, providing guidance to our two approved candidate families raising support to begin apprenticeship, answering emails, preparing for the scheduled candidate evaluation next month, and preparing a new prayer card/discussing a custom personal video for one of our staff families leaving on a support raising trip, have pretty much filled my week.

Here's the prayer card I designed for the Maddux family. Cayton Heath took the photo. Cayton's the wife of one of our apprentices and is a gifted photographer.

 The Maddux Family's prayer card

I also spent an hour or so this morning meeting with Bob, our Director of Training, to discuss mission vision, personal ministry passions, spiritual contentment, the discernment of God's will, and ways in which to better integrate out two departments related to mentoring/encouraging approved candidates. You know, just the usual missionary stuff.

Karen spent the day in the shop assistjng me with my mobilization efforts as well entering data our Production Manager and Director of Maintenance use to better manage people and projects in the hangar. She spent a good portion of her day updating a worldwide directory of mission aviation organizations I assembled several years ago. The updated directory is being used as an additional resource for a missions-wide research project.

Of course last night was worship team practice and this weekend will be dedicated to mailing our latest Coshocton Flyer newsletter. Tomorrow night, Lord willing, will be Date Night in Coshocton, which is always...exciting(?).

Thanks for your prayers and gifts which enable us to serve.

Grilling Can-Chicken

Karen's baking exploits have been featured on this blog many times over the past four years. It's not often we feature a grilling adventure...I mean how many ways can one grill a hot dog, you know? But after our now famous bike ride on the Kokosing Gap Rails-to-Trails, we did work together to do something a little bit different on the grill...Can Chicken.

No, not canned chicken but Can Chicken. Grilling chicken that's sitting on a can. It looks, well, rather odd and somewhat uncomfortable for the chicken but I guess roasting for 90 minutes at 300+ degrees could be considered uncomfortable as well.

We found the recipe in a local co-op magazine featuring Ohio food...and there it was...Can Chicken. We couldn't pass up the opportunity. This recipe called for a can of lemonade...though there are evidently quite a wide variety of liquids one can choose to flavor one's chicken.

Anyway it was totally easy, fun and the chicken turned out GREAT!

 Before

After

Bike Ride: Kokosing Gap Trail

Karen rolled me out of bed early this morning so we could get a bike ride in before the sun climbed too high and the temps returned to the humid, upper 90's. It's not often that Karen is up before I am, but this morning she already had the car out and the bike rack on before I made it out of the house. The dogs were shocked, I tell you. Shocked. Me? I was very impressed.

Pulling away from the curb about 6:15 AM, we enjoyed the 45 minute drive north through farm land and rolling hills, to Howard, OH where we parked in the access lot for the Kokosing Gap Trail.

The Kokosing Gap Trail has been judged one of the top Rails-To-Trails in the nation. We have to agree. It's a flat, 14 mile, asphalt pathway leading from Mt. Vernon on the west end, to Danville on the east. Kokosing is part of the larger 453 mile Ohio to Erie Trail and we've even ridden a portion of the Mohican Trail which continues east out of Danville. There are playgrounds, restroom facilities, benches, break areas, picnic spots, and river access for fishing, all well maintained and accessible 24/7, 365 days a year.


It was a beautiful morning to ride. We typically enter the trail at Howard and ride the nine miles west into Mt. Vernon. The trail winds through farm land and parallels the Kokosing River, crossing it at two points. There are two trestle bridges, plenty of small wildlife to enjoy, and most of the trail is either tree covered or tree-lined. Click HERE to see a map of the trail.

At the Howard, OH trail head at sunrise.

Looking east toward Danville

Starting west toward Mt. Vernon

We saw Cardinals, Robins, Eastern Towhees, Grey Cowbirds, Blue Jays, sparrows of various kinds, chipmunks, gray squirrels, rabbits, a deer, cows, horses, Canadian geese, and Karen bumped into a few mosquitoes. Oh yes, and we saw a Manatee!

Gambier is about midway between Howard and Mt. Vernon. The trail stop is actually on the Kenyon College athletic fields next to the tennis courts and across from their athletic facility and stadium. The campus is beautiful and leads into the quaint town of Gambier. The trail stop features a locomotive, flat car, and caboose for visual enjoyment and climbing on. There's also a bench with Karen's name on it.

The Kokosing Gap train

Karen on her bench in Gambier

We hit the trail about 7:00 and made it back to the car around 10:00. We enjoyed the ride, took several breaks, and took some pictures. We hope you enjoy the photos and get a feel for the fun we had doing something a little different today.

Taking a break by the Lilly Pond at Kenyon College's Brown Family Environmental Center.

Johnny Appleseed planted orchards and owned property in the area.

Johnny Knobby-Knees

And as an added bonus..The Manatee mailbox in Warsaw, OH!

Awwwww....

Hot & Humid

It's feeling like late July in late May. Considering our winter was so mild and spring started so early, I guess summer starting in late spring shouldn't be a surprise.

Our grass is already turning brown, the first fireflies were out last night, and we had to turn our air-conditioning on today because the weather's so miserable. We'll probably run it through the weekend. Praise the Lord we can be blessed by a controlled environment. We typically only have to run the AC for a few weeks a year, but This year we'll see how it all pans out.

LOWER GAS PRICES ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND?
Believe it or not, OUR GAS PRICES DROPPED TODAY! I can't EVER remember a holiday weekend (ANY holiday) when gas prices dropped but this weekend? Wow. It must be an election year.

Karen and I doing well, feeling very middle-aged, and eating ibuprofen like we used to eat candy. What is it about muscles, aches, and pains, and advancing age? Of course many of you may think our ripe old ages of 53 & 56 are still rather YOUNG.

Tucker and Tanner are 9 years old now and are a bit slower, too. Our walks are shorter and they sleep longer and harder than they used to. 

Things at MMS are busy. I spent most of today up in the office working on our next Coshocton Flyer newsletter. It'll bring you up to speed on aircraft projects, apprentice families, our plans for summer, and the dogs' latest adventures.

Be watching for it coming soon to a mailbox near you.

Speaking of watching something, here's the lastest video I put together about aircraft projects in the hangar.

Have a great weekend!

Back Home and Back In The Hangar

After arriving home Sunday evening after a month away on deputation, I thought I'd just post some quick hangar snapshots to bring you up-to-speed on our six current aircraft projects. Now that the weather's getting nicer and we'll be home for a couple months, it's time to get back on the blog track!

Cessna 210

Mike and Jake check cylinder compression levels as part of the annual inspection of this regional Cessna 210.

 Mission Aviation Fellowship: Cessna 206

Chuck applies paint remover to the tail section of the 206.

 After inspection, Andy tapes the 206's nose gear components for painting prep.

 Phil removes seat rails from the 206's floor panels.

 

Amazon Salt & Light: Cessna 185

Mark uses a rivet squeezer to make a repair to one of the 185's damaged wings.

Pfeiffer Evangelical Association: Piper Aztec

Tim drains oil lines as part of the Aztec's annual inspection.

Missions Beyond: Zenith 801

 

Supervisor Mike (L) & missionary pilot Ethan Shields (R) discuss completion of the Zenith 801 for their ministry in Mexico.

Gospel Carrier International: Super King Air 200

The King Air is in for some airframe modifications.