Latest Hangar Snapshots from MMS Aviation

Well, I just finished my fifth consecutive Monday commute to MMS prepping our staff for a seminar next week (though there was a candidate evaluation in that timeframe as well). While I am working from my office in Graham, NC this morning, Monday I'll make my sixth weekly commute to MMS--this time with Karen by my side. That is an upgrade for sure as missions is a lot more fun when Karen's beside me. Our entire group will receive training by a representative of Support Raising Solutions on Wednesday and then Karen and I provide the training on Thursday.

Thursday morning, I'll lead our staff, apprentices, and spouses through three PowerPoint presentations: "Photography for Non-photographers," "Awesome Newsletters," and "Partnership Principles for Veteran Missionaries." After lunch, Karen will lead a computer workshop on how to use MMS's donor software package: TntConnect. Karen is expert in its use and is the mission resource for any training or troubleshooting related to that software.

Enough yaba-yaba. How about some photos!

Apprentice Rebekah makes adjustments to the flap tracks on an amphibious Cessna 206 used for ministry in Brazil.

Supervisor Jay and apprentice Bryan troubleshoot an electrical problem in the cockpit of an Aerostar used for ministry in Haiti.

Supervisor Chuck (right) takes our newest apprentice, Kyle (left) through learning how to flare a tube end during our introductory "Basic Training" program. I spent the past year coaching Kyle through the support raising process and now he's in the hangar fully funded!

Project Supervisor Jim works with Apprentice Bryan to install avionics upgrades to this Maule bound for missionary service in Haiti.

And no blog would be complete without a portrait of a rudder pedal!

Thanks for being part of shaping eternity through your partnership with us and MMS Aviation! If you'd like to be personally involved in each of these projects (without having to quit your job and move) feel free to CLICK HERE and get started in missionary aviation TODAY!

Hangar Still-Life Photographs

 I'm in the middle of five trips to Ohio to help prepare for a seminar October 7-8. It's been awhile since I've had so many opportunities to take some snapshots in the hangar. I've selected some still life shots that caught my eye. I hope you enjoy them.

Airplane

Apprentice

Drill Bit Index

Solitude

Valve Grind

Thanks for your friendship, encouragement, gifts and prayers that make you part of this amazing process of preparing people and planes for worldwide missionary service.

Candidate Evaluation & Partnership Orientation: Aaron and Mary Richards

Evaluation Season Arrives at MMS Aviation

We're in "eval" season right now. In fact, Karen and I just returned from MMS Aviation where we assisted with the evaluation and subsequent partnership orientation of MMS's newest approved candidates: Aaron & Mary Richards.

Here we are with Aaron & Mary after their acceptance for service with MMS Aviation. 

Aaron is an engineer for a railroad and Mary is a medical assistant.

After we walked the Richards' through ten months of mobilization and application, MMS invited them to participate in our In-Hangar Evaluation. Evaluation is where MMS makes the final determination of suitability for service as an apprentice in our ministry.

Evaluation week is a challenging time where applicants are placed under the microscopes of hangar operations and missionary life for 72 hours straight. It's intense as we closely examine the applicants and the applicants closely evaluate us with God's gifting, God's will, and God's calling in mind.

Director of Maintenance, Tim Obarow (left), supervises Aaron through an aviation maintenance project.

Aaron works with Apprentice Josh Snader to disassemble an engine for overhaul.

Project Supervisor Chris Jutte (right) talks Aaron through a bore-scope inspection of the inside of a turbine engine.

Aaron and I talk through earlier repairs he made to this Bearhawk, soon to be back in missionary service in Haiti.

While all this was going on in the hangar, Mary was interacting with several MMS spouses as they went "thrifting" in Amish country, enjoyed "non-technical time" together, and explored the realities of home management in Coshocton County.

Coshocton County: "A friendly place with a slower pace."

Our Specialty is Helping Others Raise Their Support

Once accepted, Approved Candidates like Aaron and Mary are oriented for the initial phase of their ministry: Team Building (partnership development). To serve as part of missionary aviation, each family must build a team of financial investors and prayer partners to send them into service. 

Karen and I have the privilege of training, coaching, resourcing, and encouraging each of our approved candidates through this process. We meet weekly with each family by computer, and mentor them over the next 12-18 months as they raise the relationships necessary to meet the physical and spiritual costs of missionary service.

Through your gifts and prayers, you are as much a member of MMS Aviation's mobilization process as we are!

Mobilization Update

• A family we just finished coaching to full financial support will soon move to Coshocton to begin ministry.

• We're currently coaching two Approved Candidates through the Team Building process.

• There are three more Candidate Evaluations scheduled this year.

• We are very close to opening two new applications.

Your "Kingdom Investment" in this ministry

sends others into ministry! 

Thank You!

Keith & Karen's Summer Newsletter with Bonus Photos!

Here's our latest newsletter! You can increase your zoom settings to make the page larger!

Global Flyer, PAGE 1

Global Flyer, PAGE 2

Bonus Photos

Here's one of the projects currently at MMS. The guys and gals are upgrading the instrument panel in Gospel Carrier International's Piper Malibu. How'd you like to make sense out of this? I am SO glad God called others to tackle such things as their daily ministry!

And YES--It is Salsa Season at the Dodson House once again! It's been a tremendous season for tomato growing. We'll work on our second batch this Saturday.

Thank you for following our ministry, partnering with us, and praying for us. 

CLICK HERE 

to join us 

preparing people and planes for worldwide mission service!