Serving Toward Friday In His Kingdom

As we gather as a group to pray each morning, to share our goals for the day, and to reflect on Scripture, we're constantly reminded of Who it is we serve. The airplanes we repair for the field, the people we prepare for missionary service, are tools in God's hands for the spreading of His Gospel and the expansion of His Kingdom. There are many jobs in His Kingdom. Some of them even go to airplane mechanics and facilities maintenance guys right here in Coshocton, Ohio.

Andy seals engine baffling as Jim continues the avionics installation on the Brazilian 206.

Paul installs rings on the pistons for the cylinder sets for the rear engine of the Canadian 337.

Josh continues his repair of fiberglass nose bowls for a local Piper Aztec.

Dave re-installs rain gutter knocked from the stairwell and walkway roof by this winter's heavy snow.

A New Week At MMS

While a new week has started at MMS, the same basic set of aircraft projects continue. Here's a snapshot of Hangar A with three airplanes in it.

Hangar A

The Brazilian 206 is in the foreground. Andy continues with some engine work while Jim continues the avionics installation. The RV-8, to the left, is a local airplane having structural repairs made to its tail section by Chuck & Paul G. The red airplane, the Canadian 337, is waiting for its rear engine to be assembled after overhaul. And just behind the tail of the Brazilian 206, Josh completes some fiberglass repairs on nose bowls for a local Piper Aztec.

Paul J.

Paul J. is in the engine shop measuring internal components prior to assembling the 337's rear engine.

Meanwhile over in Hangar C, Tim and Mark are inspecting a Mooney for MAF, Dale is inspecting a Cherokee for a local pilot, and Ian is painting a 172.

Dale inspects the Cherokee in Hangar C.

The 172 after receiving its white color coat.

Puttie Pie

The funniest things happen with animals. This story happens to be about some kitties across the street instead of our pups for a change. Tim and Michele are another MMS couple who live across the street from us. It's a wonderful blessing to have them so close. They care so well for our house and dogs when we travel and likewise, we look after their house and kitties when they travel. It's a match made in heaven for us all!

Another advantage is that we can host visitors together, which is what we did recently when we had a family visiting from Scotland. This time we met at Tim and Michele's house for dinner. I had "dessert duty" and baked a peaches and cream pie and also made a peanut butter pie. I have a pie basket which makes carrying the pies easy so I took it with the pies in for dinner. When we arrived I was greeted by 3 loving kitties, Frankie, Herbie and Lucy. Herbie and Lucy are getting big but are still very much curious little kittens. Knowing that, I placed the pie basket on the counter leaving the towel draped over it to protect it as we ate dinner. Michele put the peanut butter pie in the fridge. We had a delightful dinner with our friends from Scotland and were ready for the pie for dessert. Yum!

That's when Michele came in and sheepishly announced there had been a "pie incident". Either Herbie or Lucy the kitten thought the basket, complete with snugly towel, would be a very nice place to take a nap! Michele brought in the pie, looking not quite the way it had when I brought it. We all laughed like crazy people. While we were happily eating our dinner in the other room, One of the two kittens had stepped in the pie basket, on top of the towel and tromped all around to get comfy, leaving craters in the pie underneath! It was a nice soft bed and even still slightly warm from the oven! Ha!

Missionaries that we all are, we still ate the pie! The heavy towel had been totally covering the pie the whole time so the pie looked pretty bad but still tasted quite good. So, we had "putty pie." We may never call it peaches and cream pie again! :o) Ah, life with the animals we love....

Seven Projects Underway at MMS Aviation

We currently have seven mission and non-mission projects underway: mission--Mooney annual inspection for MAF, Cessna 206 restoration for ministry in Brazil, annual inspection/double engine overhaul on a Cessna 337 for ministry in Canada, a Cessna 402 in for spar cap inspection, and Cessna 172 that's being repaired and painted for use by MMS. On the non-mission front: inspection and repair of a local RV-8, and an annual inspection of a regional Cherokee.

Here are some snapshots of the action.

Andy installs exhaust probes on the Brazilian 206's engine.

Chuck makes repairs to the RV-8.

Scott organizes engine parts for the Canadian 337 before starting reassembly.

Tim inspects the main landing gear on MAF's Mooney.