Checking in From Church

Just a quick update on our ongoing involvement at Fresno Bible Church where Karen and I continue serve as part of the worship team. I play the drums and Karen brings her vocal skills into the mix. She's also part of the ladies' trio performing special music.

Karen

 Keith

I'm also back co-leading men's Sunday School with Chuck Ellis. We're about two months into a six month study of Christ's command to "abide" using Andrew Murray's devotional "Abiding in Christ" as the basis for our discussion.

MMS & MAG

It was a privilege to spend part of yesterday and today meeting with Sean Donnelly, President of Missionary Air Group (MAG). MAG is one of the many ministries we support through our maintenance services but more than that, Paul Jones, one of our recent graduates now serves as part of MAG, and even more that that...it was great to spend time with Sean because a very close relationship is developing between our two organizations.

Over the past year Sean and I have worked to brainstorm a partnership between MMS and MAG that addresses an unmet training need in mission aviation: how to take a pilot/mechanic candidate from zero flight time and no aviation maintenance experience to a confident and competent aviation professional qualified as both a pilot and a mechanic in five years without the candidate incurring any personal debt.

We believe we've come up with a workable model and it appears we may soon have our first candidate with whom to prove the concept. It's an exciting model which addresses several drawbacks in the traditional academic training package that has challenged mission aviation for many years. Both our organizations look forward to getting this unique program up and running and, once proven, to help others duplicate and multiply the method in other locations.

Me and Sean in Hangar C before he departed with the MAG Cessna 206 behind us. I'm the one on the left with all the hair on top.

Sean was in the hangar to pick up the Cessna 206 that Paul had prepared for him, to renew our discussion of the MMS/MAG training partnership, to work out some of the details of Dwight's upcoming trip to Honduras to inspect MAG's Cessna down in Rus Rus, and to meet with the apprentices in our hangar to discuss service opportunities with MAG.

It was good to see Sean, to laugh together and encourage each other, and to talk serious stuff. Once the serious stuff was concluded, Sean needed to get airborne and back to Burlington ahead of the incoming winter storm.

Sean begins his taxi from outside Hangar C,

past Hangar B and Hangar A,

and from our ramp to the taxiway.

Here I am waiting for Sean to take-off so I can capture a photo of his departure. It was 16 degrees and sunny at the time--which was quite a heatwave compared to the 1 degree it was when I arrived at the shop this morning. Nice hat, eh?

Sean departs Coshocton heading for Burlington, NC which serves as MAG's Stateside headquarters. It was a beautiful day for flying.

Thanks for your gifts and prayers that help make days like today possible.

Evening Snow Fall, Immigration Situation

Hey, we're finally getting some real snow. Maybe even two inches of the stuff. I had to go find and use my "ice melt" for the first time this season on the front walk. It's not necessary on the back deck as Tucker and Tanner prefer their snow unsalted.

It's heading toward 8 in the evening and Karen's at her computer taking a Continuing Education test to maintain her nurses license.

I just signed the Form I-20 for Andy (our apprentice from Scotland) providing him with the privilege of six more months of repeated entry into the United States--which is a good thing as Andy leaves for Papua New Guinea tomorrow as part of a three man, MMS Aviation Rapid Response Team. It'd be a real drag if, after helping repair a broken airplane over in PNG, he wouldn't be allowed back in the US.

Andy, Mark (from England...my signature on his Form I-20 is still good), and Jim (US citizen on our staff--doesn't need my signature to get back into the country) leave for Port Columbus International Airport at Zero Dark Thirty tomorrow morning. They'll spend the next 3 weeks helping one of our graduates repair a damaged King Air.

Andy

Mark

Jim

The Form I-20 is used by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS) to establish legal, non-resident "student" entry into the US. One of my roles at MMS is that of Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) which means I've been cleared/authorized/trained in immigration rules and regulations and have been given the authority to initiate documentation, verify compliance, and administrate electronic files and records related to international students attending MMS under U.S. Immigration and Custums Enforcement (ICE) via the Student Exchange and Visitors Information Service (SEVIS) within the Student Exchange and Visitor's Progam (SEVP).

DHS, CIS, PDSO, ICE, SEVIS and SEVP. Got it?

Please pray for Andy, Mark, and Jim as they make the long trip to Papua New Guinea leaving wives and children behind for the next three weeks. Some guys will do anything to get out of the Midwest winter.

And on another Rapid Response trip...Scott leaves Saturday for a three week trip to Florida to assist Agape Flights with aircraft repairs following on Terry's trail as Terry returns Saturday from spending the past three weeks helping Agape. Scott and Terry will probably pass each other on the road. Scott and Terry would appreciate your prayers as well.

Scott

Terry

Not Much Snow, But Tanner Likes It

For all the snowing and blowing over the previous 24 hours and all the hyperventilation on The Weather Channel about this most recent weather-threat to civilization...we ended up with less than an inch of snow. There's still a few flakes floating around but no reason to get any snow shovels out yet. A light broom works just fine on this, thank you very much. It certainly was a bit WINTERY for a few hours but now it's just overcast and cold.

After spending a good portion of her morning creating greeting cards on her computer, Karen's working on a sewing project in the basement.

Karen sewing a baby blanket for a friend who's expecting.

Me? I've been writing notes and emails, paying quarterly estimated taxes (less government = less taxes, less government intrusion = more personal liberty), and updating info on the computer. Today seems to be a day for household and missionary logistics. We do need to run to Ace Hardware for a couple small things, I have some workbench projects I'd like to get to later, and of course there's Tebow vs. Brady at 8:00 this evening. That should be worth the time to watch (though out here in the East it means a very late night and we need to be at worship team practice tomorrow morning by 7:45).

Tucker's down in the basement with Karen hoping that Karen will give her one of the LARGE bones from the dog biscuit box stored down there. Tanner's up here hanging out with me. If I go outside, he goes outside. If I'm on the couch, he's on the couch. If I'm on the chair, he's lays very close by. Tanner follows me around. Tucker follows Karen around.

Speaking of Tanner, Tanner likes snow. He likes to eat it. He likes to root around in it. Of course, when there's so little snow, he just licks it up. He'll be at the back door wanting to go out on the deck just so he can go lick up some snow and run right back in. He is one funny dog.

Tanner on the back deck.

Tanner with a bit of snow on his nose.

TANNER