tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85850665486620300622024-03-14T10:37:10.919-04:00Planes with PurposeNews from the Hammitt family, serving in missionary aviation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-12750151698781592512023-10-12T14:14:00.001-04:002023-10-12T14:14:29.855-04:00A New Semester Begins<p>Tuesday evening was opening night for the Melbourne, Florida chapter of Wings of Grace. A room full of teenagers and their parents gathered to share a meal and kick off the new semester. It was encouraging to see several familiar faces and to meet several students who are new to the program. We have the great privilege of building into the lives of these teens, not only by teaching them aviation and life skills, but by sharing with them the truth of God's Word and setting an example of what it looks like to walk with Jesus.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XbzcWmqI5mo7ps6cR1gniilBmH3cAOkTRloQfw0EyI8kBCgcQMJoWXWxZATPDoSp4Nrtr12uSoQg5yWrp4IY-o7Sa1j0SRFQGvFfNuT90siRnogreNVP6HfkBmQVdfqGqRvsM1nYxl5Roc7Aj5un9oWbitT45RfRs-mKDS9R5VVq9xdspIwtnL3G4_s/s2048/377913222_698314795669794_1545227525984867589_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XbzcWmqI5mo7ps6cR1gniilBmH3cAOkTRloQfw0EyI8kBCgcQMJoWXWxZATPDoSp4Nrtr12uSoQg5yWrp4IY-o7Sa1j0SRFQGvFfNuT90siRnogreNVP6HfkBmQVdfqGqRvsM1nYxl5Roc7Aj5un9oWbitT45RfRs-mKDS9R5VVq9xdspIwtnL3G4_s/s320/377913222_698314795669794_1545227525984867589_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I was reminded last night that ministry is really about people. I enjoy flying and maintaining airplanes, but what really excites me is using aviation to serve, help, and minister to others—whether they live in a remote Bolivian jungle, or right here in the United States. As I stood with the other mentors in front of the students and their parents, I experienced a mix of excitement and sadness. I am excited that I can build into these teens during our Tuesday night meetings and by working alongside them on designated service days. But I also felt discouraged that I can't participate in teaching the students to fly, since I still don't have my certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate.</p><p>We would like to trust the Lord to provide for me to get my CFI certificate as soon as possible, but as with many things in life, time and money have been standing in my way. I have studied for and passed the two required knowledge tests, but still have a lot of preparation to do before I can take my oral and practical exams. Despite my best intentions, I have found it challenging to devote the time necessary to studying. With an endless supply of airplanes needing maintenance, I have devoted most of my time to fixing them—not flying them—and have not had the time to prepare the lessons that I will need to teach during my oral and practical tests.</p><p>Would you pray and trust the Lord to provide the resources so that I can become a CFI soon? During our two years in the United States, I would love to be able to instruct with Wings of Grace Ministries (as we had planned to do). This would not only be an excellent opportunity to disciple and mentor young people, but would also help me to stay proficient as I look forward to returning to Bolivia as a missionary pilot. There is an instructor at Wings of Grace who is willing to help me prepare for the CFI exam, but he has limited time and lives in another state. If I had the funds, I could devote a few weeks to take an intensive course and earn my flight instructor certificate in a very short time. For that to become a reality, the Lord would need to provide the funds or a reduced-cost option. </p><p>We don't make a lot of direct appeals, but the semester has already started and we want to make the most of our time. I have always enjoyed teaching, and being a flight instructor would allow me to continue to train and build into future missionary pilots for the next 20-25 years—even after I am too old to be flying on the mission field myself. But I don't have to wait until then; I can start right now! Please trust the Lord with us, and if you would like to help, please get in touch with us!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-84309367512674120942023-10-10T15:23:00.001-04:002023-10-19T18:44:21.173-04:00An Unforgettable Journey: Part 3 (Conclusion)<p>You know that feeling you get when you're driving on a remote Bolivian dirt road, and you suddenly find yourself at the end of the barrel of a gun?</p><p>This is the conclusion of a story from last year, which I never finished telling. You can find the previous posts <a href="http://blog.planeswithpurpose.com/2022/02/an-unforgettable-journey-part-1.html">here (Part 1)</a> and <a href="http://blog.planeswithpurpose.com/2022/02/an-unforgettable-journey-part-2.html">here (Part 2)</a>. But before we get to the end of the story, let's back up. Our group had traveled a full day on sketchy Bolivian roads, then spent the next day hiking to the site of the wreck and salvaging as much as we could. We spent that second night with a Bolivian family, and on the third day hiked back to where our vehicles were parked. At this point, day three is just a blur to me, but it's day four—the day that we drove back home to Cochabamba—that really stands out in my mind.</p><p>We were up early to get on the road. It was going to be a long day of driving, and we were hoping not to run into any snags along the way. It was hard not to turn heads with airplane parts strapped to our vehicles!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dsUR_a2YDAnqrQrG9fbSpB8hTvf8yxKQqgw2bzEM7crpf8WQyrpikLJkv-PGCOSYuYI2VlKdW7bVnqsMUOd2t0ziBN17JlPeOT0ynF3EaUfsNtoP3lnSfyyxfMzyiB5xYA4fZxRuKinqfJEohNCVL8j3S7kXWeo7drdk9hG8uiaXxeRRu-KK_CEfDCY/s4032/PXL_20220215_204204964.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dsUR_a2YDAnqrQrG9fbSpB8hTvf8yxKQqgw2bzEM7crpf8WQyrpikLJkv-PGCOSYuYI2VlKdW7bVnqsMUOd2t0ziBN17JlPeOT0ynF3EaUfsNtoP3lnSfyyxfMzyiB5xYA4fZxRuKinqfJEohNCVL8j3S7kXWeo7drdk9hG8uiaXxeRRu-KK_CEfDCY/w400-h300/PXL_20220215_204204964.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>DJ's Land Cruiser, with pieces of his airplane's wing strapped on top.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK3MqrSdEODHyCRACHo7l2tVOV6idibeQzhNYKfJvBLTvVcGseuHIISpI-yIrEpBbj9xbUIlMDYnyIPH9X6riQPZ9txtlMkDxP4aXRV_wNtUJUrW4NU4H5_nTUgu5oPt_KkHxUKnwTV41zwHtrPdjIaQv-r4di0GNQXB2s1PCmqegdA0NTH9wHPFJRgs/s4032/PXL_20220216_113107726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK3MqrSdEODHyCRACHo7l2tVOV6idibeQzhNYKfJvBLTvVcGseuHIISpI-yIrEpBbj9xbUIlMDYnyIPH9X6riQPZ9txtlMkDxP4aXRV_wNtUJUrW4NU4H5_nTUgu5oPt_KkHxUKnwTV41zwHtrPdjIaQv-r4di0GNQXB2s1PCmqegdA0NTH9wHPFJRgs/w400-h300/PXL_20220216_113107726.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A warning to passing drivers to be more careful than the guy who was driving this truck.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The drive was going somewhat smoothly, with only a few times that our vehicles nearly got stuck trying to go uphill on muddy, rutted roads. About halfway through the drive, I was starting to feel optimistic. The worst of the roads were behind us, and pretty soon it would be smooth sailing back to Cochabamba. But that feeling of optimism would soon give way to a host of new feelings.<div><br /></div><div>I was second-to-last in our group of four vehicles, and I couldn't see what was going on up ahead. All I knew was that the lead car was coming to a stop. I thought that perhaps it was a checkpoint of some sort, or maybe locals asking for money to allow us to pass through. But without warning, a large group of uniformed men emerged with guns drawn, running past our cars. Had we inadvertently found ourselves in the middle of a military exercise? Wait, no...those guns are pointed at us!</div><div><br /></div><div>We rolled down our windows, and the men in military fatigues yelled at us to hand over our phones. They asked repeatedly if I had guns in the vehicle and ordered us to exit our cars. Some of us were put in handcuffs, and I was simply ordered to stay near my vehicle. I was forced to hand over my wallet, and my vehicle was searched while the man with the gun kept telling me not to run. I'm not sure where he thought I was going to go, since we were in the middle of nowhere. I would probably get lost and die of starvation out there! I'd rather take my chances on the guy with the gun.</div><div><br /></div><div>After some time we finally found out that we weren't being robbed or kidnapped. Apparently, two or three police units, along with a couple helicopters, had been dispatched to look for us. Someone had made a false claim on social media that DJ's plane was a drug plane, and that the pilot had died in the "crash". Imagine their confusion when DJ—alive and well—informed them that he was the pilot who "had died" a few days earlier!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4yXf5EwxO1TB6KzEtInmjAyVbpI6U-LYq3qWNb-lqGHxUSp9s5In1QRBfDWuX1_bagmFSrhlZ8rkJ3ogaDC2QVs3eq1r_8WjNP0ExevpQhW9uWYPgbo6Oq7ArNAtEh-3dksh8ZcTxuwW8pOo2o8df2icl63F1U-v0yd-IvO9FmrpyiiWZaB-lxyNlnE/s4032/PXL_20220216_120305116.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4yXf5EwxO1TB6KzEtInmjAyVbpI6U-LYq3qWNb-lqGHxUSp9s5In1QRBfDWuX1_bagmFSrhlZ8rkJ3ogaDC2QVs3eq1r_8WjNP0ExevpQhW9uWYPgbo6Oq7ArNAtEh-3dksh8ZcTxuwW8pOo2o8df2icl63F1U-v0yd-IvO9FmrpyiiWZaB-lxyNlnE/w400-h300/PXL_20220216_120305116.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My vehicle, with DJ's following behind. I didn't get any photos of the real excitement <br />because our phones were confiscated by the police.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We were detained for quite some time while the police figured out what to do with us. We suspected that they finally realized they had made a mistake, but what were they going to do at that point? Let us go? Of course not. They did return our phones and our belongings, but instead of letting us go, they escorted us all the way back to Cochabamba. It was slow-going, and it was the middle of the night by the time we arrived on the outskirts of town. </div><div><br /></div><div>We pulled off on the side of the road, hungry, exhausted, and confused. As we sat waiting in the dark, we could tell that the police were still trying to figure out what to do with us. All we wanted to do was get home, eat a little something, and go to sleep. By this point, they had changed their story. Now they told us that we had been stopped at a routine checkpoint. They suddenly "forgot" about that social media post they had shown to DJ earlier in the day.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLNyviFwxCqmYbpyoj1IiPJZlKNDjkG4LSI-9SMaeUprZ9FNfXDlzgyVvLVkv7YQBhEveF6oTEdeH5c_3dy8dais96ZL5RnpVysYVnKBMbzx6NdxRWehF8CASir7Xj0aOJMLCZZDllfN4fVz2o5Tysv_mqVRO_P_JGAK1vFoLRwGzFdZUHZ2efADuwFo/s4032/PXL_20220216_123904010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLNyviFwxCqmYbpyoj1IiPJZlKNDjkG4LSI-9SMaeUprZ9FNfXDlzgyVvLVkv7YQBhEveF6oTEdeH5c_3dy8dais96ZL5RnpVysYVnKBMbzx6NdxRWehF8CASir7Xj0aOJMLCZZDllfN4fVz2o5Tysv_mqVRO_P_JGAK1vFoLRwGzFdZUHZ2efADuwFo/s320/PXL_20220216_123904010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There is a reason why the airplane is such a useful tool out here! <br />The roads can be quite treacherous.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After several phone calls and much deliberation, they decided to confiscate DJ's airplane to test it for drugs. We would all be free to go home, but not before being taken down to the police station to be questioned. By this point it was early morning. We were escorted by the police back to the station where we were questioned one-by-one. After giving my statement, I was finally free to leave.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a crazy, emotional, exhausting day, but I was happy to finally be home with my family. It sure beat spending the night in a Bolivian jail! I can't say that the experience was one that I'd like to repeat, but if nothing else, it makes for a good story! And in case you're wondering, the airplane was found to be clean of drugs. This is what we expected, of course—our only concern being that someone malicious could have planted drugs in the days that the airplane was unattended at the site of the incident. But thank God for his watch and care over us <i>and</i> over the airplane! </div><div><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-25909724106246953522022-02-26T12:46:00.002-05:002022-02-26T12:57:33.589-05:00An Unforgettable Journey: Part 2<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.41px;">It was 4:00 am and we began dragging ourselves out of bed to get an early start on the day. I felt as if I hadn’t slept at all. Every time I closed my eyes during the night, I felt as if I was still bouncing down a dirt road, and in my mind’s eye I continued to watch endless miles of winding dirt roads pass me by. Whether I actually slept, I don’t really know, but it was most certainly not a restful night.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAr7sfVTigYLevUBq4j2iLcG76HRPNezOncFY61tUInJhDyg_oisnPkaL_ibctJpL-IsajpHsOWpIc8Nr000E3QEZAyvO4fUr_5qg_Ci5eLFlyceICoL58I1GMuXkVhkh2Je5_PWXpvXkLsuB8NmK0k67KNjowctM5hAfg2Jwxin5u13xfr0m6klgu=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAr7sfVTigYLevUBq4j2iLcG76HRPNezOncFY61tUInJhDyg_oisnPkaL_ibctJpL-IsajpHsOWpIc8Nr000E3QEZAyvO4fUr_5qg_Ci5eLFlyceICoL58I1GMuXkVhkh2Je5_PWXpvXkLsuB8NmK0k67KNjowctM5hAfg2Jwxin5u13xfr0m6klgu=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite being exhausted, this is all I could see in my mind when I closed my eyes and tried to sleep!</div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">We grabbed a cup of coffee, then loaded up the two vehicles that we would take to the top of the hill to get us closer to the site where the airplane was located. In a cloud of grogginess and darkness, I placed my backpack into the back of my vehicle. I watched the door swing shut just as I realized that my keys were inside. I had a moment of panic, knowing that for some unknown reason our car (with its aftermarket alarm system) sometimes locks itself. I quick pull on the handle confirmed my fears: the doors were closed and locked with both sets of keys inside!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">So here we were, hours from nowhere, with a bunch of our supplies locked in my car, along with my keys. No locksmith would be on call in this remote place. The only options were to somehow unlock the car from the outside or break a window to get in—not something I was excited to do since rain was virtually guaranteed. Thankfully, the rear passenger doors had only closed halfway, and after about 30 minutes we were able to reach in with a wire and unlock one of them. Thank you, Jesus!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">We soon started driving up the hill, and I was quickly praising the Lord that I had locked my keys in the car. This road was the worst yet, and that delay had set us back just enough that we had a bit of daylight to illuminate the road ahead. I really think that little incident was a blessing in disguise!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0XZTl4F9o9RT3wpEmFTeDVWlfTxBa6X7fJs6lbNzvW7WjJbKmMF4lMLMXP-yN39r2Vp3DlfE7VF1mKx04ZVkuUNHDDa7ZaMfHnPIc5JpgtWJV3ueiXcjkPUYaDslaxQenQSPe817M6kDwFjtSUQKV1STIsiYwdxPcJvR8l4NZUqo0KVuC_ygtI1u3=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0XZTl4F9o9RT3wpEmFTeDVWlfTxBa6X7fJs6lbNzvW7WjJbKmMF4lMLMXP-yN39r2Vp3DlfE7VF1mKx04ZVkuUNHDDa7ZaMfHnPIc5JpgtWJV3ueiXcjkPUYaDslaxQenQSPe817M6kDwFjtSUQKV1STIsiYwdxPcJvR8l4NZUqo0KVuC_ygtI1u3=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The terrain we would cross in order to reach the airplane.</div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">We eventually made it to the top and gathered up the tools and personal items we would need to disassemble the airplane, and to be warm and dry for the night we would spend with a local family. A light rain was falling as we began our hike, so we put on our rain gear before setting out. The hike began around 13,000 above sea level, and we immediately started on a long downhill stretch. I couldn’t help thinking, “We are going to have to hike back UP tomorrow!”</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDBaQw6GnNYRId6dxfGtYaHLw19qY5doaNXD7qwl8yuXi-axsBTelphvFSIevlmnJlWoQvuhgz3iH7VagDB6GxIq2QeHxUUt7GEvV3pwFTJLB1A-95DL2op1pKcxI9MyS1JNfTx928EiRlkBWTaq5C12fNGZ_HXJsaZntXWI47WO-fUgjMNEbTi_gt=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDBaQw6GnNYRId6dxfGtYaHLw19qY5doaNXD7qwl8yuXi-axsBTelphvFSIevlmnJlWoQvuhgz3iH7VagDB6GxIq2QeHxUUt7GEvV3pwFTJLB1A-95DL2op1pKcxI9MyS1JNfTx928EiRlkBWTaq5C12fNGZ_HXJsaZntXWI47WO-fUgjMNEbTi_gt=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A horrible photo of me, but an accurate portrayal of my feelings at the moment!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMx_jBK9EXMtcK9gVLnTTVQ-WYjgvCzAq3ejwL-aa-6sb9sWKtQzmts7Cx38cmYQOAtSp3Ues4DX9jZ3FHim9RlPQdvyFbwBPD42I3wKzxKUtHfnicxmFhC-cG6XUKE1N6kPNM8YZrhhCH6YFYZMPYCEKv-e1magyrUf9EC-nKK2KC7qAEMi15IOxR=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMx_jBK9EXMtcK9gVLnTTVQ-WYjgvCzAq3ejwL-aa-6sb9sWKtQzmts7Cx38cmYQOAtSp3Ues4DX9jZ3FHim9RlPQdvyFbwBPD42I3wKzxKUtHfnicxmFhC-cG6XUKE1N6kPNM8YZrhhCH6YFYZMPYCEKv-e1magyrUf9EC-nKK2KC7qAEMi15IOxR=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The locals seemed to tackle the steep terrain with ease.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqnogWjmlKmZBEYnkM5R-_BJ4Spcz4E6m_p1ZML8UXKXbNUWGB1trpLHHR4H_dyBv6MRDODBvwhxcM_a05wpvKKxsLNaX9YbeE35gfAiIwma0bQi_SSCMMlTiqULdLao_lziM6xh9KOTDWS_ZP_SoUT2Osk8AtiM5aI8CyUs0Dbj3qDJnWEHFX3yPe=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqnogWjmlKmZBEYnkM5R-_BJ4Spcz4E6m_p1ZML8UXKXbNUWGB1trpLHHR4H_dyBv6MRDODBvwhxcM_a05wpvKKxsLNaX9YbeE35gfAiIwma0bQi_SSCMMlTiqULdLao_lziM6xh9KOTDWS_ZP_SoUT2Osk8AtiM5aI8CyUs0Dbj3qDJnWEHFX3yPe=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the easier sections, approaching the airplane site.</div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">Down, up, down, up… The locals made it look easy, but I was struggling. Even though I live at 8,400 feet elevation and frequently walk stairs and hills, the weight of my backpack and the extra 4,000 feet of altitude made a big difference! We were challenged by rain, steep hills, and off-camber trails, but after more than three hours we finally arrived!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1_jSxSvhNGUvGg4u74vE9B5yX2_piVO0A2iOEB2_SqTXrt47AtkcBFKxr36W_BoLANB-3XZuGbdodExJ6DTO3aFObgdh7LOcTDjQ8U6LL4i8fVM_RkI9RUq0-b6DZcAs4-QGK_xeXV1GoUumFBmEzKc9CQiE4aqTqLLJFrVo44xHwYAWFT3xtG0yh=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1_jSxSvhNGUvGg4u74vE9B5yX2_piVO0A2iOEB2_SqTXrt47AtkcBFKxr36W_BoLANB-3XZuGbdodExJ6DTO3aFObgdh7LOcTDjQ8U6LL4i8fVM_RkI9RUq0-b6DZcAs4-QGK_xeXV1GoUumFBmEzKc9CQiE4aqTqLLJFrVo44xHwYAWFT3xtG0yh=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last few hundred feet down to the airplane were quite steep, but fortunately there were some level areas to set up our tools.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5eFuGzf8M-ZBRHistVYUIAfmItlMCteBJp-G6lvEGAoY1fWAUAcekD6_NqN8RDySUeHSv04I8lWejUd8rMwMR5TlG0PAOIfbSZp35FUf5y8bKEZLq5Ae6B_a7_yQ-cIRcpa4t7wX7Gb90LKz64RZNb0pkY5WmlZHuV49NUMAmk8gtxfh60xbvvwPJ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5eFuGzf8M-ZBRHistVYUIAfmItlMCteBJp-G6lvEGAoY1fWAUAcekD6_NqN8RDySUeHSv04I8lWejUd8rMwMR5TlG0PAOIfbSZp35FUf5y8bKEZLq5Ae6B_a7_yQ-cIRcpa4t7wX7Gb90LKz64RZNb0pkY5WmlZHuV49NUMAmk8gtxfh60xbvvwPJ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rick and Tony working on the engine.</div><br /><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">We descended the steep hill where DJ’s airplane had tumbled to its resting place and assessed the situation. I would work inside, removing instruments and radios. Tony and Rick would start on removing and disassembling the engine, which would be too heavy to carry out with the cylinders, pistons, and accessories still attached. DJ and Ryan would cut off the wings and tail, and salvage the structural pieces that could be reused. Josué was in charge of securely packing all if the pieces to be transported.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjglSskbh7gZwAu9vfc2KBnJ6C00J1vW9nKh8EMAH9gfgiXUmBjiTq6Zeatm485YkLneNhQHuBWL4TBBqckP-bCs1Z_ECbeOp4vlTXTo-70qnQrgr_dq1fP_5n82v-LqXAYozVRsTA1VRi-QsEbYbMn2150dwZxghAdJe-AzvTi3Nbi5LJWWnI9ardn=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjglSskbh7gZwAu9vfc2KBnJ6C00J1vW9nKh8EMAH9gfgiXUmBjiTq6Zeatm485YkLneNhQHuBWL4TBBqckP-bCs1Z_ECbeOp4vlTXTo-70qnQrgr_dq1fP_5n82v-LqXAYozVRsTA1VRi-QsEbYbMn2150dwZxghAdJe-AzvTi3Nbi5LJWWnI9ardn=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Salvaging pieces of the wing that would be saved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">As we worked, a steadily growing crowd of locals formed on the hillside. We had prayed for help, and God provided. While the work of disassembly was done by those of us who knew how to take things apart without inducing further damage, there is no way we could have gotten all the pieces out on our own. As we made progress taking things apart, the local men began to carry pieces out: in buckets, on their backs, and on mules. It was both impressive and humbling to watch these men haul heavy airplane parts over challenging terrain, as I struggled just to make it with just my backpack.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5Zg0ntnsSQjtN9QND-iSHBiTTNzP-26c9QCVfLvAyWuFFeODwNl3S4lsK0um_kRaNt_s4GNvEhja1kkJTAysyVYiIXJZakPULROnMn81nZKxznvW_CCJYaHKbCX2tVMyr_kRf0iTcnIocexKos7cIXxkczzxEsi8I7yS3Jo3xspLP9ng1C3QAOrjt=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5Zg0ntnsSQjtN9QND-iSHBiTTNzP-26c9QCVfLvAyWuFFeODwNl3S4lsK0um_kRaNt_s4GNvEhja1kkJTAysyVYiIXJZakPULROnMn81nZKxznvW_CCJYaHKbCX2tVMyr_kRf0iTcnIocexKos7cIXxkczzxEsi8I7yS3Jo3xspLP9ng1C3QAOrjt=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Locals gathering up on the hillside to watch and help.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgk0UDWRw4Sq2P9sV9xvmbyi7ABWu7ZJyyG6kcg9204jjQ72zwXjHkg315cxmWq_jZwAVNeuocn2eYG6feqrAJAV0fK37-v7J8R2oG8ZqbSl5VPCrzfzHyF_6Y019J8y74AXJ7tyaIG15N0s-SlGAHUrgSEnkHGfYiTANQRSIsUBVF4zeg6IRGcZNc9=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgk0UDWRw4Sq2P9sV9xvmbyi7ABWu7ZJyyG6kcg9204jjQ72zwXjHkg315cxmWq_jZwAVNeuocn2eYG6feqrAJAV0fK37-v7J8R2oG8ZqbSl5VPCrzfzHyF_6Y019J8y74AXJ7tyaIG15N0s-SlGAHUrgSEnkHGfYiTANQRSIsUBVF4zeg6IRGcZNc9=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the local men helping to carry out the fuselage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh690SUYHJ4C0mzULLlODjGuHcj5kyR-_UV9cjxo_fooHceWPTbrWk019AQSIpcU0M5Icf9ismka_Ii45uAvA6aVxga1NgA_TghRB9D5ogzzpdfLrA4cFQil8bswsGNUbwPZnjeOLkexXu-U-JFoCQ-B5yt05DxOIliN9FIrRaqFzswW8qg_2vuXsJh=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh690SUYHJ4C0mzULLlODjGuHcj5kyR-_UV9cjxo_fooHceWPTbrWk019AQSIpcU0M5Icf9ismka_Ii45uAvA6aVxga1NgA_TghRB9D5ogzzpdfLrA4cFQil8bswsGNUbwPZnjeOLkexXu-U-JFoCQ-B5yt05DxOIliN9FIrRaqFzswW8qg_2vuXsJh=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What was left of the airplane after most of the salvageable pieces had been removed.</div><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">As the sun began to settle behind the mountains and the fog rolled in, we completed our work and began hiking back to the houses where we would spend the night. The local men would transport the pieces to our vehicles the next morning and afternoon, when we would load the vehicles and be ready to leave the following morning. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_wwXo_IHhu3Sji0spizeqW46H0XKST2Ndd2-lKBHhRTFHEB9fV1-NNywzJWqMbf2CBj4zqsf2jdPYFKvSHZS3n7_zb_ImEbB_KfmFBgbffapzbRcwgzrUnXoD5eLuuhwxzqdQsSsPOS9nLsqBhibvishL8h6PUPWVscJRVyuTptrIHG9_XmGFfUI4=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_wwXo_IHhu3Sji0spizeqW46H0XKST2Ndd2-lKBHhRTFHEB9fV1-NNywzJWqMbf2CBj4zqsf2jdPYFKvSHZS3n7_zb_ImEbB_KfmFBgbffapzbRcwgzrUnXoD5eLuuhwxzqdQsSsPOS9nLsqBhibvishL8h6PUPWVscJRVyuTptrIHG9_XmGFfUI4=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A unique solution for transporting the fuselage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFwf3oUylbRxAWvoXSqTa8qEbj7a-SB2j73VMcS4hQpC8vFkCHbvVXl5scFcDQNZXt3D04vLmZDY7S8n1q-fiDpaj5VjCG1bT-OxGxpkdBy-Dr9p4u9Cw9gZKgCblBoMA9nzh7-4_SW_k0y9zo77axLnJs7hy-EYnN0guv0LgiIwFf8Pt6UVKpE_s=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFwf3oUylbRxAWvoXSqTa8qEbj7a-SB2j73VMcS4hQpC8vFkCHbvVXl5scFcDQNZXt3D04vLmZDY7S8n1q-fiDpaj5VjCG1bT-OxGxpkdBy-Dr9p4u9Cw9gZKgCblBoMA9nzh7-4_SW_k0y9zo77axLnJs7hy-EYnN0guv0LgiIwFf8Pt6UVKpE_s=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A cool fog settled in as we began the hike back out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">As we traversed the foggy countryside, I was glad that DJ knew the way back to the house! There were several places where the path was not clear, and everything looked different than I had remembered it in the daylight. Finally, we reached the first house, where Tony and Rick would spend the night. We stopped for a short break, but darkness fell just as it started raining. I donned my poncho and headlamp and we started the 20-minute hike down a rocky trail, across a creek, and up a steep grassy hillside. Finally we arrived at the house where the rest of us would spend the night. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQS2588ljmSHwjBnBB-pwFwNHeNSh5kOTRHF-BBsSs5hMnJcfaBsQve_aMvfeY-YtopURI4YrBEcZgr9LrYJMBnDMRYOmmdZ5bokNiAs-fcb_h6zdUTrh7dj2Sy3gxD-LZI9ZKDT4LfDEHCQHG6zFi2U5ZE5jasJ_1cR_22-wdx6zNpLKFBDTUszAq=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQS2588ljmSHwjBnBB-pwFwNHeNSh5kOTRHF-BBsSs5hMnJcfaBsQve_aMvfeY-YtopURI4YrBEcZgr9LrYJMBnDMRYOmmdZ5bokNiAs-fcb_h6zdUTrh7dj2Sy3gxD-LZI9ZKDT4LfDEHCQHG6zFi2U5ZE5jasJ_1cR_22-wdx6zNpLKFBDTUszAq=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the valley we crossed to get from one house to the other. In the top center of the photo, you can just make out the house where Tony and Rick stayed.</div><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicxwM2UrSmjrSttGrMSBFQ_tkeBOo5wGicXkd4cz5yzpOc1OwnQnFaI3Jw31dWMTW7pe7ko8d6m2TfIJX1n4SPU1sU6rP1FZ6bABNZnQ-zd2h0TWZprPeEr9Gy77i8bWGDRuqoJXdvf0F4oCMquFXJQjghJwfIZroyRga8CuVn_-OUMThPR6vlenUH=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicxwM2UrSmjrSttGrMSBFQ_tkeBOo5wGicXkd4cz5yzpOc1OwnQnFaI3Jw31dWMTW7pe7ko8d6m2TfIJX1n4SPU1sU6rP1FZ6bABNZnQ-zd2h0TWZprPeEr9Gy77i8bWGDRuqoJXdvf0F4oCMquFXJQjghJwfIZroyRga8CuVn_-OUMThPR6vlenUH=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The countryside was beautiful. I just had to remember to stop and take the time to soak it in!</div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg34vOfA_av5z7WZmmmWBKEgqAC2ubWJ84rlh4WF4Lj6S7FDre3PnHGq7HxrOxep9OsMPpLhhmIu0X8JorG1nGcOKGJD60GyMXFccZm88Z0xLzNrok7Lgwiuse2j2vygZb4ZvA6xH2Vz-dwkri4K2x8b2dHzmBQ3HtE192MJiaA5eZzxOT3fV4YCG_n=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg34vOfA_av5z7WZmmmWBKEgqAC2ubWJ84rlh4WF4Lj6S7FDre3PnHGq7HxrOxep9OsMPpLhhmIu0X8JorG1nGcOKGJD60GyMXFccZm88Z0xLzNrok7Lgwiuse2j2vygZb4ZvA6xH2Vz-dwkri4K2x8b2dHzmBQ3HtE192MJiaA5eZzxOT3fV4YCG_n=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The home where DJ, Josué, and I spent the night (the photo was taken earlier in the day when we passed by).</div><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">We were welcomed with a hot cup of tea, warm bread, and a bowl of potato soup. After finishing my dinner and putting on dry clothes, I tossed my sleeping bag on the bed: a wooden platform covered with loose sheep wool and a blanket. Despite the rustic sleeping conditions, I had no problem falling asleep. Whether from comfort or sheer exhaustion, it was the best I’d slept in a long time! </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">We had reached the halfway-point of our trip, but the next two days would be more exhausting than we imagined. However, that is a story that will be told in my next post!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-18517757202487983102022-02-23T18:25:00.003-05:002022-02-23T18:25:57.920-05:00An Unforgettable Journey: Part 1<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.41px;">On February 3, I answered my phone and received the news that no pilot wants to hear. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was sending an SOS signal in the area where a friend of mine had been flying. ELTs only begin transmitting under two conditions: when manually activated by the pilot, or when triggered by high g-loads, as in a crash. We began gathering as much information as possible, and preparing for a search and rescue.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">Thankfully, within a few hours the pilot was able to find a cellular signal and contact his wife. He had gotten out of the plane before it rolled away and tumbled down a steep hillside, which had activated the ELT. He was unharmed, but the airplane was totaled. Our plans shifted from a rescue operation to an aircraft recovery trip.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi00Eo2uwleu2jfG-BQgQ7GoJjehgRWg2Dv_IJMONDvnQj3gJt-e-YocGg-qVWwNdK1CAmVCOzs45sxatuTxZ0r-iVtShWQfRzFi9FopRkEIRq9lh5BO0w_91NA3VlVHw3bvupeoC_-s-qnBGgDSztqFgoBSZHzAvDU_dEK77yF_oAUy28fAenzooAv=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi00Eo2uwleu2jfG-BQgQ7GoJjehgRWg2Dv_IJMONDvnQj3gJt-e-YocGg-qVWwNdK1CAmVCOzs45sxatuTxZ0r-iVtShWQfRzFi9FopRkEIRq9lh5BO0w_91NA3VlVHw3bvupeoC_-s-qnBGgDSztqFgoBSZHzAvDU_dEK77yF_oAUy28fAenzooAv=w400-h300" title="DJ’s plane, as we would later find it" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DJ’s plane, as we would later find it awaiting us.</div><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">Although the airplane was essentially destroyed, there were still many components that could be salvaged. However, getting those parts out would not be easy. After all, there is a reason why DJ lands his Cub on a hilltop to access this region of Bolivia. Getting to the plane would require driving 14-16 hours on some rough roads, then hiking 3 hours between 11,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level. A team of mechanics and volunteers would hike in to disassemble the airplane, and the locals would help us get the salvageable pieces to a place where they could be loaded onto vehicles—at least that was our hope and prayer.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">The day of the trip arrived, and I got up at 2:15 to be on the road by 3:30 am. It was an early start, but necessary if we wanted to avoid driving the worst part of the road at night. As we left Cochabamba, the road turned from pavement, to cobblestone, and finally to dirt. At times the road disappeared briefly into stream crossings, turned to mud, or became littered with loose rocks, ruts, and holes. Even the good sections required constant attention to avoid beating up my vehicle’s suspension with a constant barrage of potholes, rocks, and ruts.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcNKilwAGM_XWmSLrYDxhxUikDuHNgkcS2G6dah_q8ZMYApNkXnrL4zJBVVQ0P35D67hZ2bQvgtZlH-jYorJVreg2grh0gTpyhmhqSeLFYdXKp6UW442TowMdNGtpVn8oWMZWmWtB31l9PVx88McoHwM8CJQRFkxh3XTlCkFKjj5iQYd1uWltlZD0a=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcNKilwAGM_XWmSLrYDxhxUikDuHNgkcS2G6dah_q8ZMYApNkXnrL4zJBVVQ0P35D67hZ2bQvgtZlH-jYorJVreg2grh0gTpyhmhqSeLFYdXKp6UW442TowMdNGtpVn8oWMZWmWtB31l9PVx88McoHwM8CJQRFkxh3XTlCkFKjj5iQYd1uWltlZD0a=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A typical section of road. Not terrible, but requiring constant attention.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijqJgEvpi2GDnG9Gu6uaCJ7sfPtGYCKqrbHVVy_PsKRYaUHuYCNkbQ0u1kwmJra6yM790xCzrRFWnE0QO3n31W-TpyuP3TQOg4aKP65N9ILlVdKrzr5ZirtKI6FCY5PMmwNcgcbNh4Eb8U_rlXL-qkEOxPxgKUoj7avvJsv4slJk1vZhtREofjwdme=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijqJgEvpi2GDnG9Gu6uaCJ7sfPtGYCKqrbHVVy_PsKRYaUHuYCNkbQ0u1kwmJra6yM790xCzrRFWnE0QO3n31W-TpyuP3TQOg4aKP65N9ILlVdKrzr5ZirtKI6FCY5PMmwNcgcbNh4Eb8U_rlXL-qkEOxPxgKUoj7avvJsv4slJk1vZhtREofjwdme=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The scenery was amazing!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNU9U5ssua4PHvwSOfun6TibKjkt3QeGo0KvBJR9TpSH6_ihZupboWY9ek43q_qnEKlxzyNtOkwZAmkNpLlftyLsmiZ4m7Feefa9sxT3p987B8__anHIx8vbnp4sCiUJ3dXtsu1OwhbcNME5QHQpu31IIhPWLdQeqmC4qZ0Z7YG57NqkO_BHdDTfZD=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNU9U5ssua4PHvwSOfun6TibKjkt3QeGo0KvBJR9TpSH6_ihZupboWY9ek43q_qnEKlxzyNtOkwZAmkNpLlftyLsmiZ4m7Feefa9sxT3p987B8__anHIx8vbnp4sCiUJ3dXtsu1OwhbcNME5QHQpu31IIhPWLdQeqmC4qZ0Z7YG57NqkO_BHdDTfZD=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More beautiful countryside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXQN0CFDcNdrIDmm81LIA3vpAa4vBahjyEZ4kaJ0kGOdjP-P371IG7Uvtk51IfodO-PO1mVZPjt4vdP4lnDqHixz1YEUF1u98qGpMsxi5QH6E16Bi93rwfYIETB0ktXIJ8i0t7TftqJ_2GfmqYRXsj5K938RJ70WjxrrTl_Gr3fn5000u_TSK-TJDb=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXQN0CFDcNdrIDmm81LIA3vpAa4vBahjyEZ4kaJ0kGOdjP-P371IG7Uvtk51IfodO-PO1mVZPjt4vdP4lnDqHixz1YEUF1u98qGpMsxi5QH6E16Bi93rwfYIETB0ktXIJ8i0t7TftqJ_2GfmqYRXsj5K938RJ70WjxrrTl_Gr3fn5000u_TSK-TJDb=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Llamas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">In exchange for this exhausting drive, we were rewarded with the most stunning scenery I’ve seen in Bolivia. We climbed to 15,000 feet, saw herds of llamas, and gazed over beautiful rivers and valleys. We crossed several streams that cascaded down the mountain slopes. We enjoyed good weather and smooth travels, except for the point at which a tour bus was stuck at a hairpin turn in the road. Thankfully, after an hour of maneuvering and moving rocks off of the road, the bus driver was able to continue his ascent, enabling us to continue our journey.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1DOBvIIxjJ5wRx56p209-MqYqsKcc1rnJH7XOoSOYXdDKIW3L1TCUrbYVD3hvE8911a1eZREaylcTdmUMrl3LndP6KBA9cLjNWROntS6UTtWkjPiTXtCMhWswoumJVsgSApvH2ZLJ5fGfJ71dSW-Jzi_LGtaZzX8hzNjalBTiW9vLWJXD3rf2ns8R=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1DOBvIIxjJ5wRx56p209-MqYqsKcc1rnJH7XOoSOYXdDKIW3L1TCUrbYVD3hvE8911a1eZREaylcTdmUMrl3LndP6KBA9cLjNWROntS6UTtWkjPiTXtCMhWswoumJVsgSApvH2ZLJ5fGfJ71dSW-Jzi_LGtaZzX8hzNjalBTiW9vLWJXD3rf2ns8R=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bus that held us up for an hour or so.</div><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqP90i52ijLFXEsSNUXZyFdbSdMPeKs2Du-Ahs354rrYlL1aXZ-_xCIu8ZpwCrdedmwOZVAkOLFauYakH8AodekwI3RoyX-b1UhhPs5O4hE-Wk_5iRhNkh537cdCEAD2s8caUTCX_ANiyPo1SpnqPcRDhmSUVxtSKyC-AJP9-UwoRZOxU5byrVsuUk=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqP90i52ijLFXEsSNUXZyFdbSdMPeKs2Du-Ahs354rrYlL1aXZ-_xCIu8ZpwCrdedmwOZVAkOLFauYakH8AodekwI3RoyX-b1UhhPs5O4hE-Wk_5iRhNkh537cdCEAD2s8caUTCX_ANiyPo1SpnqPcRDhmSUVxtSKyC-AJP9-UwoRZOxU5byrVsuUk=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The river crossing that preceded the stuck bus.</div><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.8px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">As we left the “main” road, it was nearing sunset. That one-hour delay had set us back, meaning that we would face the most dangerous part of the road in the dark. With limited experience in these conditions (and never having driven such roads in our Nissan Patrol), I was a bit on edge, following carefully behind the two vehicles leading the way. Many places were muddy and barely wide enough for my vehicle. Each switchback curved out of reach of my headlights, and I took them very slowly, watching carefully as each new inch of road creeped into my view. Thankfully the car did well, and I didn’t take us over the edge!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJsqCtfMrmu3C-V2MQXTP826ItfbSwn8o1kNCes5HMN7yJyf8G9rxQttfVP4aotmuFj8BqZTJ8neE-OozEA2pTYrDYUqPkNWWXNYYH2p5JmKKLBTgRW_KKo6-n8gE4Uts9l6biTuw9V0W57wl9mwi5uTPRejhKv4tgA_RB1fmUhHnqxbvtJlrJNjY6=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJsqCtfMrmu3C-V2MQXTP826ItfbSwn8o1kNCes5HMN7yJyf8G9rxQttfVP4aotmuFj8BqZTJ8neE-OozEA2pTYrDYUqPkNWWXNYYH2p5JmKKLBTgRW_KKo6-n8gE4Uts9l6biTuw9V0W57wl9mwi5uTPRejhKv4tgA_RB1fmUhHnqxbvtJlrJNjY6=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Driving this road in the dark was not my favorite. Thank God for safe travels!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5TUp4RGaBxw1q3ltVQJuL3so1ku-wQgiGln48R09D8eHOVtsFjcsLAwpapQI9Y3OBsLl7kNrredPdDV1kMnnZ2TBySEGR-BzzEoOMn91oNO2Ljqvdbdx24Vucj0R9K8HKTNd65sOidz74Nbg_66MZs4NTFRVt2lc249nrwi0yJgeWOs81izyyS2hK=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5TUp4RGaBxw1q3ltVQJuL3so1ku-wQgiGln48R09D8eHOVtsFjcsLAwpapQI9Y3OBsLl7kNrredPdDV1kMnnZ2TBySEGR-BzzEoOMn91oNO2Ljqvdbdx24Vucj0R9K8HKTNd65sOidz74Nbg_66MZs4NTFRVt2lc249nrwi0yJgeWOs81izyyS2hK=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A warning to take this road seriously.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">Finally, we arrived safely at our destination: a small school house where we would spend the night. The next morning we would get an early start, hiking to the site where a long, hard day’s work awaited us. But that story will require its own blog post. Stay tuned!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqnVayUHEVdsoC0erDJh9eFmwnnBIjGQoBMTNPbQZV45FYZ_PjP5oqkyG5D7rye0HW6_hxRVoOv34rLYcwqGNymS9HbFWQBrR-X-CTZamEZQtAxz0AsvgP-TRGYErYXReF7WF8TWEZlp80sQoEX_Xfo6JtH-MM6PnhxxGZ-_PK_LW_lMoK6sA9J_-v=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqnVayUHEVdsoC0erDJh9eFmwnnBIjGQoBMTNPbQZV45FYZ_PjP5oqkyG5D7rye0HW6_hxRVoOv34rLYcwqGNymS9HbFWQBrR-X-CTZamEZQtAxz0AsvgP-TRGYErYXReF7WF8TWEZlp80sQoEX_Xfo6JtH-MM6PnhxxGZ-_PK_LW_lMoK6sA9J_-v=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The school house where we slept the first and last nights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.41px;">To be continued…</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-8176086084686485302021-11-20T13:23:00.001-05:002021-11-20T13:23:14.903-05:00All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go<p>Over the past few months, I've spent five weeks helping to bring our second airplane project to completion. The airplane came to us disassembled in a shipping container, and it has taken more than a year to completely clean, strip, repaint, and rebuild it. Many people have contributed financially and of their time to help us prepare this ministry tool that will help us reach remote communities in Bolivia. Dave, one of our volunteers, has donated a full year, and this is what we have to show for it: a beautifully refurbished airplane ready for service in Bolivia!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iOlnKvsKoMV3r8H8JmnDXlGQWYiO76Ne8P6lEqoMjt5EhiwokXrrb9M5s0YgHryjjlv9K8yhtWAg5rIjE82_ezCnJAiCj1NxXPaawLHRW9umm0_D5YTmKZhvEJT5vJxuDIh94bO1QaQ/s3819/PXL_20211110_191817179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1897" data-original-width="3819" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iOlnKvsKoMV3r8H8JmnDXlGQWYiO76Ne8P6lEqoMjt5EhiwokXrrb9M5s0YgHryjjlv9K8yhtWAg5rIjE82_ezCnJAiCj1NxXPaawLHRW9umm0_D5YTmKZhvEJT5vJxuDIh94bO1QaQ/w400-h199/PXL_20211110_191817179.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Except for one small detail: the airplane can't enter Bolivia. In October, a law was passed prohibiting the importation of airplanes older than 25 years. Since our airplane is a 1981 model, we cannot take it to Bolivia under the new law.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was just one more bit of discouraging news for us. I had been looking forward to getting some flight hours in the airplane prior to our return to Bolivia. More importantly, it was going to be a valuable tool for our ministry, especially since our primary aircraft is currently down for repairs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From our perspective, it doesn't make sense why God would provide the resources to purchase and refurbish the airplane, only to bring us to this point. Although ministry can still take place without aviation, having an airplane multiplies our effectiveness and enables us to reach isolated communities that otherwise are very difficult to get to. Yet, we know that He sees the big picture, and trust that He has a reason for allowing this to happen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are praying that the law will be repealed (which, if it happens, will probably take several months), or that we will be able to sell this airplane and put the resources toward a newer aircraft. The Cessna 206 is a very good option for us, but there are other airplanes that will do the job. However, from a worldly perspective, the cost of those aircraft is prohibitive. That said, we would love to see the Lord provide a newer, capable aircraft for the ministry! We still believe that aviation is an important tool for reaching the unreached of Bolivia, and we pray that God will provide just the right airplane. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please pray for wisdom as we determine how to proceed, and that the Lord will provide just what we need!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-78989290020640634382021-10-29T14:51:00.000-04:002021-10-29T14:51:04.651-04:00Knowledge Leads to Peace<p>I opened my Bible this morning to 2 Peter this morning, expecting to read a chapter as part of my morning devotions. Two verses in, I had to stop and meditate on this sentence: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 10 10 10 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2</i></b></p></blockquote><p>That may not sound like a verse that would stop someone in his tracks, but the past two days have been busy and full of stress. I had not been experiencing the peace of God<i> para nada</i>. In fact, if you have read our <a href="http://www.planeswithpurpose.com/uploads/1/1/4/8/114850651/pwp_v9i4_web.pdf">latest newsletter</a>, you know that the past few months have been somewhat tumultuous. </p><p>So when I encountered the phrase, "<b>peace</b> be yours <b>in abundance</b>," I immediately took notice. I had been living the past few days under an enormous burden—and all for nothing! The Lord offers grace and peace in abundance; all it takes is to truly know Him! When we truly know God and understand His character, there is nothing we can do except rest in His peace. </p><p>Yet, it can be so easy to take our eyes off of the Lord Jesus, and to forget all that we know to be true about Him. We often fail to look back and reflect on everything He has brought us through in the past. We listen to the voices of the world, rather than turning to Him, listening to His voice through Scripture and in prayer. Take time to truly get to know the Lord, and experience the true peace that only He can offer!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-10757243545536333282021-06-07T13:32:00.019-04:002021-10-29T13:38:22.819-04:00New Videos Posted!<p>If you haven't visited <a href="https://vimeo.com/aaronhammitt">my Vimeo channel</a>, I hope you'll go check it out. I've recently posted a few videos of my flights in Bolivia, such as this one:</p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/547726494?h=cd2c74ccca&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" title="Oromomo to Ushve&mdash;May 8, 2021" width="480"></iframe></p>
<p>I am still working on my video setup, but I hope you'll enjoy a glimpse into our ministry with ITM!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-47006053362930993142021-04-15T07:50:00.004-04:002021-04-15T07:50:34.655-04:00ITM Conference, Part 2—The Culture-Transforming Gospel<p>In the last post, I wrote briefly about the ITM conference that was held last month. One afternoon during the conference I sat and talked with one of our missionaries who lives in San Lorenzo. I had never talked to him before and it was really interesting to get a small glimpse into his life.</p><p>Julio is from a Chimane family in the region of the Beni where ITM works. He had a difficult upbringing, moving frequently and often being left on his own. As we talked, one of the things he shared with me was how the Lord has begun to soften his heart since he came to know Christ. In the course of our conversation, he mentioned that in his culture no one sheds a tear when a child dies. The way he described it, the death of a child is not very different from the death of an animal, and in some ways children are, in fact, treated much like animals. </p><p>This got me thinking about the power of God, not only to change individual lives but to change a culture as well. There are many in our society who imagine remote, isolated tribes as living in a tropical paradise. They get angry at the idea that Christians would bring their "Western" religion into these "unspoiled" communities. Setting aside the idea that true Christianity is not Western or American, what they don't realize is that many people who have been isolated from the modern world do not live in paradise. They die of preventable illness, have high rates of infant mortality, and often live with superstitions and beliefs that keep them in bondage to fear—and can lead to tribal warfare and murder. Often, women and children are given little value. Most importantly, they live and die without ever having experienced the light of Jesus and the true life that's experienced in Him.</p><p>So, yes, we need to be careful to distinguish between the Gospel and the aspects of our own culture that can easily become intertwined with our faith. But we certainly should not feel sorry or regretful when we bring the Gospel into a culture that has remained in darkness without the light of Christ! </p><p>Books have been written about this concept, and many missionary biographies testify to the power of God to transform lives and cultures. There's no way I can cover the topic in a blog post (and I'm not very long-winded). But even as a Christian, sometimes I can let <i>my</i> culture influence my thinking. My brief conversation with Julio was a reminder of the many people growing up like him in the remote regions of Bolivia—people who are not living in a blissful jungle paradise, but who need to hear about Jesus and are just waiting for someone to tell them!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-5574117753076233862021-03-17T17:46:00.005-04:002021-03-17T17:53:32.581-04:00ITM Conference, Part 1—Looking Outward<p>This past weekend we had the pleasure of participating in a weekend conference with the rest of the ITM family. It was an encouraging time to refocus, worship together, and hear what's going on in the various areas of ministry. This is the first time we've been able to spend time with many of our teammates since arriving in Bolivia in 2019, due to political unrest followed by COVID-19.</p><p>Our first year in Bolivia was a difficult one due to the isolation we were forced to experience. Protests, civic strikes, and COVID-related restrictions have kept us at home and out of fellowship for much of the year. It has been easy for us to be self-focused, thinking about our own situation while assuming that everyone else on our team is doing fine. After all, many of them have known each other for years, and those living away from the city are not subjected to the same restrictions that we are. Surely <i>we</i> are the lonely outsiders and everyone else is doing just fine, right?</p><p>We realized this past weekend that we are not the only ones struggling and feeling isolated (shocking, I know!). We came here knowing that a big part of our ministry would be supporting the Bolivian (and American) missionaries who are working out on the front lines in the remote communities of Bolivia. But we didn't feel that we were yet in a position to do that well—not knowing the team, still feeling like outsiders, and being limited in our Spanish ability. But this weekend we discovered that those barriers are not as real as we have made them out to be. We had been waiting for people to reach out to us, but maybe we should have been the ones taking the initiative all along.</p><p>In just a few days we have begun feeling much more connected to our brothers and sisters who serve alongside us with ITM. We have gained confidence in our communication and realized that the language barrier doesn't have to prevent us from encouraging and spending time with our Bolivian teammates. Our perspective has shifted, as we have begun to look outward, asking how we can help encourage others. And in the process of doing so, we have found that our own needs are being met as well.</p><p>Please pray for us as we continue to look for opportunities to encourage our team, and others in our community. We trust the Lord that as we take our eyes off ourselves and serve others, that He will also care for the needs of our family.</p><p>There were several other things that stood out to me during the conference, and I hope to share them with you in the coming days and weeks. I hope it will be an encouragement to you, and give you further insight into our life and ministry here in Bolivia!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-56551416709543756532021-02-14T16:22:00.007-05:002021-02-14T16:27:58.112-05:00So Much to Say<p>It's Valentine’s Day, and I should be out having a romantic dinner with my wife. Unfortunately, we are quarantined at home on Sundays and I'm suffering some ill effects from something I ate yesterday. So, as I was sitting here on the couch, I realized I hadn’t written a blog post for a while. And <b>wow!</b>, it <i>has</i> been a while. There is so much to report that it would be impossible to catch up on everything in one post. Let’s start with an update on the last one.</p><p>After what seems like an eternity, I finally have my license to fly in Bolivia! It required a written test, a flight test, handing over a bunch of cash, and then waiting for several weeks—but I finally have a piece of plastic that authorizes me to fly in this country! I've been able to make several ministry flights, mostly to Oromomo and San Lorenzo, where several of our missionaries work. But I also made one flight to a town called Baures to help deliver some medical supplies and biosecurity supplies to the medical workers there. It has been great to feel like I am actually making a contribution to the mission as a pilot, rather than just being extra weight in the airplane!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHaoEXYrV7tfUfmf1kv5fAKBGbeVLSk5vG3DZ8yu1SFEki6k4fN_r5Qk2zCTkuYNoShgZrbztxCnUCHdc4lnAu8uQ00FCJy3byHy-6bo1eXYJtg2xIwRUxZZJTPriFvJBYscZHkUjwAU/s3264/PXL_20210212_134529005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHaoEXYrV7tfUfmf1kv5fAKBGbeVLSk5vG3DZ8yu1SFEki6k4fN_r5Qk2zCTkuYNoShgZrbztxCnUCHdc4lnAu8uQ00FCJy3byHy-6bo1eXYJtg2xIwRUxZZJTPriFvJBYscZHkUjwAU/w400-h300/PXL_20210212_134529005.jpg" title="That's me, happy to be flying over the Beni with a cup of good coffee!" width="400" /></a><br />Happy to be cruising over the Beni with a good cup of coffee, <br />transporting building supplies for the Bible school in San Lorenzo.</div><div><br /></div><p>Of course I had been doing other valuable things: studying Spanish, doing aircraft maintenance, and helping with administrative tasks that are a necessary part of operating the ministry here in Bolivia. If I never would have been able to fly, there would still be ways I could support the ministry, but I am grateful that I am finally flying on the field—something that I have been looking forward to for many years!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItEuVZx7DQRkVfcch_C5Bvqz3JHUlfUwK90WoGUP2VpmOn2ntJi7Y6_9wPlpgeAAyG16xlUNseFQUL7FMa3ZznUWauPVgAJ-S5kzFiBntC_DKODEPBBHOBsV7bc9NO4YzDmq5uEeoKjI/s4032/PXL_20210125_144157715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItEuVZx7DQRkVfcch_C5Bvqz3JHUlfUwK90WoGUP2VpmOn2ntJi7Y6_9wPlpgeAAyG16xlUNseFQUL7FMa3ZznUWauPVgAJ-S5kzFiBntC_DKODEPBBHOBsV7bc9NO4YzDmq5uEeoKjI/w400-h300/PXL_20210125_144157715.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Delivering medical supplies to Baures with Pastor Elias.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Now, the bad news. Saying that I have my license to fly in Bolivia in a bit of an oversimplification. What I have is a convalidation of my FAA pilot certificate, which will be valid for up to one year. That means I still need to get a permanent Bolivian pilot certificate, which will take more time and money. Please pray for us as we figure out the best (and most cost-effective) way to do that.<p></p><p>There’s more to share, some of which we talked about in our <a href="https://mailchi.mp/f2e7dd0c9911/january-news-from-the-hammitts-in-bolivia?fbclid=IwAR0L_vyzE8nqUFYkaF12Z0F8hjtuBEx68UtJpQSvUbthXHJvdeVQal_0pk0">January newsletter</a>. Please check it out if you haven’t had a chance to do so. That’s all for now!</p><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-72258949263207309452020-12-03T06:17:00.001-05:002020-12-03T06:17:04.578-05:00Making progress!<p>After several years of working toward the goal, I came to Bolivia in 2019 with my commercial pilot certificate, instrument rating, and airframe and power plant mechanic certificates. The unfortunate part is that none of these are recognized in Bolivia. So I've spent the better part of a year learning Spanish and flying with other pilots who can legally act as "pilot in command" in the right seat while I fly in the left seat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8py6aiAaqGtdymMyLrNL_Knn1RDyajSd2nhY6uFSGbs-vtSa0uB7FUpoBmiinRmttpua7HVoPurx9CK5MrBXmpl4wudgkxmDOw_s_TMQldb0vHd2gy3JJ09UNnGngiqygh3jdhMToMw/s4032/PXL_20201202_124124712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8py6aiAaqGtdymMyLrNL_Knn1RDyajSd2nhY6uFSGbs-vtSa0uB7FUpoBmiinRmttpua7HVoPurx9CK5MrBXmpl4wudgkxmDOw_s_TMQldb0vHd2gy3JJ09UNnGngiqygh3jdhMToMw/w320-h240/PXL_20201202_124124712.jpg" title="A view from the left seat of the Cessna 206." width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A view from the left seat of the Cessna 206.</div><p>This week I took the first of many tests that will be required for me to serve as a pilot-mechanic in Bolivia. I successfully passed the theory test (in Spanish—an extra challenge) for the convalidation of my pilot certificate! <i>Convalidation</i> is not a word we really use in English, but it means that Bolivia will recognize my pilot certificate from the United States. But there's a catch. We had hoped that the convalidation would be for at least two years, and praying that by some miracle I might even get a permanent Bolivian license. But as of now, the law states that the convalidation will be for six months, with the possibility of a single six-month renewal. This news was a big disappointment. So what does that mean for me?</p><p>I have already begun the convalidation process, and after that I'll have one year to get a Bolivian pilot certificate before the convalidation expires. That means I get to start over as a private pilot student, and eventually I will go from being recognized as a commercial/instrument pilot to being recognized as a private pilot only in Bolivia (my FAA certificates will still be valid in the States). Of course, it will be much easier this time around, since I still have all the knowledge and skills that I've developed over the past several years. But I still need a piece of paper (or plastic) that says I can legally fly in Bolivia. That piece of paper will require 40 hours of flying, more tests, and several thousand dollars.</p><p>Please pray with us as we continue to work through this. I still have two flight tests ahead of me in order to get the convalidation, and then we need to start thinking through options for flight schools. Of course, it would be great if by some miracle I could get my FAA licenses permanently converted, but unless we get Bolivian citizenship this does not appear to be a possibility. It <i>is</i> possible to get Bolivian citizenship while retaining our U.S. citizenship, but that requires being in Bolivia continuously for three years.</p><p>So we're not exactly sure how things will proceed, but thanks for praying with us and following along with us on this journey! Your support and encouragement means a lot!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-75349267607906903382020-10-19T09:18:00.002-04:002020-10-19T09:18:33.875-04:00October News<p>If you're not on our newsletter list, please check out our <a href="http://www.planeswithpurpose.com/newsletters.html">latest prayer letter</a>. And if you'd like to receive our quarterly newsletter, please <a href="http://eepurl.com/go30Bf">sign up here</a>!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-63028183618307909342020-07-23T12:41:00.002-04:002020-07-23T12:48:07.544-04:00Longing for a Better Country<div>It's been nearly four months since we were first quarantined, as the Bolivian government has sought to contain the spread of COVID-19. In these four months Tara and I have been able to go out on a limited basis—mainly to buy food and supplies—but we can count on one hand the number of times the kids have left the house since mid-March. In the meantime, stay-at-home orders in the States have been relaxed and my social media feeds have been filled with vacation photos of my friends enjoying hikes in the mountains, relaxing at the beach, walking through wooded parks, boating, and swimming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjMomUysbqGD1BiXC4wxJkHWeCtDBv5YABWU2HVlmlzLtipZqTLd8Wm7wyrt7R95MzFFFBxSNCltMCtJRh_5zGoRRtLJNfq_Duo49JRnxpPr0uddEO40iGliYpqfiZ508mBuzRYaQ3uI/s3490/IMG_20200328_161853.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3490" data-original-width="2618" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjMomUysbqGD1BiXC4wxJkHWeCtDBv5YABWU2HVlmlzLtipZqTLd8Wm7wyrt7R95MzFFFBxSNCltMCtJRh_5zGoRRtLJNfq_Duo49JRnxpPr0uddEO40iGliYpqfiZ508mBuzRYaQ3uI/w150-h200/IMG_20200328_161853.jpg" title="Beautiful mountains viewed through razor wire." width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I sit in my tiny walled-in yard, trying to appreciate the blue sky and potted plants. I do my best to enjoy the beauty of the mountains through the razor wire and utility lines. But lately, as someone who loves nature, I have found myself dreaming about how great it would be to be back in the States right now, where I could take my kayaks out on the river, hike through the woods, go camping, and enjoy walks by the lakeshore. Sometimes I wonder why God brought us here at this time, and why we couldn't be back in the States enjoying summer activities rather than being confined to our house in Bolivia.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>The Bible speaks of men and women of faith who longed for another country—but they were not longing for the United States of America!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><i>These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth... If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13–16)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwdDPJ7HQifqSRT6FiGoJKYIDcREzNkx9Tptz_SqRA3oomax3yqTe_YBNRhH2Ho8osYJOQ1AgHWkb3UudItP3X3dlqS6tJPqIaT8RTcPYgLpmEBDQuzQmkitmtq5KKcI9cqDVYMkd0A0/s3840/IMG_20200329_174420.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwdDPJ7HQifqSRT6FiGoJKYIDcREzNkx9Tptz_SqRA3oomax3yqTe_YBNRhH2Ho8osYJOQ1AgHWkb3UudItP3X3dlqS6tJPqIaT8RTcPYgLpmEBDQuzQmkitmtq5KKcI9cqDVYMkd0A0/w320-h180/IMG_20200329_174420.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Lately I've found myself thinking more of the country I left than looking ahead to the better, heavenly country. I think of this photo as a metaphor for my life as a Christian. Like the distant mountains, there is a beautiful land that awaits: a heavenly Kingdom ruled by a good King. As I run this race, I ought to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and on the prize that lies ahead. But there are so many distractions that divert my attention away and dim my view—just as the power lines, haze, and shadows distract me from appreciating that distant mountain range.</div><div><br /></div><div>We left our home in the United States and moved to Bolivia, believing that this is the path He has called us to for this season (a season that may last the rest of our lives; we don't know). Our desire is to faithfully run this race with our eyes fixed on Him, but I am easily distracted. It's so easy to love the world and the things of the world—to enjoy the creation rather than the Creator. I can get fixated the blessings that God allows me to enjoy, rather than growing deeper in my love for the One who bestows those blessings on me. There is a constant temptation to take my spiritual eyes off of that which is eternal and to become consumed with those things that are temporary.</div><div><br /></div><div>We know that this season of quarantine will not last forever, and trust that the Lord has fruitful ministry for our family in Bolivia. I also can't wait until the day I can get out with my family and enjoy the country He has brought us to, rather than being confined to our home. But in the meantime my prayer is that I will keep my eyes focused on Jesus, and that I won't be so shortsighted that I simply long for the country I left when I came to Bolivia. I pray that, instead, I will look forward to being with Him in the eternal home that He is preparing for those who love Him. May I be able to say with the apostle Paul:</div><div><blockquote><i>Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12–14).</i></blockquote></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-87490963568528369062020-06-05T17:48:00.003-04:002020-06-05T17:49:41.806-04:00First Flight in Bolivia!It's been more than six years since I left my engineering job to begin training as a missionary pilot-mechanic. Today, after many years of preparation, I finally was able to participate in my first flight with ITM in Bolivia! We partnered with Mano a Mano to deliver medical supplies and personal protective equipment to the town of San Borja.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBbOFLojI5zjr7W3W6LfmARhIh00Hx-aLkmVpUGWGJmKWx1eon-cnsI8-gZiHTmEBL0LQ-Vk4JrIykXyMkBsVhgMRMmKm784V3_MhlpC0BIQSRXq-e-t4pH5DwLcvcYQsC4V3ULzMtNs/s1600/IMG_20200605_115428.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBbOFLojI5zjr7W3W6LfmARhIh00Hx-aLkmVpUGWGJmKWx1eon-cnsI8-gZiHTmEBL0LQ-Vk4JrIykXyMkBsVhgMRMmKm784V3_MhlpC0BIQSRXq-e-t4pH5DwLcvcYQsC4V3ULzMtNs/s400/IMG_20200605_115428.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ITM's Cessna 206 and Mano a Mano's Navajo, along with the supplies that were donated for San Borja.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's been over 11 months since I've flown an airplane, and I haven't flown a Cessna 206 since I left Mexico in November of 2018. It was great to be back in a 206 again! Today I did some right-seat flying, but our first flights will be more focused on learning the "lay of the land" and getting my brain back into aviation mode. Before too long I'll move over to the left seat and start getting back up to speed, and then get checked out for solo flights into some the airstrips we use most often. Please pray that my piloting skills will come back and improve quickly, for my continued language learning (the goal is to be able to do all my radio work in Spanish), and for the process of obtaining my Bolivian pilot certificate.<br />
<br />
While I am definitely excited to be flying again and to have my toolbox stocked up and ready to go, that excitement is not just for the joy of flying and fixing airplanes. We have tried to emphasize over the years that the airplane is just a tool. With this tool we can reach remote places with physical help and with the hope of the gospel. I'm grateful that I get to be a pilot, but even if I never flew again I would still want to devote my life to making Jesus known among those who don't know Him!<br />
<br />
We are grateful to be serving with ITM, and for how the Lord is using this ministry. The aviation program definitely looks a bit different amidst the coronavirus pandemic, but it's exciting that we have started flying again. And apart from the aviation ministry, God has continued to work in the communities where other ITM missionaries are living and working. Hopefully we will be able to start supporting them with the airplane again soon!<br />
<br />
In the meantime, here are a few photos from today's flight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbH923tqzRsMkdaUFgny23D7XWDxuDesjLRCi_G1rnWG8DJY88Ue6lwzZoxLZeXaEsLNeAKZ-zcu10hei_W4GWb2vbwyUqatPNNuFTuFstW_y8S96-xDqI9CABZUXK7KXgDPiNqYTSm4/s1600/IMG_20200605_104655.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbH923tqzRsMkdaUFgny23D7XWDxuDesjLRCi_G1rnWG8DJY88Ue6lwzZoxLZeXaEsLNeAKZ-zcu10hei_W4GWb2vbwyUqatPNNuFTuFstW_y8S96-xDqI9CABZUXK7KXgDPiNqYTSm4/s400/IMG_20200605_104655.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying past the town of Ushbe on the Securé River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMIDb1m06gcnkIPB71g7bfWFWEzngRkXaikdclvJmBEuZi59XadD2pxzH5cjoBcQLjOpo8vl3vS3JGvZurTZ_dArKV0LM5oH1wiNdnUovICgpkoXeNcC_J4qkCd3XJmz69MrvrBZXN7g/s1600/IMG_20200605_120942.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMIDb1m06gcnkIPB71g7bfWFWEzngRkXaikdclvJmBEuZi59XadD2pxzH5cjoBcQLjOpo8vl3vS3JGvZurTZ_dArKV0LM5oH1wiNdnUovICgpkoXeNcC_J4qkCd3XJmz69MrvrBZXN7g/s320/IMG_20200605_120942.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying looks a little different during a pandemic. Masks, gloves, suits, and being sprayed down with disinfectant are usually not a part of the process.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLXIJDzVmwA3Kne7G0vbBvxe2MFcKSERge8_srr8liRS3x7YZmBiFXU7MhdmAhsWrSDsg9ezJPkPo3r9_rmwzgfBaY_r-PmgTWkh6dp0SAN_aQDkq9hfhrWEb1H1fTKnHB7I4eIFh0wU/s1600/IMG_20200605_134615.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLXIJDzVmwA3Kne7G0vbBvxe2MFcKSERge8_srr8liRS3x7YZmBiFXU7MhdmAhsWrSDsg9ezJPkPo3r9_rmwzgfBaY_r-PmgTWkh6dp0SAN_aQDkq9hfhrWEb1H1fTKnHB7I4eIFh0wU/s400/IMG_20200605_134615.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We brought back two women from San Borja. They had not tested positive for COVID-19, but we still took all of the precautions including a plexiglass barrier between pilots and passengers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-sCa47MXcebNAjgslzo_4DtKQAMjTh1KC3eYnnpBTaCWpijkDzk3jYYmCAumEaBQ1RcFVjlkMAYUdtwmsUBTNXXBf5jKMxpt8JIQZM8MOHUs8c03oq83s3_F92f36MtuFLyGekK7XCY/s1600/IMG_20200605_125829.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-sCa47MXcebNAjgslzo_4DtKQAMjTh1KC3eYnnpBTaCWpijkDzk3jYYmCAumEaBQ1RcFVjlkMAYUdtwmsUBTNXXBf5jKMxpt8JIQZM8MOHUs8c03oq83s3_F92f36MtuFLyGekK7XCY/s400/IMG_20200605_125829.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Capitán Tony", suited up and at the controls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw61s_HEjp55Ci5-ZcehsOWzUszGOW8wtMqdWsakvD8SeFosNbsyqFzy8zoWxTIrObrTJ_5sYIP-1EWIu53lGKPF9oICUJgeJI_6Rhfv87dVydt1SxB6IKq2xfpiUbmvfEF_7Dlblxvk/s1600/IMG_20200605_082711.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw61s_HEjp55Ci5-ZcehsOWzUszGOW8wtMqdWsakvD8SeFosNbsyqFzy8zoWxTIrObrTJ_5sYIP-1EWIu53lGKPF9oICUJgeJI_6Rhfv87dVydt1SxB6IKq2xfpiUbmvfEF_7Dlblxvk/s400/IMG_20200605_082711.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two airplanes on the ramp in Cochabamba prior to departure. In the background you can just make out a little bit of snow on the mountain peaks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-2471858518317687082020-04-12T09:09:00.001-04:002020-04-12T09:09:28.350-04:00Why do you seek the living among the dead?<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's Easter morning, the day we remember our risen Savior, Jesus! For as long as I can remember I have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus with my family and my extended church family. Usually, in the English-speaking church, you'll hear this exchange: <i>He is Risen—He is Risen Indeed!</i> But this year, a different phrase stands out to me. It's a phrase spoken by the angels at the empty tomb as recorded in the book of Luke:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Why do you seek the living among the dead?</i></span></blockquote>
<br />
What a question! From the angels' point of view, did it seem ridiculous that his disciples would come looking for the living Jesus in a tomb? Why would they show up to mourn at his burial place when they could be experiencing life with a living, breathing person? After all, didn't Jesus tell them that he would be raised on the third day?<br />
<br />
Of course, we have to give the disciples some credit. Jesus' teachings were sometimes hard to understand. At times He spoke plainly, and at other times He used figurative language. Not to mention, they had watched Jesus die and people don't walk out of the grave every day! I can understand how the disciples could have expected to find Jesus' body in the tomb that morning.<br />
<br />
But it struck me this morning that people <i>still</i> look for Jesus among the dead. Non-believers view him as just another Jewish teacher, known only by words recorded in ancient books. But even in the church, we don't always act like Jesus is alive. We read about Him in the Bible and in countless books that men have written about Him. We discuss and argue about theology and Christology, in the same way that would debate politics or economic policy. We study his life, and sometimes ask, "What would Jesus do?" In many ways, we treat Jesus as any other person who is dead and buried. But somewhere—and I don't fully understand it—Jesus really and truly exists in resurrected bodily form! Why do we look for Him among the dead when He is found among the living?!<br />
<br />
I don't mean to say that the Bible is unimportant; it is the primary way that we learn about Jesus. And I'm not advocating or elevating mystical experiences above the written Word of God. Not at all! But we have to remember this: Jesus not only <i>was</i> alive; He <i>is</i> alive! That is to say, He didn't go back to being dead, or become a "spirit being" after His ascension. As I understand the Bible, Jesus continues to exist in a glorified bodily form. Do I fully grasp that? No; I don't know how to fully explain it. But if I truly believe that Jesus is alive, continuing to work behind the scenes until the day that He returns, it completely changes the way I relate to Him.<br />
<br />
Would I close myself off from my wife and kids, reminiscing about days gone by and looking at old photos, when I could continue to live life with them right now? So why would I do that with Jesus? This Easter I'm praying that the Lord would breath new life into my relationship with Him, and that I would really live in light of the fact that He is alive!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-48181641256823773362020-03-19T15:58:00.002-04:002020-03-19T15:58:30.263-04:00Coronavirus Hits BoliviaIn light of all that is happening in the world right now, I thought it would be good to write an update. I had no idea that it had been more than two months since our last post, or that I hadn't updated the blog since we returned to Bolivia. So here's our life in a nutshell, from early January to the first week of March: we returned to Cochabamba; we resumed language school; Ian and Ella began attending Carachipampa Christian School; we started attending a Spanish-speaking church; the Lord provided a car (SUV) for our family; and we continue to work on obtaining visas, licenses, etc.<br />
<br />
You may have also heard about the flooding in our town of Tiquipaya on the outskirts of Cochabamba. It did not directly affect us except for the closure of some roads near our house. But many people lost everything in the flooding and mudslides that occurred as a result of the heavy rain we experienced in February. Thankfully the rain subsided and people began to recover and rebuild their lives.<br />
<br />
Then the coronavirus struck Bolivia.<br />
<br />
I learned from watching my Facebook feed and seeing the various shortages in the United States, and preemptively stocked up on a few things. I didn't go crazy, and thankfully most of the people here didn't either. The stores did run low on some items, but I didn't encounter empty shelves like in the US. So we are doing alright, just trying to stay stocked up on a couple week's worth of groceries and household items.<br />
<br />
Last Thursday the government announced that schools would be closed at least through March 31, but Ian and Ella are staying quite busy at home with the work that has been assigned via the internet. Like many of you, we are finding it a bit challenging to get organized and stay on top of all their schoolwork. I feel like I've got a new part-time job, and I think we actually have less family time because of this extra burden.<br />
<br />
For the time being, I (Aaron) continue to attend my language classes. I am staying away from public transportation, opting to take the car or motorcycle to the school, and given the one-on-one nature of the classes I feel that the risk is low for the benefit of continuing to progress in my Spanish studies.<br />
<br />
The president of Bolivia recently announced measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, including a curfew, limiting public transportation, limiting the workday, and restricting the operating hours of markets and supermarkets. Hopefully these measures will be effective, but I am a bit concerned that they will not be. Yesterday I had to go sign some papers to complete the transfer of our vehicle, and the streets were packed with vehicles and a good number of pedestrians—probably trying to take care of their business before everything closed for the day. Lots of people were wearing masks, but I'm afraid that these are giving people a false sense of security.<br />
<br />
As of today, all international flights are suspended, and ground travel across the border and between departments is prohibited. If we had any thoughts of leaving Bolivia (which we didn't), we can forget about that now! For better or worse, we are here until this passes!<br />
<br />
Thanks for praying for us and the ministry in Bolivia. We were just starting to get into a routine when, like most of you, that routine was severely disrupted. It's a bit of a challenge at the moment, but we continue to trust the Lord and his purposes for all of this. If there is anything specific we can be praying for, drop us a line!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-80215247979641168382020-01-01T21:25:00.002-05:002020-01-01T21:25:56.072-05:00New Year ReflectionsToday we welcome a new year and say goodbye to what was a year full of changes and transitions—both expected and unexpected. We started 2019 in North Carolina, then spent the summer traveling around the country, and finally moved to Bolivia. Little did we know that we would be back in the USA again for Thanksgiving and Christmas, or that we would celebrate the new year in Ohio! After a crazy year of transition and instability, we are hoping that life will settle down in 2020!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lord-willing we will be back in Bolivia January 8, and the kids will begin school in February. As our Spanish improves we should feel more settled in Cochabamba and be able to be more connected with the ministry of ITM. My tool box has arrived in Bolivia, so I also hope to get plugged into ITM's aviation ministry as a pilot/mechanic!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This morning, as I recorded the last of our giving records for 2019, I was reminded of the Lord's provision over the past year. He has certainly been faithful in all areas—not only in our finances—but for some reason I have a tendency to worry about money. We had lots of unforeseen expenses last year: higher-than-expected settling-in and visa costs, airfare back to the States, and a second set of tickets to Bolivia to name a few. We had to dip into the cash reserve that we had set aside for a vehicle in Bolivia, and I was starting to feel concerned that we wouldn't be able to afford a car when we returned. But as the year drew to a close, the Lord humbled me yet again by sending all the funds that we needed through various churches and individuals. How many times will He have to "come through" before I quit doubting forever? I'd like to say this was the last time, but regardless of how things go I am glad that God doesn't get tired of faithfully providing for His children!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've also been thinking about how I well I have been leading my family, and if I'm honest 2019 was a challenge. It has been difficult to establish consistent routines as our family has moved from place to place throughout the year, sometimes living in the homes of other people. Not to make excuses, but there is something to be said for stability and putting down some roots in a place. I'd appreciate your prayers for our family as we desire to be a bit more settled and establish some habits that will help us to grow spiritually as a family. It would be a lot easier just to settle for the status quo, but I want to make the most of the years I have left with my kids living at home!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2020 will be a big year for us: we will to move back to Bolivia; Ian and Ella will start studying at a new school; Ian begins high school; Aaron will begin flying with ITM and maintaining their aircraft; and we will start settling in to our new life in Cochabamba. At least that's what we have planned! It won't be an easy year, but we are trusting that we will begin to thrive in the new place that the Lord has called us to. To those who partner with us through prayer, encouragement, and financial support: THANK YOU! We couldn't do what we do without you, and we look forward to sharing more with you throughout the upcoming year!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-81130544083151484282019-11-06T10:19:00.000-05:002019-11-06T10:19:27.812-05:00An Unexpected Getaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
As we shared in our last email, the country of Bolivia has been in turmoil since the presidential election that was held October 20. At first the demonstrations across Bolivia were peaceful, and blockades were set up throughout Bolivian cities as a form of protest. These were inconvenient for sure, but presented no danger. Over the course of time, other groups were sent in to forcefully remove the blockades and disperse the protesters, leading to violent confrontations. This only strengthened the calls for the current president to step down, as there was evidence that some of these violent groups were supported by the MAS party that is currently in power. Huge numbers of people began meeting in public spaces in the cities across Bolivia to stand for democracy in Bolivia, and are calling for new elections. The current president has already held on to power far beyond constitutional term limits allow, and there are many allegations that fraud has taken place to keep him in power.<br />
<br />
It's hard to explain in one post all that's been happening, but it's clear that the situation has been escalating and there is no end in sight. On Saturday evening, the opposition called for the resignation of President Evo Morales, giving him 48 hours to comply. That same evening we received a call from our leadership asking us to consider whether it would be best for our family to return to the States until the situation in Bolivia was resolved. On Sunday morning we got another phone call strongly encouraging us to leave, and that same afternoon we were taken by motorcycle to the airport in Cochabamba—the only means of transportation that could get past the many roadblocks in Cochabamba. We had about six hours to get our things in order, and to pack bags that we could carry on a motorcycle. By Monday morning we were arriving in Miami—where we found what may have been the last rental car available—and drove to stay with Tara's family near Tampa.<br />
<br />
So here we are in the States, not sure what we are doing or how long we will stay. We are thankful to be here for the safety and security of our family, but our hearts still ache for the people we left behind in Bolivia. I have already been experiencing a mix of emotions, and I'm sure more will come. We believe that coming back to the U.S. for a time was the right decision for our family. But it's hard to escape the feelings of guilt and the thought that we have abandoned our Bolivian brothers and sisters who have no choice but to endure this time of hardship. But the reality is that—as expatriates who had only been in country two months—we could do very little to help. If anything, we felt that we were becoming a liability, consuming local resources and needing help from our Bolivian co-workers that could otherwise be directed to help people who really needed it.<br />
<br />
The reality is that most Bolivians I know wouldn't leave right now if given the chance. They love their country and see this as a pivotal time in the history of their nation. They are proud to be a part of it! Another ray of hope is that the church has united and mobilized to pray for Bolivia. It is a difficult but exciting time! Surprisingly, I feel sad that I cannot be there to go through this with my Bolivian brothers and sisters. When we return to join them, hopefully in a few weeks, they will share the bond of having endured this trial together and emerged on the other side, while we were away in the relative safety of our home country. I know that if I was there I would not be able to be out on the streets with them anyway, and that there was wisdom in the decision that was made. But there is a part of me that wishes I was still there, if for no other reason than a demonstration of solidarity.<br />
<br />
Please pray for us, but more importantly for Bolivia. We are praying for a peaceful resolution, that the church would be united, that God's will would be done, and that He would be glorified through what's happening there.<br />
<br />
We just obtained our long-term visas and have every intention of returning. We will be in the States at least through Thanksgiving, but we really don't know how long we will be here or what our time in the U.S. will look like. For now we are just recovering and resting for a bit. We will share more in the near future, but in the meantime please feel free to reach out if you'd like to connect personally. Thanks so much for your prayers and support!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYsNw8DOyV1174XDPFtQa7CcFg2djCgVynr3avccFUNEbZ4DJA3bWDNacu7pgg7WEFg4feKH1qC0umAUw3kvp84-YfiO5kD73nwE1TBm3o9HUsk0Coe1myw0Jv0i1aIXJyDyWEk55Ask/s1600/IMG_20191025_150558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYsNw8DOyV1174XDPFtQa7CcFg2djCgVynr3avccFUNEbZ4DJA3bWDNacu7pgg7WEFg4feKH1qC0umAUw3kvp84-YfiO5kD73nwE1TBm3o9HUsk0Coe1myw0Jv0i1aIXJyDyWEk55Ask/s320/IMG_20191025_150558.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At first the blockades were peaceful, and there were even families out on the streets with their children. They were often taken down for short periods to allow people to get out and buy food.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEebI-9Una5_g4g-YnuZAL9a2hJlWTR5eY7mm0xzJR40lGBUnadiXUiSOXADnjEsMJJKi0TqTJuX-s8gy3ORMDO8PnvPpvwxx21ehQlGSy_tTXqH41xGFbMtvoVdY2suA9NlLfaVN1fA/s1600/IMG_20191102_073122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEebI-9Una5_g4g-YnuZAL9a2hJlWTR5eY7mm0xzJR40lGBUnadiXUiSOXADnjEsMJJKi0TqTJuX-s8gy3ORMDO8PnvPpvwxx21ehQlGSy_tTXqH41xGFbMtvoVdY2suA9NlLfaVN1fA/s320/IMG_20191102_073122.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over time the blocks became more intense and more difficult to pass. The demonstrators also were refusing to temporarily remove them to allow people to buy food and supplies. Violent confrontations were also on the increase.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><br />
<br />
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-54042013981595171132019-10-28T21:42:00.002-04:002019-10-28T21:42:24.854-04:00Two Months in BoliviaHas it been two months already? I wish I was sitting down to write a happy post about the fun experiences we've had during our first two months in Bolivia. Maybe I'll get around to writing that post, but this one is a bit more somber.<br />
<br />
On October 20 (last Sunday), a presidential election was held in Bolivia. It was a peaceful day and we were hoping that the following weeks and months would continue to be peaceful. But that has not been the case. Over the last week there have been protests in the major cities, including ours. The demonstrators are protesting due to accusations of election fraud—among broader issues. The president (who has claimed victory for a fourth term) is accusing the protesters of racism against the indigenous people who live in the rural parts of Bolivia. All of the major roads in our city have been blocked, and violence has begun to break out amidst increasing tension between the two sides. Most recently, the president and his supporters have threatened to cut off the food supplies of cities that continue to dispute his victory in the election. Rather than making concessions, it seems that both sides are digging in their heels and preparing for a prolonged fight.<br />
<br />
As I wrote in my last post, we knew that we would face some difficult times, but we didn't anticipate them coming so soon. At this point we feel that we are safe, and we have enough provisions to last for a while—hopefully until things settle down. But, then again, there is no guarantee that the situation will get better before it gets worse.<br />
<br />
This morning I read the following passage from 1 Timothy: <i>"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."</i> We know that God is sovereign, and no one comes to possess power and authority on earth apart from His will. Please join us as we pray for the leadership of Bolivia, that the Lord's will would be done, and that people would ultimately come to know Jesus through the turmoil in our city and in this country.<br />
<br />
We also appreciate your prayers for our family. We have been mostly confined to our house for the past week, and it looks like this week will be more of the same. We have been unable to attend language classes, and with limited language it's difficult to have significant interactions with our neighbors (not to mention they are usually behind locked gates). Please pray for wisdom during this time, and that we would find peace and rest in the Lord. Pray that He would use this time to mold and shape us, and to increase our dependence on Him as our provider and protector.<br />
<br />
Finally, please pray with us for peace in Bolivia. In times like this I'm reminded to look forward to the day when the Prince of Peace returns to establish his reign. Until then we pray that His peace would reign in the hearts of those who call him Lord, and that this peace would extend to the world around us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-35285557091884652292019-08-20T10:11:00.003-04:002019-08-20T10:11:40.317-04:00Celebration and LossOn August 28 we will board an airplane for Bolivia. For months we have been holding off on purchasing tickets (see our last post), so we are celebrating the fact that we have a move date! But at the same time we are grieving a great deal of loss—loss of relationships, belongings, opportunities, and pretty much everything that is familiar to us.<br />
<br />
The last six months have been good, but difficult. We have had great times of fun and fellowship with friends and family and visited churches that have encouraged and supported us on this journey. Unexpectedly, we had a great deal of time with my brother's family, and our children really enjoyed their “cousin time”. We've enjoyed many of our favorite places in Ohio, and shared those experiences with people we love. But we've also had to say goodbye to those same people. We've had to sort through everything we own and part with belongings that are important to us, or that are attached to special memories. This process has taken longer and been more difficult than we expected.<br />
<br />
There are lots of books, tools, and insights to help missionaries (or anyone moving cross-culturally) cope with the transition to life in a new, unfamiliar place. We’ve taken advantage of some of these helpful resources, but also missed out on some potential opportunities. We want to be well-equipped, but it’s our conviction that no matter how prepared we are we won’t make a successful transition unless we are walking with the Lord, relying daily on His Spirit and meditating on the truth of God’s Word. This is not to downplay the importance of preparing for the future, but is a recognition that we can never be <i>fully</i> prepared, and that only God’s grace can sustain us through unforeseen trials and difficulties.<br />
<br />
I didn’t anticipate that, after seven years of preparation, <b><i>this</i></b> would be the hardest moment yet—the time when I would be most tempted to give up and retreat to the comforts of suburban America. We've persevered through resigning from a good job, raising financial support, leaving three homes behind, years of training—even an airplane crash! But the thought of quitting has never seemed so appealing. So we daily trust in the Lord, knowing that He will sustain us day by day, looking not to our ever-changing circumstances and feelings for comfort and peace, but to a loving and unchanging Savior who carries us each step of the journey.<br />
<br />
Surely there will be more difficult times to come, and we appreciate your prayers for our family as we face this transition and the many challenges yet to come. We will continue to grieve the losses we are experiencing, but celebrate the future that the Lord has prepared for us. We want to trust that the best days for our family are yet to come! The future may or may not be what we envision, but in all things let us cling to Jesus, trusting in His love and goodness, having our eyes set on the hope we have in Him!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-31527182125324165602019-08-02T10:27:00.001-04:002019-08-02T10:27:03.204-04:00We're moving this month!As evidenced by the long gap between posts, it's been a challenge to write updates lately. Not because nothing is happening, but because I either struggle to find a moment to sit down at my computer, or I'm not sure how to communicate what's happening in a way that you will find interesting. During this transitional time, we are staying in Perrysburg, Ohio but have travelled several thousand miles already. As we prepare for our move to Bolivia, we have been visiting family, friends and churches in Ohio, South Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. We are so grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many people, and for the ways in which God is using the Church to provide for our needs as we get ready to begin serving in Bolivia.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Lord-willing, we will be moving to Bolivia at the end of this month! We leave for a church visit today, but next week it will be time to shop for plane tickets! We had originally planned to move a few weeks earlier, but when our nephew's open-heart surgery was scheduled for July 31 we decided to postpone our move. Praise the Lord the surgery went well, and we continue to pray for Bowen's recovery, and for his body to adjust to the changes that were made to his cardiovascular system. If you don't know Bowen, you can read his story at <a href="http://bowensheart.com/">BowensHeart.com</a> or watch the video below.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3nE7a7awOlU" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div>
<br />
I realize this short post isn't very informative, but we just want you to know we are still here and still excited about the work that God is doing in Bolivia through <a href="http://www.goitm.org/">ITM</a>. We can't wait to get there, and are trusting the Lord to provide all that we need for this transition by the end of August. Thank you for your love and support!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-69086190758546874072019-07-18T10:32:00.000-04:002019-08-02T10:33:32.944-04:00July 2019 NewsletterIt's time for another newsletter! You can <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=10ajoQSm5urJ4BToDQphjRO71kq08yjIf">read our latest letter here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-8139661122378490202019-06-01T10:00:00.000-04:002019-06-09T19:40:38.651-04:00We have a house in Bolivia!Moving to another country is not easy. There are many difficulties, but one aspect of this move that the kids have struggled with is this: not knowing where we will live when we get to Bolivia. This is certainly an opportunity for them to learn to walk by faith in God, trusting Him to provide. But we also know that they have a legitimate need for security. And I think a basic component of feeling secure is knowing that you have a safe place to lay your head at night.<br />
<br />
Until this week, we didn't know where we would settle in Bolivia. Yes, we knew we would live in Cochabamba, and that the mission house would be temporarily available for us. But we had no long-term housing arranged. That was okay with Tara and me, but this idea was more difficult for the kids (and for one child in particular, who will go unnamed). We planned to move into the mission home until we could find a more permanent place in Cochabamba, then move a second time into that house.<br />
<br />
Well, earlier this week we received a pleasant surprise. ITM has decided to rent a different place to serve as the mission house, and Tony called to ask if we'd like to rent the current mission house. It didn't take long to come to a consensus, and our answer was a resounding, "Yes!" It's a huge relief to know that we have a place to settle in to when we arrive in Bolivia. Not only that, but the kids have actually stayed in this house, so it's a place that's familiar to them. It has sufficient bedrooms for our family, room for an office and/or music room, and space for guests to stay—all things that are lacking in our current house. What a blessing!<br />
<br />
It's exciting to see the Lord providing for our needs as we prepare for this move. There's still a lot to do, and we feel overwhelmed at times, but we have confidence that God will provide what we need when we need it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-41992085737251149622019-05-25T19:20:00.000-04:002019-06-09T19:24:32.694-04:00A Time of RefiningIt's hard to believe it's been so long since I've posted, but to be honest we've been a bit overwhelmed with everything going on in our lives recently. The past several weeks have been filled with organizing, packing, sorting, as well as saying goodbye to people and places, and experiencing many "lasts" here in North Carolina: the last day of school at BCA for Ian and Ella, their last middle school tennis match, their last field trips, last award ceremonies, and final goodbyes to many of their classmates.<br />
<br />
There have been difficult moments, especially as the kids ended the school year. While all of their friends are looking forward to next year (especially Ian's classmates, who will be starting high school), our children are leaving everything they know to move to an unfamiliar place. Not only are they leaving people they care about; they are also having to sort through all of their earthly possessions and select the few things that will "make the cut" and go to Bolivia with us. Some things can be stored, but many have to be given away. There are certainly good lessons to be learned in this process, but that doesn't mean it is always easy.<br />
<br />
Even though it's hard to say goodbye, we are thankful for the time we've spent here in North Carolina. We know that we have great things to look forward to, and that many of the people we've come to know will be life-long friends.<br />
<br />
The process of purging our material goods has made me hyper-aware of the consumerism that is so pervasive in the American culture. I've also been reminded of how easy it is to develop an unhealthy attachment to <i>things</i>, and have made significant progress in breaking that attachment. I'm proud of our kids, who have been learning to do the same thing. There are still several boxes of valuable or sentimental items that will go into storage, but they are learning the value of blessing others with the useful items they no longer need, rather than letting those things gather dust (or worse) in storage. Even though it's hard to let some things go, there is joy in blessing others by giving them away.<br />
<br />
As I write this I'm realizing there's a theme here: a tension we are wrestling with throughout these weeks and months of transition. Letting go of the old, yet holding on to those things that matter. Saying goodbye to people and places, but anticipating the good things to come. Filtering out the things that distract and detract from what's really important, while cherishing that which is truly valuable.<br />
<br />
Come to think of it, this is not unlike the refining process that God is doing in us. He is always refining us, purging us of old thoughts and habits, and making us more like Jesus. We have desires and habits that distract us, and sins that hinder our relationship with God and others. These need to be gotten rid of so there is room for new attitudes, habits, and practices that strengthen those relationships. This process is not always fun, but in the end there is great joy! My prayer is that as our family navigates this season of evaluation and purging, the Lord will also be working in us, purifying and refining us to be more like Christ. When we look back at this period of time in our lives, my hope is that we will see the hand of God at work, strengthening us and growing us into faithful disciples of Jesus.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585066548662030062.post-58746615684538685482019-02-21T13:06:00.002-05:002019-04-16T17:11:34.925-04:00Why Church Planting?There are many organizations that have current needs for missionary pilot/mechanics. Some of them focus on medical care and relief work. Others focus on Bible translation or church planting, and some do commercial flying to subsidize "ministry" flights. So why am I excited about the idea of serving with an organization that focuses on church planting and discipleship? I'll answer that question, but take the long way around. <br />
<br />
The term "Body of Christ" is often used to refer to the Church. There's good reason for that, since the phrase is used in the Bible (1 Corinthians 12:27, for example). I always thought of the word "body" according to <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body">this definition</a>:<br />
<blockquote>
<dl>
<dt><b>5 : a group of persons or things: such as</b></dt>
<dd>...<br />
b : a group of individuals organized for some purpose<br />
<i>a legislative body</i><br />
<i>the university's student body
</i></dd>
</dl>
</blockquote>
This makes sense, doesn't it? The verse I referenced above says,<i> "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."</i> The body of Christ certainly is a group of individuals organized for some purpose. But there is another sense in which the Church operates as Christ's body:<br />
<blockquote>
<b>
2a
: the organized physical substance of an animal or plant...
</b></blockquote>
For about thirty years Jesus physically walked the earth, but as He prepared to leave this world, he made it clear to his disciples that <i>their</i> mission was to carry on <i>His</i> mission. As Jesus' present-day disciples, <b>we are the physical presence of Jesus in the world!</b> For most students of the Bible this isn't really a new revelation. But if we <i>really</i> believed this and lived it out, it would be revolutionary!<br />
<br />
Jesus' actions during the few short years of his public ministry included preaching and teaching, but also healing the sick, raising the dead, and advocating for the poor and oppressed. But these were not just random acts of kindness. They were accompanied by a call to reject and repent from sin, and to newness of life in Christ. Jesus was intentional about "seeking and saving the lost" (Luke 19:10). He demonstrated mercy and compassion, and broke bread with the despised and outcast. Yet he never failed to call people out of the bondage of sin and brokenness, and into His Kingdom.<br />
<br />
So how does this relate to our excitement about church planting? If the Church is growing and truly acting as the Body of Christ, then we will naturally and organically see an increase in acts of love and compassion to the world around us. So it's not an <i>either/or</i> proposition; we don't need to choose church planting <i>or</i> compassion ministry. It's a <i>both/and</i> scenario! By focusing on the church—bringing people to Christ and then continuing to nurture them as disciples of Jesus—we will also see the Body of Christ responding to the needs in our communities, loving them as Christ loved the world.<br />
<br />
My intent is not to downplay the need for compassion ministry. Rather, I want to affirm that it <i>is</i> important. Our desire would be for local believers to come to Jesus, and then to reach and serve the world around them according to their individual gifts and passions. The Church is God's chosen instrument for carrying on His work in the world until Jesus returns, and I'm excited to support the building up of the Body of Christ through the tool of missionary aviation. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0