Dear friends,
Darla and I have found a new home. During our time living and traveling in our camper for the last few years, we wintered in Wauchula Florida. As we started to get to know the area better, we went out to the county airport and we discovered a Christian aviation mission located there. After visiting with the director, I began volunteering in the hanger and helping with maintenance a few days a week. Darla and I have now officially joined the mission of Harvest Aviation and here is our story.
The actual journey to this point started almost 3 years ago. After teaching full-time for nearly 30 years, I was ready to pull back. When we started our travels, Darla began teaching online and I substitute taught wherever we landed for the time, Ohio, Kentucky and here in Florida. One of my nephews encouraged me to pursue aviation again. Last summer, I started flying with a flight instructor to get my ratings current. I had to learn new regulations and the new avionics in the cockpit, and get comfortable at the controls again, so much has changed over 30 years! I was wondering how I would get back into the world of aviation, and that is when we discovered Harvest.
Harvest Aviation is a Christian mission organization that has a three-fold purpose. First, we support missionary families, mission hospitals, and several church ministries in Belize. Second, we provide training for future missionary pilots and mechanics at the hanger in Wauchula. These pilots and mechanics then enter the missionary aviation field and become part of the Great Commission to deliver the message of Christ throughout the world. Thirdly, we like to see students of any age come out to the hanger and learn about how aviation plays an important role in spreading the Gospel of Christ throughout the world.
Initially, I have taken the role of pilot/mechanic. I will help out in the shop and work under the supervision of the lead inspector and mechanic. I will also be part of the team of pilots that crew the twin engine Piper Chieftain. I still have much training to get back up to speed. One of my goals is to reinstate my flight instructor rating and as you read this email, I will be training in East Texas, not far from my alma mater, Letourneau University. It has been a little daunting to start flight training again, but we know that Father God will equip Darla and I both for what we have been called to do.
