 |
| The CRJ200 that I am training in |
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| The CRJ200 |
So, next time you're presented with a fork in the road, take a minute to stop and think about which way you're gonna go. Take a chance, risk...you just might like it.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Say What?
Anybody ever look back and remember some of the things they said when they were teenagers? I do, and I said some stupid things, made a lot of bold claims, embellished stories and personal experiences to make myself look better. Several things, it seems, will remain with me for the rest of my life. I can say with absolute conviction that God does have a sense of humor. I remember statements like, "California, I'm never going there, I won't ever step foot in that state," or how about this one..."I'm never going to eastern Congo." Well, you know what happened? The good Lord, in His infinite wisdom, decided to introduce me to a beautiful California girl, and even though I always maintained that love at first sight didn't exist, I knew I was going to marry Joy before I knew her name. And I not only stepped foot in California...several times, I also lived there...and I liked it. I went to Disneyland, thinking it was for sissy girls and little kids..and I liked it, so much that I went again...and I can't wait for the next time! I not only went to Bunia...but I liked it. I've also emphatically claimed, for the last 12 years, that I would never become an airline pilot. I didn't want to be one of those guys that managed a computer and sat there for hours on end, playing angry birds until I had to push the big red "land me" button. I wanted to fly in the mountains, actually manipulate the flight controls, be in "real" command of my ship, land on the sides of mountains. You can see where this is going, can't you?
I think I've finally learned to shut my big mouth. How does that quote go? "Better to look stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." So here I sit, in a hotel room, studying all manner of company publications, pilot manuals, aircraft manuals, the whole nine yards. Seems that US Airways Express saw something good in the piloting skills I have so far acquired, and invited me to start pilot training with them. So right after Thanksgiving I began an 8 week process to becoming a real live airline pilot.
Things haven't always been easy, but I am thoroughly convinced that each experience we have in life is an opportunity to grow as a person and sharpen each other. Just like each step I've taken in my flying career has stretched and grown me as an aviator, so it is with each step in life, each fork in the road. I have always loved Robert Frost's saying, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference."
So, next time you're presented with a fork in the road, take a minute to stop and think about which way you're gonna go. Take a chance, risk...you just might like it.
So, next time you're presented with a fork in the road, take a minute to stop and think about which way you're gonna go. Take a chance, risk...you just might like it.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Quote-worthy!
Wow, it's been a while. I guess life gets busy with a full-time job and two little kids! I wanted to share a journal with you that I've kept for a while now. I haven't made any new entries in a long time, but I started it in high school and have kept it until now. It's basically a notebook full of quotes and sayings that I thought interesting, thought provoking, or meaningful at the time. Some will make you think, some you will laugh at, and others you will disagree with--I hope you enjoy!
"Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut!" --Elizabeth Elliot
"One should eat to live, not live to eat." --Benjamin Franklin
"The end is nothing; the road is all." --Willa Cather
"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."
"A child's talent to endure seems to stem from his ignorance of alternatives."
"Never settle for less than your best."
"The easiest person to deceive is oneself." --Edward George Bulwar-Lytton
"All things change, nothing perishes." --Ovid
"Live today, for yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come."
"Discretion is the better part of valor." --Shakespeare
"All I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten."
"Without challenge, there's no achievement."
"Champions are not those who never fail, they are those who never quit."
"The deed is all and not the glory." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Death smiles at us all...all a man can do is smile back." --Maximus (from the movie Gladiator)
"The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference." --Elie Wiesel
"A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval." --Mark Twain
"Each of us must be the change we want in the world." --Mahatma Ghandi
"Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly."
"Always remember what it feels like to be different."
"Judge people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin." --Martin Luther King, Jr.
"...how easy it is for a heart to turn to stone." --Mary Morris
"...he that dares not grasp the thorn / should never crave the rose." --Anne Bronte
"Look into the mirror every day, for if scars of selfishness or pride are in the heart, they will grow into the lines of the face. Watch carefully." --Etsu Inagaki
"If the while I think on thee, dear friend, / all losses are restored, and sorrows end." --Shakespeare, Sonnet 80
"What's done cannot be undone." --Shakespeare, Macbeth
"If there is right in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be peace in the world." --Chinese proverb
"It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." --Leo Tolstoy
"The thing about the impossible is, there is no competition."
"Do the right thing. It will gratify some, and astonish the rest." --Mark Twain
"I haven't failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work." --Albert Einstein
"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."
"They gave our Master a crown of thorns; why should we hope for a crown of roses?"
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man." --Blaise Pascal
"Where God has closed his holy mouth, let us not open ours." --John Calvin
"Christianity is not a path, but a Person, not rules, but a relationship."
"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." --William Carey
"We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners."
"Satan himself cannot stop us or sign our death certificate without the permission of Almighty God." --Nate Saint
"Knowing what you stand for will limit what you fall for." --Craig Petersen
"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." --Joel Arthur Baker
"Jesus himself is our one convincing, permanent miracle." --Joseph Stowell
"True love is voluntary." --Paul E. Little
"Suppose God were to decree that tonight all evil would be removed from the universe--who of us would still be here after midnight?"
"The same sun melts the butter and hardens the clay."
"Christian faith goes beyond reason, but not against reason."
"No opinion poll is going to make God go away."
"The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and he will surely defend himself." --Charles Spurgeon
"Miracles are not contrary to nature, only contrary to what we know about nature."
"Christians have endured martyrdom, but can they endure unpopularity?"
"When food falls on the ground, I remedy the situation by picking it up and eating it."
"People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do."
"If you tell the truth, you won't have to remember anything." --Mark Twain
"The first step to wisdom is silence, the second is listening."
"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." --Abraham Lincoln
"Man is equally incapable of seeing the nothingness from which he emerges, and the infinity in which he is engulfed." --Blaise Pascal
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." --Jim Elliot
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of those who don't do anything about it." -Albert Einstein
"It is the journey that makes the pilgrim." --Andrew Schmutzer
"Since when does natural man create a religion he cannot abide by?" --Andrew Schmutzer
"It's alright to be a dumb sheep, when God is your Shepherd." --Andrew Schmutzer
"Worship is not calling me where I am at, it's stretching me to where I need to be." --Andrew Schmutzer
"To stand on the sidelines may be the most profound secularism."
"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, always remembering what peace there may be in silence." --Max Ehrma
"Those who are readiest to die for a cause may easily become those who are readiest to kill for it." C.S. Lewis
"If you are going through hell....keep going." --Winston Churchill
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." --Abraham Lincoln
"All that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost." --J.R.R. Tolkien
"Never argue with an idiot, he will bring you down to his level, and then beat you with experience."
"I'm out like a blind man in pictionary."
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." --Thomas Edison
"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I am unsure about the former." --Albert Einstein
"Golf is a game who's aim it is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." --Winston Churchill
"Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is." --C.S. Lewis
"Sometimes it takes more courage to step back from the precipice than it does to plunge headlong into it." --Travis Boyette
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page." --St. Augustine
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference." --Robert Frost
Well, that's it for now, hope you enjoyed!
"Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut!" --Elizabeth Elliot
"One should eat to live, not live to eat." --Benjamin Franklin
"The end is nothing; the road is all." --Willa Cather
"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."
"A child's talent to endure seems to stem from his ignorance of alternatives."
"Never settle for less than your best."
"The easiest person to deceive is oneself." --Edward George Bulwar-Lytton
"All things change, nothing perishes." --Ovid
"Live today, for yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come."
"Discretion is the better part of valor." --Shakespeare
"All I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten."
"Without challenge, there's no achievement."
"Champions are not those who never fail, they are those who never quit."
"The deed is all and not the glory." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Death smiles at us all...all a man can do is smile back." --Maximus (from the movie Gladiator)
"The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference." --Elie Wiesel
"A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval." --Mark Twain
"Each of us must be the change we want in the world." --Mahatma Ghandi
"Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly."
"Always remember what it feels like to be different."
"Judge people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin." --Martin Luther King, Jr.
"...how easy it is for a heart to turn to stone." --Mary Morris
"...he that dares not grasp the thorn / should never crave the rose." --Anne Bronte
"Look into the mirror every day, for if scars of selfishness or pride are in the heart, they will grow into the lines of the face. Watch carefully." --Etsu Inagaki
"If the while I think on thee, dear friend, / all losses are restored, and sorrows end." --Shakespeare, Sonnet 80
"What's done cannot be undone." --Shakespeare, Macbeth
"If there is right in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be peace in the world." --Chinese proverb
"It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." --Leo Tolstoy
"The thing about the impossible is, there is no competition."
"Do the right thing. It will gratify some, and astonish the rest." --Mark Twain
"I haven't failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work." --Albert Einstein
"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."
"They gave our Master a crown of thorns; why should we hope for a crown of roses?"
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man." --Blaise Pascal
"Where God has closed his holy mouth, let us not open ours." --John Calvin
"Christianity is not a path, but a Person, not rules, but a relationship."
"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." --William Carey
"We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners."
"Satan himself cannot stop us or sign our death certificate without the permission of Almighty God." --Nate Saint
"Knowing what you stand for will limit what you fall for." --Craig Petersen
"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." --Joel Arthur Baker
"Jesus himself is our one convincing, permanent miracle." --Joseph Stowell
"True love is voluntary." --Paul E. Little
"Suppose God were to decree that tonight all evil would be removed from the universe--who of us would still be here after midnight?"
"The same sun melts the butter and hardens the clay."
"Christian faith goes beyond reason, but not against reason."
"No opinion poll is going to make God go away."
"The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and he will surely defend himself." --Charles Spurgeon
"Miracles are not contrary to nature, only contrary to what we know about nature."
"Christians have endured martyrdom, but can they endure unpopularity?"
"When food falls on the ground, I remedy the situation by picking it up and eating it."
"People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do."
"If you tell the truth, you won't have to remember anything." --Mark Twain
"The first step to wisdom is silence, the second is listening."
"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." --Abraham Lincoln
"Man is equally incapable of seeing the nothingness from which he emerges, and the infinity in which he is engulfed." --Blaise Pascal
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." --Jim Elliot
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of those who don't do anything about it." -Albert Einstein
"It is the journey that makes the pilgrim." --Andrew Schmutzer
"Since when does natural man create a religion he cannot abide by?" --Andrew Schmutzer
"It's alright to be a dumb sheep, when God is your Shepherd." --Andrew Schmutzer
"Worship is not calling me where I am at, it's stretching me to where I need to be." --Andrew Schmutzer
"To stand on the sidelines may be the most profound secularism."
"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, always remembering what peace there may be in silence." --Max Ehrma
"Those who are readiest to die for a cause may easily become those who are readiest to kill for it." C.S. Lewis
"If you are going through hell....keep going." --Winston Churchill
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." --Abraham Lincoln
"All that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost." --J.R.R. Tolkien
"Never argue with an idiot, he will bring you down to his level, and then beat you with experience."
"I'm out like a blind man in pictionary."
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." --Thomas Edison
"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I am unsure about the former." --Albert Einstein
"Golf is a game who's aim it is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." --Winston Churchill
"Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is." --C.S. Lewis
"Sometimes it takes more courage to step back from the precipice than it does to plunge headlong into it." --Travis Boyette
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page." --St. Augustine
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference." --Robert Frost
Well, that's it for now, hope you enjoyed!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Foggy Morning
It's 11:30pm, I've been asleep for a grand total of 90 minutes, but I can't ignore the cries. He's up, and he doesn't really go to sleep again until 5:30am. I hit the light on the clock and think, "Ok, another 90 minutes of sleep before Kaitlyn gets up...." But it only seems like minutes until I hear little feet running down the hall. I lift my head and a pounding hammer somewhere in there rhythmically reminds me this is the second all-nighter I've pulled.
I try to keep a normal routine for Kaitlyn, so I sit her down on the couch, wrap her up like a taco, and turn on Thomas and Friends while I stand under burning water. Honestly, I can't remember if I washed or not.
Rain falls in a heavy mist, visibility is 1/4 mile at best, then I open the blinds and to my surprise, the weather is much the same outside too. Eventually a gnawing hunger in my stomach brings me downstairs for some oatmeal and a pot of coffee...yes, a pot. I stare helplessly into my cup, oblivious to the world around me, and as I begin to regain consciousness, I realize there's something staring back at me. For some reason, a nerve fires in my brain and I think, "Hey, that would make a cool photo...if only I could remember where the SD card is."
Thankfully, this stage only lasts for a month or so. I confess this is not my strong suit. Joy copes much better than I do, after all, she's been up for 4 days straight now. I marvel at her commitment and ability to maintain a positive attitude...and some sense of coherency. Until this wears off, I suppose I'll continue finding strange things inside my morning cup of coffee.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
New Arrival
I'm worn out from lack of sleep, Joy even more so than me, but we press on, hand-in-hand, anticipating the hours and days to come. I try and remind myself to take a few minutes every now and again and soak it all in--the mood, the people, the atmosphere, the lighting...the experience. But somehow I'm inescapably caught up in the moment, focused on the task at hand. Joy is doing phenomenal and this progression is much faster than last time. During contractions I am driven and 100% focused on my role and supporting Joy. It's in between that my mind wanders, sometimes to a picturesque lake in the pre-dawn morning fog, two fishing poles, a bucket full of nightcrawlers, father and son. Other times I play the "what if" games. I can't help it, I'm a pilot. What if this doesn't go right? What if that 1 in a million chance of "xyz" happens? Where's my emergency checklist? There's a heavy uneasiness and an equally strong sense of peace when life depends entirely on Him.
Before I even realize it, the last nine months swiftly and methodically come to a close, and a new chapter begins. I'm frozen, unable to find the words to express the feeling of being a father, a daddy, a mentor, a friend. For a few seconds, time stands still, and as I hold my little boy for the first time, he opens his eyes and looks into mine...and I can't hold him close enough. I know he will think his daddy is a superhero and invincible. Flawless. If only he knew the truth. Then I think of my relationship with my dad, and I realize he will love me anyway, in spite of myself, for no reason at all but that I love him the same way. But isn't that the way it's supposed to be? "...We love him because He first loved us."
Now the fun part begins. We can't decide between two names, but as I think more and more about Joshua, that is the kind of man I want him to be. Immediately you think of words like, "courageous," and "fearless leader." I think of a man fiercely devoted to his God, quick to listen. And for the guy in me...able to lay the hammer down!
So, without further adieu,
We are happy to announce the arrival of Joshua Christopher,
born Wednesday the 18th of January
9:16pm
7 lbs 1 oz
19.5" long
Before I even realize it, the last nine months swiftly and methodically come to a close, and a new chapter begins. I'm frozen, unable to find the words to express the feeling of being a father, a daddy, a mentor, a friend. For a few seconds, time stands still, and as I hold my little boy for the first time, he opens his eyes and looks into mine...and I can't hold him close enough. I know he will think his daddy is a superhero and invincible. Flawless. If only he knew the truth. Then I think of my relationship with my dad, and I realize he will love me anyway, in spite of myself, for no reason at all but that I love him the same way. But isn't that the way it's supposed to be? "...We love him because He first loved us."
Now the fun part begins. We can't decide between two names, but as I think more and more about Joshua, that is the kind of man I want him to be. Immediately you think of words like, "courageous," and "fearless leader." I think of a man fiercely devoted to his God, quick to listen. And for the guy in me...able to lay the hammer down!
So, without further adieu,
We are happy to announce the arrival of Joshua Christopher,
born Wednesday the 18th of January
9:16pm
7 lbs 1 oz
19.5" long
Saturday, January 14, 2012
A New Found Appreciation
For the last month or so I've wiped countless snotty noses, changed a lot of diapers, dealt with teething, toddler tantrums, and, "I'm hungry, I'm tired, I'm crabby, that's mine, hold me, let me go..." All that to say that I've come to a "deeper" understanding of what all the moms of the world run through on a daily basis. I've also been there to take Kaitlyn to the park, on walks, share in special moments and achievements, and watch her learn and grow every day. My hat's off to you...every one of you who have, who are, or will raise children--they're a handful!
We took Kaitlyn to the park again today and her agility and coordination baffle me every time we go. Sometimes I wonder how she can climb a wall with no problems, but she runs into them when she's walking around the house. Unfortunately, for her usually terrified parents, she's fearless when it comes to obstacles and heights. She always goes for the biggest, tallest slide she can find, and she goes down feet first, head first, you name it. 10 foot fireman's poles, ladders, nothing is off limits in her brain. Today she tried going head first, on her back down the slide. She had already gone down head first and flew off the end once, so I casually strolled over to the bottom of the slide and asked Kaitlyn as she was setting up for her next stunt, "Hey sweetie, you think that's a real good idea to go down like that?!" Her reply, "YEAH!!"
Well, I figured some things are better learned the hard way and let her do it anyway (to the horror of all grandmas worldwide, I'm sure). Needless to say, it didn't turn out too well, she flew off the end of the slide and ate a bunch of sand. But she didn't cry, she just laid there for a minute, collecting her thoughts, and then she looked at me and said, "I not do dat again." "Good idea, sweetheart." She picked herself up, climbed the stairs, and went feet first.
We took Kaitlyn to the park again today and her agility and coordination baffle me every time we go. Sometimes I wonder how she can climb a wall with no problems, but she runs into them when she's walking around the house. Unfortunately, for her usually terrified parents, she's fearless when it comes to obstacles and heights. She always goes for the biggest, tallest slide she can find, and she goes down feet first, head first, you name it. 10 foot fireman's poles, ladders, nothing is off limits in her brain. Today she tried going head first, on her back down the slide. She had already gone down head first and flew off the end once, so I casually strolled over to the bottom of the slide and asked Kaitlyn as she was setting up for her next stunt, "Hey sweetie, you think that's a real good idea to go down like that?!" Her reply, "YEAH!!"
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| Climbing all on her own...with daddy as spotter of course |
Well, I figured some things are better learned the hard way and let her do it anyway (to the horror of all grandmas worldwide, I'm sure). Needless to say, it didn't turn out too well, she flew off the end of the slide and ate a bunch of sand. But she didn't cry, she just laid there for a minute, collecting her thoughts, and then she looked at me and said, "I not do dat again." "Good idea, sweetheart." She picked herself up, climbed the stairs, and went feet first.
 |
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| Showing some discretion |
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| All by herself |
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| Taking a break on the swing |
Friday, January 13, 2012
Waiting
Just about every day for the last month or so we've been going on long walks in hopes that it might help baby along. It's something Joy and I have both enjoyed doing together even before we got married, and it's good to get back into it. I can't really complain about the weather here; for the most part it's been wonderful walking weather, and we usually include a little trip to the playground so Kaitlyn can have a little fun too. She loves slides, making friends, and anything she can climb. Here's a quick video of her enjoying the park...
It's Friday the 13th, the "big day," but nothing seems to be happening yet, and we're getting a little impatient to finally meet our little boy, but I suppose he has his own timing and we will just have to wait!
It's Friday the 13th, the "big day," but nothing seems to be happening yet, and we're getting a little impatient to finally meet our little boy, but I suppose he has his own timing and we will just have to wait!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Terrible Two's???
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| Look at my seashells mommy! |
Last week we took a day and went to the beach, probably the last time for a while before baby 2 is born and I start work. We brought some buckets and plastic shovels to play in the sand, and when we arrived Kaitlyn exclaimed, "[Gasp]...I take a HUUUUGE bath!" We tried our hand at making sand castles, but that didn't last long. So we spent most of our time collecting seashells and playing in the water.
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| Kaitlyn telling me the sand is too wet |
One of the funnest things about Kaitlyn (at least to me) is that she picks up on things super fast. You can show her how to do something once and voila, she's got it. And then she loves to turn around and show me how to do it. One of the things I told her on the beach was that she should never turn her back on the ocean, and be very careful about the waves. So every once in a while she would dutifully remind me that I wasn't paying attention..."the waves can hurt you daddy!"
Friday, December 23, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
My Sweet Girl
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| Definitely a Character! |
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| Grandma and Joy at dinner |
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| My date |
Then Grandma took us all out for a Christmas dinner. I sat next to Kaitlyn; we were on a date!
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| 1 inch screw in the rear tire |
This morning I tackled a few things on the car. I noticed a clicking noise on the freeway about a week ago, and me being a perfectionist, I just had to fix it. A quick inspection revealed quite a large screw in the rear tire. Me and Kaitlyn jumped right into action, jacking, removing, repairing, and re-installing the tire. She was a big help, holding lug nuts, turning on the compressor, and holding onto the tire so I could get the screw out.
After a quick road test, Kaitlyn came in, washed her hands, and jumped right into helping mommy with Christmas cookies! I couldn't be prouder of my little girl, she's such a big help with everything! And soon, I'm sure she will be all too eager to change baby brother's diapers, give him bottles, and hold him close when he's crying.
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| Baking cookies, yeah! |
What are you up to?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Congolese Francs
This photo was taken in Kipaka. There are some folks from the village along with myself and a few "officials" with 9Q-CMY in the background. There's a story that goes along with the picture and it goes a little something like this....
Flight days to Kipaka are long, no matter which way you split it. Even in the caravan it would take the better part of your day, and with "Uniform India" leaving at 8am from Bunia will usually get you back right around 5pm. With "Mike Yankee" that window is even tighter. Even so, it's important to spend time on the ground with the people, especially the officials, that way there are no hassles next time.
Well, it just so happened that the last time I was in town, they wanted to snap this photo with the pilot to make it all official. I agreed--it was a nice break after I had just unloaded 1000 pounds, and put 600 more back in for the return trip. I had some issues with the officials about paperwork that I was "supposed" to have with me, like passports and visas and all that. They let me go, but said that next time, I'd have to have it with me or it would be a big fine.
So, I obliged, and made a nice photocopy of my passport's info page and the visa I was issued. When asked, I produced the documents, only to find that these were not good enough, they wanted the originals. After a long and sometimes heated discussion ranging from taxes and fees of a Christian humanitarian organization to my residency in Congo, we finally came to an agreement. See, I don't like to just hand out money and pay for bribes or illegitimate taxes, I like to get something out of it too. To make a long story short, they didn't want to let me leave without paying some kind of fine, and I didn't want to pay it, so we met somewhere in the middle. They get a fifty cent "fine" and I got a copy of a really cool picture!
Flight days to Kipaka are long, no matter which way you split it. Even in the caravan it would take the better part of your day, and with "Uniform India" leaving at 8am from Bunia will usually get you back right around 5pm. With "Mike Yankee" that window is even tighter. Even so, it's important to spend time on the ground with the people, especially the officials, that way there are no hassles next time.
Well, it just so happened that the last time I was in town, they wanted to snap this photo with the pilot to make it all official. I agreed--it was a nice break after I had just unloaded 1000 pounds, and put 600 more back in for the return trip. I had some issues with the officials about paperwork that I was "supposed" to have with me, like passports and visas and all that. They let me go, but said that next time, I'd have to have it with me or it would be a big fine.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Next Step
I've flown Congolese nationals, sick and injured, hundred pound sacks of money, chickens, geese, fish...but never flies. But now it looks like I'll be adding them to my ever-growing list of passengers as well. I've accepted a position with a company called Dynamic Aviation, flying the King Air in the L.A. basin. Dynamic Aviation operates a fleet of King Air 90's, using the sterilized male fly in an effort to control the fruit fly population here in southern California. These flies devastate fruits and crops, so it's important to control them. I'll be flying as well as working on the airplanes, so I can keep both skills sharp.
Other than that, we were able to take a quick trip out to Ohio to visit my family and Joy's brother and his family. Our shipment finally arrived from Africa after way too many phone calls, customs forms, and emails. We've got one week left until Christmas, and then hopefully things will slow down for a week or two before baby boy arrives!
Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!!
| The King Air 90 |
Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Changing...An Attitude
I'm reminded of a story in the Old Testament where a young man with 11 brothers couldn't have imagined the outcome of his life even if he had tried. The story goes like this:
"So there's this young guy with 11 brothers, 10 of which are older than him, so for all intents and purposes he's really a "youngest child." Apparently, as the story goes, his father really liked him...even more than his other sons. One day he comes in to his father with a bad report about them. After that, his father makes a beautiful coat for his "favorite" son and Joseph's brothers had finally had enough of this favoritism. They plot to kill him, but through a series of events, end up selling him to a traveling group of slave traders on their way to Egypt.
As the story begins to unfold, Joseph is sold for 30 pieces of silver and finds himself at the mercy of the slave traders. Eventually, he's sold to Potiphar's house and works there as a servant of the captain of the guard. The story says that Potiphar noticed that the Lord blessed everything Joseph did so he made him his personal servant and put him in charge of everything he owned. After a while, Potiphar's wife noticed how handsome Joseph is and asks to sleep with him, but on several accounts, Joseph says no.
All it takes is a lie, and Joseph finds himself imprisoned, charged with "taking Potiphar's wife for himself." At this point in the story, I'm thinking man, this guy's been mistreated his whole life. First he's sold out by his family, then is accused of something he didn't do. Now he's sitting in an Egyptian prison, through absolutely no fault of his own. I know what I would be thinking...probably cursing God...and my brothers...and Potiphar...and the prison. You get the hint.
But again, Joseph comes to be responsible for everything that goes on in the jail, so that the real guy in charge didn't have to do anything at all. Then, through more twists and turns, he interprets a few dreams and ends up coming before the Pharaoh to interpret a dream of his. After a favorable interpretation, Joseph is put in charge of all of Egypt. The Bible says, "only with respect to the throne will you be greater than the Pharaoh."
Now comes the part that I really enjoy. Joseph predicts 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of horrible famine. During the famine, Joseph's brothers come to him for food and provisions, not once, but twice. The second time they come Joseph reveals himself and says, "God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance....So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."
By now, many of you know of our decision to part ways with MAF at this point in our lives. There are no hard feelings from either us or the folks at MAF, we just felt DRC was not the right fit for our family, and before jumping right into another assignment, we felt it was prudent to take a little time off. I love what I did in eastern Congo and I'm so thankful for that wonderful opportunity, but I also need to be sensitive to the needs of our family. Right now I feel like Joseph must have in the back of a caravan, having just been sold out by his family. I can only imagine he was thinking how this could happen to him, why God would allow such a thing, what He had in store for the future. I'm sure many other things were rolling through his mind, but the Bible doesn't give us many clues and we're left to wonder.
Maybe I will write a few blogs about how we got to this point and give a little more history behind our decision, but suffice for now to say that after a lot of prayer, counsel, and thinking, we've decided to take a little time off from MAF to get our bearings, re-adjust our focus, and see what the Lord has for the future. I don't understand why I would spend 10 years preparing for service with MAF, only to serve one. That's where I sense some parallels with Joseph's story and what he must have been feeling on the road to Egypt, and again when he found himself in prison.
We thank the Lord for giving us such wonderful experiences, some that not many people get to experience. We thank the Lord for the many, many folks that have stood with us in preparing, sending, and keeping us in Africa. I may never know the impact of our presence in Bunia; that's not my place, but I do know that we have been blessed beyond belief, we've been sharpened by our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we have come to a deeper understanding of our Savior.
So...what's next?!? I'll leave that for next time!
"So there's this young guy with 11 brothers, 10 of which are older than him, so for all intents and purposes he's really a "youngest child." Apparently, as the story goes, his father really liked him...even more than his other sons. One day he comes in to his father with a bad report about them. After that, his father makes a beautiful coat for his "favorite" son and Joseph's brothers had finally had enough of this favoritism. They plot to kill him, but through a series of events, end up selling him to a traveling group of slave traders on their way to Egypt.
As the story begins to unfold, Joseph is sold for 30 pieces of silver and finds himself at the mercy of the slave traders. Eventually, he's sold to Potiphar's house and works there as a servant of the captain of the guard. The story says that Potiphar noticed that the Lord blessed everything Joseph did so he made him his personal servant and put him in charge of everything he owned. After a while, Potiphar's wife noticed how handsome Joseph is and asks to sleep with him, but on several accounts, Joseph says no.
All it takes is a lie, and Joseph finds himself imprisoned, charged with "taking Potiphar's wife for himself." At this point in the story, I'm thinking man, this guy's been mistreated his whole life. First he's sold out by his family, then is accused of something he didn't do. Now he's sitting in an Egyptian prison, through absolutely no fault of his own. I know what I would be thinking...probably cursing God...and my brothers...and Potiphar...and the prison. You get the hint.
But again, Joseph comes to be responsible for everything that goes on in the jail, so that the real guy in charge didn't have to do anything at all. Then, through more twists and turns, he interprets a few dreams and ends up coming before the Pharaoh to interpret a dream of his. After a favorable interpretation, Joseph is put in charge of all of Egypt. The Bible says, "only with respect to the throne will you be greater than the Pharaoh."
Now comes the part that I really enjoy. Joseph predicts 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of horrible famine. During the famine, Joseph's brothers come to him for food and provisions, not once, but twice. The second time they come Joseph reveals himself and says, "God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance....So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."
By now, many of you know of our decision to part ways with MAF at this point in our lives. There are no hard feelings from either us or the folks at MAF, we just felt DRC was not the right fit for our family, and before jumping right into another assignment, we felt it was prudent to take a little time off. I love what I did in eastern Congo and I'm so thankful for that wonderful opportunity, but I also need to be sensitive to the needs of our family. Right now I feel like Joseph must have in the back of a caravan, having just been sold out by his family. I can only imagine he was thinking how this could happen to him, why God would allow such a thing, what He had in store for the future. I'm sure many other things were rolling through his mind, but the Bible doesn't give us many clues and we're left to wonder.
Maybe I will write a few blogs about how we got to this point and give a little more history behind our decision, but suffice for now to say that after a lot of prayer, counsel, and thinking, we've decided to take a little time off from MAF to get our bearings, re-adjust our focus, and see what the Lord has for the future. I don't understand why I would spend 10 years preparing for service with MAF, only to serve one. That's where I sense some parallels with Joseph's story and what he must have been feeling on the road to Egypt, and again when he found himself in prison.
We thank the Lord for giving us such wonderful experiences, some that not many people get to experience. We thank the Lord for the many, many folks that have stood with us in preparing, sending, and keeping us in Africa. I may never know the impact of our presence in Bunia; that's not my place, but I do know that we have been blessed beyond belief, we've been sharpened by our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we have come to a deeper understanding of our Savior.
So...what's next?!? I'll leave that for next time!
Well, first of all, it's been quite a while. I apologize for the silence and lack of posting. Interestingly enough, I left off the last post saying we were pretty sure the new baby was a girl. Well...I think you know what's coming. We had decided to have the baby back in the States and our first visit to the doctor included an ultrasound. Things in Africa are (do I really have to say this?)...a little different than things in America. Not necessarily bad, just different. When we had our ultrasound in Africa, it was done in a small room with a single lightbulb and no windows. It was hard to see the screen, let alone what was on it. The doctor had said he was pretty confident it was a girl, so we promptly searched the baby girl names and found a few good ones. Then, we went for our ultrasound in the US, and as soon as the machine turned on and the doppler hit Joy's tummy, the nurse exclaims, "Oh...oh, it's DEFINITELY a boy!" I looked at Joy, and she looked at me, and we both had the same expression on our faces. Needless to say, we were surprised and it's back to the drawing board on the baby boy names. So now I suppose we'll have one of each!
Also, stay tuned for photos and an update on our ministry as I'm sure many of you by now have received our most recent newsletter.
Also, stay tuned for photos and an update on our ministry as I'm sure many of you by now have received our most recent newsletter.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
New Experiences
It's not every day a missionary pilot gets to physically see the difference he's making in people lives. Sure, there are the medivacs where it's obvious that if we did not come, the sick would die. I'm talking more about the back breaking box after box after box of medical supplies that I load into the airplane, fly to a mobile clinic out in the jungle, and unload in the blazing hot sun...box after box after box. Sometimes it's vaccines, other times it's pain pills, but it always seems to be heavy and arduous work.
Today I visited the clinic where Joy volunteers, and I saw some of those same familiar boxes. No, I'm not sick, and I'm definitely not having a baby, but Joy is. And today we went together to take a peek at our new little one. Actually we went yesterday, but the doctor wasn't in. So we went this morning. The doctor was in, but the ultrasound machine wasn't. So we went a third time this afternoon, in hopes that we, the machine, and the doctor could all be in the same place at the same time.
I can't help but notice some of the same people are still waiting to be seen. Joy walks right in, confirms that the doctor and the machine are present and stands on the outside of the door. We wait for maybe 15 minutes as the doctor finishes with another patient. I can't help but overhear some of the conversations outside about how we white missionaries can just skip the all day waiting and hop in the front of the line, while they all have to wait even longer. I do feel bad, but I guess it's a perk of volunteering, kinda like I can go wherever I want in the Entebbe airport and travel to different countries without having to pay for visas, or even have my passport with me.
As we wait, I'm trying to brush up on my French anatomy...fingers, toes, heart, legs, boy, girl. I don't get to use those words a whole lot around here! Before I know it, we're in the ultrasound room, and I'm trying my hardest to decipher the white and black lines; the doctor pushes a button on the machine, and suddenly I can see clear as day as he shows me the "grand tour" ...."here's all the fingers, heart, toes, legs, head." Joy is right on target. I'm amazed at the equipment they have, and even more amazed that someone is actually properly trained to use it. He checks length, sizes, heartbeat, all the major stuff.
Then we ask him to see if it's a boy or a girl. He checks for maybe another 5 minutes before coming to an "undecided" conclusion. I have my own conclusions from what I saw...or didn't see, as the case may be, but you'll just have to wait and find out!
Today I visited the clinic where Joy volunteers, and I saw some of those same familiar boxes. No, I'm not sick, and I'm definitely not having a baby, but Joy is. And today we went together to take a peek at our new little one. Actually we went yesterday, but the doctor wasn't in. So we went this morning. The doctor was in, but the ultrasound machine wasn't. So we went a third time this afternoon, in hopes that we, the machine, and the doctor could all be in the same place at the same time.
I can't help but notice some of the same people are still waiting to be seen. Joy walks right in, confirms that the doctor and the machine are present and stands on the outside of the door. We wait for maybe 15 minutes as the doctor finishes with another patient. I can't help but overhear some of the conversations outside about how we white missionaries can just skip the all day waiting and hop in the front of the line, while they all have to wait even longer. I do feel bad, but I guess it's a perk of volunteering, kinda like I can go wherever I want in the Entebbe airport and travel to different countries without having to pay for visas, or even have my passport with me.
As we wait, I'm trying to brush up on my French anatomy...fingers, toes, heart, legs, boy, girl. I don't get to use those words a whole lot around here! Before I know it, we're in the ultrasound room, and I'm trying my hardest to decipher the white and black lines; the doctor pushes a button on the machine, and suddenly I can see clear as day as he shows me the "grand tour" ...."here's all the fingers, heart, toes, legs, head." Joy is right on target. I'm amazed at the equipment they have, and even more amazed that someone is actually properly trained to use it. He checks length, sizes, heartbeat, all the major stuff.
Then we ask him to see if it's a boy or a girl. He checks for maybe another 5 minutes before coming to an "undecided" conclusion. I have my own conclusions from what I saw...or didn't see, as the case may be, but you'll just have to wait and find out!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The Bright Side
An essential element to survival here is keeping a positive attitude about...well, everything. A few examples you ask? Sure, I'd be happy to oblige:
*Like when you get a flat tire in the pouring rain. Think of it not as an inconvenience and getting thoroughly soaked, but as an opportunity for the Congolese people to show their true colors. Since the car jack won't work in the mud, 30 bustling men gather around and lift the car while you make the swap. Probably not good for the car, but neither is driving on a flat.
*Different airstrip conditions (even when I land 2 or more times at the same place, on the same day) keep my skills sharp, and guard against complacency. Goats are my favorite. They come out of the tall grass right in front of the airplane, and instead of running back into the bushes, they hear the airplane and tear off down the airstrip, trying to outrun the airplane. It never fails.
*Think...for every hour the city power is on, it saves me a dollar, instead of...the electricity is rarely on, I should just disconnect it all for good.
*I don't like geckos or palm-sized spiders in my house, but they need a home too, and they eat the mosquitoes (a nice bonus, since most of the windows still don't have screens). And when they're not eating the mosquitoes, they're having turf wars, so at least it's entertaining.
*One more stomach bug reminds me that I can get antibiotics...a lot of them...for $2...without a prescription.
*A long line of thunderstorms in my flight path is a great opportunity to practice my airplane handling skills.
*A dishonest official is a reminder for me to practice honesty and integrity in everything I do, and a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate His grace.
*The blaring mosque at 4:30am every morning is a chance for me to pray for Muslims.
*An unexpected night away from home is a window into the life of missionaries who have it much, much harder than I do.
*When there's no water, it's humbling to see missionaries sacrifice even more and share what little they do have.
*Every change in the schedule is an unplanned chance to bring glory to our God and be a blessing to those around us.
*Many things are much more expensive here, but the avocados fall off the trees in the back yard every couple months.
*When something breaks around the house, I get to learn new vocabulary in French and Swahili.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. Every day is a reminder that I have a choice to make. Every situation is an opportunity. Will I choose to reflect the image that's been restored in me, or try to make it in my own strength? Will I climb out of the boat? Will I deny my Lord? What's your choice? Yes, or no, my friends.
*Like when you get a flat tire in the pouring rain. Think of it not as an inconvenience and getting thoroughly soaked, but as an opportunity for the Congolese people to show their true colors. Since the car jack won't work in the mud, 30 bustling men gather around and lift the car while you make the swap. Probably not good for the car, but neither is driving on a flat.
*Different airstrip conditions (even when I land 2 or more times at the same place, on the same day) keep my skills sharp, and guard against complacency. Goats are my favorite. They come out of the tall grass right in front of the airplane, and instead of running back into the bushes, they hear the airplane and tear off down the airstrip, trying to outrun the airplane. It never fails.
*Think...for every hour the city power is on, it saves me a dollar, instead of...the electricity is rarely on, I should just disconnect it all for good.
*I don't like geckos or palm-sized spiders in my house, but they need a home too, and they eat the mosquitoes (a nice bonus, since most of the windows still don't have screens). And when they're not eating the mosquitoes, they're having turf wars, so at least it's entertaining.
*One more stomach bug reminds me that I can get antibiotics...a lot of them...for $2...without a prescription.
*A long line of thunderstorms in my flight path is a great opportunity to practice my airplane handling skills.
*A dishonest official is a reminder for me to practice honesty and integrity in everything I do, and a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate His grace.
*The blaring mosque at 4:30am every morning is a chance for me to pray for Muslims.
*An unexpected night away from home is a window into the life of missionaries who have it much, much harder than I do.
*When there's no water, it's humbling to see missionaries sacrifice even more and share what little they do have.
*Every change in the schedule is an unplanned chance to bring glory to our God and be a blessing to those around us.
*Many things are much more expensive here, but the avocados fall off the trees in the back yard every couple months.
*When something breaks around the house, I get to learn new vocabulary in French and Swahili.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. Every day is a reminder that I have a choice to make. Every situation is an opportunity. Will I choose to reflect the image that's been restored in me, or try to make it in my own strength? Will I climb out of the boat? Will I deny my Lord? What's your choice? Yes, or no, my friends.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
My Girls
They're so amazing. I'm so blessed to have them in my life, even if they don't speak my "language." They are fun, beautiful, intriguing, delicate, passionate. They are unique, smart, photogenic, dedicated, understanding.
Some of you may not know, but Spokane, Washington, was probably the last place on my list of cities to live (no offense). But boy am I glad I made that choice. I remember once saying, in my foolish youth, that I would never step foot in California, and I certainly would never marry a Californian. Oh how that changed in a heartbeat. I also never believed in "love at first sight." But the moment I saw her, I knew I would spend the rest of my life with her. My pick up line: "hey, if you ever need the oil changed in your Honda, I have a Chiltons Manual." That was almost seven years ago, and what an incredible journey it's been so far.
Then, it happened...I had an affair. In fact, I still am. I still remember when Joy told me she was pregnant. We were in southern California at the time and Joy insisted on taking me out after a very long day of packing our shipment for Africa. I really didn't want to go, didn't want to spend the money, take the time, etc. We went to Mimi's, and asked for a really yummy ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, brownie thing with a cherry on top. Let's just say the cherry was really the only edible part, the rest was hard as a rock. Yes, even the ice cream. But I didn't care; there's no expression for the feeling a man gets when you tell him he's going to be a father.
9 months later, the same "love at first sight" occurred with Kaitlyn Renee, my little sweet girl. We were in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and had traveled to Newport, Vermont, just over the US border for a doctor visit. Joy was having contractions and they were getting stronger, so we decided to stick around for a while, just in case. Again, we had a bad experience with food and ate at a Chinese joint in "downtown" Newport. Next time we'll know to skip that place.
Joy labored all through the night and the next morning before Kaitlyn finally arrived. I remember feeling so tired, excited, and not knowing what I was supposed to do. I remember almost passing out. I don't mind the blood and all that, but people in pain and screaming just doesn't sit well with me. I was a big fan of the epidural. Joy, at the time, was indifferent. When Kaitlyn was born, we saw her for thirty seconds before she was quickly whisked away and diagnosed with a pneumothorax. She had a partially collapsed lung with a tiny hole in it.
It's fun to see her now, and how she has different personality traits of both of us (good and bad). At 10 months, she wanted to jump in and swim down Niagara Falls. She has to do everything herself, loves to joke, and would eat a whole tub of butter if she could. She has a great compassion for people, and absolutely loves airplanes.
And just when I didn't think my heart could get any bigger, we have another one coming in January. Will it be another girl, or our first boy? Time will tell, I suppose.
Some of you may not know, but Spokane, Washington, was probably the last place on my list of cities to live (no offense). But boy am I glad I made that choice. I remember once saying, in my foolish youth, that I would never step foot in California, and I certainly would never marry a Californian. Oh how that changed in a heartbeat. I also never believed in "love at first sight." But the moment I saw her, I knew I would spend the rest of my life with her. My pick up line: "hey, if you ever need the oil changed in your Honda, I have a Chiltons Manual." That was almost seven years ago, and what an incredible journey it's been so far.
Then, it happened...I had an affair. In fact, I still am. I still remember when Joy told me she was pregnant. We were in southern California at the time and Joy insisted on taking me out after a very long day of packing our shipment for Africa. I really didn't want to go, didn't want to spend the money, take the time, etc. We went to Mimi's, and asked for a really yummy ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, brownie thing with a cherry on top. Let's just say the cherry was really the only edible part, the rest was hard as a rock. Yes, even the ice cream. But I didn't care; there's no expression for the feeling a man gets when you tell him he's going to be a father.
9 months later, the same "love at first sight" occurred with Kaitlyn Renee, my little sweet girl. We were in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and had traveled to Newport, Vermont, just over the US border for a doctor visit. Joy was having contractions and they were getting stronger, so we decided to stick around for a while, just in case. Again, we had a bad experience with food and ate at a Chinese joint in "downtown" Newport. Next time we'll know to skip that place.
Joy labored all through the night and the next morning before Kaitlyn finally arrived. I remember feeling so tired, excited, and not knowing what I was supposed to do. I remember almost passing out. I don't mind the blood and all that, but people in pain and screaming just doesn't sit well with me. I was a big fan of the epidural. Joy, at the time, was indifferent. When Kaitlyn was born, we saw her for thirty seconds before she was quickly whisked away and diagnosed with a pneumothorax. She had a partially collapsed lung with a tiny hole in it.
It's fun to see her now, and how she has different personality traits of both of us (good and bad). At 10 months, she wanted to jump in and swim down Niagara Falls. She has to do everything herself, loves to joke, and would eat a whole tub of butter if she could. She has a great compassion for people, and absolutely loves airplanes.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
What The...
I was on my way once again to Kipaka with 900 pounds of medical supplies for the hospital, cruising along at 10,500 feet when all of a sudden I heard a strange humming noise. Hmmm....all the engine instruments are normal, but the sound seems to be getting louder and louder. I go so far as to even take my helmet off, and then I see it, not 50 feet above me. I'm dumbstruck with utter disbelief as the ugliest twin engine airplane I've ever seen flies directly overhead. After a moment of gaining my composure, my next thought is to get a few incriminating photos, but it's too late for that. I guess even deep in the jungle you have to watch out for other airplanes.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Pictures
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| #1 |
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| #2 |
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| #3 |
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| #4 |
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| #5 |
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| #6 |
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| #7 |
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| #8 |
#1--A photo I took in Epulu. This little cluster was right on the edge of the jungle and I thought it very interesting. It stood out like a sore thumb against all the shades of green. It's no bigger than a nickel--God's attention to detail amazes me.
#2--Also in Epulu, I just happened to be standing on a bridge when I heard a familiar "mzungu" call from down below. I turned and snapped a photo as the boy rowed by in his "canoe."
#3--belongs with #5. You may wonder what a cylinder head is doing detached from the cylinder. Well, it just so happens that when you think you give clear directions like, "I just drained the oil out of the generator, can you fill it with 1 liter of oil from this jug?" you'd think the message was received clearly. Not so, my friends. Oil did not make it's way into the oil pan, but instead was added from a small hole in the cylinder head that consequently flooded and hydraulic locked the cylinder, before spilling out the air intake. The offending party now knows exactly where the oil is supposed to go. And I have learned my lesson, after pondering how to be a better communicator for the better part of my Saturday.
#4--Yet another intriguing flower from the forests of Epulu. You may wonder what all the recent photos are from Epulu. Well, I had the privilege of taking 5 very hard working missionary ladies on a quick retreat to the Okapi Reserve for a day of well deserved R & R. Most of them have worked in DRC longer than I've been alive, and have never gotten to see the okapis. I got the lucky straw and only had to fly 2 hours. The rest of the day was spent making new friends, improving my French, and visiting the Okapis once again.
#5--Is a nice dry cylinder that is again able to compress air. Try though it did, it seems that the laws of the universe prevailed yet again, and vehemently reminded the poor generator that liquids are not compressible.
#6--Would be the cutest little girl ever, eating a mouthful of goldfish after "helping" daddy repair the generator by grabbing a push rod in each hand and using them as drum sticks on the concrete.
#7--Ah, the Okapi. What more can I say? Part horse, part giraffe, part zebra. It lives to 40 years old, is almost never seen in the wild, and is an extremely picky eater. It can reach just about every part of its body with a 12 inch tongue. Its natural habitat, now only found in a very small part of DRC, is being illegally forested, and the animal suffers from poaching.
#8--Last, but certainly not least. Epulu is a wonderful place to relax. If you look hard enough, it is full of surprises and truly exotic sights. I found this guy casually webbing 2 inches from my chest as I leaned in to take a photo of an Okapi. I'm over the "scream like a girl" stage, but I have to admit, this one caught me off guard. This is another one of those "fit-in-the-palm-of-your-hand" spiders. And when the pygmies say, "Back up, you don't want to touch that one," you listen.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
The Night in Bukavu...Part II
After unloading and securing the airplane in the rain, I realize that in Kipaka I had left my overnight bag, because the only room left to put it was on my lap. I had packed things all the way to the ceiling, and the cargo pod was packed full. Oh well, I have my survival kit I guess, that's better than nothing.
We take a "taxi" from the airport into town, almost an hour away. The entire road is paved and it feels a little scary going so fast. The weather is still terrible; it's even hard to see out the windshield...I can't believe I was flying in this stuff. Our driver is Congolese, our vehicle...an old Toyota Corolla type with balled tires, a broken windshield, and very strange noises coming from the engine, tranny, and suspension. I'm pretty sure the brake pads on at least one wheel are worn to just metal on metal. It's a stick shift and there's not really a clutch to speak of; the driver just jams it in gear until it submits.
He is driving really fast, the road is wet, and we can hardly see. On more than one occasion I yell, "ATTENTION!!" in French so we don't ram into the back of another vehicle. I thought maybe it was just the car, but all along the way are people standing on the side of the road, shaking their heads, and pointing to smashed taxis.
Bukavu is pretty surprising to me. There are real hotels with bell boys, Mobil service stations, electricity, street lights, and very nice looking restaurants. It sort of reminds me a little of Chicago. I'll be staying with the missionary family I brought from Kipaka. When we reach the house, I can see a really nice yard, a kid's play house, and even a garage. We aren't here for long before heading out to dinner.
The family invited me to go with them to a friend's house, and I accepted. We are heading to Bernard's house; he's been the purchaser for the hospital for many years. They have a close relationship. His house is just a small living room with 2 couches and a bedroom/kitchen. The roof leaks a little, and candles are the only light we have. Dinner is rice, chicken, carrots and peas, and a killer sauce. Most of the talk is in Swahili, but I can tell from the tone of their voices and their expressions that they are saying goodbye, and it's not easy. They remember old times, thank each other, and talk a little business. I take a few photos of their families together and then it's back home. I help them pack and prepare their things for tomorrow before heading to bed.
It's actually cold here and I'm thankful for the extra thick blankets on the bed. At first I didn't think I'd use them, but boy did I ever. In the morning, I could see my breath outside. I got a later start than I wanted to, but oh well. The drive back to the airport is even better this time, mostly because I can see now. The drive reminds me of Hawaii. The road meanders along the edge of a crystal clear lake, beautiful tropical flowers line the road. Sunflowers, beautiful plants, strawberries growing in fields, it's a wonderful sight. Towards the end of the drive, we move more into high plateaus with different pines and open fields of wild flowers.
I get a later start than I want to, but at 9:30am I take off again for Kipaka with almost 1000 more pounds of supplies for the hospital. The weather is much, much better today. On the ground in Kipaka I unload the cargo and move straight into loading things for Bukavu. I'm hoping to go fast here, but there's no such thing as fast. The government officials want to see my original passport, and my visa...neither of which I have with me. I have photocopies, but that's not good enough, and I can't leave until I produce them.
So I go into discussions and conversations about why I don't have the originals, why I need my passport here, when all the other major cities in Congo accept my copies. Why I can travel to Uganda without a passport, but deep in the Congo jungle, I need to have everything. Finally, after everything is loaded and my passengers are in their seats, I pull the officials to the side and ask, "Are you congolese citizens?" They both reply yes, of course. "If you took a trip to a major city in Congo, would you need a passport?" No, they both say. In fact, I don't even have a passport. "Well, guess what? I'm a Congolese resident too. So if you don't need one, then I don't need one. My copies are good enough." That seems to resonate a little better with them. And with that, I hop in and shut the door. Some people like to argue and yell about things, and maybe that's just the way they do it here. But I like to help them understand just what it is they're asking of me, and why it's sometimes absurd. That takes time, but I think the final result is better. Plus, I get to know the person, not just the demanding official.
The flight back to Bukavu is uneventful. On the ground, I expect to have maybe 100 kilos of baggage and a 55 gallon drum. What I find are bags and bags for Bunia...for "free." No one mentioned all these things when I left, and I fit almost everything, again packing things to the ceiling. I have to leave the drum behind and a few small bags. By this time, I'm getting pretty tired and missing my family. The plane just can't go fast enough to get me back.
On the way, I descend to 500 feet above the ground and point out a gorgeous waterfall. When you think of a tropical paradise, you would include waterfalls, but not "badlands." But right here in Congo, you can find those too, right next to the waterfall, actually. 20 more minutes and we're landing in Bunia. I can't wait to get home!
We take a "taxi" from the airport into town, almost an hour away. The entire road is paved and it feels a little scary going so fast. The weather is still terrible; it's even hard to see out the windshield...I can't believe I was flying in this stuff. Our driver is Congolese, our vehicle...an old Toyota Corolla type with balled tires, a broken windshield, and very strange noises coming from the engine, tranny, and suspension. I'm pretty sure the brake pads on at least one wheel are worn to just metal on metal. It's a stick shift and there's not really a clutch to speak of; the driver just jams it in gear until it submits.
He is driving really fast, the road is wet, and we can hardly see. On more than one occasion I yell, "ATTENTION!!" in French so we don't ram into the back of another vehicle. I thought maybe it was just the car, but all along the way are people standing on the side of the road, shaking their heads, and pointing to smashed taxis.
Bukavu is pretty surprising to me. There are real hotels with bell boys, Mobil service stations, electricity, street lights, and very nice looking restaurants. It sort of reminds me a little of Chicago. I'll be staying with the missionary family I brought from Kipaka. When we reach the house, I can see a really nice yard, a kid's play house, and even a garage. We aren't here for long before heading out to dinner.
The family invited me to go with them to a friend's house, and I accepted. We are heading to Bernard's house; he's been the purchaser for the hospital for many years. They have a close relationship. His house is just a small living room with 2 couches and a bedroom/kitchen. The roof leaks a little, and candles are the only light we have. Dinner is rice, chicken, carrots and peas, and a killer sauce. Most of the talk is in Swahili, but I can tell from the tone of their voices and their expressions that they are saying goodbye, and it's not easy. They remember old times, thank each other, and talk a little business. I take a few photos of their families together and then it's back home. I help them pack and prepare their things for tomorrow before heading to bed.
It's actually cold here and I'm thankful for the extra thick blankets on the bed. At first I didn't think I'd use them, but boy did I ever. In the morning, I could see my breath outside. I got a later start than I wanted to, but oh well. The drive back to the airport is even better this time, mostly because I can see now. The drive reminds me of Hawaii. The road meanders along the edge of a crystal clear lake, beautiful tropical flowers line the road. Sunflowers, beautiful plants, strawberries growing in fields, it's a wonderful sight. Towards the end of the drive, we move more into high plateaus with different pines and open fields of wild flowers.
I get a later start than I want to, but at 9:30am I take off again for Kipaka with almost 1000 more pounds of supplies for the hospital. The weather is much, much better today. On the ground in Kipaka I unload the cargo and move straight into loading things for Bukavu. I'm hoping to go fast here, but there's no such thing as fast. The government officials want to see my original passport, and my visa...neither of which I have with me. I have photocopies, but that's not good enough, and I can't leave until I produce them.
So I go into discussions and conversations about why I don't have the originals, why I need my passport here, when all the other major cities in Congo accept my copies. Why I can travel to Uganda without a passport, but deep in the Congo jungle, I need to have everything. Finally, after everything is loaded and my passengers are in their seats, I pull the officials to the side and ask, "Are you congolese citizens?" They both reply yes, of course. "If you took a trip to a major city in Congo, would you need a passport?" No, they both say. In fact, I don't even have a passport. "Well, guess what? I'm a Congolese resident too. So if you don't need one, then I don't need one. My copies are good enough." That seems to resonate a little better with them. And with that, I hop in and shut the door. Some people like to argue and yell about things, and maybe that's just the way they do it here. But I like to help them understand just what it is they're asking of me, and why it's sometimes absurd. That takes time, but I think the final result is better. Plus, I get to know the person, not just the demanding official.
The flight back to Bukavu is uneventful. On the ground, I expect to have maybe 100 kilos of baggage and a 55 gallon drum. What I find are bags and bags for Bunia...for "free." No one mentioned all these things when I left, and I fit almost everything, again packing things to the ceiling. I have to leave the drum behind and a few small bags. By this time, I'm getting pretty tired and missing my family. The plane just can't go fast enough to get me back.
The Last Time...Part I
For some, anyway. Today's flight takes me once again to Bukavu, and on to Kipaka, where I'll be spending the night. Everything's supposed to be done already, so I can get an early departure, but when I get to the airport, I learn that the plane hasn't been fueled, the boxes of Bibles aren't prepared, and no one has a key for the MAF depot and office. I quickly spring into action, giving people tasks while I complete my preflight.
Once I'm ready to go, I hop in and call the control tower, but they won't clear me to taxi because my flight plan hasn't been submitted. "But it was there last night, how could it not be there now?" I replied. Another 10 minutes and everything is squared away. The engine checks out, oil temperature is climbing, and I check my watch against the clock in the airplane and on the GPS. I mark down the time, and smoothly add full power. Climbing out to the East, I gently bank to the right and look down to see Joy and Kaitlyn waving goodbye.
The weather seems good enough and I climb to 10,500 feet before cracking open my breakfast. I can't make out the Rwenzori mountains, so I make sure to steer straight down the middle of the valley. Then, I start to make out the unmistakable jagged peaks through the haze and clouds. I snap a few photos...what a great opportunity to share with you one of the best reasons we don't fly in the clouds here. Don't get me wrong, it can be done, and done safely and efficiently, but not in a 206, and not with 14,000' peaks looming around. This is exactly why we treat clouds as if they were mountains, because more often than not, there are mountains hiding somewhere in there. And while an airplane can fly just fine through a cloud, I don't think they've yet developed an airplane that's aerodynamic enough to fly through granite.
The weather actually improves all the way to my destination of Bukavu...I guess there's a first time for everything. In Bukavu, I unload a 55 gallon drum and 5 jerry cans of avgas, along with 200 pounds of Bibles, and trade it all for almost 1,000 pounds of medicines and supplies for the hospital in Kipaka. After an hour, I'm off, and the weather continues to improve, a little puzzling to me since I saw quite a bit of rain on the satellite picture earlier in the morning. Oh well, take it while you can get it.
1:30 minutes later, I'm circling over Kipaka, checking the airstrip and setting up for my approach. I'm just about to touch down when something on the right side catches my eye. It's a goat...no make that 20. I hesitate for a second to see which way they're gonna go, but as usual they run in terror directly down the airstrip. I waste no time in aborting the landing, and come around for a second try. On the ground, I unload the hospital freight, and load belongings for a missionary family that has been in Kipaka for more than 20 years. They are "retiring" after starting from scratch and maintaining the hospital for so long. Now it's their turn to hand over the job to a trained national.
Leaving a place...leaving home after more than 20 years would be hard on anyone. And I can tell it's hard for these folks to say goodbye to their "family," but they get in the airplane with resolve, knowing the Lord has something else for them to do. It's been my pleasure to fly many things down to them, everything from toilet paper to car parts. They are truly cut off from the rest of the world. The roads and bridges in every direction are all washed out and too dangerous to travel by car. The airplane is the only lifeline, the only link for these people.
The hour and a half back to Bukavu is heart-wrenching for them, but with 50 miles to go, my attention is diverted to the task at hand. Somehow the weather has turned horrible. Low clouds, rain, fog, smoke, and mountains aren't a pleasant mix. The mountains surrounding Bukavu is the only place in Congo that I've actually had to do real "ridge crossings." We sometimes perform this maneuver to get from one valley to the next when there's a low layer of clouds. These are to be done in a very certain way, at 100' minimum, so as to maintain the highest degree of safety...and I've been very close to that 100 feet before.
My original plan of going direct to Bukavu is quickly abandoned and I make my way over to the South pass. I'm now 500 feet above the ground, working my way through rain showers, ever vigilant of that mountain goat hanging around in the clouds. The South pass turns out to be so clogged with rain and clouds that I start to make my way even further south into my last option. I'm pushing weather and my fuel reserves, so I am very cautious.
I see a break in the clouds and cross over one ridge and into a little bowl about 1/2 mile round. My escape route is behind me, where I came from. As I enter the "bowl" I realize it's just not going to work, so I add power and make a quick 180 degree turn. But as I do, I realize my out is now gone, vanished, swallowed up by clouds. I'm now stuck in this bowl, with the wind blowing the clouds, and me, closer and closer to a very large peak. I say a quick prayer, and no sooner do I see a small hole open up in front of me. I can see well enough on the other side to know that it's more open and will provide more options than where I'm currently at.
So long bowl, nice knowing you. I'm now in a small pass south of the South pass, and I pop out of the mountains over the town of Bukavu. The familiar sights and less terra firma to hit ease my nerves a little. As I head back north towards the airport, I look back up the South pass to see if it's even possible to get back to Kipaka today. Nope, decision made, I'm staying in Bukavu, no way I'm doing that again.
Once I'm ready to go, I hop in and call the control tower, but they won't clear me to taxi because my flight plan hasn't been submitted. "But it was there last night, how could it not be there now?" I replied. Another 10 minutes and everything is squared away. The engine checks out, oil temperature is climbing, and I check my watch against the clock in the airplane and on the GPS. I mark down the time, and smoothly add full power. Climbing out to the East, I gently bank to the right and look down to see Joy and Kaitlyn waving goodbye.
The weather seems good enough and I climb to 10,500 feet before cracking open my breakfast. I can't make out the Rwenzori mountains, so I make sure to steer straight down the middle of the valley. Then, I start to make out the unmistakable jagged peaks through the haze and clouds. I snap a few photos...what a great opportunity to share with you one of the best reasons we don't fly in the clouds here. Don't get me wrong, it can be done, and done safely and efficiently, but not in a 206, and not with 14,000' peaks looming around. This is exactly why we treat clouds as if they were mountains, because more often than not, there are mountains hiding somewhere in there. And while an airplane can fly just fine through a cloud, I don't think they've yet developed an airplane that's aerodynamic enough to fly through granite.
The weather actually improves all the way to my destination of Bukavu...I guess there's a first time for everything. In Bukavu, I unload a 55 gallon drum and 5 jerry cans of avgas, along with 200 pounds of Bibles, and trade it all for almost 1,000 pounds of medicines and supplies for the hospital in Kipaka. After an hour, I'm off, and the weather continues to improve, a little puzzling to me since I saw quite a bit of rain on the satellite picture earlier in the morning. Oh well, take it while you can get it.
1:30 minutes later, I'm circling over Kipaka, checking the airstrip and setting up for my approach. I'm just about to touch down when something on the right side catches my eye. It's a goat...no make that 20. I hesitate for a second to see which way they're gonna go, but as usual they run in terror directly down the airstrip. I waste no time in aborting the landing, and come around for a second try. On the ground, I unload the hospital freight, and load belongings for a missionary family that has been in Kipaka for more than 20 years. They are "retiring" after starting from scratch and maintaining the hospital for so long. Now it's their turn to hand over the job to a trained national.
Leaving a place...leaving home after more than 20 years would be hard on anyone. And I can tell it's hard for these folks to say goodbye to their "family," but they get in the airplane with resolve, knowing the Lord has something else for them to do. It's been my pleasure to fly many things down to them, everything from toilet paper to car parts. They are truly cut off from the rest of the world. The roads and bridges in every direction are all washed out and too dangerous to travel by car. The airplane is the only lifeline, the only link for these people.
The hour and a half back to Bukavu is heart-wrenching for them, but with 50 miles to go, my attention is diverted to the task at hand. Somehow the weather has turned horrible. Low clouds, rain, fog, smoke, and mountains aren't a pleasant mix. The mountains surrounding Bukavu is the only place in Congo that I've actually had to do real "ridge crossings." We sometimes perform this maneuver to get from one valley to the next when there's a low layer of clouds. These are to be done in a very certain way, at 100' minimum, so as to maintain the highest degree of safety...and I've been very close to that 100 feet before.
My original plan of going direct to Bukavu is quickly abandoned and I make my way over to the South pass. I'm now 500 feet above the ground, working my way through rain showers, ever vigilant of that mountain goat hanging around in the clouds. The South pass turns out to be so clogged with rain and clouds that I start to make my way even further south into my last option. I'm pushing weather and my fuel reserves, so I am very cautious.
So long bowl, nice knowing you. I'm now in a small pass south of the South pass, and I pop out of the mountains over the town of Bukavu. The familiar sights and less terra firma to hit ease my nerves a little. As I head back north towards the airport, I look back up the South pass to see if it's even possible to get back to Kipaka today. Nope, decision made, I'm staying in Bukavu, no way I'm doing that again.
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