A New CFI !!!!!!

After several delays, Jeff impressed the FAA examiner and received his credentials as a Certified Flight Instructor and Advanced Ground Instructor. We are so excited to have reached this milestone. This means that Jeff will now have the opportunity to hone his piloting skills and build flight hours while instructing student pilots, and best of all...at the expense of the student (for a change!). This will get us closer to being fully qualified and ready for a technical evaluation (TE) with a mission aviation organization. Way to go Jeff!

Cantrell Center 5K Road Race

In his first ever road race, Graham placed third in the boys 10 and under, at the Cantrell Center 5K! He missed first place by less than 30 seconds, and missed fourth by five! He also beat his dad's time; however, dad ate him under the table at the Huddle House following the race! It was 36 degrees at beginning of the race! Graham is quite a competitor; atta boy!

Commercial Pilot!

Happy New Year to all! Jeff began this year as a commercial pilot, a requirement for all mission pilots, and a two year endeavor for Jeff. Once the required flight hours were achieved and knowledge test passed, Jeff was able to schedule the Commercial check-ride with the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). Pictured with Jeff is the DPE, Bob Harless, a true legend to Georgia Aviation!

Next stop, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). Jeff elected to conduct his CFI training at American Flyers Flight Academy in Atanta Georgia, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport. While there he completed the two written knowledge exams and many lesson plans required before meeting with the FAA. Now he will spend his time preparing for the most dreaded of all oral and flight tests - the CFI checkride! We are hoping to schedule the exam with the FAA for later this week. I'll keep you posted!

Family Update for Christmas

First of all, we want to say thank you to all of our friends and family who have supported and prayed for us this year. With your help we have made great strides this year toward our goal of being full-time missionaries.

In January 2009, Jeff was immersed in full-time airplane maintenance school. He attended school during the day and night sessions for several months. This proved to be stressful for the whole family but happily resulted in a faster completion date and a 4.0 grade-point average to boot! By September, Jeff had completed all the necessary coursework and passed the FAA exams in order to be a licensed A&P mechanic. We hope that by the end of this year Jeff will not only have completed the requirements of a commercial pilot but also those of a certified flight instructor. All of these things must happen to reach our goal of being a pilot/mechanic on the mission field.

This year Kathy continued to homeschool the 4 kids and work one day a week as a pharmacist. She completed a Bible course by correspondence through Moody Bible Institute. In June, Kathy, was honored to go to Jamaica as a part of a medical mission team, where hundreds of needy people received top-notch medical care.

Graham turned 9 this year and has become quite a football fan. He played Upward sports at every opportunity and his appetite for reading remains unquenchable. Royal Ambassadors is his favorite extra-curricular activity and satisfies his need for running through the woods and making things with his hands.

Cameron, now 7 years old, began 1st grade, and has a real heart to serve. Cameron participated in Upward Sports in basketball, cheerleading, and soccer. She found out that soccer is her favorite sport to play. At church, she enjoys singing in the choir and GA's.

This year was the end to a lot of waiting on the sidelines for Bo. He has watched his older brother and sister play ball for several seasons and now he was finally old enough to play too. When he got his first uniform he wore it instead of pajamas but his parents wouldn't let him wear his new cleats to bed. Bo took the first steps toward becoming a reader this year and by the time Kindergarten starts Fall 2010 he'll be a pro. We are continually challenged by the gratefulness that Bo expresses for each blessing that comes his way.

Whitney is quite a 3 year old. Being the youngest of 4 she has a sense of confidence that is well beyond her years. She eagerly meets strangers and welcomes any and every opportunity for a chat. Needless to say she keeps her parents (and her siblings) on their toes.

As a family, we took the camper to Waxhaw, N.C. to visit the JAARS center and learn about the work of Wycliffe Bible translators and the SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics). We also camped on Jekyll Island, Ga. for a couple of nights and enjoyed a long family bike ride.

Our church here in Warner Robins, Central Baptist Church, voted to become our "sending" church! They will be a lifeline of prayer support for us in the coming years. We also had the opportunity to participate in a worship service at Unity Baptist Church and connect with mission-minded believers there.

During the upcoming year we hope to continue what has been started. We'll finish up our preparations for applying with a missions agency and keep on nurturing the little ones God has given us. We would like to invite you to come along with us on this journey.

May God bless you this Christmas season.

Flight Training Continues

I flew down to Douglas, GA today in order to take a Commercial Check-ride with the FAA examiner there. I passed oral portion; however, by time that was over, two hours later, the weather had deteriorated just enough that I could not (chose not) conduct the check-ride portion because of low ceilings and wind gusts. It will take longer and cost more, but that's aviation!!! "Got time to spare...go by air." The examiner commended my good ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making). I then flew back to Atlanta (IFR) and will try again next week, or when the weather is cooperating. Amazing...I took off heading north towards Atlanta and the 3000 foot "white blanket" (cloud layer) disappeared! Warner Robins and Macon looked great from 6000 feet. I saw all the JSTARS down below working the pattern. Then a few minutes later was let down to 4000 foot and slid right in under the ATL approach, just east of Stone Mountain and into PDK for a greaser! -Jeff


Douglas airport (KDQH) photos attached. Aeronautical Chart link below.
http://skyvector.com/#55-35-3-2233-692

Flight School. Check out the entertainment. Sky King episodes! Remember that show?
www.americanflyers.net

American Flyers @ Atlanta (PDK).
http://www.americanflyersatlanta.net/

Peachtree/Dekalb Airport (KPDK) photo attached. Chart link below.
http://skyvector.com/#55-101-3-1968-946

Q: Why are aircraft needed for missions?
A: What do missionaries do when: 1. The country in which they serve has no postal service.
2. Their child is gravely ill and the nearest hospital is an 11-hour drive away. (Sometimes 2 or 3 weeks away by dugout canoe.)
3. The tribal people need a doctor, but the doctor has only a week to treat everyone and it's a 3 day walk, one-way, to their village.
4. Their car breaks down and it takes 6 months to get repair parts.
5. Their children who attend school in a neighboring country want to come home for the holidays.
6. The Missionaries would minister to many tribes in a week but it takes too long to get to the other tribes.
7. The flooded rivers have isolated their village again, cutting off and food or supply lines, as well as, any escape.

This is why missionary pilots go to the field!
Taken from Christian Wings for the World (CWW)