21 October 2014
10 October 2014
24 May 2014
the time has come...
Wow, what has been crazy 5 months is now coming to an end and we're getting married in one week! I have been the only C206 pilot in the north since October which meant I have been doing clinic outreach at least 3 days every week plus whatever charter work came around. Additionally, over the last months we have now started to move forward with the implementation of the new structure for the MAF Tanzania program.
The details are complicated, but after months of uncertainty, we now know that a small program will continue from Arusha and we will be part of that for at least 2 years. This has added a lot to my work load over the last months, as the only one up here, I have been starting the processes for the new office and operations setup. Please pray for the many logistical challenges during this time of transition, it will take careful planing to provide uninterrupted services. The program as it has been will close on 31 May. After everyone has resettled, we will be a small program with a main base and two pilots in Arusha, a sub base with a partnership plane and pilot in Mbeya (Southwest) and a plane in Dar es Salaam that will be flown by pilots commuting from the other bases.
We will get back to all that in 5 weeks, the focus for me from now until the beginning of July is to get to South Africa, get married to my beautiful fiancee, go on honeymoon and have a couple weeks of rest.
Thank you for all your support and prayers during this time, with all the work challenges and our time apart. The time has really flown by and the energy to endure has been an answer to prayers. We will update you on the wedding, Amelia's (http://www.milliemusictz.blogspot.com) time in the US and our future plans, please continue to pray for us for the time a change ahead.
The details are complicated, but after months of uncertainty, we now know that a small program will continue from Arusha and we will be part of that for at least 2 years. This has added a lot to my work load over the last months, as the only one up here, I have been starting the processes for the new office and operations setup. Please pray for the many logistical challenges during this time of transition, it will take careful planing to provide uninterrupted services. The program as it has been will close on 31 May. After everyone has resettled, we will be a small program with a main base and two pilots in Arusha, a sub base with a partnership plane and pilot in Mbeya (Southwest) and a plane in Dar es Salaam that will be flown by pilots commuting from the other bases.
We will get back to all that in 5 weeks, the focus for me from now until the beginning of July is to get to South Africa, get married to my beautiful fiancee, go on honeymoon and have a couple weeks of rest.
Thank you for all your support and prayers during this time, with all the work challenges and our time apart. The time has really flown by and the energy to endure has been an answer to prayers. We will update you on the wedding, Amelia's (http://www.milliemusictz.blogspot.com) time in the US and our future plans, please continue to pray for us for the time a change ahead.
24 December 2013
25 November 2013
time keeps a moving
Time keeps a moving, I cannot believe that in one month it will be Christmas 2013 already! The fact that time is moving along at quite a pace at least means the our first 3 months apart has gone by quite quickly. It has not been easy, but thanks to technology we have mostly been able to keep in good contact. In less than 3 weeks Amelia will visit Arusha on a one month break. We have been counting down the months, weeks and days towards this first milestone. One of the good things is that Amelia is really enjoying the course and the experience she is gaining from it. At the moment they are traveling in Venezuela which is the birthplace of El Sistema. Visiting some of the many El Sistema inspired music centers they are learning from the experience of others. Read more about her time and experience on her blog.
In the meantime busy times were also the easier times for me. With our Dodoma pilot moving on the the larger Caravan aircraft and eventually relocating to South Sudan, I have been covering the clinics from Dodoma as well. This meant 5-6 days of flying out of Dodoma the first week of each month. The second week I'd be home in Arusha with 2-3 flying days, 3rd week in South Maasai for 2 days and the last week of each month for 3 days in North Maasai.
At the mobile clinics I have slowly moved up from only helping with the weighing of babies, to opening syringes and giving oral vaccines, to loading syringes and even recently I gave some tetanus shots to adults. I can now identify all the vaccines, interpret the clinic cards and I know who gets what and where to give the injections. But I'm not quite ready to make the babies cry...
Recently I did some test landings at 2 new airstrips in the South Maasai area, it was great to be the first person to land a plane at these villages. I was greeted with cheers, tears, songs and prayers. We pray that we will be in a position to reach these communities with regular flights.
There are some more photos of this joyful day on the Wings4Christ Facebook group. I also sent out a W4C October 2013 newsletter, get it here if you missed it (quality is better if you download it).
Thank you for the support and prayers, pray especially for us as we face many challenges and changes in order to operate cost effectively in Tanzania while continuing to serve those in need.
In the meantime busy times were also the easier times for me. With our Dodoma pilot moving on the the larger Caravan aircraft and eventually relocating to South Sudan, I have been covering the clinics from Dodoma as well. This meant 5-6 days of flying out of Dodoma the first week of each month. The second week I'd be home in Arusha with 2-3 flying days, 3rd week in South Maasai for 2 days and the last week of each month for 3 days in North Maasai.
At the mobile clinics I have slowly moved up from only helping with the weighing of babies, to opening syringes and giving oral vaccines, to loading syringes and even recently I gave some tetanus shots to adults. I can now identify all the vaccines, interpret the clinic cards and I know who gets what and where to give the injections. But I'm not quite ready to make the babies cry...
Recently I did some test landings at 2 new airstrips in the South Maasai area, it was great to be the first person to land a plane at these villages. I was greeted with cheers, tears, songs and prayers. We pray that we will be in a position to reach these communities with regular flights.
There are some more photos of this joyful day on the Wings4Christ Facebook group. I also sent out a W4C October 2013 newsletter, get it here if you missed it (quality is better if you download it).
Thank you for the support and prayers, pray especially for us as we face many challenges and changes in order to operate cost effectively in Tanzania while continuing to serve those in need.
31 August 2013
It has been way too long!
It has been way too long! So, instead of trying to explain what I have been up to I will just come out with my main excuse: I GOT ENGAGED!
Although that should cover it, I feel that I do need to explain myself in a little more detail, because it is not all that happened since my last post in June. First of all, shortly after that post about Babu Pauli who received the surgery he needed after the medevac, I received news that he made it back to his home village and was recovering well.
I spent June and July on my first home assignment in South Africa. It was a great time of catching up with family and friends. I also had some opportunities at churches and groups to share in person what I have been up to. My 15 month old nephew was an absolute treat and has grown quite a bit since I last saw him at 7 days old! Technology these days make it possible to stay in touch with loved ones, but it pales in comparison to spending time with them. I had a wonderful time relaxing and reconnecting with the people I miss when I am away.
A bonus during my trip was the fact that I was able to join the 9th annual youth outreach with my home church to the Karoo town of Merweville. Nine years down the line and I can see how God has worked in many lives, including my own as the experience played a big part in my calling as a full time missionary.
Yes! I am engaged, some of it happened quite quickly but most of it has been developing over some time. Amelia has been living and working as a teacher in Arusha for the past 4 years. We first met through a colleague and mutual friend. We both attend Arusha Community Church, where Amelia has also been involved with the music ministry. When I started spending more time in Arusha during the second half of last year we became friends as part of a group of younger adults.
God's timing worked out perfectly as our friendship turned into a relationship earlier this year. Only after she was accepted as a 2014 El Sistema Fellow at the New England Conservatory in Boston, USA. Unfortunately this means that she will be spending most of the next 9 months away. However, it as an amazing opportunity to learn from the music programme that has impacted thousands of youth in Venezuela and around the world.
Things worked out well that she was able to join me for just over 2 weeks during my home assignment in Cape Town. I saw this as a great opportunity to show of my beautiful home town, ask the BIG question and then show off my beautiful fiancee to family and friends!
Now we are at the start of the first four months apart until Amelia has a month break in December when she will be able to visit Arusha. Thankfully we will both be quite busy, which always help time to go by faster, or at least seem to...
Although that should cover it, I feel that I do need to explain myself in a little more detail, because it is not all that happened since my last post in June. First of all, shortly after that post about Babu Pauli who received the surgery he needed after the medevac, I received news that he made it back to his home village and was recovering well.
A bonus during my trip was the fact that I was able to join the 9th annual youth outreach with my home church to the Karoo town of Merweville. Nine years down the line and I can see how God has worked in many lives, including my own as the experience played a big part in my calling as a full time missionary.
God's timing worked out perfectly as our friendship turned into a relationship earlier this year. Only after she was accepted as a 2014 El Sistema Fellow at the New England Conservatory in Boston, USA. Unfortunately this means that she will be spending most of the next 9 months away. However, it as an amazing opportunity to learn from the music programme that has impacted thousands of youth in Venezuela and around the world.
Things worked out well that she was able to join me for just over 2 weeks during my home assignment in Cape Town. I saw this as a great opportunity to show of my beautiful home town, ask the BIG question and then show off my beautiful fiancee to family and friends!
Now we are at the start of the first four months apart until Amelia has a month break in December when she will be able to visit Arusha. Thankfully we will both be quite busy, which always help time to go by faster, or at least seem to...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)