Basking in Boise

Greetings from Boise, Idaho! Wonderful, warm Idaho, land of potatoes...

As usual things have been carrying on at a frantic pace, which means for us that things are fairly normal. For the past three weeks we have been in Boise, Idaho for standardization training with MAF US. Well at least Gary has been training, Tammy has been trying to keep the kids on track with their homeschooling, as well as enjoying her time visiting with her friend Claire. The kids have been awesome, and have enjoyed some exploring and Kaity has managed to meet up with some 'friends-of-friends'. It is a small world that we live in! Last weekend we went to the Old Idaho Penitentary, built in 1870 and used until 1973, it made us glad we didn't have to live there! The kids have all been sharing one bedroom, which has gone surprisingly well, this is just another sign that we serve a God of grace and miracles and that many prayers have been said on our behalf!

So what exactly does one do when they are here for standardization training? Well, first of all you get to spend one week in a classroom learning all about the plane you will be flying and how MAF expects you to do things. This translates into lots of homework, studying and test writing. For the next three weeks, you take all the classroom theory and turn it into practical application, learning how to land, takeoff and turn in really tiny spaces. Not so that you can be some crackpot that is off doing nutty things all the time, but to learn what you and your airplane are and aren't capable of doing. They take their forty years of experience flying this plane and give it all to you.

Setting up a low pass to make an airdrop.

Target zone for airdrop

Learning to stop quickly...and safely

We have been so blessed to be here in Boise, Idaho. God continues to amaze us as He blesses us with the opportunity to be a part of building His kingdom. It will never cease to amaze me how He is willing to take such an imperfect vessel as myself and allow me to be a part of His awesome plan for this world.

Finally, a moment to fill you in!

To say things have been a little crazy the last few weeks would be putting it mildly. Since we last updated you we have participated in a missions conference in Three Hills, stripped and shingled the roof at Tami's parents house, packed up all our wordly belongings and put them in storage and then moved to Boise Idaho for the next four weeks. Tami commented that after 21yrs of being married we can still put all of our stuff into one bedroom and that includes all the kids stuff as well! God has graciously allowed us to be mobile and not get too encumbered with stuff...at least that is what we tell ourselves.

Since we have been in Boise I, Gary, have been hitting the books and taking ground school classes at MAF US that will help prepare me for the unique flying conditions encountered overseas. I haven't spent that much time in class and doing homework since...I don't know when! It has been great, the instructors and staff have been fantastic and I am excited about getting in the plane on Monday and starting to fly. The guys that I will get to fly with are truly some of the best in the world when it comes to flying the Cessna 206. I look forward to soaking up as much of their teaching as possible.
As far as Tami and the kids go they have been settling into the home schooling routine. We are in a two bedroom condo so the kids are sharing a room. They have been just awesome about it, we thank God daily for the amazing kids He has blessed us with.

We do have one thing that you could all pray about. My passport is on its' way to Angola, which typically isn't that big of a problem. However, something has malfunctioned at the junction and it is taking somewhat of a circuitous route to get there. To give you an idea of that route I have included where it has been and where it is as of October 29th.
October 18 Calgary
October 19 Wilmington Ohio
October 19 Toronto
October 19 Guadalhara, Mexico
October 20 Wilmington Ohio
October 20 New York, NY
October 20 Brussels, Belgium
October 23 Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 24 Mexico City
October 25 Wilmington Ohio
October 25 New York, NY
October 25 Brussels, Belgium
October 26 Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 27 Mexico City
October 28 Wilmington Ohio
October 28 New York, NY
October 29 Brussels, Belgium

Some day it will make for a really funny story, which it kind of is right now, but we really need it to get to Angola so they can take care of my work visa. Thanks for all your prayers and support we'll update you next week on how things are going and the saga of the passport. Drop us a line and tell us what you are up to, we would love to hear from you all!

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far
side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
Ps139:9-10