Schmidt Journey: August 2011

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Rain or Shine

Day two was a little wetter than yesterday. We had just started to set up when the rain clouds started to come in and we had to wait out the rain.

The Kodiak getting a little wet

The Nate Saint's Piper Super Cub (replica) with a wing of the piper cub that was in the "End of the Spear" movie

Alisha, Ken and Anna waiting out the storm and getting some paper work done

Rain, rain, go away....

Thunder storm clouds building while we were flying

All in all this was a great weekend over here at Smoketown. We had a safe conclusion to the airshows and gave rides to about 100 people. I was able to meet some old friends from Moody and spend part of a day with them and also meet some new people as well in between giving safety briefings for rides.

One such person I met was very interested in missionary work and how the airplanes could do such radical maneuvers such as land on short sloped mountain airstrips. After a while our conversation steered from airplanes to spiritual things and I realized that this man wasn't a Christian. Even though we were at a missionary aviation fest there were people at the event that were not believers but were curious onlookers of what we do. That drove the point home that there is a mission field in every heart and soul that we talk to and even though this man was not very open to talking about Christ, I pray that the seed that was planted will not return void.

Thank you for your prays as we continue to travel and give rides. Please pray that Renae will be able to handle our very energetic two year old Caleb and our newest addition Aaron till I get back.

Smoketown PA, Missionary Air Festival

The Spokane Turbine Center crew has arrived in Smoketown PA, and have been busy giving rides and giving safety briefings to passengers before they take their rides. That is my job, to give a safety talk to the passengers about how to operate the doors, where the fire extinguishers are, what to do in an emergency, how the seat belts worked and how not to throw up. Sort of like a glorified airline stewardess :)

Talking to folks about the Kodiak

Giving the next ride a safety briefing

Loading the passengers

Helping put on the seat belts

A little girl excited about her first flight

Passengers are all set and ready for lift off, Tyler just needs to get out of the airplane

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Kodiak in Rugby, ND!

after landing at the Rugby Municipal Airport

Who would have thought that the fabulous Kodiak airplane would fly to my hometown of Rugby, ND? Yesterday, on the 18th, we flew directly from Spokane to Rugby in less than 4 hours. This was the first leg of the long Kodiak tour that Tyler, his supervisor Ken, administrator Alycia, and Ken's daughter Anna are on. The four of them will take the Kodiak to Smoketown, PA where they will participate in a mission aviation airshow and give rides on the Kodiak. After several days here, they will continue on to Michigan and Colorado before returning to ND to pick up me and the boys to return to Spokane. During the course of the tour they will continue giving Kodiak rides to students, friends, church groups, families, and others interested in learning more about Spokane Turbine Center and the Kodiak. If you are interested in finding out more about their schedule, contact me or Tyler and we will let you know where they will be at and when.

During this tour please pray:

-protection for the pilots and guests
-good sleep and energy so the pilots will be safe
-that the Lord will lead hearts to support STC's ministry and/or get excited about mission aviation
-good weather for flying
-me (Renae) and the boys as we stay with family but are without husband and father for 11 days!

We are so thankful that Rugby ended up being "on the way" for this trip. I know God would give me the grace to have taken care of the boys alone during this time, but I am so happy that He worked it out that my family can help take care of us too!