You're doing what?!?

What do you make when you mix woods, people, airsoft, and a spoonful of fun?

 Can you spot the guy hiding?

Missionary work

Missionary work?!?

Well actually yes, missionary work.  I don't have to travel to a different continent to find someone that is in need of Jesus, just across town.

"Then saith He unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;"    Matthew 9:37 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)  (Thought I would go with a different version you're not used to reading! :o)

 MAF aircraft in Ecuador

Over the past couple of years I have been actively training to become a missionary in the technical aspect of flying.  However my training should not be limited to just planes, the whole reason I wanted to become a pilot (other than flying really cool aircraft) is for the PEOPLE that I will be SERVING while I am there.  

 Spokane Sunrise

Who am I serving now while I am here in Spokane, WA?  I have been thinking and struggling with this thought about being a witness while I am here state side.  It is hard to reach out to non-believers when my work, school and home life all consist of Christians.  Now, through the wisdom and humorous way that God works, He has shown me that even through airsoft I can reach out to others and share Christ with them.  Crazy huh?
 

Robby in his airsoft gear

Robby is a friend that I have been reaching out to and trying to show what the love of Jesus looks like.  We met last October with our common airsoft interest and have struck up a friendship in the meantime.  He is an ex-marine with a very colorful history, and has a hunger to have some stability in his life.  Over the past eight months I have helped him and his family move two times.  Although helping them only took my time and gas, to them I was the only one that actually cared more for them when their friends didn't.  Through these times of interacting with Robby I asked if he wanted to go to church with me.  He and his girlfriend have now been coming to church consistently for the past four months and hear the gospel preached weekly from the pulpit.  He is hungry to hear truth.  While we know that Jesus is Truth, Robby is still looking elsewhere for truth and finding only emptiness.  Many times he has told me "you have restored my faith in humanity" and I just want to scream that humanity is lost and only Jesus is the One you should put your faith in.  Although I don't scream I do try and redirect that I am a Christian and only am following the example that Jesus has given me.  Jesus is the only answer that will change our lives for good, not me, not more money, not a new house to live in.     

I have shared many times with them about their need for Jesus but they have not responded yet. Please pray with me for their salvation and that the Lord will grant them mercy and soften their hearts towards Him.  I want to see Robby turn away from the destructive path he is going down so that he will honor and glorify the Lord with his life.

Robby and I at an airsoft game

It is amazing how God can use a hobby that I LOVE to do and change it into an opportunity for me to share my faith with someone else.  I am excited and humbled by this chance to share with Robby.


Being a missionary now,

Tyler

Ever gotten a 147 ticket?

Well Moody Has!

 Part of the STC hangar floor used for the A&P school

Finally Moody Aviation in Spokane has their 147 "ticket" to now officially start airframe and power-plant maintenance classes.  This has been a long process and we are praising the Lord right now that this part of the process is complete.

 In lough of Moody getting their certificate I have been heavily involved with this "project" for the past three weeks and this last week I got to spend it in the blackest of caves....the parts room :)

Doesn't look like much but we organized and labeled everything

Another Tyler and I were tasked with trying to organize all the tools, parts, and consumables in this room.  Then put labels on the tools themselves and shelves and then create a tracking system for it on Microsoft Excel.  Needless to say it was a long process but so much fun to look back and see the progress we had made with all these new shiny yellow stickers everywhere.  Nothing makes a A.D.D person like me more happy than seeing shiny things everywhere. I think we went through 80 feet of labeling tape in this project.

Many happy hours spent at the desk printing labels and cataloging

A top view of a Cessna 150 being used as a project for the A&P students

Well I think I am going to get outside now and get some fresh air for a change.

Tyler

"Caveat Hostis"

141st Emblem. Caveat Hostis

This is the 141st Washington National Guard emblem atop their hangar located in Spokane WA.  Their motto in Latin was Caveat Hostis which means "let the enemy beware."  This statement was the dedication ceremony theme for the new Moody Bible Institute A&P (airframe and power plant) aircraft maintenance school.  The history of this Latin saying came from the Washington air national guard, who build the hangar in the 1930's for the purpose of preparing for war.  World War Two was just around the corner and many men who served and trained in this facility went to distant lands to protect their country.  Now the purpose has changed but we are still preparing for war, but this war is not against nations but against Satan for the eternal souls of man.

Moody is preparing men and women to go into inhospitable areas of the world with an expertise to repair and maintain aircraft so that missionaries can spread the gospel of Jesus to the dark places.  Most times the only missionary that the people will see will be the pilot who flies in and helps bring medical supplies to a village suffering from small pox or taking a loved one to hospital to save their life.  Without the proper training the effort to reach these people with the tool of aviation would be dramatically slowed and could take countless more years.

 

The old Air National Guard Hangar Moody is in

 

I am very excited to see the changes that are happening at the hangar from an old dusty storage area to a bright and vibrant training facility.  This is such a blessing to have this available for the students to come and learn from instructors that have been overseas and know what it is like to not only work on airplanes but minister to people as well.

Here are some of the before and after pictures.

Before

Before

After

After