Holding on to "things" lightly

Just the other night the boys were playing upstairs with a friend.  While we adults were visiting downstairs, we weren't worried about what could be happening one floor above us.  Unfortunately when we did go upstairs to see just what was going on, we saw the tv screen with several white marks across it, and realized the kids had been hitting it with the Wii remotes.  Even more unfortunately it was not just marked up, but the screen had shattered inside!  Though we do not know who initiated or how they got it in their heads to do that (we have never seen them try to do that before), it was a good time to talk about responsibility and consequences (for as much as a 2 and 3 yr old can understand).

Even though a television is a frivolous item, it reminded us about the importance of holding on to our "things" lightly.  We have not even begun the process of going through our things to prepare for Indonesia, so another blog on this might be forthcoming as we process through all the "things" we will be letting go of as we get ready for our travels overseas.  We are thankful that in Christ we have been given all things, even the mysteries of God, and as we pray for an eternal perspective on life we can let go of the things that tie us to this earth/culture.

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."  Colossians 3:1-2

Let the presenting begin!

 This week Tyler had the opportunity to share at our church's Awana program about his role as a missionary pilot to Indonesia.  He did a great job "flying in" for the talk with them and letting the kids pretend to be crocodiles, trees, and mountains that he had to fly over to get to the village in the jungle.  

 Anyone know where Indonesia is?

 Sharing with the TNT (3-6th grade) kids.  

Who doesn't love airplanes?!

What a blessing to share how MAF uses aviation to share the love of Christ.  Praying that the kids took away more than just "wow, airplanes are so cool!" and realized what a privilege it is that they are memorizing Scripture when many others don't have it in their own language yet. 

Our NEW Job

Dear friends,

Over these past two weeks we are getting settled back into our "home" (for now) and figuring out what a routine looks like for our family.  And no, we don't have it figured out yet!  If you're wondering, "so, what IS their new job?"  I will try my best to describe what it looks like as we prepare for this journey to Indonesia.

Tyler (and I) are doing "Ministry Partnership (MP)" full-time.  What that entails is at least 50 hours a week of various activities that involve the spiritual, relational, and physical aspect of actively raising a team of partners around us to financially and prayerfully support us in our ministry with MAF.

It can look like...
LOTS of phone calls to family, friends, churches, and even people we don't know.
Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.  Trying to keep track of what we've done, are doing, and need to do in the future is quite a lot of work.
Writing letters and emails of all kinds
Securing times to share our ministry with friends and at churches
Taking trips for the purpose of these speaking engagements and sharing opportunities (in the future)
And eventually, packing, shopping, prepping for the BIG move, including getting passports, visas, vaccines, etc...

Now for myself (Renae), I want to be a part of the MP process as much as possible, but my full-time main job is still being Mom and wife.  I am working at establishing a better daily routine for me and the boys, as well as getting Caleb used to his new "chore chart" and trying a few pre-school activities with him a couple times a week.  And, of course, I am feeling to "urge to purge", or, get organized and get rid of stuff before this new baby comes!  At almost 35 weeks I feel more than ready for the baby to come, but there is still a lot of organization to do, plus maybe gather a few girl clothes for our new daughter.  Not that she can't wear boy things...but...it IS our first girl.  :-)

There is a little snippet of our life right now.  Ask in another few weeks and it might look quite different!

Renae for the Schmidts

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Our dear friends Matt and Ellie leave for their final trianing

with MAF and then for Indonesia in a couple months!

Our last evening with them and the kids...if we don't

end up on the same base, at least we'll be in the same country!

We'll miss them greatly.

Aaron has always loved to kiss everyone...

maybe a pre-wedding picture?!

MAF Winter Candidacy

After a wild ride from Spokane to North Dakota, back to Spokane for one day, then down to Nampa all during Christmas break, we are finally here at the Mission Aviation Headquarters in Nampa, Idaho for a 4-week long candidacy class.

Candidacy can be split into two sections that look like this:

•  2-week long "engagement" time with MAF; during this time we learn more about MAF and it's operations and locations, and they learn about us and determine where to place us.  At the end of this time (this coming Tuesday, to be exact!) we will find out where we will be serving and also become full-time staff missionaries with MAF.
• 2-week long Ministry Partnership training;  during this time we will learn the basics of raising a support team around us, including putting together presentations, preparing newsletters, and much more.

 

Our Candidacy Class of 11 families

We are just about finished with our first week, and while it is exhausting and busy every day, we love the process of gaining a deeper understanding of MAF's mission and how that is accomplished.  If you are unfamiliar with MAF as an organization, please check out their website, https://www.maf.org/, or email us with questions, we would love to share with you the fantastic impact MAF is having on the world through the ministry of aviation.

One of the best parts of our training so far is the close community and friendships we are developing with our classmates.  There are 11 families in this class, so it is fairly large, and we all are enjoying sharing our hearts about where we feel God leading us and sharing a deep connection of going into overseas ministry of the same kind.

Please pray:
-for continued stamina as we still have 3 more weeks of intense training.
-for the candidacy committee over the weekend and on Monday, when they will decide where to place each family on the field.  We look forward to sharing the news with each of you soon!

praising God,
the Schmidt's

The outside to our cozy apartment

Kids playing amid our attempts to unpack

Spending quality time with Uncle Kyle one last time

Renae showing off our fireplace

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

We have spent the last month with the high anticipation of Christmas, seeing family, preparing for two long trips of travel, and making sure we are ready for our candidacy classes with MAF starting January 7. 
 

Caleb looking out at the scenery on the train

We spent 20 hours on a train traveling to North Dakota to spend almost two weeks with Renae's family for Christmas.  What can we say except that the boys LOVED the train so much it almost made Caleb cry to leave it.  He continues to talk about the train ride, and when we ask him if he needs to go potty he says, "I already did on the train!".  Let's hope it hasn't been 5 days since he last went!  With lots of little toddlers around we enjoyed a cold but uplifting time in North Dakota.  Renae's family continues to expand, with 8 grandkids already and two more on the way, there will soon be 10 kids and 8 adults!  While we enjoyed lots of time playing with the kids, we also played many games as adults and enjoyed sweet  fellowship.

Less than two days after we got home to Spokane on the train, we packed up (half our house it seems!) and drove to Nampa to spend the next 5 weeks here.  We are enjoying our last vacation time with Tyler's family and soon will move into the MAF apartments for the next 4 weeks of candidacy.  While we are excited about this next phase, there are a lot of transitions for us and the kids that we would appreciate your prayers for.  Especially all the moving from house to house to the one-room apartment we'll be in soon, and also for the kids to adjust to not being with Mommy and Daddy all day for the next four weeks as we will be in classes.  By the middle of January we should also find out where we will be going, and appreciate your prayers during this time while they examine all the candidates and pray about where to send us.

Opening gifts with the kids

 

 Trying to get kids to pose is like herding cats, but we did get a good one

The Wissink family portrait

 Caleb and Aaron hanging out in the stable

High chair row

 A stable of Schmidt's

 Playing our new card game "Dominion"

 The whole Schmidt clan together for supper

 

Kids playing with Uncle Trevor and Aunt Kristen

Successful Technical Evaluation!

It is hard to express just how excited and relieved I am to have successfully completely the MAF Technical Evaluation!  We arrived in Nampa, Idaho on October 7th and began the two weeks of testing on Monday the 8th.  To begin, Renae and I had our official interview with the MAF candidacy committee first thing Monday morning.  We enjoyed the time to share our hearts and also ask some of our own questions with the candidacy committee.  Immediately following that meeting I began the flight evaluations, starting with an oral test and continuing with different flight operations throughout the week.  We had a full day of doing psychological evaluation, both written and an interview.  On Friday afternoon of week one I was told that I would be recommended for flight (meaning I passed).

Week two was full-time maintenance evaluations.  This encompassed doing written, oral, research, working on the aircraft and other projects too.  Through God's grace I was able to show MAF that I am competent to be recommended for maintenance as well!  Friday afternoon we had our final interview with the committee and were officially invited back for candidacy in January.  During that time we will become officially accepted by MAF, be assigned to a country, and go through training to prepare us for full-time support raising.  In all, we will be there about four weeks beginning January 7th.

While we praise God for a successful completion of TE, we were also blessed in many other ways during our time at MAF.  We enjoyed staying with my parents, and the kids had a blast spending time with "Lita" and "Buelo" (grandma and grandpa).  We all went to the zoo the first weekend we were there, a first for the kids!  We also enjoyed having a few dinners with some of my high school classmates from Ecuador who happen to live in the area.  Renae was able to volunteer at MAF one morning, and attend the chapels both weeks.  We connected with some other TE candidates who will become our classmates and good friends when we return in January.  It will be a very special connection.

Thank you so much for all your prayers during this time!  Please continue praying as we prepare for a lot of traveling coming December and January, as well as the process of joining MAF and their decision on which country to send us.

Upcoming Technical Evaluation

Hello Everyone!

We are excited to share/remind everyone that the "test time" has finally snuck up on us!  As we have shared in our last letter's timeline, Tyler is scheduled to take his technical flight/maintenance test with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in just a few short weeks, beginning October 8.  We can hardly believe how quickly the time has gone and are excited about all the maintenance experience Tyler has gained while working in the shop at Moody Aviation.  In another week Tyler will be solely spending time preparing for the TE for the two weeks before his test.  He will be doing some book study, more maintenance work, and some flight training with a specific instructor in order to help him be ready for what he will be tested on by the MAF testers. 

We would specifically ask you to pray with us NOW during these last few weeks of preparation and also during the test time.

Tyler's two weeks of intense preparation begin September 24. 
Pray for: 
-concentration and retention
-motivation
-adequate sleep and health

We will leave for TE on October 7, driving to Nampa, ID and staying with Tyler's parents during the two week test.

Tyler's TE testing starts on October 8. 
Please pray:
-continued good health and sleep
-ability to think well under stress
-remembrance of all things studied and experienced
-calm, confidence, and grace
Also during these two weeks both of us will experience interviews with MAF committees.  Pray that we would be able to communicate effectively and clearly as we express our desire to serve the Lord in overseas missions and as we undergo emotional, spiritual, and psychological interviews.

Please know that we GREATLY value your prayers and support, and look forward to connecting more with you all in the future.  We are excited about the possibility of joining MAF very soon, and are trusting the Lord's plan for our lives, which sometimes might be different than our own!  As soon as we are able, we will send out an update after Technical Evaluation.

Praising God for you,

Tyler, Renae, Caleb, and Aaron Schmidt