Kodiak Tour

I (Tyler) just accepted to go along on part of the Spokane Turbine Center Kodiak Tour that is starting on August 13th in Grand Rapids Michigan and ending (for me) in Smoketown Pennsylvania on August 23rd. I am VERY excited to be able to fly the Kodiak while in route to the different destinations and get some turbine flight time. Some of my other responsibility on the tour will be to coordinate loading of passengers on flight tours in the Kodiak and manning a booth answering any questions about Spokane Turbine Center or about its wonderful yellow aircraft. This is a great opportunity for me but also means that I will be away from Renae and Caleb for about 10 days, which will be hard. The plan is for them to stay in ND with family till I return and then we will make our trek back to Spokane.

Today Caleb and Renae got to go and pick strawberries at one of our local fruit farms.  Although most of what Renae picked did make it home there were a few that were tasted for "quality" control by our "little man." Green Bluff  is a group of farms that in the summer and fall grow cherry's, peaches, apples, strawberries, pumpkins and all sorts of different fruit and vegetables that you can go out and pick yourself.  There is something special about going out into the field and selecting what you want fresh from the brush or tree. We have been coming here for almost three years and this is where we get our fruit that lasts us throughout the winter in the form of smoothies and homemade jam. Now that we have the fruit all that is left is washing, cutting, cooking and packaging the fruit into jams or freezing it for later.

Renae and Caleb: A Day at STC

Caleb and I just got to spend an entire day helping out at STC!  We braved the long day away from our normal routine in order to give the secretary a break, and also to be a part of a safety seminar that the STC staff are going through.  Most of the day was spent in the classroom for Tyler and the other staff, learning about emotional and mental safety for flying and living on the mission field.  The information was also helpful for me, what little I was able to sit in on!  There are so many ways that we need to prepare ourselves for that kind of service.  Often in every situation and relationship on the mission field, emotions, stress, challenges, trails, etc... are heightened.  For this reason we have to be even more prepared, especially our pilots, to have control over our minds and emotions to be able to deal safely with our situations and relationships.  The number one relationship with Christ has to be our priority to be able continue to serve others and not burn out.  We praise God that He is the one that gives us the strength and wisdom to deal with all this when the time comes!  Caleb enjoyed crawling the long halls of STC, rolling and chasing after his ball, while I answered phones, played with him, and listened to some of the classes.  We are so grateful to be a part of the ministry and training that STC is offering to missionary pilots and mechanics.  The men being trained here are already using these new tools where they are at overseas.  I am so thankful to have observed some of the things that they do here at STC! Although I will say...Caleb and I are BOTH ready to return to our normal routine at home tomorrow.  Whew!

We just graduated class 12 today from Spokane Turbine Center (STC). The entire course started on June 7th covering subjects like PT-6 engine familiarization and how to do in depth inspection on the engine, to Garmin 1000 maintenance practices and finally Kodiak Systems which is basically a class teaching some of the differences about the Kodiak compared to other aircraft. Sean Cannon (wearing the hat) has been here in Spokane for entire three weeks which is a long time to be away from his family.  We have had him over for supper several times (to make sure he wasn't getting thin) and even do other activities outside of the classroom setting together. Sean and his family will be going to Indonesia with MAF and the training he has taken at STC for the Kodiak will help him maintain the the aircraft in the harsh conditions of the jungle. Before going to Indonesia they will be in language school for about 9 months learn the language and the culture in which they will be living in.  You can pray from them as they transition from their home in Colorado to the islands of the Pacific.

MAF Kodiak passes through Spokane on its way to Nampa ID

A new Kodiak that was just delivered to Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) passed through Spokane on its way to the missions head quarters in Nampa ID.  It was neat to see yet another Kodiak ultimately going to end up somewhere in the world serving overseas as a tool for Jesus.  We had just finished a class of Spokane Turbine Center students and they were able to get a ride in this very new aircraft back to Nampa.  This past class was a lot of fun to get to know and find out more about where they were serving at and what kind of things they were doing in normal life overseas.  David Holsten was one of our students and guests in our house this month and he was from  Borneo Indonesia.  It was a great encouragement to talk and see pictures from where he is serving at, and to hear that life carries on in a somewhat normal way just like here in Spokane.  One thing that I may have taken away from our time with David is that we did not have a specific area in the world that we felt that God was nudging us to serve in.  Now that we know more about Indonesia we will see how that "seed" of interest will grow.

Thank you to all that are praying for us, we appreciate them very much in our day to day activities.  It is amazing looking back on certain events to see how God had protected us, like a near accident in a car, or provided a wonderful house and yard that we can grow our garden it!  God is good in times of plenty and in times of need, no matter what, the Schmidt family will choose to praise His Name.

Spring is still lingering here in the inland Northwest.  Although we are starting to see the signs of warmer weather coming with our grass growing long and our garden is starting to sprout from the ground.  Yes this year we are trying our hands at growing a garden. We have planted all sorts of veggies from corn to lettuce and even some cantaloupe.  At the moment just our corn and green beans are starting to peak through the soil, which makes us very excited to see that some things survived the few nights below freezing temps.

Renae has been busy keeping the house clean as students go through a three week classes Spokane Turbine Center (STC).  It has been so fun and encouraging to get to know these guys that have come from all over the world to train here on the Kodiak.  We can hear what their stories are about living overseas and what kind of struggles they go through adjusting to life in a different culture.  It helps us see where we want to be and how the Lord is directing the path that we are on even though we cannot see very far along the path.  Renae is also enjoying the days she has to see Caleb grow up and develop into a little boy.  He is starting to learn to crawl on his hands and knees but still prefers to scoot on his tummy.  Caleb is also discovering how to open and shut the doors on cupboards, but his favorite thing to do so far in the kitchen is when the fridge door is open to try and get his head into the blast of cool air flowing out.

Tyler has been working on changes in the Kodiak System curriculum for the next class which will emphasis maintenance aspect of the PT6 engine and the airframe of the Kodiak.  While he and Jeremy Toews (the other intern instructor at Spokane Turbine Center) have been chipping away at the curriculum and they have been trying to get some flight training in the Kodiak the week before classes where scheduled  to start up.  Regrettably the Kodiak was delayed in Sandpoint ID at the Quest aircraft factory for modifications, so Tyler will have to wait a little more till he can finish his training in it.  While not at work, the lawn has started to grow as well as the weeds.  So he is busy spraying and mowing the lawn trying to make it look good.  Tyler has also been given a Mazda pickup truck from a friend.  This new little project was totaled by the insurance company because it was rear ended and the bumper fell off and the frame was a little bent.  It has been a good learning experience to try and heat and bend metal back to where they will fit again.  This little truck comes at a very good time because the Buick that Tyler has been driving around is starting to really show its age after only 261,000 miles.  We are very thankful to get this gift from these very generous people.

Caleb dedication this past Sunday

Caleb was dedicated this past Sunday.  It was such a special time with friends and even some family (Ron & Anne Schmidt) attending the service.  During the dedication the pastor usually gives the meanings of the names of the babies while he holds them, and what he said about Caleb's name surprised us.  It means "dog" in Hebrew....of all the things to name our son we had to pick that one!  However we were naming him after Caleb in the Old Testament and didn't think of looking up the Hebrew definition.  However the character of the Biblical Caleb changes  definition of the name from "dog" to "tenacious dog" because of Caleb's faithfulness to God when everyone else around him shrank away.  Then to top it off they said my name's meaning, which is "roof layer" or "tile worker" because Caleb's name is Caleb Tyler Schmidt.  So now Caleb's full name is Tenuous dog "woof" layer ;).  It was very amusing but still meaningful for us to be charged to bring Caleb up in a home that is centered on Christ and a biblical based teachings.  I (Tyler) am just starting to feel the immensity of the job that my parents had when I was small.  I think God has a very humorous side because if Caleb is anything like I was when I was a kid we are going to be have some VERY interested life ahead of us.  Till next time...