Awesome morning at MAF headquarters!

Almost 25 years ago, my daughter Anna and I were on a mission trip to Zaire, Africa (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). She was 16 at the time. On two occasions we flew out of Kananga on a small four seater single prop airplane piloted by a Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) pilot. At the time, MAF's headquarters were in California. MAF sold it property and facilities in CA and moved its headquarters to Nampa, Idaho. Here, in Nampa, they built a state of the art facility for training missionary pilots, developing worldwide communications with other helping agencies, housing missionary pilots and their families on furlough, and overhauling as needed their more than 200 planes now in service in countries around the world.

This morning Helen and I and two new friends visited the MAP headquarters in Nampa. We were privileged to hear Astronaut/Commander Patrick Forrester who just recently completed his third shuttle mission to the space station 240 miles above the earth. We also were given an up-close and personal tour of the MAF facilities.
NOTE THIS! 'Through Gates of Splendor' is the book and movie of the five missionary men who flew into Ecuador and, upon finding the tribe they sought, tried to share the gospel with the leaders of the tribe. The five men were brutally murdered. Later their wives followed them to Ecuador, lived among the tribe that killed their husbands, and brought the leaders of the tribe to saving faith in Christ. (See also the book 'Jungle Pilot'.)

The son of the leader of the murdered five men returned to Ecuador in 1995 and found the remains of the small airplane his father flew in Ecuador. We were privileged to see the plane now in display in MAF's headquarters in Nampa. The frame, seat and some instruments are still intact. (The son later met and had Christian fellowship with the tribe chief who years before had speared his father to death.)

In 2008, the MAF fleet of 122 aircraft executed 88,200 flights, logged more than 6.7 million miles, transported 245,687 passengers and delivered 19.8 million pounds of cargo -- all on 2,812 rough, unimproved dirt and grass airstrips as well as waterways. MAF's learning technologies supported more than 39 ministries in 25 countries. More than 2,000 pastors were trained in digital resources.
MAF has enormous connections all over the world and is on top of any international catastrophy. They are usually the first ones into a catastrophy such as the tsunami a few years ago. We saw a wall size computer board lighting up all over the world that keeps them in touch everywhere. They have an International Operations office here at the facility in Nampa, Idaho. It is obviously a very dedicated mission work around the world.

If you can or want to fly,you can fly for Christ with Mission Aviation Fellowship.



Every 6 minutes, in some of the most remote places on earth, a MAF aircraft either takes off or lands. 54,187 pounds of precious mission cargo is delivered daily.
We are simply awed by discovering this mission ministry in our backyard, and realizing these are the guys/gals who flew Anna and me across African jungle several times. What a truly awe-inspiring morning it was, Commander Forrester and the tour.

Here is MAF's website. Check it out. www.maf.org

BLIND SIDE

Have a wonderful, happy, safe Thanksgiving and between turkey breaks, go to see the movie "Blind Side". It will complete your holiday.

From just beyond the Bitteroot Mountains in the Owyhee's,

22 degrees at wake up time, no snow and sunny. Warming up to 50's today.
Kids are not happy. They want to go skiing.

All the blessings of life!

Helen

(sometimes known as Sacawajea)

Another Church Leader Caves

Mark Achtemeier, ordained minister and professor at Dubuque Theological Seminary, once an outspoken opponent of gay ordination, has switched sides in the debate. He now supports the ordination of practicing gays in the PCUSA. Achemeimer has prostituted himself to the left wing of our church, seeking the approval of his politically correct peers, claiming experience outweighs Scripture. How sad!

Life in the Desert

Though we live in close proximity of the town of Caldwell, Idaho, we are constantly reminded that we live in the desert. We've been on these endless roads before as we travel Idaho and surrounding states. And, we've seen horses by the thousands. Even in town horses can be seen in a corner lot, or grazing in huge pastures. And there are beautiful farms throughout our immediate area and 1000s upon 1000s of acres readied for planting.We just love it here 'out west' and know there is so much more for us to see and experience, from mountains to awesome sunsets. Helen is making an album on Idaho pics we will post later.
We'll be here in Idaho until January 1, 2010, then will head south to Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and the likely head east for Mississipp and Georgia to see family and friends.

Why?

Why is there no tort reform in the new (today's) Senate health bill? Because the lawyers are in the pockets of the Dems. Why is there no cross state lines competition for health insurance in the new (today's) Senate health bill? Because the insurance companies are in the pockets of the Dems. Why no outrage?

Excellent Sermon & Worship Experience Today

Worship at Covenant Presbyterian today was a very meaningfuyl experience. Helen and I attended the 10:45 service with a large crowd of worshipers. Phil Moran's sermon, entitled 'Jonah's Anger Problem', was right on re background, story telling and application. His most memorable lines, for me: "Jonah had hated (the Assyrians) so long he couldn't let the anger go. He didn't know how to live without his long held anger." For many of us, I included, long-held anger is a debilitating emotion. Phil reminded us that the cure for inappropriate anger is 'to give thanks'.

On being thankful: I am thankful tonight for Christ's love and mercy, for my wife who is God's gift to me, for my children and grandchildren, for my extended family, especially siblings, for my parents, for dear friends scattered east and west, for my upbringing in a Christian home, for teachers and mentors, for my health and for adequate resources to enjoy our retirement and our travels, and for much more.

Boise State Football Game

Last night we attended our first Boise State Broncos football game ... in an often freezing rain! The stadium was electric in spite of the weather. The No. 5 Broncos beat California at Davis.