Kiswahili

A new evening ritual involves index cards, quizzes, and brand new words. We usually spend the last 10 minutes around the dinner table going over Swahili words and phrases. It goes with saying that the kids do really well at it. Grace is tatu years old.
Breanna has got me seriously thinking about the Rosetta Stone Swahili program. It's a little pricey, but it doesn't require scratching words onto index cards, so it might go a little faster.

Another video

Below is a video off of the AIM-AIR website. We added a poll on the right. This is something I am playing around with. Look for weekly updates...




We are also adding some videos to our kid's blog. We couldn't script these any funnier even if we wanted to!

Mr.Glass

When last we we posted, it was broken glass we were cleaning out of of our family ride. This time, it's a bit more beautiful.



Jerry has completed his first custom panel, on his own -his design!
I think it's gorgeous, but we're throwing it out there on e-bay to see what he can get for his hard work! If you're interested in seeing it, or bidding, here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330082146037&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:2
the auction will end next Sunday evening (at least for those of us in the western hemisphere)

White, beautiful, cold, and treacherous

At a quarter to six I drove down a stretch of elevated highway near downtown Wichita - my typical afternoon commute home. I noticed I was unusually tense and a sore neck reminded me why.
Two days earlier we enjoyed some rare snow time by taking the kids and two friends to go sledding. On the way home the volume in the car was boisterous and rising! I tried a diversion by turning on a CD of South African music, hoping to quiet down conversation (not a brilliant idea, more of a tired feeble attempt!)
Grace was not happy with all the noise, and I made further adjustments to the stereo. On a straight stretch of downtown flyover, with ice and snow remnants left by the plow, the land cruiser started drifting sideways. I pictured the rear tires frantically clawing at pellets of ice, trying to establish traction.
I tried to correct, and the swerve became aggravated and in the opposite direction as my confidence in our four-wheel-drive icon of invulnerability flew out the window.
We started a spin while sliding towards the left shoulder. Past 90 degrees the front right corner of the bumper hit the cement barrier, keeping us squarely from a 15 plus foot drop. The car bounced off this rotated further and hit the back right corner with an unforgiving, resolute crunch.
I remember disappointment when I heard that sound. It wasn't a bright crunch, like someone biting down on a crisp taco. It was dull and painful. Perhaps the immediate thought of bending metal made me wince inside.
Judging by the sore necks Olivia and I have, at that moment our bodies must have strained against seatbelts.
We stopped, facing east, on the left shoulder as snow flakes continued to fall. Fortunately no other traffic was nearby. I crossed over to the right shoulder and stopped to gather my thoughts.
Breanna noticed our spare tire was back in the left shoulder. It took some time to calm down the kids. A firm "We are OK. We are stopped and we are going to be alright" seemed to work.
Walking across the slick highway made me wonder if I really wanted to cross it again, between spaces in traffic, with the tire . I thought of dropping it off the overpass to pick it up down below, but I didn't think it would fare too well and who knows where it would bounce!
I got back to the car. As I started tying up a now dragging piece of trim, the highway patrol pulled up. They wanted me to exit the highway and meet with them at a convenient parking lot to fill out the accident report.
Aside from being sore and rattled, no one was hurt, and we give all the credit to God. The car damage could have been worse, and if anything, it re-awakened me to the realities of driving in poor conditions, even in a four wheel drive tank of a car.
Our daily reality, regardless of whether we remember it or not, is we must trust God in everything. I can't explain why this needed to happen right now, but I know He has in His hands the way to Nairobi, body panels for the Land Cruiser, and the lives of our family and friends. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
I love seeing the snow covered lanes under trees sporting highlighted branches. But, maybe, Spring would be nice ...

And we're off ... 2007!

Over half way through January and this year is tearing along! From a week long Christmas break, it is back to a familiar routine with freshly sprung challenges. And the silent questions in all our hearts ... what are you up to and when do you leave?

This is my quick attempt to answer. The rosy new year persuaded us to become serious about exercising the body, mind and soul (unfortunately a new diet idea didn't stick), making time for family, and preparing for our journey.

The best way we prepare is to pay off debt. A great opportunity has realized and I occasionally moonlight as a stain-glass-window-maker-apprentice. My good friend, David Strouse, runs the custom window department at a nearby glass shop, and I enjoy learning the trade and hanging out with him. I will write more about this later.

A couple evenings a week Olivia and I work through a kids book called “Let's Move Overseas.” I love spending time one on one with her and watch the apprehension ease from her shoulders as she adjusts to the idea of leaving Kansas.

I enrolled in a class called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, which I was very excited about. Unfortunately, the class was canceled after the first week.

We have been reading. These books relate to our new vocation and my existing one. My books have been The Emotionally Healthy Church, My American Journey (Colin Powell's autobiography), Who Moved My Cheese?, and Revolution (by George Barna). More on this later, as well.

Our plans are (come August): sell the house, leave Cessna, and join Proclaim Aviation for a year (pending official acceptance). From there, we will (God willing) complete the technical evaluation and leave with AIM-AIR as full time missionaries. This will likely be our last winter in Kansas for a long time.

The family is well, aside from the sniffles and sore throats. Isaiah mastered walking ... and walking away with whatever his little hands find. Breanna started a unit study with the girls on Africa (something Olivia requested), and we slowly work on packing up the house.

I can tell this is going to be an exciting year! I feel like a wooden ship driven by a strength I can feel but not touch. It fills the sails and tightens the ropes which strain to pull this mortal vessel on a tightly steered course. And over the bow comes the crash of waves and salty air filled with adventure and purpose. Hang on ... and thanks for coming aboard with us!

-Jerry

Christmas Joys & God's Creatures

Christmas morning we (the 5 of us & Jerry's folks) all enjoyed a special treat! After weeks of viewing the Botswana waterhole, that's linked at right, we had only seen impalas, warthogs and birds. So on Jesus' birth-day, what a gift we got in seeing a herd of elephants at the water hole, with 4 babies!

We then visited our local zoo and got to see our lion showing off his bravado... roaring at us. Maybe all these animals reminding us of Africa, where we will continue to journey toward throughout this New Year!

We ended our relaxing Christmas by watching the Nativity Story. We pray your Christmas was just as blessed! May you bask in His love daily!

Planning for the road ahead

Since our trip to New York and our AIM Candidate Week, we investigated a ministry called Proclaim Aviation. Their passion is to get ready, willing, and able missionary pilots and mechanics out into the field as quickly as possible.
Currently our plan is to go to Kenya with AIM-AIR as short term missionaries. The purpose of this is two-fold:

1. Gain required A&P maintenance technician experience so I can go with AIM full time as a pilot mechanic, and
   
2. Get a preview of life in Nairobi and serving with AIM.

After that I will return to work at Cessna. During this time I would get back up to speed as a pilot and work on passing the Technical Evaluation. This rigorous test determines if I am accepted as a pilot/ mechanic or not. I am guessing this process will take a year. We would still have some of our school loans when we leave for Kenya full time.

Proclaim Aviation offers us is a chance to spend a year in sunny Minnesota. I will be essentially a missionary for them and obtain my A&P maintenance technician experience I need, as well as stay current with my flying, and they will help us pay off our school loans. After a year with them we will be ready to jump into the Technical Evaluation and then leave for Kenya full time, probably six months ahead of our original schedule and not carrying our student loans.

We would miss the six month preview of Kenya.

I have posted a link to Proclaim's latest newsletter on the right. It features a superb story from AIM-AIR pilot Matt Olson.

We have prayed over this decision and met with our Prayer Advisory Group. But we want to know: What are your thoughts? Original plan or plan B? Proclaim values missionary aviation and believes that the demand is on the increase. Leave a comment or send us an e-mail regarding our plans or your thoughts on mission aviation and long road to get out on the field.

Reach Africa - AIM International

Check out the newest video from Africa Inland Mission. It captures where AIM is today and where we are going.

Suntan to frostbite in a half hour span

Watching the weather is a large part of being a pilot. The past three days have been hard not to notice. Tuesday was sunny in the 70's. The next morning was 50 degrees colder, and brought sleet. We now have a beautiful coating of dry powder. Topped by a cold, clear night sky.

I am not sure if I will miss the snow, winter, and temperatures changing by the minute. Either way, it makes for a striking temperature map.
All temperatures are given in degrees Fahrenheit with apologies to friends across the border.

At the gate

I am sitting at Kansas City International airport. Breanna and the kids are going to be here any minute after an extended stay with cousins and Uncle Glen and Aunt Maria. Of course the house is clean, the dishes washed, the laundry clean ... maybe that was just a dream.

Genesis reflection

Rain. Dishes. Commercials. Tears. Counsel. Testimonies. Ping. Pong. Coffee. Strong. Groups. Prayer. Singing. George of the Jungle. Walks in the desert.
Memories of a beginning. Words can describe and even relate, but they can't capture. Not fully. The new bonds that were formed, mixed with the sobering reminder that our next steps are not intended to be easy or safe. They begin a journey of exhilaration, wanting to escape, wanting to resist, and belonging. These steps will also leave footprints into eternity. It's what life is about.

Tidbits learned during Candidate Week:

• Allow enough room to see the rear tires of the car in front of you. If you have to, this gives you room to turn around.
• Plan out everything your family needs to say goodbye to.
• Fried corn bought roadside (if it is still hot) is OK to eat.
• At least in Wichita, Kenyans may refer to donuts as "Police Food."
• AIM covers ALL the bases!
• We can look forward to having a house help.

The best part? Sharing these days with collegues -- the seasoned veterans with stories to share and others like us: on the brink of something entirely new.

AIM Candidate Week - Man of sorrows

Yesterday and today we had morning sessions as a large group of AIM candidates. Yesterday, this was followed by a tour of the AIM facilities. Growing up in the Wide World of Wycliffe, I was surprised and impressed by the fact that the department offices were all in the same 3 story building as our dorm rooms. All the creativity and resources I had been using and displaying were generated in a handful of office rooms down below by a handful of staff personnel. Incredible!
Today we met with a counselor to go over the results of our personality tests we had completed several weeks ago. Tests of many many questions; from the obscure, to the very personal, to the obvious. Some points of discussion were hard, even discouraging, but nothing was suprising. The conclusion is passed on to the directors to decide how we should proceed. Tiring though it was, I appreciate the thoroughness of all the preparation work we are going through.
In our morning session we were told about grieving and loss. Understanding what we will be losing as we leave for Africa. Understanding how we can prepare. Understanding that it is normal. Understanding that Jesus was aquainted with grief, and did not cover it up or hide it. Not that any of this makes it easier, it just passes quicker.

NYC is people. Lotsa lotsa people. And also the statue of "Libervy"

Today was our first full day in New York. We hung our hats in Pearl River last evening. This is the Africa Inland Mission - US headquarters ... and to be honest, very charming. The kids love the playground and trees.
Today we had free time. The ONE thing we all wanted to see was Lady Liberty. Phil and Heather Enoch, AIM staff members, watched Izzy, while we took the girls on a hectic public transportation hopping adventure.
11 am: Pizza downtown Pearl River
12:50 First bus we saw going to NYC drove right past the bus stop.
1:20 pm: A two hour bus ride to 41 St. Grace read a book about what she called "The Statue of Liverby."
3:30 pm: A walk to time square,
3:45 pm: a jaunt on the subway to South Ferry.

4:30 pm: Then we boarded Staten Island Ferry. Got some great pics as the sun was low over the water and really lit up the statue.

5pm: Exited the ferry than ran around back into the terminal to re-board.
5:30pm: Back down to the subway to get to Penn Station.
5:45pm: On a NJ Transit train to come back north.
6pm: Missed a transfer at Secaucus Junction.
6:20 pm: A conductor told us we were on the wrong train. We should get off and catch one going back.
6:50 pm: The opposite train didn't go to Secaucus. So we went to Hoboken.
7:20pm: We got off the train to hear "Final call" our next train.
7:25pm: Sprinted with kids onto the train.
8:30 pm: Arrived in Pearl River. Dr. Ted Barnett picked us up and even bought us KFC! We missed supper and our first meeting for Candidate Week.

When I asked what the first meeting covered I found out it was just the vision and purpose of AIM. Great!

Stuff

At night I can hear them calling. In the morning they grab onto me as I head out the door. Stuff is everywhere! We are in the magnificently sobering task called "sorting". Most won't make the cut. The more digging in obscure places where things are, the higher the yard sale pile grows!
The release is exhilerating, and the mission ahead of us hits home. Saying goodbye to odds and ends we thought would make a home and ready to jump into the ultimate cause.

The excitement is building inside the house ... thoughts of people across Africa knowing and enjoying a God that compels us to move out of what we thought was a home.

Going to bootcamp.

The stall warning wailed, the tires chirped, and the radio crackled: “Turn right at end of runway. Contact ground.” We had landed in Colorado! The pilot, a friend and Cessna coworker, Rob Young, taxied the Cessna single engine airplane to parking.

The weekend of August 4& 5, Breanna and I enjoyed the mountains, rested, and prepared. Monday and Tuesday were long days as we attended a fund raising training conference in Denver. They call it “Boot Camp” for a reason. We listened, role-played, and formed a strategy for the next months. The preparation “home work” was rigorous, but our excitement is growing as we imagine the next three months.

We want to be prepared when we leave for Kenya. I see the conference as training for team building. We have to build a team to “go with us” since we can not do this on our own. By taking this time for training now, I am excited by how much more potential our ministry will have. In fact, I want to share what we have learned with other missionaries.

We're Going To Africa

Tonight we found ourselves gazing at an Arizona desert sunset. The mountains around us lit in waning light under a dramatic backdrop of storm clouds above. This beautiful ending to the day fit perfectly with our time here in Peoria with family, attending a mission conference at Grace Bible Church in Sun City. We spend our time with Mom and Dad Hurd, Gweni and her husband John and brand new daughter Sierra, as well as Uncle Chuck Burton and Great Aunt Clarice Mayfield. Catching up with relatives is always very interesting and we are meeting many devoted supporters of both my parents and Gweni's family.
It is moving to be reminded of how my relatives have been involved in missions, from the Navajo nation, to the mountains of Pakistan. I heard my Uncle Chuck Burton describe the work in their clinic and his deep concern and love for the Pakistani people, even though he no longer lives there.
This has been a great opportunity for us to share with our friends the news that we have been accepted to Africa Inland Mission for a short term assignment. We are planning on leaving in November, 2006 and I will be working at the AIM-AIR hangar in Nairobi, Kenya as an aircraft mechanic. We are humbled and encouraged by the support of Dale Beverly, the AIM Kansas representative, who recommended to AIM-AIR we do this, even though i do not have all the necessary experience. Since receiving my Airframe & Powerplant mechanics license at LeTourneau University, I haven't worked as a mechanic, and instead have been busy as an Electrical Engineer at Cessna Aircraft, which will also be valuable experience to have on the field. This assignment in Africa will give me the chance to get my hands dirty again and to also allow us to become acquainted with AIM-AIR and with Kenya. AIM-AIR will also have the chance to know us and observe my work while we serve there. God willing, we will return next year and be ready to take the next steps to be full-time AIM missionaries.