Great Week!

Well just like it said, This is the end of a wonderful week, and a start to a wonderful weekend, or so I hope it is.

Well where to start.
Mom and Dad visited last weekend, we had fun.
Aaron visited middle of the week.
Had a birthday.
Attended an awesome convention in Louisville
Became a newly certificated Commercial Pilot.

Well Wednesday was my birthday. Tuesday night some friends made some dinner, and some cake. We had awesome cake and ice cream! Not to mention some sweet tacos! It was nice to just sit back, relax and hang out with some friends before heading home.  We stayed up till midnight, and I took my first drink at midnight.  No I didn’t get, nor do I plan to ever get drunk. One drink, that’s it. I don’t know that I really see anything super special about it.

Wednesday Allison, Aaron, Amber and I made our way to Louisville where we attended the North American Christian Convention. This was amazing! I wish I could have made it for some more seminars, and more of the worship session, but that didn’t happen so well.  We got to the Indiana Campus Ministry booth where we talked with a few people. We chose to eat early as none of us had ate anything that day. We opted for Hard Rock Cafe, which is always a neat place to eat.  Of course Allison told them it was my birthday, so everyone in the resteraunt (maybe 15 people) yelled happy birthday to me!  That night we got to worship with somewhere around 10,000 other Christians! It was so cool! The message that night was on “Grace that Saves.”  The guy brought out some awesome points.  He reminded us that we as humans are constantly chased by the phrase “Your Not Good Enough.” Which is true, I’ve often heard that from people.  But to God we are most definatly good enough.  He talked about calling Simon to him. How he put the nets in the deep sea at his request and his catch was tremendous!   The speaker challenged us, is God in our Boat or beside our boat?

4th Street Cafe

He also talked about the story from Luke 15, about the Father’s Lost Son.  So many Christians have their relationship with God backwards. Onetimeblind did a skit before the guy spoke and it was a woman just wanting to fade into the shadows of church, but wished to be called a Christian.  This story is closely paralleled to that.  We as Christians need to run to non believers, not wait for non believers or the lost to run to us. That’s a common theme that we have been presented with in the last couple weeks as leaders.

CSF people working our booth

Thursday rolled around and I had to leave, sadly. I left around 5pm and had to miss the Casting Crowns Concert! But I had other obligations in Indiana that were important to me.  Friday morning I was wheels up at 6:57AM with a destination of Muncie.  I was finally going to become a Commercial Pilot. I passed the checkride with flying colors. On the way there, and during the ride I was the most relaxed I have EVER been! I think just not worrying about it and letting God handle it, helped a lot. Now when I return to the Haute, I start to work on my CFI (Certified Flight Instructor)  I’m excited for this, just hope money comes through to continue flying.

PA-28R-200

Tomorrow I start working with the police department. I’m working as a photographer, Not where I’d like to be but can’t always be picky. I also do get the opportunity to work with the public a little. We shall see.

Well now I’m off to a 4th of July Party. WooT!

 

Trip down memory lane…

So I’m sitting here in the hotel in Louisville, getting ready to check out and head back to the convention and off to Church,  and a common theme continues to return to me. I keep hearing the song that Sister Matild enjoyed singing while we were abroad in Haiti.

“God is good”
“God is good”
“God is good, he’s so good to me…”

 

Let’s relax a little…

“Come with my, by yourself, to a quite place, and get some rest”
Mark 6:31

Oh how this verse means so much!

Well I found out Friday afternoon my checkride will be on July 3rd at 8:30am, In Muncie Indiana.  I had planned to just study ALL weekend long. Well that plan changed when I convinced the parents I to meet me in Effingham to give me my car. Then the plans changed even more when I convinced them to ride back to Terre Haute with me, stay the night in the apartment, and then I’d fly them back to their truck on Sunday.   So my weekend of study was a weekend of relaxing with the parents. We were able to catch up on a lot as last weekend when I was home, I had to leave because of approaching storms, and it left little to no conversation time.

Last night I made some dinner and then a few people came over and we played Apples to Apples. We had a blast!

This morning we went to Maryland, where they experience and completely differnt chuch style. One I’m really starting to take a liking too. After church we went to Green Castle where we picked up the Diamond. I flew them to Mattoon IL (MTO) to pick up their truck.

Mom enjoying her ride in the DA 40

Dad enjoying his ride...

After our quick good byes we were on our seperate ways. I got to thinking before I started the plane, I had almost 3 hours of a check out time frame left, and nearly 3 hours of flight time remaining that I had paid for. Hmmm What to do. So I got in touch with some friends and offered a ride. I made my way down taxiway ‘A’ at MTO and awaited behind a sexy tail wheel for a departure on Runway 29. I chose to do a “short” field take off. Flaps Take Off, Airspeed alive. Because I only had me and 13 gallons of fuel on board the aircraft was airborn in about 700 feet of runway! Pulled the flaps up and stay in ground effect until I hit 125knots and pulled up for a climb to Vx. AMAZING CLIMB OUT! I was at 1000ft above the ground (AGL) by the end of the 6000 foot runway!

I chose to land at Brazil/Clay County Airport. 40 feet wide, 2941ft long. Sits down between some tall trees. I made it a short field landing. Set it down just past the numbers, but was a little fast. I was a bit nervous about stopping, Used the brakes as necessary and aerodynamic braking. We got stopped, with about 1000ft of runway remaining. There I picked up Amber and Austin, executed another short field take off from there and we headed to Bloomington (BMG) to pick up some fuel.

Amber along for the ride. She likes the DA40 as well.

After a quick turn around we made our way towards Bedford (BFD) but only made it half way. I just wanted to see the National Forest.  We made our way back to Greencastl (4I7) where we dropped the plane off.

Austin and I getting out of the plane, He likes the DA40 as well

Church tonight was fun. The speaker was good, and spoke about God being able. He made some very good points. Showed us that no matter what, God loves us. I kind of had a God Moment there. There was a cook out to follow which was neat. I meet some new people, and caught up with some old friends.

The weather here tonight was amazing. We went to the park to finish off the evening.

Park time fun

We played on the playground till dark and we headed out.

Althought I planned on spending this weekend studying, it was a smart idea to rather relax. I’m glad I was able to get friends and family to get me out of the house and be active. I think God had other plans for me than be a bum.

~Thank you~

 

Summer Time Blues…

Well this time of the year gets REALLY hard. Especially when I’m at school or taking classes online.  See I chose to stay at ISU and continue my flying journey. I had a choice. To work or not. Well with the way my trip to Haiti, and my sub-lease on my apartment worked, and knowing I would be finishing my commercial certificate and starting my CFI, I opted to not work and put all my effort into flying.

That decision has some bad & good consiquences. Good as in I’ve spent a lot of time preparing for my check ride. I feel super confident in it. Bad as in money is tight. I opted to pay for housing through a loan. This same loan is funding my flying.  Well I have two weeks from today to take my check ride. Money, well it’s falling short. I’m 99.9% sure I have enough to make the ride and for a while there after.

I’m concerned though as I opted to take another course this summer. This one requires me to go to the worlds largest aviation expo, Oshkosh! That requires money. Dad is going which will help offset some of the cost. Right now tickets and housing are paid for. I am working on saving a chunk of money to pay for the rest of the way.  But at the same time I’m trying to bust my butt with this check ride. This Concerns me because of the shortage on money.

I also was denied a loan to help offset some of the cost of this flying, and help pay for a float plane rating in August. I fear being denied another loan to help offset cost of flying and school for the fall semester. If I do not get the money, I will not be able to return to school, or continue flying. To be honest, this scares me the most! Last year of school and things do not look good for my return. I haven’t really told anyone this, I feel it’s my burden to bear. In reality, I just need to let God handle it. He has his ways.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 NLT

This really just scares me. I guess just pray and trust in the Lord.

 

Simple, yet true…

We have a song that we sing often at CSF. It’s a simple one, and I’m not sure where Adam got it. Many times I’ve found myself just singing it. Haiti made it more real.

It goes:

I’ll Obey to serve you,
I’ll Obey because I love you,
I’ll Obey my life is in your hands,
Cause it’s the way to prove my love when feelings go away,
And if it cost me everything, I’ll Obey.

I love this song, but struggle with it. It has yet to cost me everything, but I obey and trust in him.

Just kind of something that hit me a bit hard in Haiti.

Love...

 

Recap on life.

Well I’m making my re-appearance after my Journey Abroad. Yes I know I left for Haiti one month ago yesterday. But after Haiti, I had a lot on my mind. How the trip touched me, the people and how life can always need a tune up. I’ve been working on tuning up the life a bit.

Another thing that has been on my mind is July 10th.  You ask what’s July 10th. Well that’s the deadline t have my commercial pilot’s certificate. If I do not have it by then, I have to retake a class a third time, which is just flat out NOT cool!  I kid you not, for the last month, starting on the flights home, up till now, I have been studying pretty much 8 hours a day, and at the airport 2 hours a day. Coming home engaging in some activities with friends and such was to follow.  The 2nd’ to last hurdle standing in the way is the written exam.  Well I finally took it today. And well let’s say I passed. Now Hopefully I’ll schedule a check ride in the next week or so and move on.

Back to Haiti, Wait, I purpose you click this link and just let the page open and come back and continue reading from here.  Just listen and read. That’s it. Click here

As I’m sure many of you care about the trip. The culture, life, and people were amazing! Haitian’s are amazing, At least in Grand Goave. They love everyone, and most importantly their love for God is SO strong! One day in my journal I wrote, “Haitians are so rich, while American’s are so poor!” And I don’t mean in terms of money.  Their family life is so rich! Their spiritual life is so Rich, their love is so rich!  I got to experience a Haitian Baptism. Much like an American, but it was SUPER meaningful! We walked down the street to the ocean. The whole time two of the ladies we worked with on a regular basis during our stay were singing their hearts out and expressing their love for God! It was amazing. I’ll try to post a video, of it.  We also got the opportunity to attend church with 750 Haitians. The service was long, but amazing!

Sister Matild at the Baptism

We had the unique opportunity to work with kids in the nutrition clinics. These kids would make your heart melt like cheese on nacho chips! In the clinics an American would give devotion via a translator, typically Gary (Amazing guy!)  Then we’d pray with them. Sharing the word to them even through a language barrier was AMAZING! I had a lot of fun doing it and will never forget it.  Then we would distribute a specific item to the family/children. After distributing it the American’s would pray individually with each parent/child. Through the time there we had SEVERAL opportunities’ to pray with the children and families one on one. Although this was un-translated, they understood, “pray” (Pr-eye) and “Amen” (Amen). This was amazing. Language barrier was there, but they knew what we were doing!

This little girl held my hand while I prayed with her and her Father.

This little Boy walked up to me with his soup and asked me to pray with him! I cried tears of joy!

One of the things I will not forget is the people I met. I mean the other American’s that I worked side by side with for the 10 days. One couple, Grant & Cathy, are a retired couple from Punta Gorda Florida. I loved getting to know them, and learn from them.  Another Lady, Sarah Dunstan, was an amazing lady.  One evening while sitting on the roof of the compound, she shared her story. She’s 70 years old and set out on a journey alone to Haiti from Virginia.  She has had a sponsor child in Haiti. She has always dreamed of meeting them. Last year she was diagnosed with Leukemia. She battled through it to work side by side with me building a house that Grant & Cathy had bought for the family they sponsor. Sarah insisted on carrying cinder blocks from the truck to the house with us. “It is God’s Will that I am here!” Sarah often said this.

Later in the week we were able to see the dedication of two houses. One of these houses belonged to Grant & Cathy, the other belonging to Sarah. This was truly an amazing experience. On both occasions we got to see the previous house, and the new house. Both of these houses had anywhere from 5 to 8 people living in them! They were made of sticks, stones and scrap sheet metal. We in the US complain about a leaky roof, yet these people barely have roofs to leak! When Grant & Cathy dedicated their house, they quoted a scripture. Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This was neat because we knew the family would truly love and serve the lord.  While we were building the mother of the family would carry water from a nearby stream for our concrete mixer to mix the concrete. Did I mention he did this by hand?

Grant & Cathy at their House Dedication with their Family

Cathy's Sponsor Child at their house dedication.

Dedicating Sarah’s House.

Christian Student Fellowship, my ministry, has a sponsor child in Duesium Plains  (Do-Sium Plains) (sorry, I probably butchered that).  We had the opportunity to visit with him twice and give our gifts to him. The second time the 7 students were able to journey to his house, a 25 minute walk up a mountain from where we were already at. We walked along a road with traffic the equivalent has a busy County Highway such as Rt. 29 or US41.  This was a bit scary.  We got to his house and found it to be a small hut, about 12 feet wide and 15 feet deep. The house slept 7 people. Fettison and his family.  The walls would fall down; the roof would leak, and so forth as his mother showed us. Here she was fighting back tears, as were all of us.  Through our translator she shared with us, “I just pray to God that we get a new house, one that is safe.  Now were melting like Ice Cream on the Sunny Beach! It was amazing.  Well it’s in the works. Hopefully next year it will become real.  While this family is some 1500 miles away from me, I feel so connected to them!

CSF and Fettison's Family at their house

Lifeline has done amazing and is going to continue to do amazing work in Haiti, and other places they have a mission. The mission in Haiti was huge! You are sitting here thinking you have nowhere to fit in terms of work. You’re wrong! They have a health clinic ALWAYS looking for people in the nursing/health care field. You’re a handy man, they can use you. If you can pray. THEY CAN USE YOU! If you can stand there and make shadow puppets, THEY CAN USE YOU!

Another mission that we got the opportunity to work with is called Kid’s Against Hunger. This is usually a mission conducted here in the US. In this field we would mix together a specific amount of dry goods. One box of these dry goods when cooked feed’s about 300 servings. Normally churches and organizations in the US host these “bagging events”. You raise the money and bid to fill a specific amount of a semi trailer. All of the goods and material’s are dropped off and set up for you and your team. On your date you mix it, box it, and load it in the truck. Much like a telethon. They say these events are amazing. I’m hoping to get involved in one in the Fall at a church in Indy.

Adam mixes the dry goods for Kids Against Hunger

One last event that sticks out in my mind as I write this.  On the Day of our departure from Haiti, we boarded our bus, a school bus from the US, and started our 60 mile journey to Port-Au-Prince. We made a stop, one I was SUPER glad we could make. We stopped at an orphanage ran by Lifeline.

One of the boys at the orphanage.

We arrived at 5:30 in the morning. Boys and girls ranging from 7 years old to 17 years were there to greet us, sing to us, and hug and love us.

Just some of the boys and girls

They were beautiful! Beautifully in love with what they have. Were still finding a way to melt, at 5:30am!

One thing that I really enjoyed about Haiti is the people. They loved you no matter what.  After the baptism we joined in a circle of prayer and song. To celebrate our new brother and sister. After song and prayer, it was a casual greet session. The lady walked up to me, reached up, hugged me, and kissed me on the cheek. The guy walked up, and gave me a huge hug!  I didn’t know these people, just met them not a half hour ago, but that didn’t matter!  We are all one!

Well this is just a small piece of my journey.  There is SO much more!

~”God Is So Good, He’s So Good to Me!”

I promised Videos, well here they are. Just follow the links…

~I’ll Fly Away – Sarah’s version

~Power of Your Love – Orphanage

~Church Service Worship

~Haitian Baptism

~God is so Good

 

Ummmm

Well I thought I’d let you guys know I’m back, We’ll I have been back for several weeks now. Haiti was simply put, AMAZING! The people are rich, the culture is rich and just amazing! I’ll hopefully write some of my thoughts and share some of the thoughts from my journal here soon. But now, I’m off to church! WOOT!

 

Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again.

By the time you get this message I’ll be on a plane bound for Chicago. Then Miami, then the final destination. Port-Au-Prince Haiti.  I know I said before school got out that I’d be back before the trip. We’ll I failed on that.  Things got busy hectic and this trip snuck up on me super fast!

I’m having a hard time believing that in 4 hours from now I’ll be in a van, bound for someplace I never thought I’d go until last November.  I’m nervous, excited and very much hopeful.  Nervous for my first travel outside of the US, and nervous for the poverty I’m going to see. We take for gran it everything that we have when these people really truly have nothing but their faith. I’m nervous/afraid of how seeing that will affect/change me.  I’m excited to see how this trip will change me. I’m excited for the new opportunities that God will put in my path.  I was asked to speak one night before the Haitian Church. I’m excited about that. I don’t really know what I wish to speak on yet. I’m trusting that by listening to God that I will be able to figure that out.  I’m hopeful that this trip will change me completely.  My girlfriend, Amber, told me on our way back to Terre Haute today that she has one wish for me about this trip. For me to come back changed, and not the same person.  I hope that too. I hope that I will be a different person, that I will be able really and truly appreciate what good friends, family, and a body of people/believers will be able to do with what they are provided with, even when that is a small piece of such a large puzzle. Living in this change of culture for a time will be a shock, and I think I am prepared to receive the culture shock.

I just ask that you pray for my team going. Not just myself and the 9 others representing Indiana State, but the many others who are traveling from other portions of the Midwest to join us.  I found out tonight the group going with us from a nursing college in Kansas are not all Christian. Some are going for the medical experience of the trip. They need it for school credit or what not.  Pray for our safety, security, and that God will work in us for him.  I’m super excited for my departure.  So excited I’m having a problem getting any sleep at all, even though I really badly need to get some rest.  Now that I have taken care of this, I’m going to try to move on to some sleep before I leave.

Good night everyone and talk to you all in 10 days or so…

 

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Well the title say’s it all.  It was hard to do much of anything the last two weeks of April.  Those two weeks were filled with Rain, Rain, and yes you guessed it, more rain.  It seemed like it was just a constant downflow of rain. Infact looking back in my log book, I flew once in a two week period… it was getting bad.

Well now were into the homestretch. Really, I’ve rounded third and half way down the baseline between home and 3rd base.  I have two of my four finals down and am about ready to knock out my third final of the week.  This week hasn’t been too bad so far.  I’ve spent a lot of time at work, and well I’m tired of being there. I have been getting bored a lot there lately. Fortunetly the end is near.

Now that final’s are almost over with I need someone who can shove a fire cracker up my butt and light it. Not litterally please, but here I’m in the same pickle I was with my insturment ticket for flying.  I’m ready for a check ride but don’t have my Commercial Written Exam done.  I seem to dread these awful things! I can’t stand them, and they scare me.  The written and a 600 mile total distance cross country is all that is holding me back on scheduling a check ride.  I plan to start studying hard core this weekend once I am settled into my new apartment.  I’d like to take my written exam by May 20th. That is just over two weeks away. That seem’s like a pretty reasonable goal considering right now only plans I have for between now and then are sleep and fly with my instructor.

Another event that is standing on my door step and knocking is the upcoming trip to Haiti.  It’s really hard to believe that I’m three weeks away from departure.  Seems like just yesterday the trip itself was month’s away and now it’s here!  I’m still nervous about it. Not about the fact that I’m leaving the country, more nervous because I don’t know what to expect. Ya, I’ve heard Mark, Adam, and Erin share stories about their experiences in Haiti, but trips affect people differently.  I am excited to go, do the work, and let God work through me, but still a bit scared/nervous.

Well that’s about all I have to say for now, well I could say more, but I need to run and eat some grub and then head to my final! UGH! So tired of being on the run all the time!!!!!

 

My runaway

It seems to be a common pleasure for me. To walk from my north end residence to a south end getaway. Situation less than a mile away.  If I ride my bike, I park on the opposite side of the road, cross the road and stand before my runaway place.  There it sits with a glass store front smashed between two taller buildings.  The atmosphere inside shows warm welcoming and of course, relaxing.

When you open the door you are hit with the aroma of the sweet smell of colombian coffee beans.  You enter in and pass by the display case filled with sweet deserts, salads, and some sandwichs.  You stop at the register, often to find the same person working as the time before. You have started to build up with this person and get to know them little bit by little bit.  You place your order and he makes it to how it should be.

Then I like to settle down on the wall on the left. Some reason that is where I am most comfortable at.  The atmosphere is filled with other college students who are planning on doing well in their courses.  Over your right shoulder you have two older gentlemen, one drinking tea, the other with coffee. There they sit every night playing cards for a couple of hours. Infront of you are two people who are working on a history presentation together.  The walls are an old fashion brick. Hanging on them is art from different artist in the area who wish to show off some of it, most of it is for sale.   The whole time you just fall into a relaxed state and don’t want to do anything.  But then reality sets in and you have to do homework… This is the atmosphere I am able to get my best work done. This is my runaway hideaway…