Wolf Moon

Winter Moonrise, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Taken last night, this full moon is the brightest we will see in 2010.

Finally Winter

Sledding Trip, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

We have had winter's temperatures for months now, but we are finally getting the snow. It sure does make for some beautiful landscapes. And our Suburban does some great donuts too!

Evening Photo Shoot

Fresh January Snow, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

By mandate of mama, I took Madison out for a photo shoot yesterday evening as the sun was setting. Even the 10F temperatures didn't seem to slow her down much or keep her from talking non-stop. But, I still treasure these times, because I have been told that a day might come that she wont even talk to me at all...

Kodiak Arrived Saturday, Already Hard at Work

New Kodiak Recently Arrived in Haiti, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

The MAF Kodiak arrived in Haiti this past Saturday, joining the 3 MAF aircraft that were already serving there since long before the earthquake.  In these pictures, the MAF crew is loading up 4 patients that need specialized surgery for their limbs.  The hospital in Port au Prince cannot facilitate this type of surgery at the moment, so these patients were taken from PaP to another hospital more inland.  Continue praying for the country of Haiti and all those that are living and working there.  

New Kodiak Recently Arrived in Haiti, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Sledding Trip

Sledding Trip, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Yesterday, the weather finally improved enough to go and enjoy some of it's "fruit." Our nearby mountains received 48" of snow this past week and we thought we should go make a sledding trip. Presumably, next January we should be living in the tropics, so this was a memorable trip. We had a great time as a family and brought along our niece as well as Daddy Ben. The little people were a little overwhelmed since they tended to sink in the snow that was deeper than they were tall. As long as they stayed on the "sled bench" they didn't suddenly disappear into the deep white powder. Even our crazy dog had a blast, while he pretended to be a rescue dog.  Click here to view a few more pictures.

A Time of Fasting

More grasshoppers, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Today was a special day for Becca and me. We concluded something this morning that we had never done before. Together with our church, we started a 21 day fast to begin the new year, on new years day. Most of the church, us included, performed a "Daniel fast," meaning we only ate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The effects on our bodies were amazing. We were both surprised by the amount of energy we both had, and even the way we both felt and were able to think. It's not to say that is was easy, and oh boy did we miss our coffee. But, the amazing design of the body adapts and compensates quickly, and we were over our caffeine jitters in a few days. We also missed sweets something fierce, but the atmosphere that entered our family due to it's lack of sugar was nothing short of stunning. While our children didn't participate in all aspects of the fast with us, they did go almost entirely without sugar for 3 weeks. The change was obvious.

We learned a lot during this fast both on the spiritual and physical side of things. I don't think we will do something like this again soon, although we may make it a "tradition"every year to begin it this way. It was a good was to realize all the areas that "old man flesh" ruled our lives, and we beat him back with a big nasty stick, or banana...or something like that.

Tracking the Kodiak to Haiti

Here Comes the Snow, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

I mentioned it on Facebook, and thought I would here as well. You can track the MAF Kodiak that is going to Haiti by clicking here and here. This is very neat technology, and with the tailwinds the Kodiak is getting, it is about 100 knots faster than a Cessna 206, that is impressive!

MAF Haiti Update

Eastern Sangre de Cristos, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

This email was received yesterday from an MAF staffer on the ground in Port au Prince, Haiti...

"Can you believe it has been 6 days since a massive earthquake hit Haiti? 3 days after the earthquake MAF was involved in a massive relief life line that continues to this day.

So much has happened. MAF is coordinating logistics for Missionary Flights International and other organizations. The last flight of the day was a real blessing. 26 orphans were flown out along with their escorts to meet their new parents tonight. These children were already adopted, but the earthquake stopped the process. The new families are quickly getting down to Fort Peirce to meet their new children. What a blessing to be a small part of loving and serving those with such great needs. I was also reminded of the great cost of serving and the uncertainly of life on this world. We flew out the deceased body of a Missionary Doctor that had been serving in Haiti. Short stories from the 8 flights we facilitated today - flying in over 78 critical relief workers, doctors, surgeons……….so needed… and flying 70 out, including the orphans. . 5,000 lbs of cargo.

Last evening, David Hoffman arrived got the GATR VSAT system up and running - helping Operation Blessing connect and send some of their video work. We desire to serve and enable as many as missions and aid agencies as possible, so today the GATR was moved to the World Concern office. This will serve as a communication center for many of our partner agencies – WR (World Relief), WC (World Concern), FH (Food for the Hungry), MTI (Medical Teams Intl), CRWRC and many others. One of the office rooms will be set up so numerous other agencies can be served with this communication support service. What a blessing to be able to provide rapid email and data service to enable those responding communicate well.

Yesterday we helped, with our partner MFI, fly in 63 surgeons, nurses and doctors along with their medical equipment and supplies.

Tomorrow there are numerous other flights. One interesting thing is we have a fork lift coming and MAF will facilitate the arrival of a C130 and help with the logistics of the cargo at our hangar. MAF helping with a C130 flight J"

Keep praying for the people that live in and work in Haiti!

Old Homestead

Old Homestead, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

One of the old settlements we happened upon this past Sunday while driving home from a church engagement.

America's Bird

Bald Eagle, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

While driving home yesterday afternoon from a speaking engagement at a church north of us, we decided to take the back roads home and see some areas of Colorado that we had never been to. Our time at the church went great, and the drive home was stunning. We were able to see numerous old homesteads which made us wonder what life must have been like all those years ago. This time of year we also get a lot of Bald Eagles in our area, and we were fortunate to come across this one as he perched in a dead cottonwood tree, looking for lunch.

A New Arrival

Qwest Kodiak, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.
 
The MAF program in Sentani, Papua, Indonesia welcomed a new addition to it's fleet this week.  The Qwest Kodiak is a revolutionary new bush aircraft that will play a huge role in how mission aviation develops in the future.

Checking out the Kodiak!, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

While we were at MAF HQ back in October, the airplane seen in both pictures, N58NH, was waiting for the weather to become favorable in order to make the long flight to Indonesia.  Just a few weeks ago, after waiting for months, N58NH left from Idaho to Alaska, and then south over the Pacific Ocean en route to Indonesia.  While we are still waiting for our base assignment in Indonesia, it is possible that N58NH and I might meet up again!

Mt. Sneffels Wilderness

Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

I took this photo last spring while I was flying between Durango, Colorado to Montrose, Colorado. I had never seen the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area up close and I was impressed to say the least. It is an area that seems to pop up out of the surrounding plateaus and prick the sky with all of it's rocky jaggedness.

HAITI UPDATE: The latest news from the MAF crew there is that MAF is evacuating nonessential staff to Florida with enough pilots left behind to keep the 4 aircraft based there flying. The plan was to evacuate the staff today, but their ride home to Florida, a Missionary Flights International DC-3, had to land in the Turks and Caicos because the Port au Prince airport was closed to any further traffic while they were en route. The PaP airport is too full to accept any further aircraft and only had enough jet fuel to provide for those that are already there. Keep praying for all those in Haiti!

January Prayer Letter

Old Car, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Our latest prayer latter is out. Click here to read it.

Daily Photo Project

Rustic Barn, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

While I am a little late to the party, I am going to join my wife and attempt to post a photo(s) everyday. I can already see some roadblocks to this occurring on a daily basis, so I think realistically this will be an "almost-daily" photo project.

On a side note, we have had a few people ask about the earthquake in Haiti and our MAF staff that live there. All expatriate MAF staff are accounted for and safe, although the whereabouts for some of the national staff is still taking place. They still have not been able to make it to the airport to assess potential damage there. There has been some damage to the homes of a few MAF staff families. Ultimately, Haiti has months if not years ahead of it in rebuilding and reconstruction. Please pray for the people of that country and the role that MAF will play. No doubt MAF will play a vital role in getting relief to some of the isolated places surrounding the capital city and the rest of the island.

Give it Up

Great Sand Dunes NP, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

"We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this blunder, and the same discipline goes on in our lives. God nowhere tells us to give up things for the sake of giving them up. He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having - life with Himself." O. Chambers

Commiting Aviation

Short Final to Blanca Airstrip, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Recently, I have had the pleasure of having some flight students; a few private pilot victims, and an instrument pilot are my current pupils. Yesterday, I took my student to a local dirt strip for his first landing on something other than asphalt. He seemed a little hesitant to take an airplane onto a dirt surface (they almost always are) but afterward he expressed his joy and began calling dirt runways his friends. I have always felt that dirt makes for smoother landings anyway. Having the blessing of making the occasional flight right now is nice since most of our work is occuring  in our home "office." After a time of not flying, I begin to get ground sick and the only way to cure it is to commit aviation.

Happy New Year!

Los Sangres Through Rio Grande Wetlands, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

As our family looks forward to this coming year it is always fun for us to speculate where we will be a year from now. Usually, in retrospect we are sometimes surprised but always blessed by it. Presumably, we will be in the final stages of our language training in Java, Indonesia.  Until then we have a lot to accomplish and we look forward to it all. Solo Dios sabe!