It's a Little Brisk

It Ain't Right!, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

After having lived several years in the tropics our blood turned into orange juice. When temperatures like this happen (and there are surely more to come, and even colder) it just ain't right. Despite the discomfort of this kind of cold, it is still powerfully awesome, and it makes you stand in wonder of a God who has control over such things, and marvel at His design of the seasons.

Mas Fotos de Oaxaca

Oaxaca, Mexico, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Over the last few days I have been updating my Oaxaca, Mexico set with some more photos from the archives. For those of you who are interested in what Southern Mexico might look like be sure to click on over.

Also, a few of you have been complaining that you "can't download my pictures." For those of you who would like to have permission leave a comment and your email address and I will try and get things sorted out for you. I choose to be stingy with my photos because there is a lot of abuse these days with other peoples photos on the world wide web. But, for those who ask, I don't have any problems sharing mis fotos.

A Thankful Affair

My Family, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

We had a great time with lots of family this Thanksgiving. Assuming that we are going to be on the other side of the world next year, this Thanksgiving was extra special. On top of catching up, laughing, crying, and generally just enjoying each other, a few of us were able to take a local flight this past Friday. We were an interesting lot. My passengers consisted of (left to right) my sister (an interior designer), my cousin (he serves our country flying these , currently stationed in Italy), and my other cousin (a professional violinist). It makes me wonder if I am in the right family sometimes when I am in the presence of such company. But regardless, we had a great time flying around the local area, surely a flight to remember for me.

Weekend News

Mesa Verde N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

This past weekend we had a great time ministering to the folks in Cortez, CO. We left extra early on Saturday so we could have time to see Mesa Verde National Park on our way. It was awesome! Seeing things like that with such age and history really gives the area a special feeling to it. I cannot imagine what it would be like to tour Europe or Israel, since Mesa Verde is "only" 700+ years old.

It was a pleasure to see all the folks in Cortez again. They really made us feel at home, and made it a point to send us on our way with prayer. It is always a blessing to share what God is doing around the world with His people, and have the excitement become contagious.

No Excuse

Old Faithful Geyser Yellowstone, N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse."

Isn't it so true that if all we had at our disposal was creation itself we know that there is a God. Who can really ponder creation, even for just a moment, and not be overwhelmed and flooded with a feeling of how small and insignificant we really are compared to the Universe! WOW! And God still thinks of us!

We are off to Cortez, Colorado in a few minutes to minister at a church there tomorrow morning. We are excited to visit this church again, and share with them the passion and zeal that God has given to us about missions, specifically mission aviation. What a privilege to travel to the other side of one of the greatest states in the Union enjoying the view so we can share with the body what is happening in God's kingdom throughout the world.

Please join us in prayer for not only traveling mercies, but the blessing of changing lives as we share. I have been given the privilege to not only share the ministry of MAF, but to also preach. I can't wait, I feel like I have an exciting word to share with them. Pray for an anointing to touch my tongue and their hearts. It is our prayer during our deputation time that as we visit churches and individuals we can see lives changed for eternity.

Falling Moon

Falling Moon, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Very beautiful moon setting over the San Juans this evening. Made for an interesting picture attempt. The headlights of HWY 160 can be seen going left to right. Now I need to get a better tripod that won't shift with my heavy lens attached leading to shifting lights.

MAF Videos from Ecuador

For fun I have put a few of the takeoff and landing videos that I made from our time in Ecuador back online. I have a lot more footage of Ecuador and Mexico that I am hoping to do something similar with in the near future. Because of the rapid change in technology, I am now waiting on a cord to download all my video footage to my "new" computers. Currently, I am unable to view any of my video footage from either country. I will post some new videos whenever I get the cord and then have the time to edit my footage and make something viewable out of it.

Ordinary Everyday Life

Great Sand Dunes N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God."

"It is one thing to go through a crisis grandly, but another thing to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, no one paying the remotest attention to us. ... The test of the life of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is" O. Chambers

Great Weekend

Duck Invasion, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Our time with the Creede Baptist Church went very well this past weekend. Although a small church by most modern standards, the people are full of passion for missions and they were excited to hear what God is doing through us with MAF. Also, this little church of under 100 people just got done packing and shipping over 400 gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child. As I found out about this, I added a few more notes to share when the time came for me to present in front of the congregation. I shared with them that while serving in Latin America, I had the privilege of delivering some of those Christmas Boxes. It was a neat link to share with this little church of how their generosity actually does reach children in very remote areas of the word. As the pastor said, "how else can we so effectively share the Gospel with over 400 people." I know from experience that those boxes will be received and treasured by numerous children all over God's green earth right down to the box they come in.

Presentation Time

We're Back!, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

After our first full week of sharing with people what we are doing with MAF and where we are going to serve, we already have the blessing of sharing this coming Sunday at a Church up in the mountains about an hour from my house. We have been very blessed to see how God is really opening doors for us, and the neat and very unique opportunities He is already providing for us as we acquire our ministry support team. Your prayers are greatly appreciated as we officially begin traveling and sharing our ministry with MAF. We are passionate about what we are doing and that makes it easy to share about. Pray with us that the "Urgency of the Gospel" would be communicated and our passion would be contagious. Hopefully, we will even see some of you soon in your own church.

Partakers of His Sufferings

Bison and Nez Peirce River, Yellowstone, N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

1 Peter 4:13  "but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy"

"If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. ... In the history of the Christian Church the tendency has been to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ; men have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order by a short cut of their own. ... Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp our personal ambitions right out? Are we prepared for God to Destroy by transfiguration our individual determinations?" O. Chambers

Discernment of Faith

Full Moon Over Mount Blanca, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

"Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. ... Never confound the trail of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive." O. Chambers

You Are Not Your Own

Halloween Afternoon, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

1 Corinthians 6:19 "do you not know...you are not your own."

"There is no such thing as a private life -"a world within a world"- for a man or woman who is brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ's sufferings. God breaks up the private life of his saints, and makes it a thoroughfare for the world on the one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ." O. Chambers

Faith

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Hebrews 6:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him."

"Faith in antagonism to common sense is fanaticism, and common sense in antagonism to faith is rationalism. The life of faith brings the two into a right relation. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual; of impulse and inspiration. ... Faith must be tried before the reality of faith is actual. ... Faith is a tremendously active principle which always puts Jesus Christ first - Lord, you have said so and so (Matthew 6:33), it looks mad, but I am going to venture on your Word. To turn head faith into personal possession is a fight always, not sometimes. God brings us into circumstances in order to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make its object real. ... Faith is the whole man rightly related to God by the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." O. Chambers

A Peculiar Relationship

The Main Event 1, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.
Our dog, Duke, loves everyone.  He thinks everyone loves him too. Including our rooster, Gallo Pinto.  (for those of you who have seen the dog named Dug in the movie "UP," you know what I am talking about)   Duke, despite his size, is still a puppy at heart.  So, of course he thinks Gallo Pinto wants to "play."  Here they are discussing their play time together.
 

The Main Event 2, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

And here is what they decided to do...fight and wrestle, like any young (and not so young) males like to do. (enter a Tim "the Toolman" Taylor grunt here)  Duke is going in for the KO lick, and Gallo Pinto is going in with his large talons.  (I love Napoleon Dynamite.)

The Main Event 3, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.
BAM!  After many rounds about the yard, Gallo Pinto finally lands a mean right hook with his large talon!  Minutes later however, Duke's overbearing size took Gallo Pinto down and sent him running to his corner, otherwise known as the chicken coop, to recover with his brood of hens... what a chicken!

Sunrise Palette

Sunrise Palette, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Sunrise Fire Clouds, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

We count our blessings everyday when we wake up to sunrises like this out of our East window, taken yesterday.  To bad the temperature wasn't as warm as the colors...20 degrees just feels colder than it used to.  This morning the view out the window is snow showers and clouds.

MAF Indonesia Video

For those of you who want to get an idea of what it may look like for us when we get to Indonesia watch this quick trailer. 



If you want to see the full length 27 minute long version, click here.  MAF serves on three different islands in Indonesia; Sumatra, Borneo (Kalimantan), and Papua.  This video was filmed on the island of Borneo.  With time, we will know what island we are assigned to.  At the moment, it is just Indonesia.  

The Method of Missions

Fall Migration Southbound, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."

"Jesus did not say - Go and save souls (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God) but - "Go and make disciples" and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. ... The great essential of the missionary is that he remains true to the call of God, and realizes that his one purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. ... The one great challenge is - Do I know my Risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling Spirit? Am I wise enough in God's sight, and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what Jesus Christ has said, or am I abondoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a missionary, viz., boundless confidence in Christ Jesus.?" O. Chambers

John 20:21

"As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." -Jesus

"What is a missionary?  A missionary is one sent by God.  The great dominant note is not the needs of man, but the command of Jesus. ... We forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary enterprise is not first the elevation of the people, nor the education of the people, nor their needs; but first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ - "Go therefore and teach all nations."  ... We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God's wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God."  O. Chambers

Forest Fire

Forest Fire, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

(Remnants of the 1988 Fire in Yellowstone N.P.)

We had a great time in church this morning.  There was a sweet Presence during worship.  One thing we have been reminded of over and over and over during our past year back in the USA is the power of worship.  Not just the musical variety, but the total surrender type that you nurture all day long.  When you are in that sweet place of worship, the things God asks you to do seem easy, because He is so worthy!  To pack up your family once again and move to the other side of the world is worth it.  At the end of the day, there is a deposit left in eternity, not just something temporal which moth and rust can destroy.  Worship takes us to that place of appreciation for what God has done for us and what He continues to do for us.  Then, it is with our actions of obedience that we show our gratitude towards Him.  Faith without deeds is dead!

Best Friends

Best Friends, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Rather than watch big sister play soccer a few weeks ago, riding the dog was a lot more entertaining.

Brooklyn and Duke

Brooklyn and Duke, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

In between wrestling matches, these two take a little break.

Wipe Your Chin

Wipe Your Chin, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Madison took a liking (like all kids) to the idea of the ground being covered in food. We quickly taught her about the yellow kind though.

First Snow

Trouble, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

The results of this seasons first snow, followed by a healthy snowball snack.

We're at it Again

Yes, once again we are making some HUGE changes in life. Rebecca has always been better at putting things in type than me, so, read the explanation of what we are up by clicking here. After that, you will be able to follow along on another journey right here.

The New Blog!

First, thanks to those of you who have made it fun to record a little bit of our lives these past few years. Becca and I started this blog while still living in Costa Rica, and it quickly expanded from there, even justifying Rebecca making another blog to tell more of her side of the story. Being that things will be so different in Oaxaca, I decided to start another blog to chronicle what will occur there. It can be accessed by clicking here. I will no longer be posting on this blog, as our chapter in the jungles of Ecuador has now come to a close. Thanks for joining us, see you in Oaxaca!

The Time Has Come

We just made it through all the hoops that make up modern day travel at airports. We are now just waiting to board our airplane, which will be bound for Panama City, Panama. Luckily, here in the boarding area of the Quito airport, they have free internet, which is helping us to get caught up on some things. From Panama City we will fly to Mexico City; from Mexico City to Oaxaca. We should arrive in Oaxaca around 430pm if all things go well. Our girls are tired (so are we) since we had to wake up at 3am, but otherwise things are going well. Can't say what our internet accessibility will be when we get to Oaxaca, so be patient and we will get back online as quick as we can. Thanks for joining us in this journey and for your prayers as well!

We're getting closer

After a wonderful last few days in Shell, we left yesterday morning and are now in Quito. We have a few last minute appointments and meals here with friends before we board the airplane on Thursday morning to make our way north to Oaxaca. Please continue to pray as we gear up for the upcoming changes. We are excited to just get there and stop living out of suitcases. There is something healthy about living in one place and having a place to "hang your hat." By this time next week, I think we will have "moved" around 6 times in one and a half weeks. It's getting old!

AvWeb again...

One of my pictures was selected again by the aviation internet magazine AvWeb. I am going to keep submitting until they make me "photo of the week" so I can get my free hat! Click here to view this weeks winners.

Pollenators

Can you tell I have had some extra time to "stop and smell the roses?" These black bees were captured in our lemon tree in the front yard doing what God made them to do.

Old Crossing

Although there seems to always be something new being built around Shell, you don't have to look hard to notice a lot of the older buildings, bridges, roads, etc. These bridges we have always liked crossing because if reminds you so powerfully that we really do live in the jungle. Sometimes it is easy to forget because the surrounding jungle is so remarkable cut down and "tamed."

Fresh

With our slower pace of life lately (i.e.-no car, thus a lot more walking) I have had no choice but to "re-notice" the various options of fresh meats around Shell. As I have stated before, there are other ways to buy meat...I just though everyone needs a reminder of the old way to buy meat.

Being that Ecuador has a coastline, seafood and fish are very popular. We have never bought this type of meat. Neither of us are very fond of fish. We are very picky to the way it is cooked and what kind it is. If only pictures had smells...

There is always a pig hanging around somewhere. While it may not look very apetizing just hanging on a big hook...the stuff they are cooking in the background actually makes some awesome shreaded pork BBQ sandwiches.

My Favorite Ladies

While on our little "lunch trip" yesterday, my favorite girls were captured in a sweet hug. Man they are cute!

Last Bike Ride

Knowing my bike is going to be crated up today, this past weekend I took one last and long bike ride. By the time I got back to the house, I had racked up around 18 miles. This isn't very long compared to my old riding days, but it was a lot longer than the ride to and from the hangar that I am used to. Overall, it was a blast to be able to take one last ride through the Ecuadorian Jungle and the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

Lunch Outing

Due to the fact that most of our packing is done, we had some extra time yesterday to take a little drive and visit one of our favorite places to eat lunch. Shortly after Brooklyn was out of pre-school we took the MAF van and headed up the road and had one last and very enjoyable meal at Mirame Lindo.

On previous trips there, they didn't have a parrot. So, we were surprised to see this one as we walked in.

Morning Cough

While walking to the corner store this morning I saw something that hasn't been seen in Shell for a long time...the volcanoes. Due to constant cloud cover, and their high altitiudes, the volcanoes of Sangay and El Altar have rarely been seen most of this year. As I walked back from the store, I looked at Sangay again and it had erupted, or coughed as it were. By the time I walked home and dug out my camera, the plume was already being dispersed by the winds above.

Little guys at work

While passing a palm plant in our back yard this morning I noticed these spiders and their intricate webs. What caught my attention most was the double re-reinforcement around the center of the web. This spider was also enjoying his breakfast of what looked like a fly....yummy!

From the logbook...The Last One (Part Two)

I thought I was done flying, but I had been asked a few times to be willing to fly with the volcanologists again. I had been saying "yes" since it would be early in the morning and pretty easy. This morning when I woke up, I received the call asking me to take them up so they could take their "special" pictures and get a birds eye view of what the volcanoes are doing. We flew for almost 2.5 hours, up to 20,000 feet taking pics of Tungurahua and Sangay...both of which were erupting on a small scale.

This is Tungurahua as we were climbing to 19,000 feet. Below is the tourist town of Baños. You can easily see that if Tungurahua were to erupt on this northern flank, the residents of Baños would be in trouble. At the moment all ash and lahars are going to the southwest. Mostly water vapor is being emitted at the moment. A small ash cloud can be seen blowing away from the volcano.

While circling Tungurahua, El Altar was trying to peek out of the clouds. This is the only shot I got of it, although it still looks pretty fearsome.

This is most surely my last flight here in Ecuador, as I have to pack up my flight gear now. It was sure a good one to go out with. We only have two more weeks here in Shell.

Help from the Neighbors

While loading up a van to take some stuff to our future yard sale, Madison kept trying to escape and take off walking down the sidewalk. Upon seeing this, our neighbor lady, Francisca, walked over and took Maddie walking with her. It was a nice reprieve for a minute while Becca and I loaded the van.

Quote of the day...

Mom: "Brooklyn, what did you learn in school today?"

Brooklyn: "The letter "R.""

Mom: "Oh, what starts with "R" Brooklyn?"

Brooklyn: "Bunny."

Happenins'

Well, lots of packing and organizing and giving and throwing away going on around here. We are making a lot of progress. Almost everything is sold or boxed up. Not a lot of exciting news, really.

I submitted another photo to AvWeb, the aviation web magazine. They published it in their weekly contest, but I still did not get photo of the week. Maybe some other time. Click here to see the photos.

From the logbook...the Last One

Wouldn't you know it...my last day to fly an MAF plane in Ecuador and the weather is too bad to fly. Shell was shut down in rain and so was ALL of the jungle. We weren't going anywhere to fast. Thankfully, the crew at the hangar took me and my girls out to lunch at the Chinese Restaurant. That was a nice treat. We closed and locked all the doors at the hangar for an hour while we all went out to eat.

The weather did improve enough in the late afternoon for two flights, both of which I was fortunate enough to do. My first was just a post-maintenance flight around the local area of Shell. After things checked out okay, I went to a village called Liquino, about 20 minutes away, and picked up a group working for Compassion International. After loading them up, we were soon landing in Shell for what was presumably my last landing in Ecuador. VERY bittersweet!

Now, we are just going to be trying to get our things packed, sorted, and thrown away in the next 2 weeks or so. No doubt our lives are going to be filled with chaos for the foreseeable future, but it will all be worth it.

From the logbook...La Penúltima

My second to last day...wow it has come fast! Tomorrow is my last day of "work" in the hangar. From there we will be getting things sorted and packed to make our move to Mexico on March 20th. Yesterday, we were shut down with rain all day long, so it was good to get a good long day of flying in today. Nothing out of the ordinary to report, a very ordinary day, which is good when you spend copious amounts of time over the Amazon Jungle.

While in Acado the other day I saw this pet macaw prancing around. It had just finished raining pretty hard, and he wasn't much to look at since he was drenched. When he opened his wings though, I could see the dry part of his plumage which caught my camera's eye.

From the logbook...450 meters of Hog Trough

I only had 5 landings today, although it took me 4 hours to get it done, one of which was in the clouds. My first landing took me to one of the farthest destinations we fly to near the Peruvian Border. At almost an hour and 20 minutes away from Shell, the military base of Loracachi sure made me feel deserted being so far away from civilization. From there I worked my way back to Acado to bring out a work team. The weather was pretty bad, and once I was on the ground in Acado, I decided to wait until things substantially improved until I left.

The airstrip in Acado was awful! It was mud from one end to the other, just like landing on ice, but it flies all over the place when you land on it and taxi through it. After enjoying a nice lunch with the Acado community, and waiting about 3 hours on the ground, I was finally able to take off for the first of three flights back to Shell. After I got to Shell, I put on gas, and went back to Acado to get another load of people, which thankfully are now going to make their flight back to the USA tomorrow.

As I approached Acado for my second landing, a coworker of mine was already there and about ready to take off. As I circled waiting for him to takeoff, I got some pictures from a different perspective.

Here he has just lifted out of the Hog Trough. Look closely just before the river and see the little airplane go!

In keeping with the bug theme...

This morning as I walked out the door to ride to work, I almost stepped upon 8 inches of crunchy exoskeleton. I've done that before and it feels creepy. Instead, I put the multi-legged critter into a tupperware (see background) and waited until I had more time to get a picture.

Egg Transporter

While shooting pics of the cobweb this morning, I also noticed this caterpillar on a leaf in the lemon tree. After looking a little closer, I noticed that the caterpillar was dead, and most of the eggs were hatched. I am only speculating, but I think these are eggs are from another insect. They were laid on this caterpillar to feed the larvae when they hatched thus killing the host.

Rainy Canvas

While waiting outside on the porch this morning before church, I noticed this cobweb and the hundreds of droplets it had collected from all the recent rain. Trying my hand at a photo, it turned out pretty neat.

From the logbook...Flying Ambulance

I thought my on call was going to be a spoof, that is...nothing to do. I didn't have to wait long to learn I was wrong. I few days ago I brought out a mom with her sick baby. Tragically, the baby didn't make it. Because they don't embalm people here, burials happen quickly. Therefore, taking this mom and her now dead baby back to the jungle was a high priority. Also, the woman I brought out this past Thursday after a bad miscarriage was ready to go home as well. As I was ready to leave and take these patients back home, we received a call about a 4 year old boy that had burned himself with some boiling water.

Soon I was off making my rounds. The flight was a non event. I dropped off my patients, and then picked up the poor little boy who definetly needed some medical attention. On the way home, the weather had built up pretty big, which forced me into the clouds for the majority of my 45 minute flight to Shell. Thankfully, I broke out of the clouds about 20 miles from Shell, which meant I didn't have to do the approach. Also, there was an awaiting ambulance for the little boy and his mom, which is untypical for the weekends. I was expecting to have to send the boy to the hospital in a taxi.

As I flew over the vast brocolli that is the Amazon Jungle today, I saw this halo rainbow as we came out of the clouds. Rainbows are such a sweet reminder of God's promises in our lives. Even with all the rain we have here, they aren't a common ocurance. It just made be reflect on all the uncertainty that is our future right now. When I was in the clouds, I couldn't see a thing, and had to rely on my instruments and training. Then, for a brief instant we broke out just to see God's promise reminding me that He is worthy to be trusted, and then just that quick we were back into the clouds, by faith, once again, navigating towards Shell.

From the logbook...Slip and Slide

With all the rain we have had lately it made a precarious situation even worse...landing and taking off. I had almost 4 hours of flight time today, and 10 landings, all of which were made to short, slippery, and muddy airstrips. There is skill and technique involved in bringing an airplane into these places, but after you hit your landing spot, it is basically just a battle to keep the brakes on and keep the airplane straight. I guess you could think of it as jungle ice.


Here in Acado I sent mud flying everywhere upon touchdown. This is one of our worse airstrips that we serve on a dry day, and it was made very sporty with all the rain we have had. There was still about an inch of standing water everywhere. I brought in a load of food to a North American work team that has been waiting since Wednesday for their groceries. It's a good thing they didn't pay for next day air.


After landing in Quiwado all the mud from my previous landing was basically washed off after all the water I went through as I landed and brought the airplane to a stop. Water was going everywhere, even up through the door "seals."

Once I had finished up my day and was just walking out the door, we received an emergency call to pick up an 11 month old baby with severe pneumonia. I am on call this weekend, so I could have done it today, or waited until the morning. I am glad I went today. The baby was extremely sick. So sick in fact I am surprised it made the 25 minute flight back to Shell. Hopefully it will be taken care of in the hospital, and in a few more days we will be taking him and mom back home. Finally, just before sunset, I made my last landing. It was a complete day indeed.

From the logbook...All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

For the better part of this week, things have looked like the picture above; just flat out gray and dreary. In the late afternoon, the weather has been getting better, but usually it is too late to get a flight done. I did make a quick flight yesterday afternoon and today to get some patients. Yesterday it was a 9 month old baby, today was a miscarriage gone bad.


The man in the maroon shirt is the government appointed community doctor along with a community member carrying the patient to my airplane. After tons of rain, the airstrips are all in poor shape with lots of mud, and even more slipping and sliding. Shortly after I took this picture I was setting a course back to Shell with this girl and her husband where an awaiting ambulance took them to the hospital.

From the logbook...Mud Gremlins

After playing mechanic this morning trying to free up a sticky throttle control, I was finally off on my flight to make my first of 6 stops. Most of my flying today was for the Ministry of Health and a science team. While at my first stop of Chapintza where I left cargo, I was distracted by the laughter of children as I boarded the airplane to leave. When I looked over my shoulder, I saw numerous children running everywhere, covered from head to toe in mud. I thought they deserved a picture, so I got back out and stole a few shots. Looks like they were having fun, I'm just glad it wasn't my girls, although I wouldn't put it past them!