Our role in Aviation...
As a missionary pilot/mechanic family it is our privilege and responsibility to support the work of Bible Translation by providing safe and reliable transportation into the remote areas where our language teams are living and working. We have two airplanes and one helicopter that help us accomplish this task. Often our flights carry us into the neighboring countries as well. It is such a joy to have a small, but very important part in what God is doing in Cameroon and central Africa. In addition to providing air transport for our Wycliffe colleagues, our aviation department is also available to serve other Christian missions. Their ministries include evangelism, pastoral and leadership training, medical mission work, community development and church planting.
Our involvement with Wycliffe and JAARS
Even before we were married, we knew that God was leading us into service as missionaries, particularly involved with missionary aviation. As we began to investigate the various missions that have need of aviation personnel, we were drawn toward Wycliffe. Key to this was my short-term mission experience in Wycliffe’s aviation program in Peru in 1995. As we inquired and became more familiar with Wycliffe and Bible translation we felt strongly it was the direction God had for us. He continued to open the doors and we became members in January 2000.
As I am a pilot/mechanic, we are also associated with JAARS (formerly known as Jungle Aviation And Radio Service). Typically, Wycliffe missionaries serving in technical support specialties are members of JAARS. Wycliffe missionaries directly involved in Bible translation and linguistics are not.
After one year of both training and deputation we moved to France for 18 months of French Study, followed by a 4-month African Orientation Course in Cameroon. We returned to the USA for pilot re-currency before arriving in Cameroon in February of 2003 to begin serving. Following a one-year furlough we began our second term as missionary pilot/mechanic family when we returned to Cameroon in Aug of 2006.
In the Spring of 2007 I accepted the role of Aviation Department Manager. I found this challenging and rewarding as I led a team of 7 families and one single missionary and 3 Cameroonian employees. Piloting remained the highlight in my work, but I also enjoyed the other roles that comprised my assignment.
Currently our family is on furlough/home assignment, living in Pasadena, California. We are keeping very busy trying to connect with our supporting churches and ministry partners, family and friends. Most of my day-t0-day activity revolves around taking courses on various aviation and technical subjects (several out-of-state) and obtaining turbine powered flight experience that will benefit our aviation program in Cameroon. This includes technical training in preparation for a new airplane entering our fleet.
This summer (2010), following required training conducted at the JAARS Center in N.C., we will return to Cameroon to continue our work there.
