There's no place like home...

Well, it's about time I update our blog!

The last month has been pretty busy for our family. What have we been up to? Well, a little of everything related to prepping for Indonesia. The first half of April I spent in Wichita, Kansas taking an aircraft maintenance course on an Cessna Caravan. And, although I didn't bring my camera, I was able to get hold of this one picture of some folks staying in the same hotel as me:

The one guy got all rusty because he went in the hot tub, and guess which one left hair balls in the pool... (hardy har har)

No tornadoes during my two weeks there - at least not in Wichita anyways. The course itself was very good, and I think what I learned there will be quite useful in the future when I work on Cessna Caravans in Indonesia. All in all, it is sure nice to be back home with the family after 2 weeks gone!

God willing, our plan is to be out of Prince George by the second or third week of June. It is very easy for Amy and I to feel overwhelmed with all that has to come together and be accomplished in the next 2 months. It's that "where to start!?" feeling like we've never experienced before in our lives...and before "A" happens, "B" & "C" need to happen, but "C" won't happen till next week, and so on. But, what an exciting time for us as well! We're very thankful for how God has provided for us thus far, and are very excited for where He is leading us.

Please pray for our house to sell soon, for the health of Amy and the baby (due in about two weeks), and the numerous little things that need to fall in place.

May God bless you all as we celebrate Christ's Death & Resurrection this Easter weekend!

Partnering in Ministry

As our family prepares to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Indonesia, our first goal is to reach our full monthly support level.  How is this done?  MAF is a faith based ministry - meaning our ability to serve with MAF is accomplished by many different individuals, families, and churches partnering together - through prayer and finances to enable this much needed ministry.

Since we began building out Ministry Partnership Team in July 2010, God has been faithful and provided as we have raised 100% of our one-time amount, and are now at 79% of our monthly support goal. We've been able to speak at a number of churches, and meet many awesome individuals and families who have chosen to become of a part of this ministry. We are so thankful to all those who have given, are now giving, and for all those who are praying for us and this ministry!

Would you like to become involved? Here's how:

1) Pray for Indonesia and MAF's ministry around the world - Set a little time aside each week to google some of the current issues in Indonesia and pray for them along with those prayer requests we have in our newsletter. You can also sign up to receive regular prayer updates from MAF worldwide here: http://www.maf.org/prayer

2) Partner with us financially - Become a monthly supporter of our family's ministry with MAF. This can be done by contacting us benamyeadie@gmail.com or visiting MAF Canada's website (our missionary ID# is C481). We will not be able to complete our preparation here in North America and head to Indonesia until we are fully funded.

3) Become advocates of this vital ministry - Did you know that last year in just the one Indonesian Province of Papua, MAF made over 10,000 flights, delivered over 4.6 million pounds of cargo, and saved Christian & Humanitarian workers 17,826 days of travel? Worldwide, MAF operates in over 30 different countries  around the world, and is used in countless different ways. And why? To show Christ's love to those who are in need - both spiritually and physically.

To Revelstoke, Sicamous, Calgary, Kaslo, & back!

Our family is back in Prince George, and happy to be home! Amy and I were figuring so far we've been on the road more in 2011 than at home, kind of like our fall last year. That said, our trip to the Revelstoke area was awesome. Our first Sunday there we were able to share at the Sicamous Baptist Church, and were able meet some new folks there and say high to some old friends.

The week after that was quite 'event filled'. It started with a two night trip to Calgary where Amy and I were able to visit with some old friends we haven't visited with in ages. That was followed by attending my Grandmother's funeral on Saturday...Well, the intention was to "attend" her funeral, but for all of you who live in Revelstoke or have been there in the winter, sometimes road travel comes to a grinding halt due to avalanche danger - as it did the morning we were to travel to the funeral. So, we sat there from 5am on looking at road reports on the internet.

Out front of my parents house. Beautiful, but where to put the snow?

The roads briefly opened in the early afternoon and we arrived in Enderby just in time for the grave side service. All in all, that we even made the grave side service was an answer to prayer, and that evening it was great to see all the family that we don't often get to see. It was also very nice to celebrate my Grandmother's life. She was 103 years old, and loved Jesus Christ. Her obedience to God in her life lives on as a blessing to all her descendants. Where would I be today if she and my Grandfather did not raise my Dad the way they did?

Amy, Luke, and myself with Grandma Eadie about 5 yrs ago.

That Sunday we had an opportunity to give an update on our support raising at the Revelstoke Baptist Church, and say thank you to the church and the families in it that are supporting our ministry with MAF. It was also neat to meet a few new families (new to us that is) during the week following.

The weekend after that, we travelled down to Kaslo where we were able to share with the Kaslo Community Church about MAF and how we've felt God call us to serve with them. It was a very encouraging visit as we felt so welcomed and were able to meet some really neat families. Thank you to all the folks in Kaslo for all of your prayers, encouragement and support! Amy and I feel so blessed to know you and have you guys a part of our ministry with MAF.

Our kids have done very well with all the travelling we've done in the last six months, and I think we're all looking forward to some 'routine' in our lives - although it will be relatively short lived. Right now, we're attempting to focus as much of our attention as we can on increasing our monthly support level to 100% by April, at which time I'll be heading to Wichita Kansas for two weeks to take a course on a Cessna 208 Caravan.

We ask that you would pray that our MAF ministry support would come in - in God's timing, as our schedule gets much more crazy April on. To all the families that have chosen to support our ministry with MAF, we're so thankful and are so excited to be partnering with you in ministry in Indonesia. To all the folks we had coffee with, ate meals with and/or stayed at your place - thank you so much!

And thank you Mom & Dad for watching our kids (not always healthy kids either), making delicious meals, and all that you did to help us out! You've totally blessed us.

Luke at my parents front entrance - light to moderate avalanche danger :) The snow on the left is over 10 feet - just from the snow blower & shovelling. Reminds me of my childhood!

Snow-shoeing with my Dad for the afternoon. What's a trip up 'The Bend' without a fire? Good times!

A lesson from the Kimyal's

I have had the Word of God at my finger tips since I was old enough to pick it up. Today, with the internet, I can get pretty well every english Bible translation there is available, and I have access to more study material than I know what to do with.

I recently saw this video of the Kimyal people of Papua, Indonesia receiving for the first time the New Testament in their own language. It's completely humbling to watch something like this and realize how often I take for granted the Living Word of God, and how much I could learn from believers in Christ who literally are still living in the stone age.

"...Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

-Luke 11:28 (NIV)

MAF (USA) - Candidacy

Well it's been a wee bit of time since our last post - but for good reason. We're currently in Nampa, Idaho (just west of Boise), and Amy and I are taking a candidacy course through MAF-US. You might be wondering, "Candidacy course...didn't you already take one of those & aren't you already accepted into MAF? I'm confused..." Well, the answer is: We did take a MAF (Canada) candidacy course last spring and were accepted into MAFC. Following that, MAFC loaned us to MAF-US, and as part of our pre-field prep we're taking their candidacy course. A little confusing I'll admit, but all for a good purpose.

I don't miss the -25 degrees C or the snow shovelling (I sound like a poser Canadian saying that - but it's true). It has been super enjoyable for both Amy and I down here, we've met some really really neat people, including all the folks taking the course with us and also all the staff here. Each day has been informative and encouraging. Ten other families from all different parts of North America are taking the course with us, including pilots, mechanics, administrators, and teachers. It is so neat to hear all their stories of how God has led them up to this point. We're super excited to get back home to BC to continue on with raising support for our ministry with MAF!

MAF-US head office, just across the street from the MAF guest housing. The MAF Hangar is just in behind this building.

Our home away from home...for 2 weeks now, and 10 more weeks later this year. We're really thankful to have such nice guest housing 50 ft. from the offices!

Luke and Simon checking out the remains of Nate Saint's Piper aircraft situated in the front lobby area of MAF's office building. This is the same aircraft Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, and three other missionaries used to try and reach the Waodani Natives in the Jungles of Ecuador. In 1956, all five missionaries were killed and the plane was destroyed and left on the beach. In the early 90's the remains of the plane were found buried in a sand bar, and now are on display here in Nampa.