The Beginning!

Hi Friends,

Over the past years, God has given me a bunch of dreams. As a child I dreamed of being a scientist and a pilot. I dreamed of blowing up lego men and digging holes to China. After showing me that I wouldn't be digging a hole to China, God has matured these dreams to three big, really big, things:

1) People living together in community

2) Become a pilot 

3) Africa

As life has it, I've been provided with so many amazing friends and community, am taking flight training (and should finish my commercial pilot's license in a month or two!), and graduate from college in 35 days (May 8... it may be the greatest day in recent history!). 

At this crossroads in my life, I've been given the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa this summer on a mission trip. I will be going with Africa Inland Mission-AIR. Africa Inland Mission began, literally, in 1895 with the dream of "spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to the peoples of Africa." They engage in church planting, community building, medical work, practical service, teaching farming techniques... In fact, they do so many things I'm not sure of all they do!

The AIR part is AIM-AIR. This aviation division of AIM operates 12 planes in eight east and central African countries. They exist to serve christian missions; delivering doctors, supplying missionaries and churches, delivering food, providing medical evacuations, and so on.

I will be serving as a sort of flight intern this summer. I will be helping with everything from office work to flying along as a sort of "impromptu co-pilot." I am also part of a team of four pilots going to Kenya. I have also been asked to be a team leader, leading daily devotions and financial book keeping (me keeping track of finances!?). I'm excited to learn and also lead!

I look at those three dreams at the top of the page and think, "GOD is giving me the opportunity to Serve People by Flying airplanes in Africa!" How cool is that!

My goal this summer is to serve AIM-AIR well. I also hope to see if aviation in Africa is the calling for my life! I'm so, so excited for this opportunity to serve and experience God, the African people, aviation, and hardship. I look forward to the eye opening culture shock and acclimating to a life without so much stuff, possessions. I pray God develops in me more qualities of leadership and strengthens His dreams for my life, be it Africa or not.

So here is the skinny:

• July 6 - Travel to Pearl River, NY for orientation
• July 9-Leave for Nairobi, Kenya (Nairobi is the Capital of Kenya and the 13 largest city in Africa)
  
• September 16 - Finish assignment at AIM-AIR
• Come home and find a job! (does anyone need a flight instructor??)

So, I will be gone for two months! I'll be living in Nairobi, Kenya in a house with three other pilots/interns/servants/amazing people. I will probably freak out at one point from culture-shock. I'll be flying around Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, and who-knows. I'll probably sweep the airplane hangar lots of times. I am excited to be leading  I'm so excited to be a part of African's lives and culture. I can't wait to be changed. God is good.

Much Love,

Lance