Analyze and Synthesize

2010-01-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

Nearly a year and a half has gone by since I last updated this blog. Although I am hesitant to restart the process and induce unrealistic expectations for the future, I have had enough people request that I keep them posted on my happenings via this blog.

For those who do not know, earlier this month I left for an interview in Indonesia with a charter company called Susi Air. Soon after arriving and performing the interview, I was asked to come on as a company instructor and sent away for training. Although I haven't found the same excitement of jobs past, I am happy to be employed and needed again. Hopefully this will give me a chance to pass knowledge on to other pilots, learn another culture, and do a bit of travel in SE Asia. I have no concrete timeline, but I am tentatively leaning towards returning to the States next year when the economy picks up - fingers X.

For the time being I am in a paperwork limbo. After pushing through training, I returned to Jakarta to find myself sitting around the office waiting on paperwork development. Tomorrow I will head to Singapore for a quick overnight visa run. According to instructions, I go to a McDonalds, drop my passport off with some "guy," and wait till he returns it a couple hours later. Sounds a bit sketchy, but it seems the thing to do. I'll let you know how it goes . . .

"let your words be thoughtful, few, and true"

2008-09-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs. I'm not sure what fascinated me more about the plot: the solidarity felt when hearing of another man's facial hair neglect (at the time I had a sizable beard of my own), or the peculiar and seemingly impossible quest he undertook. Either way I instantly knew it was a must read.

During that year he made an attempt to visit a variety of different Christian traditions, one of which was the Amish. He shared of his visit with Amos Miller, a man who was quiet, yet incredibly wise.

Amos talks slowly and carefully, like he only has a few dozen sentences allotted for the weekend, and he doesn;t want to waste them at the start. I read later in the Amish book Rules of a Godly Life that you should "let your works be thoughtful, few and true." By adopting minimalism, Amos has mastered those sheech laws I'm stuggling with.

My trip across the United States was one of much reflection and inspiration. Whereas I was expecting it to lead to an oasis of ideas regarding what I want to do with my life, I found God was rather teaching me what kind of man he wants me to be. The people I respect the most in life are those whose words are few yet thoughtprovoking. Often I find myself fidgety and nervous when their is a lull in conversation, and being the responisible guy I am, I feel I have to fill it. Most of the time I say something foolish or without substance. That is the price I pay for making my words cheap. I am coming to find that there is a beauty in silence. It is the thoughtful words of a person who is quiet admist a noisey conversation who stops everyone in their track. It is the one who silently embraces you who meets you at your point of need. It is the quiet words of a servant that preach the loudest sermon.

Rethinking Poiltical Issues In Light of Our Christian Identity

2008-09-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received an chain email that was intended to warn the Church of the possible devastation that Obama would bring on our country. This letter supposedly originated with a member of the Billy Graham team. I don't know if it is authentic but I do know it is intended to scare Christians away from support Obama's political platform. Fair enough, this is a political election, all things are fair game, but at closer look it began to worry me when I realized that this letter intended for Christians to rally against several policies that are rooted in the Bible teachings (i.e. care for the alien, widow, orphan and needy; peacemaking and love for one's enemies; opposition to inhumane treatment of our enemies, etc.)

My first reaction was to hit "reply all" and post a message of concern, which I almost did, but then I thought better of it before I sent it. I fear that my rebuttal could be taken as a slap in the face of the one who sent it. The good that would be done in addressing the fallacies in the email would likely be undone by the pubilc humiliation experienced by the one who forwarded this email to all their friends. For that reason I chose instead to post the original email and share my response of concern on here. Plus it has been a while since I blogged and I need to get this thing up and going again.

Obama: By Bill Brown of the Billy Graham Team

Bill Brown, is a highly respected retired member of the Billy Graham team so, I take his assessment of Obama very seriously and for that reason accept his challenge to pass this on. I share his concern about the 'rock star' image Obama has and watch with growing concern at the celebrity status the media has foisted upon him. Here is hope this email informs you in a wise way.
________________________________

The Obama Tidal Wave

We are witnessing a political phenomenon with Barack Obama of rare magnitude.

His speeches have inspired millions and yet most of his followers have no idea of what he stands for except platitudes of 'Change' or that he says he will be a 'Uniter'.

The power of speech from a charismatic person truly can be a powerful thing. Certainly Billy Graham had charisma. Both his manner of speech and particularly the content changed millions.

On the extreme other hand, the charisma of Adolph Hitler, too, inspired millions and the results were catastrophic..

Barack Obama certainly is no Hitler or a Billy Graham, but for many Americans riding on the Obama Tidal Wave it is just like a surfer who might be ecstatic and euphoric while riding a tidal wave, but the reality of the ride is what happens when it hits shore.

Just Some of What Defines Barack Obama:

A.. He voted for partial birth abortion.
A. He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
A. Supports affirmative action in Colleges and Government (quotas)..
A. In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing as being too severe.
A. Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as minimum wage affair.
A. Admitted his use of marijuana and cocaine in high school and in college.
A. His religious convictions are very murky.
A. He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
A. Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim Nations
A. Opposed the Patriot Act.
A. First bill he signed that was ever passed was campaign finance reform.
A. Voted to allow law suits against gun manufacturers.
A. Supports universal health-care.
A. Voted yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
A. Supports granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
A. Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
A. Voted yes on comprehensive immigration reform.
A. Voted yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
A. Wants to make the minimum wage a 'living wage'.
A. Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes. (241 votes Demo, 10 votes Republican)
A. Is a big believer in the separation of church and state.
A. Opposed to any efforts to Privatize Social Security and instead supports increasing the amount of tax paid into Soc. Sec. Tax Increase.
A. He voted No on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax which now hits middle income brackets.
A. He voted No on repealing the 'Death' Tax. Tax Increase.
A. He wants to raise the Capital Gains Tax. Tax Increase.
A. Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded...which is not true.
A. He is ranked as the most liberal Senator in the Senate today and that takes some doing.

If your political choices are consistent with Barack Obama's and you think that his positions will bring America together or make it a better place, then you will probably enjoy the ride and not forward this Email. If you are like most Americans that after examining what he stands for, are truly not in line with his record, it would be prudent to get off the wave or better yet, never get on, before it comes on shore and undermines the very foundations of this great Country. We have limited time to save America or the Supreme Court as we know it.

Inaction is action.
If you agree this is important, pass it on. The mainstream media will not do it for you!

Bill Brown ( Billy Graham Team, Retired)

Although I understand the concern that many Christians have concerning Obama's policies, I want to remind us to give each of these issues the thought and consideration they deserve.

We as Christians must take off our "political glasses" and see the issues in light of what Bible teaches us. That is not to say that all these issues are biblical (i.e. support of partial birth abortion) but some address issues that have been forgotten by the typical Evangelical voter. I do not so much care that Christians vote for or against Obama, but I do cringe when I see many of these issues ignored because they are "liberal" or a Democrat's issue.

As Christians we especially need to take the issue of immigration seriously. We also need to make sure that those on the fringes of our economic system are not forgotten. The Bible is full of teachings promoting economic justice. Here are just a few:

Lev 19:33,34
When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Exodus 23:9-11
Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt. For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Deut 27:19
Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.

Deut 24:14
You shall not withhold the wages of the poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens [illegal immigrants] who reside in your land in one of your towns.

Then we have the practice of Jubilee. If that is not a radical policy, I don't know what is. As Christians we often find ourselves fighting to protect an economic system that is literally fueled by greed. Somewhere along the line we bought into the idea that a pragmatic capitalism trumps the economic justice that God calls us to practice. How did we ever allow this to happen? It is frustrating!

The next part is what really upset me:

- He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim Nations

The fact that many Christians believe these policies are a detriment to his electability as a president really saddens me. On a global level there is a major rift between the US and many Muslim nations, most of whom are considered our enemies. If we are like we say we are, "little Christs," how can we be opposed to dialog with our enemies? Is that not the very nature of peacemaking?

This week I heard of a meeting between Ahmadinejad and several religious organizations. Unfortunately the news came to me via Christians who were repulsed that the Mennonite Church was a part of this dialogue. It never ceases to amaze me how out of touch we have become with the teachings of Jesus.

Matt 5:44,45
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 5:30-32
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Sadly much of the Christian church was quiet when the U.S. ignored advice from a large portion of the world and invaded Iraq. There were respectable people who had devised several possible plans for avoiding a war while at the same time addressing the severity of Saddam's evil regime, but they were ignored because our the powers that be believed a war to be the best solution to the problem. We as Christ followers are compelled to be salt and light in the world and therefore must promote an environment condusive for peacemaking. That is why it is essential we provide a setting in which we can have open dialogue with your "enemies." I commend the religious organizations who are courageous enough to do what is socially unpopular and pursue peace.

This election I encourage you not to look at the issues not as a Republican or Democrat, but rather as a Christian. It is unlikely that we will ever have a canidate or platform that is 100% biblical, so we must be careful not to adopt all the policies of one party and reject all the policies of another.

Personally I believe that both candidates for the 2008 Presidential Election are equally qualified for the job. You can rest assure that whichever candidate becomes President, he will do many great things and he will make many mistakes. That is the nature of being a human. Let us be the salt of the earth by embracing the good policies and rejecting the bad.

Long Way Across

2008-05-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

Next week it all begins. Portland, Maine to Portland Oregon by pedal power.

Keep up with our progress and leave us a message on our travel blog.

Bike Trip '08

2008-04-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

On June 2nd, Shawn, Evie and myself start a 3 month bike trip from Bar Harbor, ME, to Portland, OR. The plan is to camp our way across the US with an occasional overnight at friends or families. To date, this is the general overview of our trip but we are open to suggestions that may make the route more enjoyable and accommodating. If you know of any points of interest along the route, or any friends and relatives along this route who would be willing to offer a place to pitch a tent or maybe even a warm shower, that would be greatly appreciated. So far we have friends and family in: Oil City, PA; Dover, OH; Rosedale, OH; Indianapolis, IN; Arthur, IL; and Kalona, IA. Take a look at the map and offer suggestions.

View Larger Map

R&R Zambia

2008-03-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to Livingstone, Zambia, to do the whole tourist thing at Victoria Falls and it was great! I had been considering this trip for a while but only recently did it work out. Thierry, a logistician who works for MSF, decided to make the trip and it just so worked out that 4 of us were able to match R&R dates. The others were Mai Anh and Katy, a doctor and nurse from MSF.

On Sunday Thierry and I flew down to Lusaka and immediately took a 7 hour bus ride to Livingstone to meet Katy who preceded us by a couple days. I was once again reminded of how nice proper civilization can be. How can two bordering countries be so different? The roads are amazing, the people are friendly, everybody speaks English, and everything is much less complicated.

We stayed at a backpacker’s hostile called Jollyboy’s. It was great! I have done very little backpacking in my life, but according to everyone I met, this is one of the best in the world. We met tons of people who were touring the world and Victoria Falls was just one stop along the way. What a life. It must be a European thing because I ran into very few Americans. But the one American group I did run into was a brother and sister duo from Wilmington, DE! They had just graduated from college and their mother financed a trip around the world for them. They had been traveling for 8 months and they had another two months to go. They had been everywhere!

Monday morning was dedicated to touring the falls. Who would have thought that water could be so wet? I don’t think I’ve ever been so wet in all my life. Because the area is nearing the end of rainy season, the river is at it’s peak and falls are incredibly large. Although I was right next to them, I could see very little of the actual falls because there was so much mist. Did I mention that is was wet? I was completely and utterly soaked! Next time I visit the falls, I want to visit in dry season because they say you can see much more of the actual falls.

We also ventured down to the bottom of the falls to a place that is called the “Boiling Point.” That is at the base of the falls and provides and excellent view of gorge and Zambia-Zimbabwe bridge, and also provides a scenic hike down to the base.

That evening we signed up for sunset cruise (better known as the “Booze Cruise”) on the upper Zambezi. We set out a couple hours before dark on a boat that was more of a floating bar. It was great because we got to see African wildlife on the river, eat a great meal, socialize with people from all over the world, and watch an incredible sunset over the Zambezi.

Tuesday we spent the day canoeing the upper Zambezi – 27 km prior to the falls. We had originally intended to go rafting on the lower Zambezi but were unable to because the water was too high. Just too dangerous. Instead we settled for the canoe trip. Not much to speak about on the trip except for a croc attack. The canoe that Thierry and I were in was attacked by a rather large crocodile. I felt water splash up into the boat and something hit my paddle. At first I thought it was Thierry fooling around but then I saw a gigantic crocodile head make a swipe at my paddle. We both realized it was a croc and got quite excited. When we tried to tell the others they thought we were just joking. The guide had even told us that it was rare for a croc to attack a boat. A few seconds later we felt a thump on the underside of our boat and realized that we were really under attack. Needless to say, we both picked up the pace…a lot! The others really didn’t believe us until later on another boat came by looking for a paddle that had been lost to the same crocodile. Their guide had got a good look at it and figured it to be 3-4 meters in length. I guess the incident wasn’t all that dangerous, but it felt quite serious in a tiny little inflatable canoe, with my hands just inches above the water. Crazy stuff!

Wednesday we took the day off to relax and chill at Jollyboys. Even then we had good fun. I got to beat Thierry in a couple 3 hour games of chess.

Thursday we went on a walking Safari where we found the only white rhino in Zambia. Our guide was incredible. He tracked that rhino for about 45 minutes until we eventually found it. He used everything from footprints, to scattered grass, to dung and urine. I was impressed.

Friday was the big day – zip-line, gorge swing, and bungee jump. The funny thing is that I was not scared in the least, that is until I was standing on a bridge that was better than 370 feet high. I still can’t believe I was able to force myself off that bridge. You see, we are supposed to do the zip-line across the gorge first to build yourself up for the jumps, but Thierry was bound and determined to begin with the jumps. He the bungee, and me the gorge swing. The problem with the gorge swing is that because I was the first one, I hadn’t got the chance to watch how it was done. I was standing what felt like miles above the water and they wanted me to jump off a bridge holding onto only a rope that went straight down! Lucky for me it was attacked to a cable in the middle of the gorge, but that didn’t make any less scary. As you can see from the pic, I was a little less than confident about my decision to jump. It was actually scarier than it looks. I actually think the gorge swing was the scarier of the two. The bungee at least made sense, but the gorge swing scared the tar out of me with the slack rope. I just always thought that swings were supposed to have tension. In the end, I survived and had a good time. The jury is still out as to whether I would ever do it again…

So that is the story of the week. There are lots of other thing that I left out, but that is the gist of it. Check out the picture linked on the right hand side of this blog.

Back On-line

2008-03-06T22:27:00.000-08:00

So what has happened since my last post? Nothing all that exciting, but for those of you who are wondering, I had best provide an update.

At the end of December I finally got a much needed R&R. On December 24 I left for Delaware and spent the Christmas holidays at home with my family. It was a good time of rest and relaxation, but more importantly, Shawn, Evie and myself got much needed planning done for this summer's bike trip from Maine to Oregon. June 3 we plan on embarking on a three month bike trip from coast to coast. I can't wait.

Since my return to Congo, flying has been quite busy. I picked up nearly 200 hrs of flying in January and February because I was the only plane and pilot flying down here in Lubumbashi. Fortunately several more pilots have arrived and there are rumors of another airplane coming to Lubumbashi to add to our fleet.

Back in September Lane Wallace, a lady from the Flying Magazine, came out to Africa to experience and write about bush flying in Africa. She did a three part series in which two of the articles were specifically about Air Serv operations in Chad and the DRC. I found the articles quite interesting, although I do think she over-dramatized them just a little. All the same, it was good publicity for our company. The third and final article is about our flying here in the Congo. Check out the photo gallery - quite nice.

Desert Caravan (January 2008)

Refugees and Legionnaires (February 2008)

Turbulence in Congo (March 2008)

Well, last week brought me to my one year anniversary with Air Serv. I finished my first contract and I'm on to my second. I will stick around until mid-May and then return to the states for three months to complete my bike trip. I will then hopefully return in September for another stay in Africa. I guess that means I really like my job :-)

...and don't forget about Goma!

2007-12-12T03:05:00.000-08:00

What would a tour of the Congo be without a visit to Goma? As of Monday, that became my new home for the week. I can't wait for R&R!

Tour de Congo

2007-12-05T03:13:00.000-08:00

I sense that my last post has now become a deception as to my current whereabouts. The events of the last two months didn't really go as I had expected. Although I did spend some time in Kananga, the dreaded adventure basically turned into a grand tour of the Congo.

When I arrived in Kananga, things went just as I had feared - there was very little in the way of structure. I was expecting a briefing on how things were being done but discovered instead that everyone was waiting for me to solve their problems. I was sent up to to Kananga with $5000 to buy 3,000 L of fuel. That was all fine and cool until I realized that it was selling at an exaggerated rate of $2.38/L. A quick run of the math told me that I didn't have near enough money. Also, everybody had a bone to pick with Air Serv. They were looking for me to pay the program lodging, car and driver rental, per diem, guard service, and a number of other bills we were racking up. Fortunately Air Serv was able to "wire" (not exactly sure how that works in the Congo) sufficient money to a local "bank," and I was able to sort it all out.

The flying in Kananga was actually enjoyable but did not last for long. I flew for one week, working myself right out of a job - and so the tour began. Hence, I was sent from: Kananga (center of DRC) to Kalemie (eastern border of DRC) for several days; Kalemie to Lubumbashi (southern tip of DRC) for a week; Lubumbashi back to Kalemie for a week; and from Kalemie to Kinshasa (western border of the DRC) where I am now based. I could start complaining about my frustrations along the way, but as of late I have been challenged to find the blessings in every situation, of which there are many! Rather than view this mission as the disaster that it really is, I am trying to see it not only as an adventure but also an enrichening experience through the Congo.

Keepin My Chin Up - Sorta

2007-10-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

Well folks, it has been a while since I updated and I am not promising that it will get any better. You know, every job has its ups and downs. Working for a humanitarian organization is no different. Here lately I have had some extra, needless stress that has gotten me a little down, but it now looks like things are on the up and up. Sorry if I am being a bit vague. It is easier to explain in person.

In other news, last week I got word that Air Serv wants to move me to Kangana for a short term, two month, MSF (Doctors without Borders) contract. Normally I am a flexible kinda guy but here lately I am uncharacteristically stubborn. I have no desire to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a program that has very little structure. As it stands right now it will be me, an ops guy and a mechanic. Although I haven't seen our living arrangements, I am pretty sure it is going to be a bit privative. Am I being difficult? I guess I did sign up to be a pilot in Africa. This kinda thing should be expected. But I have just gotten to the point where I like Lubumbashi a lot. I know the people, I have made some good friends, I know the town, and I like the living arrangements. It has become my home. I guess the best thing to do is to keep a positive attitude and look for the positives...but they are so hard to come by right now.

I guess I should explain why I am going there in the first place. Several months ago there was an Ebola outbreak that got a lot of media attention. Of course Ebola is a dangerous virus, but why does it get so much attention? There are so many problems in this country that affect so many more people but yet they don't get the attention that an Ebola outbreak does. So what happens? Money pours in from all over the place and everybody wants a piece of it. Thus we are placing an airplane up there for two months. Never mind that the virus is already contained and we are 4 months too late. Ugh! There I go getting all negative again. I guess safe, reliable transportation is hard to come by in that part of the Congo.

I have a feeling that I wont be very social for the next couple months. I have heard that the mission where we are staying has little in the way of electricity and internet. But isn't that why I came to the Congo in the first place? I wanted to experience the challenges. Hopefully next time you hear from me I will be digging the experience but for right now I reserve the right to dread it.

Pic of the week

2007-10-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

I was in a hurry and almost missed these boys who were trying to get my attention. I don't know why I was so fascinated, but I think it makes a good pic.

I have been thinking

2007-09-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

You know I keep reading the news about the growing threat in Iran, and I can't help but wonder how I would handle the situation if I were in our leaders shoes. I hear that earlier this week Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that talk about Iran's plan to become a nuclear power had been closed. He also made some foolish remarks about his belief that the Holocaust didn't occur and that there are no homosexuals in Iran. For some this only added fuel to the fire of hatred, and others just laughed.

So how do we address this growing problem. How do we implement the teachings of Christ into our foreign policy? First off, I believe it fairly obvious that we don't seek war as an viable option. I'll just leave it at that. Do we, in an effort to avoid war, laugh at his comments and ignore a growing threat? Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek. Personally I believe that turning the other cheek is not a passive action intended to show submission. I believe that it is a gutsy, proactive gesture that levels the playing field between the victim and the offender.

I am coming to realize that there is never only two possible solutions to a problem. Our culture is obsessed with black and white, right or wrong, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, that we are not creative enough to think of a third way. We find that every time Jesus was put into a situation where the Pharisees intended for him to make a mistake in chosing one side over another, Jesus always seemed to have a third way. The third way was always creative and effective. Why can't we be as creative as he was?

Now how can this apply to our foreign policy? A few minutes ago I read a comment about Jim Wallis's blog. The reader made a point that really shed light on a new insight for me. "That's why we need to look for the equivalent of turning the other cheek: a paradigm-busting, gutsy move that redefines the debate. Unilateral nuclear disarmament fits the bill." Wow, now there is an idea. Why don't we show Iran how serious we really are about the abuse of nuclear power? I think we all agree that the use of nuclear power as a weapon was a mistake for mankind, yet we continue to stockpile enough weapons to destroy the world several times over. One would think that if the US were serious about nuclear non-proliferation, we would start with our own stockpile. I believe that as a leading world power, the US has a responsibility to lead my example and only then will we be effective in disarming other nations.

Am I naive? It is okay. You can tell me. I won't be offended :-)

8 things you may not know about me....

2007-09-16T02:07:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks back I was tagged by Karen and told that I am to write 8 things about myself that people may not know. So here goes;

1) When I was young my family had a pet fox on our farm. My dad raised foxes to eat some of our dead chickens. One day he saved a baby fox whose mother was trying to kill it. We raised him as a common dog and named him Rosco. It was kinda fun seeing people's reactions to a fox roaming round out farm. Good times.

2) Several weeks ago the President of the DRC, Joseph Kabila, strolled across the Air Serv ramp while I was preflighting my airplane. It was a bit surreal having a flurry of armed guards running across the ramp to proceed his arrival.

3) I can't swim. I can float but cant seem to get anywhere. I think I need to practice a bit more.

4) I once got stuck for half an hour on a picket fence, upside-down with my foot wedged between two boards. In attempt to rescue me from my awkward and painful position, my sister promptly found my mother in the chicken house and informed her that Bruce has to use the bathroom. My mom then told her to tell me that I was allowed to go use the bathroom. Evie then came back and told me the good news. :-)

5) I gave the valedictorian speech at my high school. I was a bit of a nerd...

6) Danny Yoder and I once rode on a airline flight, sitting a row behind Ray Charles. Unfortunately he was oblivious to our presence.

7) I was made in Haiti.

8) I love people, but I often don't like crowds. I am a bit weird that way.

Alright, that was a bit tough. I about couldn't finish. So now I am going to pass the honor along and tag my cuz Sheila and friend Jared. Good luck.

Lubumbashi Update

2007-08-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

So for and update on life in Lubumbashi. It has been awhile.

One would that that I would have learned my lesson in high school when it came to raising chickens and a puppy at the same time. Well, I am at it again. About two months ago Steve and I bought 9 laying hens and a rooster. Unfortunately we have collected very few eggs to date. A couple of weeks ago one of our laying hens (the only one that consistently lays eggs) took a liking to her eggs and decided to hatch a few youngens. We now have 5 little bitties running around. Good fun.

So then a couple of weeks ago Steve found a puppy to add to our growing farm, because every good farm needs a farm dog. Right? Lies! Lie! Its all lies! So now we have a puppy who is becoming ever so bold in her attempt to find a play mate. I have this gut feeling that her choice playmates her choice delicacy. We will see. Her name is Charlie and we all really like her.

Today we had a little bit of excitement out to the airport. I flew this morning and when I got back I locked up and secured the airplane. This afternoon we got a call from our ramp guys saying that something fell out of a helicopter onto the airplane. We had no clue what they were talking about so we decided to go to the airport and survey the damage. When we got there we found the airplane turned 180 degrees from where I left it and several meters into the grass. Apparently an Mi-26 (one of the largest helicopters in the world) took off right behind the airplane. It is amazing that there was not more damage than what occurred. It was sitting next to several other airplanes which could have been quite costly.

Here are some of the pics.

This is how I left it.

This is what the rotor wash did to the airplane. Almost 180 degrees.

Me inspecting the damage.

Check out this control lock! It definitely did it's job.

Our goofy engineers... They are great!

And our ramp guys...

Air Serv wanted me to get some good pics of our new airplane for the home office. The pics didn't turn out all that well because the kids were a little more preoccupied with cookies that I had promised them. Needless to say, it eventually turned into a riot!

Amazing Grace

2007-07-31T09:10:00.000-07:00

So I have a new favorite song…make that a new favorite movie as well: Amazing Grace. This last weekend I was in South Africa while an airplane was in for maintenance. I once again found my way to the cinema and watched a great movie. I know my taste of movies don’t always match those of my friends, Dave and Shawn for instance, but I do believe this movie is a must watch.

I have sung Amazing Grace hundreds, if not thousands of times, and only now do the words really come to life.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost but now I am found,
Was blind but now I see.

The movie is about the life and work of William Wilberforce, a young British politician who fought in Parliament for the abolishment of the African slave trade. Outnumbered by his powerful opposition, he took a stand against one of the greatest evils of his time. Although he suffered many defeats he persisted until he eventually saw success.

Can silence and apathy ever be warranted in the face of injustice? What if standing up for what is right disrupts family and friends? What if correcting the wrong brings embarrassment to otherwise reputable people? What if it leads to undesirable economic outcome? What if it destroys careers?

I love this song because it reflects who I am. How often have I chosen apathy and psuedo-ignorance in return for the comforts of this world? We all are guilty of this sin in one form or another, whether it is the person who directly exploits those whom he considers a lesser human or the law abiding consumer who chooses to ignore the unjust means by which her goods were produced. How incredible it is to serve a God who can make even the vilest sinner clean? How miraculous is it to see a sinner restored to a rightful position in the Kingdom of God? Exciting stuff!

The movie is a must watch!

Thoughts on The Poisonwood Bible

2007-07-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

"We constructed our lives around a misunderstanding, and if ever I tried to pull it out and fix it now I would fall down flat. Misunderstanding is my cornerstone. It's everyone's, come to think of it. Illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement under our feet. They are what we call civilization." p. 602

"Poor Africa. No other continent has endured such an unspeakably bizarre combination of foreign thievery and foreign goodwill." p.597

I just finished reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. The story is told by "the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959." Each of the four daughters present their unique perspective on both religion and the Congo. As the book progressed I became more and more attached to these fictional characters, in particular, Adah, the handicapped twin. She probably was the most cynical of the girls but also the most perceptive. The above quote by Adah is probably my favorite from the book. This family moved to Congo right before the independence of the Congo from Belgium - both a good and bad thing. Good in that they were freed from colonialism, yet bad in that their was little to no allowance for transition. Overnight the government and military was placed in the hands of the suppressed and uneducated Congolese. What I found most appalling was the west's (the U.S. in particular) meddling in the affairs of this struggling country. It would be one thing if we would have been there to assist this country as we said we were doing, but to my horror I discovered that we were manipulating the political leadership in our favor in order to rape the country of its natural resources. The Eisenhower administration convinced the American public that the newly elected Lumumba was a rabid Communist who urgently needed to be removed. And so it was. Although the CIA denies connection to his murder, Lumumba was assassinated several weeks later. What followed forced the Congo into a nightmare that lasted better than three decades under the brutal dictator Mobutu. Needless to say, Mobutu experienced warm relations with the U.S. because of his disdain for the Soviet communists and willingness to do business U.S. investors.

I guess the most important thing I am learning over here in Africa is that things are most often not as they seem. It amazes me hear stories told from opposing perspectives. The sad thing is that the most powerful people are the ones who determine how history is viewed. Corrupt intentions and evil actions can always be given a spin that places it in favorable public perception. What is it about a communist that makes them so evil? What is it about democracy and capitalism that makes them Christian ideals and an ultimate good? What kind of democracy is forced democracy? Is there not something wrong with the fact that capitalism's only path to success is through human greed? Why is socialism such a fundamentally flawed system? All these questions arise as I consider the cornerstones of my western worldview.

Until we humans learn to reevaluate the presuppositions behind of our worldviews we will continue to live in a world where "illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement beneath our feet." As Christians we say that we follow the Prince of Peace, yet we are content to live our lives in an illusion. Why should being a citizen of any nation shape our worldview more so than being Christian? My prayer is that I will always desire to seek the truth and walk in that truth no matter how difficult it may be.

Odds and Ends

2007-07-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a big day. My good friend Steve Bontrager took the leap and married the talented and beautiful Sari Vilen. Sari is a great Finish girl who works for a Christian NGO here in Lubumbashi called CORD. They met in Abeche, Chad and here lately decided that a Congolese wedding would suit just fine. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the wedding due a last minute change in our flying schedule, however, I was able to help organize a small wedding party last night for the them. Some of the local staff attended so it was a good time.

Take a look at this cake. This week when I ordered the cake, the lady wanted to know what we wanted written on the cake. How am I to know? The only thing I could think of was "Congratulations." Instinct told me that was not satisfactory. Later that day I had an epiphany. Why not write I love you in several different languages? She is Finnish, he is American, and they got married in Congo - Finish, English, French and Swahili. I am not ashamed to admit, it was clutch.

In other news, I hear our faithful chicken downstairs. Several weeks ago Steve and I bought nine hens and a rooster. The idea was to raise some free range chickens so that we have eggs on a regular basis. The only problem is that we only get two or three a day. Not all that impressive. But anyway, about this time every day we have one noisy hen who insists on coming into the house, through the dining room and kitchen to lay an egg next to our fireplace. At first we tried to chase it away but later discovered that it was only trying to deliver fresh eggs right into our house. I have a feeling that if we were to leave the refrigerator open, she would save us the trouble and plant her egg on the bottom shelf. Kinda cool.

I went to Goma last weekend. On Wednesday I was informed that one of the airplanes needed to go for maintenance and they wanted me to stay in Goma for several days to get familiar with some of the difficult airstrips in the area. Goma has some extra challenges because of the tall mountains and volcanoes as well as difficult weather. It was really fun. I finally got to go to infamous Walikie airstrip. Actually it is a regular road that is also used as a runway. On final approach you find two airplanes that have been taken victim to this unique and challenging strip. The really bizarre part is the curve three quarters of the way down the runway. It is not so bad on landing, but on takeoff we add full power and take the curve at 20-25 knots. It is a little intimidating not knowing what is around the bend. I was a little worried we were going to meet an oncoming Land Cruiser around the other side.

So that is the latest in my part of the world.

R&R

2007-06-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

I just got back from my first, week-long R&R. I admit that it was great fun, but I am not sure how much rest and relaxation I actually got. Several weeks ago I decided to make my first destination Jinja, Uganda, since my cousin Melissa is there for another several days. She is a volunteer at the Amani Baby Cottage. Jinja (the source of the Nile River) also happens to be the location of several tourist attractions associated with the ancient river.

Last Sunday Jared and I flew up to Entebbe so that I could begin my R&R and he could head on to Kabul. Afghanistan. Luckily for us, his flight to Dubai did not leave for another week, which gave us the opportunity to tour Uganda together - a very good deal!

The highlight to our travels was definitely the white water rafting on the Nile. Although, I had never been rafting before, Jared and I joined the "wild" group on their journey up the Nile. The Nile is unique for rafting because its large volume of water. Although there are many class four and five rapids, they are relatively safe because there are less rocks to cause injury - but that in no way made them appear any less frightening. By the way, that is our raft in that pick. I think I swam most of that rapid.

Another fascinating thing I discovered in Uganda was the bota-bota. If you need to travel round town all you need to do is track down a bota-bota (actually they track you down) and get a ride to your destination. You can choose from either motorbike bota-botas or bicycle bota-botas. We used both on several occasions. I was most fascinated by the bicycle transportation.

I must admit, I really like Uganda. It is Africa without all the Congo problems. People are friendlier, most understand English, and the governmental system actually seems to work. That may explain why there are so many more ex pats in the area. Jared and I both were amazed at the number of short term mission organizations that we ran into. Who wants to go to Congo on a mission trip? I am not sure I would...although, I am reluctantly grateful for the experience that I am having here in the DRC.

Well, as this R&R drew to an end, so did my time with Mr. White. I am sad to see him go. I am sure that he will have a good time in Afghanistan, but we will miss him here in the Congo!

A Franciscan Benediction

2007-05-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.

Conversations with God

2007-05-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Written several days ago. I am now back home in the DRC.

This week has definitely been a change of pace for me. I left for South Africa on Saturday morning with the expectations of a short stay and a SAX flight back to the DRC on Monday. That has proven not to be the case. Air Serv was unable to get me on a return flight until this Friday. Usually I would welcome a week stay in a civilized country such as South Africa but this isn’t exactly my favorite scenario. It’s cold, I am alone, I brought one change of clothes, there is nothing to do in Pretoria, and currently I have no Internet connection. On the up side of the situation, I was able to go to the mall and pick up some things that I needed/wanted. I also got to go to a bookstore, do some quality reading and watch a movie at a theater.

Actually, I got the chance to watch two movies: Spiderman and Conversations with God. I never before thought Spiderman to be my type of movie….and it still isn’t my type of movie. Enough said. Conversations with God on the other hand was exactly my kind of movie. In short, the plot consists of an ordinary man who has a little bad luck and finds himself living among the homeless. After many struggles and heartaches, he catches a lucky break and goes on to become a successful, sought-after author. I am not exactly sure that I totally agree with all the theological assumptions of the movie, but I do believe that it is an excellent portrayal of the human struggle faced by those on the fringes of society.

Last year this time God placed a burden on my heart for the homeless in Raleigh. Ethan and I were blessed with the opportunity to befriend several of these beautiful, less-fortunate people. I saw their struggles firsthand. I even tried assist one man in getting out of the shelter and into an apartment, but I gave up after facing the same frustrations that he had been dealing with for the past number of years. About that time, Ram Air relocated me to Baltimore. There I neglected the burden that God had placed on my heart. I found it frustrating to befriend these people and not be able to get them out of their seemingly hopeless situations. And it was also a copout. Someday when I have more time, more money, more influence… Yeah, then I will get involved.

I don’t know why intense human struggles seem to follow me around (or maybe I follow them around) but now I find myself facing the same problems on a much more frequent basis here in Africa. After watching this movie the other day I came to the sobering conclusion that I am becoming increasingly indifferent to these people, and in some cases, defensive.

On Friday I came across an NPR podcast called Speaking of Faith, hosted by Krista Tippett. In her latest episode she interviewed Shane Claiborne, the author of Irresistible Revolution. Although I have not read the book, I have read some of his articles and heard many great things about the guy. There were several things that really stuck out to me in the interview but the most notable idea that I came away with was his explanation of why God, the author of great and miraculous miracles, allows social injustices (specifically homelessness) abound in the world. He responded by referring to a comic strip that he had come across several years ago:

Cartoon 1: You know, I wonder why God allows all this pain and poverty and hurting in the world?

Cartoon 2: Why don’t you ask God that?

Cartoon 1: Well, I guess I am scared.

Cartoon 2: What are you scared of?

Cartoon1: I guess I am scared that God will ask me the same question…

So often we humans try to throw these questions at God and we forget that we are his are his body, his hands and his feet. Somewhere along the line Christians (myself definitely included) abandoned their call to be Jesus to the world. Jesus changed the world - no matter how large the task, we must do the same.

In other news, I got two haircuts today. First one: Congo haircut. Second one: I finished it off.

Stuck in Pweto

2007-05-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was yet another new experience for me. It all began when customers I was flying showed up 30 minutes late. The plan was to fly them to Pweto for a two hour meeting and then bring them back before nightfall. The plan was good so long as we were airborn by 3:45 PM. When we got to Pweto I told them that I wanted to meet at the airplane at 3:30 so that we would make our departure. They agreed.

3:30 rolled around and there was no passengers. Better yet, 3:45 and 4:00 rolled around with no sign of them. It was then that I made up my mind that we were not getting back in time to be legal. I eventually ran down to the village and met them on their way back up the mountain. They were in a hurry but did not realize that I had made up my mind that we were not going. The long in short of it is that I got to rough the night in Pweto. Since the passengers had no extra clothes, they were much less than impressed. The one lady, after seeing that I had brought a change of clothes, actually accused me of planning it this way. I think she was just trying to give me a hard time. They all ended up being cool with it, and we eventually had a good evening out on the town. It was good times.

Congolese Bureaucracy

2007-05-05T09:56:00.000-07:00

First, there is a trash truck that won’t start so people are pushing it down the street. A few hundred meters down the road there is another truck that runs but the problem is that it gets lost in its own cloud of emissions. Also, it is missing a tailgate. Every time is goes over a bumpy (which is quite frequent) it loses several kilograms of garbage. Then you have the 15 passenger van with 30 Congolese, plus or minus 15 (always plus), hanging from the doorless frame. Right behind them is a rusted out Mercedes that is two jars away from seeing its last pothole, and again there is way to many people in that car.

Then there is us: two white guys being chauffeured around in our Mazda SUV – not perfect, but worlds better than our fellow commuters. I had just got done thinking, “It sure is nice that we have a nice vehicle to ride around in!” One thing I have learned about Congo: never get too comfortable with your environment because there ain’t nobody happy unless your are unhappy.

A greasy ole’ police officer steps out into the middle of the busy road, blows his whistle, and nearly gets run over by our aggressive driver. Apparently, he thought that there was not enough tread on our rugged, oversized tires and that it was in the best interest of safety to get our vehicle off the road. This allowed him to do a thorough inspection of our death trap, but first he wanted us to find our reflective triangle to warn all the other traffic of our stopped vehicle. Oh, I almost forgot, we don’t have one of those! Yet another problem with our vehicle. What were we thinking when we got into the car? Further inspection found a burned out taillight. This vehicle definitely should be grounded, and that is exactly what the police did. We were not allowed to move until we had paid the fine. Alan and I decided that if we were going to get our errands accomplished that we were going to have to walk to our destination and let the driver take care of the penal formalities.

This is why I hate bureaucracy, especially Congolese bureaucracy! They had no problem with our car. They were not worried about safety. They saw two white people and thought that they could get money out of us. In the Congo a uniform gives officials the right to make people’s lives difficult in order to extort a bribe. Much of this warped ideology finds its source in the philosophy of Mobutu who told his soldier that the population was their supplier and their gun was their salary. It is no wonder that the officials of Congo are corrupt. They make a meager living of the backs of the poor. It is a legalized system that allows the poor to steal from the poor. It is not wonder that this country cannot get on its feet!

New Home: Lubumbashi

2007-04-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

I think I may have found a new home: a little cleaner, a little more pleasent, and a little safer. Congo Paradise! Well, maybe I wouldn't go that far, but it is a lot nicer. Supposedly Lubumbashi is the nicest town in the DRC. Looking at the town, I realize how beautiful it once was and how beautiful it could be again. Several of us were talking together and it was agreed that the eastern DRC could be one of the nicest places in the world were in not for the wars of the last century. Who knows, maybe two hundred years from now, with increased peace and economic growth, this could one of the worlds most popular destinations.

I believe I like the flying here just a little bit better as well. In Kinshasa there was much less variety in landscape but here there are lakes, rivers, water falls, marshes, praries, mountains and plateaus. The only thing this area is missing is the big five game and other native animals. The last 100 years of war and hunger in the area have literally wiped out all the big wildlife in the area. Hopefully, if things settle down and people are educated on the importance of these animals here in the next several years, they may attempt to restock some of the extinct animals of the area.

Lounging in Kinshasa

2007-04-06T03:47:00.000-07:00

They tell me that flying in Kinshasa is either feast or famine. Last week I was beginning to think that this job would quickly burn me out - this week I am doing nothing, except study. I am kinda enjoying this week of relaxation because it is allowing me to acclimate to my surroundings.

I am finding that I really like the people that I am based with. I love that most of the pilots share my values and beliefs. David Cathey, a King Air pilot, was the senior pilot of four months when I got here. He comes from Dallas, Texas where he priviously flew a Dimond jet for a coporate organization. This week his wife Amy came for a two week visitation and I have been getting to know her as well. She also flies for a corporate organization in Dallas but she would love to come fly for Air Serv. David and Amy both have a desire to serve God and others through the use of their flying skills. I really appreciate their sincere attitude and genuine faith. We have had some really good conversations. (David and Jared on the left)

Then there is Andy. He is the only pilot presently checked out in the Caravan at this base. He and I have been coupled together for the duration of my training. He is a really cool, smart, quiet, maticulate, and great guy. The other night we inadvertantly got into a conversation about faith and I found that we have a lot in common. He struggles with many of the same issues that I do. He told me that if I ever get a chance, I should read The Cost of Discipleship by Deitrich Bonhoffer. It is ironic that that same book was one of the few books that I brought with me to Africa, and I was planning on reading it next.

Next there is Jared. He and I went to Hesston together so we were already good friends. I guess it is an understood that he is a really great guy. Right now he is flying the King Air, but when I get checked out in the Caravan, he will probably get checked out as well so that we have more pilots cross trained in both airplanes.

Yesterday I got to talk to several Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) pilots that are based here on the field with us. They have three airplanes based here: a Cessna 206, 207 and 208(Caravan). Apperently they do some of the same kind of things that we do. I originally thought that most of their work was geared more towards missions but I guess they do some contract work as well. When the USAID contract that we now have was up for bid, they pursued it as well.

Well, I guess I am going to head on out and get my some more passport photos taken. Here lately an immigration official in MBendaka has been giving Air Serv a hard time about their Visas. He claims that they are only for travel and not for work. It is funny how it was sufficient for all these years, now we are illegal. (It is suspected that he is really looking for a way to get bribes) So now we are just going to get residence visas. That will be kinda cool to have.

Finally in the DRC

2007-04-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

I have officially made it to the Democratic Republic of Congo via plan B. On March 24 I left RSA for Entebbe, Uganda via Nairobi, Kenya. I got to Uganda I was informed that it all goes down hill from here. Supposedly Entebbe is one of Air Serv’s nicest bases.

The next day I caught a flight with Steve and Dawson back to the DRC where I began my three day stay in Goma. Goma is situated by a lake on the far eastern border of DRC and Rwanda. Apparently this town was a prominent gateway for those who fled the Rwandan genocide. The climate is generally quite mild and pleasant because it sits at an elevation of 5000 ft. The living conditions there is very interesting because on one side of the wall/gate you have extreme poverty, filth and chaos and on the other side you have comfortable, lakeside living conditions. It is definitely a beautiful house.

Last Wednesday I left for Kinshasa where I will be permanently based for the time being. Kinshasa is the capital of DRC located on the far western side of the country. It is a very dirty city and the climate is unlike Goma in that it is very hot and sticky. Kinshasa is more like what I imagined Congo to be like.

Many people have asked me what Air Serv actually does, and from what I can tell, the specifics change from program to program. Some programs are used more for humanitarian aid and others are used more for developmental services. In Goma, Air Serv uses two Caravans and a Twin Otter to transport other humanitarian aid workers and NGO’s into and out of the hard to reach fields. In Kinshasa the program is a little different. We have two airplanes based here: a King Air and a Caravan. Both airplanes are based under a contract through USAID that primarily supplies developmental services throughout Congo. For instance, some of the flights are used for the transportation of researchers who study the wildlife and environment while others are used to send educated people into the field to teach people how to grow better crops, treat sickness and diseases, etc..

Initially I did not realize that Air Serv pilots overnighted on a regular basis but apparently here in Kinshasa that is a regular occurrence. The pilots here jokingly say that the Kinshasa base is corporate Congo flying, and in reality that is the truth. So if one doesn’t like corporate flying in the U.S., he or she probably won’t like corporate flying in Congo. I have to admit that overnighting outbase does not really excite me, but I know that it is a good experience. I generally like to be in my own bed every night, but if I want to live in Congo, I might as well experience Congo to the fullest.

On Thursday we left for a two day trip that eventually turned into an unplanned four day trip into northern DRC. I caught a ride in the King Air to Mbandaka where I began my ride-alongs in the Caravan. When the legs were easy, I did the flying. We flew to Kisangani where we stayed the night in a Chalet. I admit, it was much nicer than I expected. They had running water and a generator at all times. There was even a swimming pool outside.

The next day we took our passengers to a tiny airport in the middle of nowhere called Bafwasende. It was one of those kinds of places that would have been really hard to get to without an airplane. When we landed there were probably 100 spectators on the edge of the runway observing the rare occurrence. It was a neat experience to fly into the real bush.

We eventually got home yesterday after several delays and an additional flights. Although the trip had its difficulties and frustrations, it was a very good education of Congo flying. I have found that I must learn more French if I am going to be on my own at nights. Where it not for Andy, I would have been lost. Hopefully, it will all come together.

2007-03-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Alright, for an update: I am now slated to leave for Entebbe, Uganda tomorrow morning. I will be met there by an Air Serv pilot who will take me to Goma, DRC on Sunday. Things are a bit more stable there. And the best part of it is, I get to hang out with Mr. Bontrager again. Whahoo!

Hopefully the next post will find me in the DRC.

Still in the RSA

2007-03-23T02:54:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I am still not exactly sure what is going on. I got to Joburg International bright and early this morning, ready to make my voyage to Kinshasa, but got nowhere.

About 10 minutes before my flight was about to board the peolpe at the gate made an announcement saying that our flight had been delayed. "That is fine, I have all the time in the world," I told myself. But the strange thing was that everybody was starting to get quite upset. I tried to figure out what was going on but no one wanted to speak English. The man at the gate could tell I was confused and asked if I was going to Kinshasa. After I confirmed with him that I was indeed, he told me to follow him along with a large mass of upset people. I was cool with that. Maybe we were changing gates. The only problem was that the parade of people was too long and the group of people too confused for me to figure out where we were going. At every turn we lost another group of people until it was just me and some Japeneesse couple. Luckily we got ourselves straightened out when, by sheer coincidence, I recognized another fellow passenger who knew what was going on. He informed me that the flight had actually been canceled and we where to head back through customs to get our luggage.

To make a long story short, I had trouble getting ahold of anyone who: a. was actualy awake; b. could actually do anything to help me out; and c. I had their number. I finally figured it all out and got back to the flight school. Apperently there has been a lot of unrest in Kinshasa for that past 24 hours and all the roads into the airport are shut down. I am guessing that I will be stuck here for a little while until things settle down.

South African Training Complete!

2007-03-21T02:13:00.000-07:00

I officially have my South African commercial validation in hand. Tuesday a week ago I took my CAA written test on Air Law and Operations and on Monday of this week I took the commercial instrument checkride. Both went well, but the written test was by far the harder of the two. Who really cares what the VMC minima are in class A airspace? I suppose the FAA has many stupid questions as well.

I believe this checkride was the easiest I have ever taken. Because I had never flown a Seneca, the examiner told me exactly what airspeeds and power settings to use. All he wanted to see was that I know how to fly an airplane to commercial standards and that I know the correct procedures. After all was done, we took a aerial, scenic tour of Joburg at night. How cool is that! It is a beautiful city from the air - not so much from the ground.

As things stand right now, I am slated to leave for Kinshasa, DRC, Friday morning. I am really looking forward to getting out in the field and seeing what Africa is really like. According to Steve, this isn't Africa. "It is too much like the States." I concur. Other than driving through Joburg at night, by myself and giving up all my cash, I have yet to really feel out of my comfort zone.

In other news, I have officially got the driving down-pat. Not so bad if you follow what everybody else is doing. Just don't run the red lights like the guy in front of you. One odd thing that I have noticed is that tow trucks are strategically positioned at dangerous intersections waiting for accidents (kinda like vultures). It appears that the strategy is much more reactionary than precautionary. Not all that comforting....

Training in South Africa

2007-03-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

Greetings from South Africa! Currently the weather is 80 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze out of the west. Actually, it has been like this for most of the week. Needless to say, I am thoroughly enjoying my stay down here.

Friday afternoon I departed Dulles on a 15-hour, direct flight to Johannesburg, SA. I was worried that the ride would be a bit long but thanks to the in-flight entertainment system and several three-hour naps, I kept myself quite occupied.

Sunday morning a good friend of mine, Steve Bontrager, arrived to join in the training. I sure am glad it worked out this way because it has been a blast hanging out with my good ole Hesston buddy for the first time in several years. Plus, he knows much more about the area than I do.

On Monday we drove 45 minutes out to Cranfield Aviation where we have been taking CRM, Dangerous Goods and SEPT classes. So far everything has been very laid back. Classes start at 9 and are generally over by 2. That may be why this adventure feels more like vacation than a job. I have a feeling things will change here in the next few days when I start the Caravan training and SA validation.

I have been very intrigued by SA culture because it is not what I had expected. The best way to describe it would be: European lifestyle in an African setting. The two most notable things that I have noticed so far:

I am now the one with the accent. Personally, I think everyone else sounds British, but they would have nothing of it.

Everybody drives on the wrong side of the road. I am convinced that when Steve leaves I am going to have an accident. Not to mention that I am not excited about driving a stick shift from the right side of the car.

Other than that things have been very uneventful. There is very little about this country that makes my life different than it is in the states. That may be a broad statement, but that is my initial conclusion after the first 120 hours in SA. By they way, this is the appartment where I am staying. It is really nice!