Bent Mufflers

I was once a bodybuilder. Let me clarify…I used to do bodywork on cars, trucks, RVs, and anything in need of several inches of body filler. I really enjoyed applying mud (what the cool kids call Bondo), sanding, and painting cars. Plus, as an additional benefit, I ended up marrying the cute secretary from the shop I worked at.
I was beating on a customer’s car with a hammer one day when I looked up to see an older lady patiently waiting to ask me a question. I was confused, being a lowly mud flinger, I thought she was lost and missed the office of the boss man. I asked if I could help, to which she replied, “Are you a mechanic?”. Though I was not technically a mechanic, I puffed out my chest, and answered in the deepest voice I could muster “Yes”. “Great” she replied, “I backed into something and bent my muffler, and am really worried it will hurt my fuel mileage”. Seeing this poor lady in distress made my inner knight-in-shining-armor ego come out, and I decided to see what I could do to help. Walking out to her car, she fussed the whole way there about her precious fuel mileage. When we arrived at the car she started laughing, and seeing my confusion said “My muffler is fine! I am Maria’s grandma, and I wanted to meet this guy that asked my granddaughter out!”
Grandma died at the end of July. The shock is still raw, and the pain is still real. Vera Jane (Janie) Martin was the healthiest most active grandma I know. Knowing her, she is up in heaven right now power walking from one mansion to another visiting with friends, and making heavenly baked goods (the more you eat the skinnier you get!) She died peacefully of a heart attack at age 74. Her funeral was beautiful: beautiful, because she is with Christ; beautiful, because as we cried for her death, we knew she was alive and power walking on the streets of gold.
We are one heartbeat away from eternity. If you are a Christ-follower, then hallelujah! If you are not, stop reading this newsletter, repent, confess, and dwell with a local body of Christians. Don’t waste a heartbeat, Janie didn’t.

Mission Spotlight

AIM Air is the aviation support branch of Africa Inland Mission
(A.I.M.). AIM Air serves the missionaries and local ministers in
the heart of the unreached people groups in sub-Saharan Africa.
AIM Air flies their fleet of 6 Cessnas (3 – 206s and 3 – 208s for you plane nerds) in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Chad,
Central African Republic, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo. Learn more and see some cool videos at aimair.org.

Quick update about the end of June, July, and beginning of August

The plane I have been working on is finished! All the physical work is done on the Bearhawk, and now all that is left to do is a full week of paperwork for my team leader Jenny. This plane was such a great learning opportunity. It flew to MMS held together by bubblegum and prayer, and after a complete overhaul inside and out, is leaving as basically a new aircraft. Thanks to all those that support us that made it possible to get this plane flying and serving in Haiti again. Keep posted on Facebook, I want to see if I can get a ride!

One of the nice things about living close to MMS is having family lunches. Recently a cropduster entertained us at lunchtime.

On July 4th weekend we camped at my parent’s house. It was a lot of fun catching crawdads, playing games, and eating dirt (that was mostly Aria). Aria consumes her body weight in dirt monthly which isn’t great, but it does make our food bill less.

We were blessed to have many different visitors so far this summer. Pictured is Maria’s sister Diana & her husband Jesse, and Maria’s brother Charles and his wife Abby.

My daughter is my little study buddy/ studying chief distractor. Pictured is her sitting on my book and cheesing it at the camera. Studying takes up about 10 hours a week and having a cute distraction from time to time makes it more durable.

Prayer
Pray for the David and Janie Martin family as they mourn the loss of Janie.
Pray for my mom ‘s foot. My mom has a disease called Charcot foot, and her bones are slowly wasting away. She will be having reconstructive surgery soon, so please pray everything goes well.
Pray that my new passport comes in the mail sometime before the rapture. Borders are still closed, but I want to be ready when we are needed in another country.

Praise
Praise: For the miles and miles of safe travel that we have had over the last three months. Our 200k mile van runs like a top, and so far only bathroom breaks make trips into PA longer.
Till next time,