LARRY & BOBBI OTIS BIO
May 16, 2009
(27 years with New Tribes Mission)
Larry was born in Victoria, Texas. He moved to Phoenix, AZ with his Mom as a baby and lived there until the age of 14. Then he moved to Mississippi and later Louisiana to live with his Dad. In 1970, Larry went to Aircraft Mechanics School at Sowella Technical Institute in Lake Charles, LA. In 1971 he met Bobbi on a summer job in Delhi, LA. Larry went to Bobbi’s church and was challenged with the Gospel of Christ and later received the Lord as his savior while reading his little Gideon New Testament. Bobbi had been saved at age 9 and felt the call to be a missionary at an early age. In her high school years, she had been praying for a husband who would also have a heart for Missions.
Larry and Bobbi got married in 1972 after Larry finished Aircraft Mechanics School. They lived in Lafayette, LA their first year of marriage and Larry worked for Paul Fornet Aviation. They then moved to Monroe, LA, to be closer to Bobbi’s family. There Larry worked for Fleeman Aviation, a Beechcraft and Cessna Dealer. In 1974 their daughter, Emily was born. In 1978 both Larry and Bobbi were challenged to give their lives for Missions at Bobbi’s home church when Cecil Neese, a veteran missionary with New Tribes Mission, presented his ministry in the jungles of South America. Larry noticed in Cecil’s presentation that the airplane was a tool that these missionaries needed in order to reach those remote people groups there.
After questioning this missionary and also asking himself why he couldn’t be involved, Larry got very interested in Mission Aviation and visited TA/C (Tribal Air/Communications at that time) the air arm of New Tribes Mission in Grant Nebraska. He was very impressed with how the airplane and his talents as an aircraft mechanic could be used to help further the gospel to the remote areas of the world. In 1981, Larry and Bobbi both felt very certain that the Lord wanted them to be involved in world evangelism. Larry quit his job; they sold their home and left their families behind to enter Missionary training with New Tribes Mission in Durant, Mississippi. Their daughter, Emily, was seven at the time.
During their Jungle Camp training in Mississippi, Larry went to Grant Nebraska to be evaluated for serving as a mechanic with New Tribes Mission. After successfully completing their missionary training in February of 1982, Larry, Bobbi and Emily moved to Douglas, AZ where New Tribes Mission Aviation had just made a move from the Grant, Nebraska location.
Because of Larry’s experience in aircraft maintenance, they were put on staff at the New Tribes Mission Aviation Headquarters in Douglas AZ. In the summer of 1982, Larry went to Indonesia for eight weeks to help repair one of the Mission’s planes that had an accident. In 1984, Larry, Bobbi, and daughter, Emily,10 years old, went to Mexico and camped on top of a mountain airstrip for three weeks and helped fix the mission plane that needed repair there. In 1985, the Otis’ were headed to Papua New Guinea and went to JAARS Helicopter Maintenance Training in North Carolina for a month in order to get experience for maintaining the Hiller helicopter in PNG. They returned another time to get some helicopter engine experience. In 1987, their plans changed and they were headed to Venezuela to help start a flight program there. Matthew, their son, was also born in 1987 and at six weeks of age, the family moved to Camdenton, MO, for 3 months of Spanish study. It turned out that there was a delay in starting the Venezuela program so the Otis family then headed towards PNG again.
In January of 1989, Larry spent six weeks at the Islands Region Supply Center in West New Britain helping repair the Mission’s damaged Hiller Helicopter. In September of 1989, Larry, Bobbi and Matthew left for PNG. Emily stayed behind with friends for three months while her orthodontist work was finished. She traveled to PNG with a Summit Team and joined the family in January.
While in the Highlands of PNG, Larry got field experience, was on the NTM Aviation Committee, was Chief Engineer and TA/C Chairman. Bobbi was the TA/C Hostess and helped with some TA/C bookkeeping and radio monitoring. At the NTM Aviation center in the Islands Region, Larry maintained the Hiller helicopter and helped with shuttles out into the tribes. He also helped maintain the Cessna 206. As a family, they went to the Sepik Region on the May River Airstrip to help restore an airplane to service in that region. The Otis family was in PNG for a four year term. Their last year there, they got to welcome a new Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter used for surveying new works and a Piper Chieftain Twin airplane that would help in the long medical flights over water to Australia.
In September of 1993, the Otis family returned to NTM Aviation Headquarters shortly after the time NTM Aviation moved to the McNeal property. At NTM Aviation McNeal, Larry has served as General Manager of the Repair Station, Director of Maintenance and on the NTMA Committee. Larry has also become a FAA Approved Maintenance DAR (Designated Airworthiness Representative). This means that he can now issue Export Certificates of Airworthiness for NTM Aviation planes and parts that are sent overseas. This is a real time saver and cost saver to the Mission. Larry is also serving as the International Director of Training. He spends much time each year teaching and training new students. Bobbi has served as a Receptionist and Office Coordinator for 13 years and is now working in Larry’s office.
Their daughter, Emily, married Brent Tallman, an MK from PNG. They have given Larry and Bobbi three grand boys; Tyler 15, Colton 13, and Wesley 11. They’ve also adopted a little girl, Dakota who is now 5. They are living in Florida. They are doing well and seek to have ministry there. There is 13 years difference between Emily and Matthew. Matthew has left the nest now and feels the Lord has led him to serve Him and his Country. In January 2007, Matthew married Laura Bohling an MK also. In March of 2008 Cadence was born to them. At about 4 months of age she had to have cranial surgery. We praise and continually thank the Lord that the surgery went well and she is doing good. Matthew was able to return home from overseas duty for Cadence’s surgery. Matthew, Laura and Cadence are living in Georgia.
Larry and Bobbi find it a privilege to be in the support end of the ministry of reaching lost people groups with the Gospel of Christ. It is exciting to hear of reports of tribal people coming to know the Lord. The Otis’ appreciate the team of folks who stand with them in prayer and financial support to enable them to do the work the Lord has called them to.