Thanks Again for Praying!

“Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore.”  When we last wrote to you (in July!) we were sharing about Paul’s quick trip to Kansas for his (step) Dad’s funeral and a few weeks visit with his mom, Lavon Blackburn.  She has been in ailing health these last years and we just weren’t sure how she would do now being alone, bed-bound in the nursing home.  (Their 20th anniversary was in May of this year.)  Family still continued to faithfully visit but her decline continued.  Sadly, but also very happily, we got word that she passed away early on Sunday morning, Oct 20th.  She is now pain free for the first time in years!  We really are rejoicing as we mourn her loss.  We have decided to not return to the States right now but will honor her wishes and have her ashes spread in a small family gathering at a later date in the Rocky Mountains.  We thank the Lord for your prayers for her over the years.  Living with chronic pain really took its toll.  We are so thankful for the promise of a pain-free Heaven!

What else has happened since we last wrote?  Paul has been super busy in the hangar.  Since we are severely short-staffed in mechanics, the work sometimes feels never-ending.  Early this month, for example, all three of our Kodiak airplanes were down for maintenance… at the same time!  Since so many of our bush missionaries rely on the Kodiaks (and our 2 helicopters as well)to get their supplies and themselves in/out of their locations, Paul is thankful for the team that works together to safely return planes to service.

Andrea and the kids have been busy at school!  Phoebe and Josh have returned to our mission school, Numonohi Christian Academy (NCA), located here on the same center where we live.  NCA’s goal is to support tribal church planting by meeting the educational needs of Ethnos360 missionary children.   Several other mission organizations send their children to our school as well(ex:  MAF).  While Phoebe (grade 7) and Josh (grade 5) adjust to no longer being homeschooled, Andrea (grade… err… lots more) is adjusting to teaching again.  This year she is teaching a 7th/8th grade life science class.  What an amazing place to teach at!  Like most of our departments, NCA is very short staffed.  If you are interested in teaching overseas in a Christian school with some amazing teachers and some amazing students, let me know!

Praise & Prayer Requests

• Praise: Lavon, Paul’s mom, is pain-free in Heaven!
• Praise:  We enjoyed a short family break, called holiday on this side of the world.
• Praise: Term 1 of school completed and we all survived!
• Praise: That God’s Word and Gospel message continues to go out into new people groups and languages.  Maturing churches are being established for God’s glory.
• Prayer:  For us as we mourn Paul’s mom’s passing.
• Prayer: For more laborers. The harvest is truly ripe and more help is needed in all departments. From church-planting missionaries to all support roles, foreign and domestic.
• Prayer: For the kids as they continue in school, that they would realize the importance of education and a strong foundational knowledge of their Lord and Savior.