Prairie Aviation Safety Workshop

The focus of safety in mission aviation continues to change as we seek to use the resources God has entrusted to us more wisely and efficiently. As we continue to learn, we develop a deeper appreciation of how trust on a team improves safety and how much we must depend on input from every level of the organization in order to function safely.  

Just over a week ago Garry was invited to attend a safety workshop hosted by Prairie School of Mission Aviation and presented by Larry Heintz from Mission Aviation Fellowship International. The focus of the workshop was how to set up an Aviation Safety Management System and building trust among team members. He loved his week with other pilot/mechanics, learning and sharing about aviation safety!

This was a small workshop, with usually just 5 people in attendance. Of those five, 4 were from a Mennonite background and 3 of those had grown up on dairy farms. (I've been trying to figure out how dairy farming and flying are related... I have some ideas, but given my limited understanding of dairy farming, I think I'll be silent about those!) It was a very profitable week for Garry and the Prairie Aviation team as they learned and shared ideas.

Now Garry's home again, dividing his energy between aviation safety, planning a trip to Spokane, working construction, and helping with some relief stuff in the Philippines. With all that's going on, we're enjoying the long days of summer!

Film and Faith

Over the past couple of weeks Kaleb has been busy with filmmaking. He entered a 48-hour film contest a couple weekends ago. At the end of the contest there was a screening at a small theatre in Winnipeg, the first time of of Kaleb's animations has been on a big screen! To add to the excitement, he won Best Editor! Last week Kaleb started 2 weeks of Teens Summer Film Camp. It's been a great experience. It's been a great opportunity. It's also been full of challenges.

This small thing feels like a reflection of so much of life. Kaleb has had opportunity to walk into a world he can relate to, and that has given him chances to both live and share faith. Being involved in a world that has its share of darkness has been awesome-- how often do we get a viable chance to walk with new people along new paths and live in a way that is sometimes dramatically different than anything they may have seen or experienced?

Besides this entry into a new world we thoroughly enjoyed the EMC Convention, Dad and Doris were married last weekend, and Garry is headed home from a trip to Calgary. I'll post more later....

DVBS

This week Kaleb and I have had the privilege of working with a great team of people at DVBS. This has been an opportunity for the Blumenort Church to reach out to kids in the community as well as bless our own families. For Kaleb, it's been a chance to get his feet wet leading kids in a group setting as well as connect with other young guys his age. And he's found out he loves it:)!

I spent most of my time with various other leaders, helping where needed. It was a super blessing to see these women in their world, to work with them in areas they are passionate about and feel called to. I loved the heart at DVBS, and I was privileged to be a tiny part of it!

Meanwhile, our friends in the Philippines have presented the New Testament to a local ethnic group. It would have been so much fun to be there.... to fly in visitors, to become visitors at this location, and to experience the joy of people who have God's Word in their language for the first time! What a blessing to follow the celebration on Facebook, to see the photos and hear many thoughts regarding this celebration. To consider the 25 years our friends, Bill & Donna, have dedicated to this translation. To ponder the many others who have been involved in the process over the years. To know God speaks truth when He says in Isaiah 55:11, "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

I pray you have a beautiful weekend.... we're enjoying the EMC Convention in Winnipeg this weekend. So far, it's been a huge blessing and encouragement, both to listen to the speakers and to connect with both old and new friends!