Back from Idaho...had Christmas...in Kansas.

Gracie's first Christmas

Kodiak family pic

Well, we arrived back home in Vancouver from MAF just in time for Christmas.  We were able to enjoy time with family and friends, most of which had not even met our baby girl yet.  She is becoming more and more human by the day as you can see above in her Santa outfit.

Caravan Prop Hub

Installing blade #1

All done

While at MAF I (Will) got trained up on how to maintain airplanes to the MAF standard which keeps them flying safely over the rugged jungles of Indonesia.  One of the airplanes in the fleet is a Cessna Caravan, which is pictured below.  One of my training projects was to take apart a Caravan propeller and then put it back together.  It is a big prop that gets 675 shaft horsepower delivered to it which is able to pull several tons of weight through the air.   At the hangar there were a couple of these planes, so I took a picture so you have an idea of what they look like on the plane itself.

Prop on Caravan

While I am talking Caravans as I write this I am sitting on a plane headed for Wichita, KS where I will get more detailed training from Cessna on the Caravan.  This is a momentous occasion marking Gracie’s first airplane ride.  So far she is doing great which is what we are hoping for when we take the “short trip” to the other side of the planet.

Dad's hangar help

Gracie on the steps of Kodiak #58

These pictures were taken with one of the Kodiak aircraft that was in the hangar getting about 50 modifications (“Jungle Ready” as we call it) before heading to Papua, Indonesia.  Gracie will grow up around it so I thought it only appropriate to start taking pictures now.  It was pretty crazy to think about all the different things that plane will see as it serves the people of Indonesia.

Thank you so much everyone for all of your prayers and support!  We would not be able to get the training I need without your help so thank you.  Our financial support currently is at 82% monthly which means we only have $1100/month to go and 60 days before our Indonesian visas expire.  Please pray that our last partners would be provided in time.  Also, please pray for all the family and friends we are leaving behind in the U.S.

Kodiak Delivery

There have been a bunch of new babies in MAF lately.  Where are they all coming from?  Well, it is no coincidence that the Kodiak's have started coming into the hangar looking a little pregnant.  MAF recently acquired a couple Kodiak's with pods which may or may not have to do with where the MAF babies are coming from.  Either way here is a video to clear things up.

20,000+ Mile Road trip en route to INDONESIA!

Our "bun" fresh out of the oven - 7 days old!

This year has flown past as we spent 4 months on the road (from 4.5-8.5 months pregnant) traveling 20,000+ miles!  Due to our insane traveling life, Gracie has been in 24 states before the "bun was even finished in the oven".  And now our "bun" is out of the oven, 2.5 months old and ready for her next big adventure, Java, Indonesia for language school!

What have we done since our sweet Gracie was born September 24th? Training... I (Nan) have been learning to balance being a wife and new mama! I am so thankful for the jobs God has given me. Will has enjoyed getting his hands dirty in the hangar as he works side by side with MAF instructors: Doug and Steve.  He is learning MAF standards that he will implement once on the field. He furthered his maintenance knowledge at Spokane Turbine Center, working on PT6 engines.  It is exhilarating knowing that each day is drawing us closer to serving in Indonesia.  

Cozy in my Ergo after a walk

Where are we living? Well we have been "homeless nomads" since we packed up our apartment March 31st.  But since October 8th, we have been blessed to stay at the MAF apartments in Nampa, Idaho! It has been LOVELY to have a cozy little one bedroom apartment, with a charming fireplace... a place to call our own for 2.5 whole months!  We are grateful for our home here...

AND we are so close to our support goals!  Our outgoing (one-time) support has been raised! We are so thankful! Now we only have $1,300/month left! That is only 13 people at $100/month or 26 people at $50/month or... well you get the idea, we are so close because of many of YOU who have decided to join our journey! Thank you to everyone who has partnered with us to serve God in Indonesia! . If you would like to be a part of our team please go to our MAF page.

Weighing in on the MAF mailroom scale

One of our biggest highlights is our sweet baby girl, Gracie Jane. She is growing so much each day! Her current stats are: the 78% for her weight and the 82% for height. The doctor said she is growing perfectly. Gracie had her shots the other day in order to prepare her for Indonesia. Due to the shots, she became a little cranky for the first time in her life! But this weekend, she is back to her giggling, cooing, sweet self. Our precious baby girl has blessed us with sleeping 8-11 hours a night. We couldn't be more thankful to God for His gracious gift.

Thank you everyone who is following our journey. Hopefully soon we will be updating you from Java, Indonesia!

In the arms of HIS grace,
Will, Nan and Gracie Jane

Smiling at my Papa! I <3 him!

Training at Spokane Turbine Center

Our group including  Ken Smoll (our instructor) who was definitely not afraid to represent the Packers.

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to get training on the PT6 turboprop engine at Spokane Turbine Center.  The PT6 is what is used on both the Kodiak and Cessna Caravan which is primarily what I will be working on when we get to Papua.  Being familiar with the operation of piston engines since the age of 15 it was great to learn about the PT6, which in non-tech terms is a jet engine with a propeller strapped to the front of it.

One of the pleasures of the training was building friendships other guys in MAF, three of which I will have the opportunity to serve with in Papua.
As a side note Nan and Gracie enjoyed me coming home smelling like jet exhaust too.

Inside peak at the PT6A engine 

 Spokane Turbine Center did a great job at explaining the ins and outs of the PT6.  One of my favorite tidbits of information about this engine is the fuel metering pin only moves .080" from idle to max power.

Art class at STC

Some people learn better when they are doing something with there hands.  Our instructor there at STC understood this and gave us some pipe cleaners to help us “listen.”  These are just a few of the creations from Jonathan Blomberg. 

We were given all kinds of little things for completing the course at STC one of which I was anticipating greatly.  What was it you ask?  A belt buckle.  Yes, you got it…a belt buckle.  No, I do not have a collection of belt buckles, but this thing is so sweet it almost makes me want to start one.  The picture here shows the excitement of the Kodiak belt buckle. 

PT6A AGB

When we were going through the Hot Section Inspection portion of the class we had the opportunity to take apart the Accessory Gear Box (AGB) which as you can see is comprised of several gears.  It kind of reminded me of a mechanical comprehension test.  If the center gear turns clockwise which way does gear “C” turn?  

Will's Kodiak Training, Motherhood & Indonesia...

Our Newest MAF Staff

A little snapshot of our days as of late...

Our journey has been amazingly crazy!  Our sweet Gracie seemed to have her days and nights flipped for the first month of her life... It was sometimes hard to remember if the day had ended or just begun.  However, our Gracie has given us a bit of, well... grace.  She has began to sleep 5-7 hours at a time!  In saying that, it isn't without us waking up to her constant stream of noises. Daddy says that Gracie is a bit like her mama, always chattering, even if no one is listening.  Even now in the midst of her nap she is making gasping, giggling and gurgling noises just to make sure I know she is present.

Daddy & His Baby Girl

Will is doing an amazing job as a super dad! He is learning to balance his new growing family and the added component of Turbine training.  After 9 months of raising support, Will is LOVING getting back in the hanger and learning more about the airplanes he will be working on in Papua, Indonesia!

Enjoy a little walk at MAF with our Gracie Jane

At the beginning of October we traveled to Nampa, Idaho at MAF headquarters for a few weeks of training and are now in Spokane, Washington at Spokane Turbine Center for Will's Kodiak training.  After STC we will head back to Nampa, Idaho until December 22 for the remainder of Will's standardization (maintenance) training at MAF. It is encouraging to see Will's growing excitement as he looks towards using the skills God has given him so that God's grace can be brought to the people of Papua, Indonesia!

Going to Indonesia is becoming more tangible as our support is developing. We still need about $2100/month in order to get to language school in Indonesia by January 2012. But, as we have learned so boldly these last 9 months, "with God, all things are possible..." and that His timing is perfect. We are hopeful to join our friends that we have started this journey with in language school on the island of Java in a few months. If you would like to support us in this journey please go to our MAF page.

Our Family at MAF Headquarters

Thank you to everyone who is prayerfully and/or financially behind us. We cherish having your partnership as God uses us and others to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people of Papua, Indonesia!

In the arms of HIS grace,
Will, Nan and Gracie

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Endometritis, Mastitis and Blessings

Our love...

We could not be more blessed during this season to have our new little gift Gracie Jane. It has not been without a few road bumps and challenges, but the joys FAR outweigh the difficulties. Gracie has given us reasons to smile even as we are abruptly awakened at 1, 2, 3, and 4 am... It is incredible to watch how God has brought a new beautiful gift into our home!

Over the last few weeks we have had some rough moments! I developed a severe case of endometritis and mastitis which landed us in the ER for 4 days straight. But God was good and we received excellent care at OHSU. We left last Thursday and were able to pack up and hit the road for training at MAF on Saturday around 5:00 a.m.

Daddy did my hair

We are learning a lot about complete dependence upon God. And learning that we are weak without HIM, especially the days we are running on zero sleep. We tease that God makes babies so cute to keep us sane :)

So for now, we are finishing up Orientation at MAF this week (October 17-21). Then Will begins maintenance training in Nampa (at MAF) and Spokane (at Spokane Turbine Center) until December 22. Our hope is that the remaining 35% of our support is covered by new supporters so we can leave for Indonesia in January for language school. If you would like to join us on our journey to Indonesia please click here! We would consider it such a blessing to partner with you!

Thank you for your love and prayers throughout this journey!


Love,
Will, Nan and Gracie

Two Weeks Old

She's Here!!!!

Gracie on day two of her life.

If we were not so busy changing diapers and trying to sleep when we do have free time we might make this entry a little better, but for now we wanted to just get the basics out there about Gracie's arrival.

She came on September 24 at 7:27am after Nan made it through 21 hours of labor yet only 25 minutes of pushing.  20 inches long and 6lbs 14oz.  She has really tough jungle feet already.  When the nurse pricked her foot and squeezed the blood out she didn't even cry.

Best quote of the whole time while in the hospital when Nan was in extremely super active labor.
Nan: "I am going to have words with that woman!!"  Will: "What woman?"  Nan:  "Eve!"  What made it funny is that she was mad at her like she knew her personally.

Being parents is so awesome and we cannot believe that God is actually letting us borrow this wonderful baby girl for a time.

Nan and Gracie about to leave the hospital

Thank you so much to everyone who has prayed for Gracie to come to us safe and healthy.  We are grateful beyond belief.