Dothan, Alabama

So if I've said it before, I'll say it again, We are not very good at keeping this blog up to date. We have moved to Dothan, Alabama. I am still working with Mountain Air Cargo, but as of mid November I have switched positions to Captain in the Cessna 208 Caravan. I fly a route to Memphis four times a week at night delivering cargo. We fly pretty much exclusively for an Oncology supply company which is kind of cool to think that I am getting out time critical shipments. Flying the Caravan is perfect experience for the future mission aviation pursuit because it is the same aircraft type that is flown overseas with Christian missions.  We moved to Dothan, Alabama in order for me to get this position. Since we have been down here we found a great church last month and lots of couple around our age with kids of their own.
Maverick Aiden was born this past Sunday!! 2-2-14. He has a little bit of Jaundice, not to serious, pray it will go away with just continued good feedings. Mikayla loves having him around when she remembers he is in the room. He is a very quiet baby unless he is hungry. Katy's mom is in town for a few weeks to help us transition to having two children.
I tried to audit some bible classes last fall, but things got pretty crazy with the new position and the move to Alabama. Pray that I can complete some this year; maybe just one at a time as I tried to do two at once.
Our biggest hurdle for missions is our student loan debt. We have brought it below $100,000, but now with living on our own again, we barely make enough money to pay for regular living expenses and the minimum payments on the loans. Katy stays at home to raise the kids, so I really need to find another part time job to help us pay expenses. The ideal position would be flight instructing locally on my days off, or just anything that uses my talents.

We are going to try to get into the habit of updating this blog regularly so everyone can stay connected.

-Michael-

Prayer Requests
-Pay off student loans
-Maverick gets over Jaundice symptoms
-Build relationships with new Church family
-Time management with increased time in prayer and bible study

Charlotte in the Summer

So it's July now, and we are living with family in Charlotte. I am still working at Mountain Air Cargo as a maintenance controller, and I am setting my sights on flying for them. Praise to God for a couple things in the flying pursuit that happened in the last couple months. First off I passed my Color Vision Waiver with the FAA, so I no longer have to worry about getting disqualified medically for my eye sight. That is a huge blessing and just today I took and passed my ATP written test which I will need to have upon switching over to a pilot position. I also found a place to flight instruct and have been able to keep current in the meantime. I am patiently and anxiously awaiting a Caravan pilot opening at MAC. I am hoping a position opens up in Greensboro so we don't have to move far, and we can be around friends up there. We are open to other locations if our choice is limited. Please pray that the right pilot position would open up and I would be able to pass an interview. I would rather stay with MAC longer term instead of switching companies, especially for the Caravan experience. Katy and Mikayla are doing well. Mikayla is very close to walking in the next couple months. She is enjoying time at the pool and I love being able to spend time with her each day. We have family visiting within the next few weeks, and Mikayla's first birthday isn't too far away. We recently joined a church in the area. Please pray we will get connected with a small group of similar couples. I am going to audit some bible classes this Fall to further prepare for missions. Praise that we recently paid off one of our student loans, but still have quite a ways to go. We just pray to do what God wills. More updates as they come.

Prayer Requests
-Deeper relationship with God, More Prayer
-Opportunities and Wisdom for witnessing to others, following Gods commands
-God directing our finances, continuing to pay off student loans
-Pilot position at MAC

Back in Charlotte

So to recap on what has been going on in our lives for the last year or so. I took a job with Mesa Airlines in Charlotte last May when we found out Mikayla was on the way. We decided moving in with family was the best option to be able to pay off debt. We moved to Charlotte in October. I stayed with Mesa till the end of the year and finally found a job closer to preparation for Missionary Aviation. I started working with Mountain Air Cargo, a FEDEX feeder operation, at the beginning of the year. The fly ATR 42's and 72's and my favorite the Cessna 208 Caravan. The Caravan is a good aircraft for a lot of missionary aviation applications which get me excited about learning as much as I can about it. I work as a Maintenance Controller and basically coordinate the maintenance operations for the aircraft. We stay in the loop with everything maintenance related for the aircraft. Part of my job is to assist mechanics in troubleshooting problems with the aircraft. So I am pleased to be able to attend Cessna Caravan Maintenance Training at Flight Safety this year as well as G1000 Avionics training. This training is definitely going to help me in terms of future missionary aviation work. The company also reimburses for college classes so I should be able to finally take some bible classes, most likely online. We are adjusting to life with family around, and we're excited that we get to see them so much. Please pray for my hopefully soon application to the FAA for a color-vision waiver, and for a place I can flight instruct in the area. Here is a picture of the Cessna Caravan.