Furlough Time, 2010

House packed and bags packed, yep Furlough is just around the corner. We are looking forward to seeing many of our Australian family, friends and supporters in the next couple of months. To the right is our itinerary. Please pray with us as we share how God is using us here in Zambia. Pray also that we will all travel well over sea and over land. See you soon! J

Our phone number while in Australia is 0408 491 075.

Itinerary

 

7^th March    Epping Presbyterian

14^th March     Bathurst Baptist

21^st March     Orange Baptist

28^th March     Bathurst Presbyterian

11^th April     Parkes Baptist

18^th April     Moree Baptist

25^th April     St George Community Baptist

2^nd May         Gosford Presbyterian

16^th May     Greenwich Presbyterian

23^rd May     Beecroft Presbyterian

30^th May     Epping Presbyterian

Matthew at 4 months

Matthew is now 4 months old and on his 4^th month birthday he weighed in at 8.1kg (17lb, 8oz). He continues to be a happy, healthy boy. He now sleeps through the night (8:30pm -6am) which makes for a happy Mummy and Daddy.

Tragedy in Macha

It came as sad news. While we were in Botswana we heard that there was a car accident that killed 4 people with 2 survivors, one child and an adult in critical condition. One of the people who died was the wife of the hospital administrator. She was also a church leader and prayer warrior. Also the sister of the same lady died along with the grandmother of the child. The fourth was the driver who was in charge of transport at MIAM (Malaria Institute At Macha).

By the time we came back from Botswana most of the funerals had taken place except for Mrs. Kalambo's as they were waiting for all of her children to come from overseas. I was to fly the plane back to Macha with Trace and Matthew along with the daughter, as the funeral was to start that afternoon.

Just as we were to take off to pick up the daughter from the international airport a storm came in and we had to wait 45 min for it to pass. When we arrived at the international airport there were 3 ladies coming for the funeral instead of one. Since we had another plane there we unloaded most of our luggage to stay behind to make room for the 2 extra passengers. There was also a lot of rain in Macha too. We were able to leave Lusaka international just before another storm came in. On the way we were able to go around the storms to Macha.

The family was waiting at the Macha airstrip for us even though the service had started. While waiting they were praying that the Lord would provide a hole for
us to come through and that the rains would stop. When I got closer to Macha the storms had dissipated and the rains stopped so that we could land there and that from the ground they said that the plane looked like it came through a hole. God answered all our prayers in a marvelous way.

Our community of Macha has been shaken by these deaths. Please pray for Macha, the families of those who died and even for us as we all mourn the death of friends.

Our Time in Botswana

On the 7th of January Trace, Matthew and I flew one of the Flying Mission aircraft down to Botswana so that we could change the engine in it at the Flying Mission hanger there. With this engine, after 2000 hours of flight we are required to change it. The engine was still running string after all this time though it was starting to use some oil.

I worked alongside Joel (our chief engineer), after the first 2 days we were able to to remove the old engine. Next was cleaning up engine compartment and fixing anything that might be wrong. This also included putting in a rebuilt nose gear which is normally done when installing a new engine.We were also able to make a few other improvements, install the new engine with new controls, fuel and oil lines. After 2 weeks of work we were able to take it for an hour long test flight. Everything went well with just a few adjustments as needed.

After everything was done we flew the plane to South Africa for a Southern African Alliance Missions meeting. It was good to hear from other missions in how they are serving and the struggles that they are also facing. While there we dropped the plane off so that is could get a new paint job as the original paint was starting to come off.

Rempel’s Reflections June 2009

What does it take to complete a flight here in Zambia?

You may have been at the airport waiting for a flight and have watched as the planes come in and all the activity that happens around the plane as it gets ready for another flight. The other day as I was flying I was thinking about all the people that are involved in making a flight happen.

Before we even get to fly we need the approval from the Department of Civil Aviation for our licenses and also the airstrip to which we will fly. Next we need the Zambian Air Force clearance number for each plane and for every place where we plan on flying to, which is only good for 15 days at a time. Before the flight we check the flight schedule to see who is flying, whom we are flying, which plane is to be used, the routing and the passenger and baggage load. All of this is made possible by one of our staff who has spent many hours writing the program and those in the office who schedule and plan the flights. We then contact the briefing office to file our flight plans, get the latest weather by calling around and looking on the internet. At the international airports we get our fuel and we contact the airport manager to make sure there are no cows or people on the runway and that the grass is cut and that the runway is in good condition to use. Once we take off we get in contact with air traffic for other traffic avoidance. As I am flying along at altitude and the engine is running smoothly I am thankful for the mechanics who maintain our aircraft. Along the way we also have someone flight following us to make sure that everything is going well. Once on the ground it is always good to see that someone is there to pick up the arriving passengers and another flight is complete.

Upcoming Deputation

Is it that time already we hear you asking? Well not just yet, but we are already thinking about it. March, April, May 2010 we will be in Australia for our mid-term deputation. Please be in prayer with us as we prepare for this time. We will also be making contact with many of our supporting churches
in the near future to arrange when we can spend time at each church. If you would like us to visit with you personally or speak at your church, please contact us so that we can make these arrangements.

In the first 2 weeks of June we will spend a very short holiday time in Canada to see family and friends and for them to meet Junior who will be 9 months old by then.

Life in Macha

There is a saying here "Much a to do in Macha", and it isn't far from the truth. One of Flying Mission's partners who we have mentioned before, LinkNet, is part of a bigger group called 'Macha Works'. Macha Works is responsible for the up keep of the runway, the building of our house, as well as the building of a school building, restaurant, and the Cares Centre. It has also started a jatropha farm (to produce the seeds for bio-fuel), and has as a transport division.

It was the transport division, that one Saturday afternoon Rick was asked to help. A shipping container was to be unpacked, inside was a Ford tractor someone had donated. Because of his farming background he was asked to be the one to off load it and the one to teach others as how to use it. It is amazing how God uses our skills for his glory. Since then, Rick was able to spend an afternoon with our airport manager teaching him to drive it.

The tractor can

now be seen here and there on most days. We feel it a real blessing to share in the life of this community. "It is good to find satisfaction in our toil – this is the gift from God" (Ecc 3:12, 13)

What is happening to us?

Housing – Praise God from whom all blessings flow! The building of our new house has started. The builders are all excited to build this house for us. The promised date of completion is May 2010, so it is with thankful hearts, that we were able to extend the lease on the house we are currently living in for another 6 months. God is so good.

Pregnancy – As of the 16^th of June, we are 26 weeks pregnant. The Dr's seem pleased with Junior's growth. Junior is really starting to kick now, and Rick was able to feel Junior for the first time on his birthday. We will be traveling to Lusaka in early September where we will be based until the birth. From there we will be a 5 min drive from the FMZ office so Rick can go to work easily.

Flying Mission isn't just about flying

When you hear the name Flying Mission, what is it that you first think about? Planes, pilots maybe even aviation mechanics, but what if I told you that Flying Mission isn't just about flying.

The first objective of Flying Mission states: "To further Church, Mission and medical work in Botswana, Zambia and the surrounding regions …" This doesn't just involve flying, however this is the main way.

Web design, ICT System Administrator, Administration, Logistics, Guest House Manager, Human Resources are just a few of the 'desk jobs' that are so important to keeping the whole TEAM running.

But there is another side of Flying Mission too. Community Outreach Coordinators, Nurses, Teachers, Councilors, Building and Maintenance coordinators all of whom work to build up the communities in which we live through other practical means.

Many of these positions are still needed within the Flying Mission team. Pray with us as Flying Mission seeks those who God would have on our team both here in Zambia and in Botswana.

Rempel's Reflections July 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

The last couple of months have been full of answers to prayer and examples of God’s faithfulness to us.

We mentioned in our last letter about our infertility issues. Unknown to us, even while we were writing the letter to you, we were already pregnant!! Praise the Lord!!

However, from our very first ultrasound, things were not right with Junior and during our 9th week, Trace miscarried. We are thankful for God’s abundant joy and peace during this time and for His gift of Junior even for this short time on earth.
Please continue to pray with us through this time of grieving and as we continue to seek God’ will for our family.

Rick continues to do well in his course and with only 3 weeks before graduation is back to studying hard with every spare minute. Just like the last set of exams he has one day where he will be doing his Oral and Practical Exams (last week on Friday the 18th of July) and one day when he will be doing his written exam (Friday the 8th of August). Please be in prayer with us as he studies and sits these exams.

Also, the 8th of August is graduation for Rick and his classmates. There is much excitement as the guys start preparing for what they will do after graduation. Some are getting more flight training, others further maintenance experience, and still others are going to a Christian University. Amongst all the excitement are the good-byes that have to be said. Praise God for such great friends here and his abundant care on us all.
After grad, we are driving back to Abbotsford, Rick’s home town.

Flying Mission – To Macha we will go!
Dates: Leave Canada 16th Sept, arrive Zambia 18th Sep.

Another answer to prayer came a couple of weeks ago in the form of an email from our Boss in Zambia. We are going to Macha!! We praise God for his timing and his answer to all of our prayers.

Currently there is no housing for us there, so this is the biggest challenge that we face when we arrive back in Zambia in just 2 months. There are many ideas and suggestions flying around at the moment but nothing concrete (no pun intended) yet. Please pray with us and our leadership as we work through these issues.
Continue to pray for Trace and what she will be doing once we get to Zambia, more specifically, once we get to Macha.

Please continue to pray in regards to our ‘stuff’ getting from the US to Zambia and praise God that there is part of a container that we have been given access to at a reduced cost!

Support
Last month we received an email from MAF regarding our support. Below is an excerpt from this email.
“Taking into account rising costs and anticipated expenses in the years ahead, we have chosen to identify the new MAF Canada support goal to be $6,000/month for couples…”
Thus we need to raise another $300/ month to maintain our level of full support. Please prayerfully consider if you can help close this deficit. A big thanks to all who are already supporting us the $5,700!

Praise
• For God’s great gift to us in Junior and for God’s peace that transcends all human understanding during this time.
• That Rick passed his Oral and Practical exams last Friday.
• For our placement is now known – Macha.
• WE ARE GOING HOME … well Zambia at least!
Prayer
• For us as we grieve the loss of Junior. Pray too as we seek God’s guidance for our family.
• That Rick’s Written exam will go well as too his Graduation.
• For leadership and us to come to a suitable arrangement for our housing.
• Pray too for us as we travel. First by land, then by air.

Rempel's Reflections April 2008

Greetings friends and family,

First of all we would like to thank many of you who have been praying and supporting us during our time here.

As an item of praise, after we sent out our last prayer letter our support is now at 96%, so thank-you to all who have partnered with us, we now have just 4% to go!

Oh, Deer!!

Thank you also for praying for us. The other weekend we were going on a drive to a nearby town when we saw 3 deer on the side of the road. Two of them jumped across the road before we got up to them while the 3^rd stayed on the side of the road where is was until we were right beside it. Just at the last second it too decided to jump to join it’s friends. Having no time to stop to our amazement we saw it jump above the car with its hoofs at our eye level. Needless to say its hoofs hit our windshield just in front of Tracey. Other than the windshield getting a crack and the deer getting a good shake-up we are all fine

Rick- Thanks also for praying for me as I have now finished with the first set of exams. These exams covered the first 2 of 3 sections for this course being the General and Airframe. On the 3^rd of April I did the oral and practical exams which took about 8 hours to complete. Then on the 16^th and 18^th I took the written government exams. It has been a big relief to be done with them and Tracey is happy to have them done with also. Since passing these exams I now have my airframe license.

Now that these are done, we are on to the Powerplant section of the course which will include the piston and turbine engine and the propeller along with their accessories. We are currently working in teams to rebuild an engine similar to the ones that Flying Mission has in their planes.

Tracey, being the organized one of us, she has already started packing. We need to start organizing our stuff for shipping back to Zambia. Please be in prayer in regards to these things.

She also had a good time of learning at the two grant writing courses that she attended since we last wrote. Trace has been using these skills already at Rick’s school and possibly when we return to Zambia for Flying Mission too.

Trace has taken on helping some of the other wives out with various sewing projects. One of them is expecting their first child any day now, and we had fun making curtains, bumpers and a bed skirt for the nursery.

Our Up-Coming Return to Zambia

Our tickets are booked for the 16^th of September to arrive back in Zambia in the 18^th of September. Praise the Lord!! Please pray for us as we prepare for our return. There is much that needs to be done in regards to shipping our household stuff and aircraft tools back to Zambia. Flying Mission Zambia is thinking of shipping a container from the USA to Zambia, but we are still unsure at this time.

Please continue to be in prayer with us and the Flying Mission Zambia (FMZ) leadership to know where to place us, either in Mukinge and Macha

On a more personal note ….

We are going through some infertinily issues at the moment. We are seeing some specialists and will be having to make some decissions in the future. Therefore, we would appreciate if you would uphold us in your prayers at this time of our lives. (Rom 12:15.)

Prayer Requests

• Please pray with us and FMZ leadership as we pray about and discuss our placement in Zambia.
• Please be in prayer about shipping our stuff back to Zambia as we are still looking into the possibilities.

Praise Items

• Praise God that Rick is going well in his course and that we have only 3 months to go
• The grant writing courses that Trace took went well
• Trace has been able to help out at the school 1-2 days a week
• We are thankful for those who have been supporting us so faithfully and that our support is at 96%!!
• Praise also that no one was hurt in the car/deer incident