Singing and Flying

This video clip was taken in Zambia. The men are celebrating their graduation from Hydroform block training when a Flying Mission Cessna 206 makes a landing on the Chilongolo airstrip. JoAnne and I flew out in this aircraft the next day to visit Macha where some amazing work is being done by the staff in a remote medical laboratory to fight back Malaria and TB. John Hopkins University sponsors this research.

I took this picture out of the window of a Cessna aircraft when returning from Macha. It shows the Chilongolo airstrip and Flying Mission Zambia headquarters and guest house.

Zambia Highlights

When we were in Zambia we had very limited Internet capabilities and were unable to bring you this special clip of the "rainbow kids" singing at the Chilongolo airstrip. Please enjoy and try to put yourself under the grass roof with these beautiful children.

JoAnne and I have been back for a week, but our hearts are still in Africa. We will keep updating this blog with new material. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Back in Boise

After over 40 hours of traveling Mike and JoAnne are home.

Mike was so tired that after arriving in Minneapolis he laid down and slept on the floor while waiting for the final flight into Boise.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and kind thoughts for us while we've been away. We are very thankful for our safe travels over and back from Idaho to South Africa, to Zambia, to Botswana and back. Our 2 weeks in Africa were filled with learning about Flying Mission and trusting God to show us His sovereign purpose in this journey. We look forward to sharing our travels further, so please feel free to contact us or email for further information.

This little hut with a few children playing outside, represents just one of the many "glimpses" of the need we saw in Zambia and Botswana. Our journey to Africa opened our eyes and we hope to be able to share more with you in the future.

The Journey Continues

Our journey continues today as we begin traveling home after 2 weeks in Zambia and Botswana. It has been wonderful for JoAnne and Mike to see how God is working through Flying Mission.

Mike is standing with founder Malcomb McArthur who lives half the year in Botswana and the other half in Scotland. We had a special meal with him and wife Gudren. Malcomb passed on the verse that was given to him over 30 years ago when he was first forming Flying Mission. It is Luke 5:4 "Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch." It is very convicting verse which challenges all of us to venture out of the shallow waters and cast your net in faith and see what kind of catch the Lord will bring.

The small building is a one room church that we attended this morning, on Mother's Day. The service was completely in the language of "Setswana", but it was amazing. And how they could sing and dance without any instruments at all. They made their voices alive, and kept rhythm by beating their bibles with their hands.

We will be traveling for the next 40 hours on our trip home and look forward to sharing our adventure to Africa with all of you when we get home. Thanks for your continued prayers and support during this very special season in our life.

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Tumelong Day Care Centre

Today we spend the day with Flying Mission Care ministries. We drove about 25 miles out of Gaborone to a typical village setting in the bush. FMC is "walking alongside" communities to help them form day care centers for orphans and vulnerable children. Tumelong is just such a location.

We visited with the children, met with the counselors and teachers, and learned about their challenges and needs.
We had a traditional lunch with the staff and shared about our families.

This is just one example of how FM Care ministries reaches out to share Christian love in Botswana.

Check out the FM website and look under FM Care current projects for more information.

Office, Short -Term Staff, and Town Visit

Today we spent the day at the office visiting staff and taking questions. We had lunch with the "short-term" missionaries from about 5 different countries. They come from Germany, Switzerland, USA, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ghana and serve from 6 months out to 2 years. In Zambia there are much shorter options available.

We ate down town with the short-termers at a small hole in the wall Chinese noodle shop which was quite good. We toured the city and were quite impressed with how clean the streets and villages were. Driving on the left side has it's challenges, but the roundabouts are awesome for keeping traffic flowing smoothly. They drive very civilized and don't have road rage like in the USA.

We have a very full week ahead and will continue to update and provide pictures. Thanks for all your support and prayers.

FM Botswana

Sunday night we met with the FM team at one of the local churches and had a "braai". We eased the first time tensions by jumping in and playing volleyball, and after a sprained thumb I fit right in with the group. The meal was great and we met about 30 staff and spouses during the meet and greet.

Monday we spent all day at the airport with FM Services and saw all the airplanes, ambulance, and reviewed the flight operations. They have big plans to expand and build a headquarters here in the future. Botswana Civil Aviation Authority is building a new multi-million dollar terminal due to be finished by the "World Cup" 2010.

JoAnne sat in the C-90 King Air ambulance. We are in for a very busy, long week, so keep those prayers coming.

It is winter here, wearing coats and jackets, and we're still thick blooded wearing short sleeves.

Arrived Gaborone, Botswana

We travelled on Saturday to Botswana and brought in the rain from South Africa. After a night of rest in the short-terms housing we went to church. We attended a multi-national church called Open Baptist Church which was wonderful. We sang worship music in Setswana and the pastor was from South Africa.

We have a braai this afternoon with the rest of Flying Mission personnel. We look forward to meeting everyone and seeing how FM ministers to Botswana thru aviation and care ministries.

Thank you for your continued support. We have a busy week ahead so please continue to pray for us in wisdom and discernment to see how God is leading us with Flying Mission.

Meeting & Market

Today we met with the mission partners that FM supports in Zambia. We met with a hospital administrator from Chitololoki Mission in the NW Province. They have 4 hospitals that treat over 120,000 out-patients and 25,000 in-patients. Then we met with Baptist Mission who have 60 missionaries in the area. Their goal is to plant 10,000 churches (1 per 500 people). Last we visited Serving In Mission (SIM) who does general mission, training, translators, teachers and they have 50 missionaries in the country.

The handbag JoAnne is holding is hand made by Esther who makes these out of recycled plastic grocery bags. She also does the cooking and cleaning at the guest house we stayed at on the Chilongolo Base.

On the way home we stopped by a small market as you can see in the pictures.
We are traveling tonight to South Africa and then on to Gaborone tomorrow.

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Eph. 6:10