It is Finished

Summer officially starts today! I just turned in a research paper signifying the end of my summer classes. And there was much rejoicing. I know I'll probably be glad I took them next year but right now it doesn't quite seem worth it. It was a constant battle trying to motivate myself to study and do homework after working all day. Now I can have fun and enjoy my summer!



A few weeks ago Samaritan's Purse brought their new Kodiak to JAARS. It was cool to see two Kodiaks in the hanger

This week will be a short week since I get Friday off for the Forth of July. I'm getting more and more excited for my parents coming to visit me on the tenth. I can't wait to spend some time with them.

The Risk of Following God

This is written on a old torn piece of paper posted in the engine repair shop. I thought it was kind of a cool idea.

We the willing
led by the unknowing
are doing the impossible
for the ungrateful.

We have done so much
for so long
with so little
we are now qualified
to do anything
with nothing.

It's a good reminder that we really have nothing without God leading us and providing for us. In order to get anything done we have to rely on Him.

At church we just started studying prayer. I'm excited to hear what God has to tell me through this series. I started thinking today...If I had followed my plan for the summer I would be living at home and working at Cessna again. God closed that door because He had other plans for me this summer and I'm so glad because my time at JAARS so far has been amazing. God wanted me here this summer, I shouldn't be homesick for a place I'm not supposed to be. I'm not supposed to be at camp, or at home, I'm supposed to be right where I am and that gives me a lot of comfort.

I love my job!

Look what I got to ride in today! Robinson R44 Helicopter!

It was so fun! Like a roller coaster. With the bubble windshield you could see everything and I got to sit in the front. It looked complicated to fly but was a blast to ride in. I had never been in a helicopter before. I really do love my job!

Hello World

I just finished my 4th week here in Waxhaw, NC. What a month! I keeping almost too busy with work and classes.
I spend my days running the CNC router, making parts for our PC-6 cargo pods. Today I working on engraving a placard to be put in the Kodiak while the guys drilled holes in the instrument panel for our fire detection switch/light. (I handed them tools as they crawled underneath the panel). I've also learn how to run the EDM (electric discharge machine). But after my parts where "almost prefect" the machine broke and we are waiting to hear back from a technician.
It's been exciting to hear about all that JAARS and Wycliffe are doing. The stories are just amazing. JAARS is partnering with a few other organizations in the Last Languages Campaign. The goal is to have a bible translation program started in every language by 2025. That's only about 15 years away! Being here and hearing stories of God's work has really given me a new appreciation of God's word. For more information check out http://www.jaars.org/.
The less exciting part of my day is when I come home and work on school work. Classes are going fine but I wish they were over. I just keep reminding myself that in a year I will be glad I took them.
Tomorrow is Saturday. Sometimes Saturday's get a little lonely for me. No one will be around tomorrow so I have to plan things to keep myself busy. Tomorrow I am planning on doing some baking. It's Mrs. Powell's birthday so I'm going to make a pie. I also need to get caught up on some housework, laundry, and the dreaded homework. That should be enough to keep me busy. I am truly enjoying living here...except the humidity.
That's all for now...and seriously check out the JAARS website. I wish I could tell you all about it but I'm sure you'd stop reading before I got done.

Quick Overview

For those of you in the dark here is a quick overview of where I am and what I'm doing.

The engineering department: Me and my supervisor Terry.

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This summer I am working at JAARS, Inc. (Jungle Aviation and Radio Services) which is a part of Wycliffe Bible Translators that provides technical services to bible translators overseas. I am working in Research and Development on designing and implementing modifications to mission aircraft to ready them to enter the mission field. I am currently working on 2 major projects, one is installing a fire detection system of the engine compartment of the new Kodiak in order to prepare it to go to Paupa New Guinea in August. The second is a pair of cargo pods to be used under the wing of a Pilatus PC-6. These cargo pods help the aircraft's center of gravity (CG) and allows cargo (such as food for markets like fish, rice, and dead animals) to be placed away from passengers in Indonesia.

My desk and office.

Go CNC machine, Go! Cut out those parts!

A Long Way from Home

Don't worry. I made it to NC safe and sound on Saturday. I moved into my house for the next three months. It's not much but perfect for what I need this summer and it has a nice coffee maker! Although, it has very limited cell and Internet. I went into work this morning in order to get everything worked out with HR. I got a little held up since I supposedly needed a drug test in order to start working. The person that administers the drug test is on vacation until Thursday. Luckily, my supervisor talked to them and I don't have to take it. It's been one more lesson in communication.

It's been different living on my own. It gets a little lonely in the evening. I am way out of my comfort zone here, everything is new and different and it's a long way from home or Longview. I feel like I just wander around looking lost trying to figure out where to go at JAARS. The Powell's have been great and a huge blessing in helping me out. It is going to be an exciting summer. I know I will get things figured out as I finally get into the schedule of how things work around here.

Home

The things I love about being home:
Family
Sleeping in "the cave"
Having my own bathroom
Having a relatively clean kitchen
A sewing machine
good...no great food
picking on my parents
my parents picking on me
laughing together
free laundry machines...that can do three loads in one