Mosel Grape Picking

Before heading out of town for a week in Italy, we joined our Wednesday night Bible study group for grape picking on the Mosel River.  This was our second grape picking, but yet another great time enjoying God's Creation and the picturesque scenery along the River!

Christian Fellowship Near Genova, Italia

The longer Lana and I are part of the Air Force, the smaller it seems to become regarding people and friendships.  What I mean is people we've become friends with at previous assignments end up stationed with or near us again.  When those friendships are grounded in common Christian faith and worldview, it's even better!  The middle of October, Lana and I had a great chance to meet up with some of our really good friends we made while stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy in 2006-8.

A central location for all of us was in the northwestern part of Italy near Genova.  On the way and during our return, we stopped in Switzerland for the night with perfect weather to enjoy the Swiss Alps.  It was great to relax with our friends and see some of the Italian sights along the Mediterranean coast like Rapallo, Cinque Terre, and Portofino.

One week went too fast, but we're thankful God gave us the opportunity to see each other again!

Why Pacific Mission Aviation?

"O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; 
let me know how fleeting I am!" - Psalm 39:4

 

Flying over the island of Falalop, Micronesia in September 2013.

As promised in the last email, here is our follow up answering many of the questions we've been asked regarding us joining Pacific Mission Aviation.  Please feel free to reply and ask about anything not addressed below!  

1. WHY MISSIONARY AVIATION?

God has clearly led us to serve with PMA.  This is the result of multiple "apparent coincidences", but it is clear God has used these events in our lives to direct us to missions with PMA (for more specifics, please ask and we'll send a Word document with more details).  In relation to the Biblical model of missions, God has called us to be the "goers" versus "senders".

C.T. Studd writes it best, "Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last."  When we leave this world and enter eternity, only that which we have done for Jesus Christ will matter!  Lance will have flown military aircraft over 11 years and aviation is a natural way for him to serve Christ and use these skills.

 

2. WHAT IS PMA ALL ABOUT?

The primary goal of PMA is to glorify God, and make the Lord Jesus Christ known to the peoples of Micronesia and the Philippines.  John 17:3 - "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

To that end, PMA seeks to make God's love tangible by meeting the needs of the total person - body, soul and spirit.  They do this in a variety of ways (click links below for more information):

Pacific Mission Fellowship (PMF) Churches
Aviation
Sea Haven (medical ship)
Radio Station
Orphanage
Community Outreach

3. WHERE DOES PMA OPERATE?
PMA headquarters is in Guam, USA but they also have European offices in Germany and Switzerland.  On the mission field, they serve as far west as the Philippines to as far east as Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).  Their two aviation hubs are currently in the Republic of Palau and Yap, FSM.
 

 

4. WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?
Lance will be a pilot and aircraft mechanic.  At this time, we don't know exactly which island we'll be serving on.  Lana will continue to be a stay at home Mom and remain Lance's #1 supporter (we'll most likely be homeschooling too).  We're also looking forward to serving in the local PMF Church.

5. WHAT AIRPLANES DOES PMA FLY?
Currently, PMA has five airplanes:

1 x Cessna 206
2 x Beechcraft Queen Air
2 x Britten-Norman Islanders

6. WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN?
July 2015: separate from the active duty Air Force, move to USA
August 2015 - July 2016: aircraft mechanics school, School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT)
Fall of 2016: Lord willing we'll be moving to the Pacific

7. HOW CAN YOU PARTNER WITH US?
PRAYER:  James 5:16b - "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."  We depend on your prayers and believe God has a calling for others to join us in this missionary journey as "senders" (Romans 10:15).  We want to pray for you too, so please share your requests with us!
 
MAIL / EMAIL / PHONE CALL: It has been great to receive so much interest and encouragement in where God is taking us, so THANK YOU!  

FINANCES: PMA is a non-profit organization who's mission and staff are supported through the donations of others.  Our financial partners can begin donating now and PMA will hold current donations until we separate from the Air Force.  PMA is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and donations in the USA are tax deductible.   

ANTICIPATED COSTS:
Airplane Mechanics School (current year's price) - $21,980 
Monthly Expenses - $4,440
Moving to Pacific (estimate)- $10,000

FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP OPTIONS: 

Please inform PMA by email (guamhq@pmapacific.org)  of your first donation for tracking purposes and include your mailing address to receive donation receipts. PMA accepts one time and month ly donations through checks,  PayPal, credit cards, or electronic funds transfer (EFT).  

• CHECKS - make out to Pacific Mission Aviation and include a separate note / email specifying 'for Lance & Lana Ferguson'.  Mail to the address below or use online bill pay option through your bank.  Money sent to us directly or that has our name anywhere on the check will not receive a tax credit.

               PMA Mailing Address:

               Pacific Mission Aviation
               P.O. Box 3209
               Hagatna, Guam 96932              

• PAYPAL - click here and follow these steps:
  (1) click on "DONATE" in the lower right of PMA's homepage
  (2) enter donation amount
  (3) check 'Make This Reoccurring' (if regular support is desired)
  (4) log in
  (5) click 'add special instructions to recipient' (type 'for Lance & Lana Ferguson')
  (6) select payment method
  (7) click donate

• CREDIT CARD / ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER - please contact PMA directly by email or phone for these options (guamhq@pmapacific.org / +1 671.646.6464).

We would appreciate your prayers as we make preparations over the next 10 months to faithfully and effectively follow God's call to PMA.  We will continue to keep all informed of progress made monthly towards this goal.  He is faithful to do above and beyond what we could ever think or imagine!

Pressing Forward,

Lance, Lana, Liam, Lilli, & Luis

www.pmapacific.org / Facebook / guamhq@pmapacific. org / +1 671.646.6464