God Provides - Container Packed!

In the course of a few shorts weeks, PMA purchased their third Cessna 206 for eventual serve in Manila, Philippines.  God put all the pieces in place - it's location in Grand Rapids, the missionary modifications already done to the plane, the price, and the fact we had already coordinated to ship our household goods to Micronesia in a container...just needed to ship a 40 ft one instead of 20 ft.  

With the help of SMAT instructors, their equipment, my Dad, and some fellow classmates,  we were able to move the aircraft to SMAT where the old engine was removed and sent back to the manufacturer (it was due for overhaul).  PMA's chief pilot / mechanic Amos and I coordinated long distance to buy a remanufactured IO-550-N engine and new propeller as well. 

The week of 15 August was a big week that started with our packing our household goods in the front portion of the container before the aircraft went in the back portion.  The wings and all control surfaces were removed so that it would all fit.  The new engine and propeller arrived just in time as well...a story for another time.  Once our things were packed, it was back to SMAT to load the fuselage and other plane parts on the schools flatbed so we could drive it to our house where the container was being packed.  Thankfully, and local farm equipment dealer helped us our with their lift!

By 22 August, the day before SMAT graduation, container doors were closed and sealed as it left by truck for the rail yard in Detroit.  It then will make its way to Long Beach, CA by train before being loaded on a cargo ship bound for Guam.  In Guam, it will be loaded on to a smaller ship before making the final leg of the trip to Yap, Micronesia.  Thank you God for all the help, good weather, and details that came together to get this container on it's way to the islands!