After returning from three weeks in the US, I left right away for my last temporary duty (TDY) with the Air Force. Souda Bay is a Navy base on the island of Crete and it's the same location the squadron went to back in August of last year. The weather in Germany during the winter is pretty terrible and many days of flying are canceled, so the squadron went searching for better weather to fly in.
Although the summer is a better time of the year to be in Greece, it was still nice. The flying was great and the airspace is better than in Germany. The Greek olive oil, salads, feta cheese, etc. are quick amazing and I had to work out just to keep from putting on some lbs. The Saturday farmers market was very interesting with booth after booth of good Cretian produce.
This trip was both exciting and a somewhat sad all at the same time. Exciting because with it's completion our family is one step closer to starting another big chapter of our lives in missions, yet sad because I am going to miss certain aspects of the Air Force. Lana and I have seen and I've flown all over the world, I work with talented and driven fighter pilots, and the job challenges me. There is honor in serving your country over self. While an enjoyable last trip, you come to realize the Air Force will continue forward as people ebb and flow in and out of it's halls of service.
Yet with all of those great things we know God has more of the world for us to see, amazing people for us to work for and with, ways to challenge us like we've never been challenged before, and people for us to serve and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with. He is already challenging and stretching our faith as we embark on a life of increased faith and trust that He'll be there emotionally and financially and comfort us when we have a case of "island fever" on a small island in the middle of the Pacific. Even more than serving the USA, there is great honor is following Jesus Christ who is to be served above ourselves!
Surprising the kids at the airport when I returned was the best part of the trip!
Being stationed in Germany makes it a little difficult to meet face-to-face with friends and family and share about our missions journey towards serving with Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA). God has been doing great things already and our partnership team is steadily growing merely through electronic communication like email and Facebook!
In January I was in the US on an Air Force trip and took a week holiday after to do some face-to-face partnership building with people in Nevada and Phoenix. The missionaries who lead the local Cadence Hospitality House here at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany (Christian outreach to military) used to work for Focus On The Family, and many of their Christian contacts from those days still live in the area. While in Nevada, where I was for my Air Force trip, I was able to meet with 15 people over one weekend and give my first presentation about how God has lead us to serve with PMA. The following weekend I flew to Phoenix to share more. It worked out that Ed, the Hospitality House's leader, was in the US on a trip of his own and we were able to meet up in Phoenix and travel around for a few days sharing what God was doing in both of our lives; for him and his wife at the Hospitality House and Lana and I with PMA.
It was very encouraging to meet fellow Christians who were interested in hearing our story and praying, giving financially, or both. The best thing about this whole process is knowing that, God who created the world and everything in it, has our missions needs in His hands. One step of faith at a time as He leads!
