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

Burg Stahleck & The Rhine River

A couple of weekends ago, Lana and I took the kids to Bacharach, Germany on the Rhine River.  We have taken the train to the Frankfurt Airport a few times and are always amazed at the scenery along both the Mosel and Rhine Rivers...it was time to see it up close.  We told the kids we'd be staying in a "hotel" for a night, which made staying in an actual castle an ever better surprise!

Lana was able to get us a room in Burg Stahleck with origins dating back to the 12th century.  It is placed on the side of the Rhine River valley overlooking the vineyards with amazing views up and down the river!  We also spent a good amount of time in Oberwesel enjoying their wine festival which ended with a great fireworks show on the river.  Another chance to experience German culture at it's best!

Sunday morning we drove to Mannheim where we met with members of PMA Deutschland at a local church where they were giving a presentation.  After church, we spent the better part of the afternoon enjoying some Christian fellowship with one of their workers asking many questions on the topic of preparing for the mission field since this is rapidly approaching for us.  We plan to see them again in October when PMA's president visits Germany.

We're Officially Missionaries - Pacific Mission Aviation!

Jeremiah 29:11 -  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

The Island of Falalop, Micronesia during our trip to visit PMA in Sep, 2013 (minus Luis).

Greetings from Spangdahlem, Germany!  Many of you are familiar with how God has lead us to serve with Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA) while some of you aren't.  Well, we're EXCITED to share we have been accepted by PMA to serve as a missionary pilot family!

Lana and I have been blessed with many family members and friends who we'd love to stay connected with in this journey God is taking us on.  We haven't seen many of you over the past years as we've traveled the world in the Air Force, but we'd like to keep you up to date on what God is doing in our lives and have you consider partnering with us through one or more of these areas: prayer, mail / email, phone calls, finances, general encouragement, or even a visit to see PMA at work once we're settled.

Stay tuned for a follow-up, more in depth message with specifics soon!  We have lots of details we're eager to share, and provide answers to some questions we've already been asked. 

Our PMA Acceptance Letter

9/4/2014

Dear Lance and Lana,

We have prayed for God’s wisdom, carefully reviewed your application and recommendations and believe that you have the experience, leadership skills and passion for serving in PMA’s aviation ministry.  Therefore, the Board of Pacific Mission Aviation joins me in congratulating and accepting the both of you to missionary service with PMA. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the PMA family. 

I am confident that your many years of experience in aviation and management, will contribute greatly to the ministry and lives of the people of Micronesia.

In reviewing the different qualifications that you have, we are in agreement that you would be better equipped if you came with an A&P to the field.  We support your decision to get this license.  Your supporters can support you during this time through PMA as you have been accepted as our missionaries. In coordination with PMA Guam this will be communicated with your supporters so that there will be no misunderstanding.

With regard to remaining in the Reserves:  I have no problem with this and you having to fulfill your duties.  Just so that your responsibilities with PMA will be covered during that time.

In regard to all matters of preparation for the field, Melinda Espinosa, at the Guam Headquarters Office will communicate and coordinate these matters per email with you.  

In the meantime, we wish you both many blessings as you share your calling and vision for Micronesia with your church and friends and prepare for the ministry in the islands.

Our prayer for you is found in Proverbs 3:6

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

For the Honor of His Name,

Norbert Kalau

President, PMA

Souda Bay, Greece (Crete)

Of all the flying work trips I've taken over the years in the F-16, Souda Bay, Greece is near if not at the top of the list when it comes to location and great food (especially the Greek salads)!  The 480 Fight Squadron spend two weeks in August flying from the island of Crete, training with the Hellenic Air Force in multiple Close Air Support (CAS) and Large Formation Exercises (LFEs) sorties.  It was sunny and around 90 F every day, which made for great flying and enjoyable weekends at various beaches on Crete.

I was originally scheduled to fly to Souda Bay one of the KC-135 tanker aircraft "dragging" our F-16s but ended up flying a jet down last minute.  It was a picturesque flight south over the European Alps and Sicily before turning east towards Crete.  Mt. Etna on northeast part of Sicily, an volcanic mountain, was smoking looking like it was about to erupt any minute.

The middle weekend of trip, a few of us wanted to explore a couple of the great beaches on Crete.  The first one we visited was Elafonisi and the second Balos Lagoon.  Both were a little difficult to get to, but it was worth the trip; which sand beaches and turquoise water all over!  It would have been great to have Lana and the kids there since both would have been perfect for kids too.

This was the last flying trip on the schedule until next year.  Next spring we may be going to the island of Sardinia to train with the Italian Air Force, so we'll see what happens!