God’s Provision

(excerpt from our September 2011 newsletter)

Thank you for your prayers as Jon and the crew worked to get the Kodiak aircraft ready for service in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The modifications are now complete and the aircraft has been dedicated to the Lord for service in support of Bible translation. (See photo on right.)

On September 23rd, the Kodiak is scheduled to fly to Kansas where its ferry tanks will be installed. These special fuel tanks will sit inside the cabin and hold the extra fuel needed to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. When the installation of the tanks is complete, the aircraft will then be ready for the long journey to Papua New Guinea. Please pray that the aircraft and crew will encounter good weather, and that each leg of the trip will be uneventful and progress without delays.

The presence of these aircraft in PNG attests to the faithful provision of our God. All three Kodiaks are completely paid for through the gifts of people who share our burden for the Bibleless people of the world. We too hope to make that trans-global journey, and help see Papua New Guinea empowered by the written Word. We’re very close to our financial goals, and thank God for the team of partners he has already raised up.

We still need about $275 in monthly pledges, and estimate that we need an additional $4000 to cover airfare and shipping costs to PNG. When we have 100% of those launching funds, and our monthly financial partnership thermometer (on right) reaches 100%, we’ll be released to return to Papua New Guinea. But we can’t go without people like you who choose to become a vital part of this ministry! Will you prayerfully consider helping to complete our team of financial partners?  Please contact us if you have any questions on becoming a prayer or financial partner, or you can click here to get started.  Thank you!

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”  --Matthew 6:33 NLT

Scenic Stop

We always enjoy stopping at the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia.  I think this was the first time the kids enjoyed the view with us.

On Safari

The Damon family gives an A+ to Hidden Valley Animal Adventures for an engaging and interactive “field trip”.  Go early when the animals are still enticed by the sound of your plastic feed cup, and you’ll be sure to get face to face with all kinds of unusual creatures (from the safety of your trolley, of course).  Then take the kids to the petting zoo to meet the smaller critters and a real, live zonkey.  Just a word of caution:  Don’t wear white—especially if the water buffalo are still in the mood for a snack.  Your nose will soon tell you, that isn’t just mud on his tail!

The Ol’ Homestead

One of the best parts of visiting New York, is spending time on the Damon family homestead.  The old 2-story farm house where Grandpa grew up is gone now. Just the grown-in remains of a basement still testify to its previous existence.  But the acres upon acres of hills and trees just beg to be explored.  Jon nurses many a fond memory of when his family used to camp out there for days on end.  Real camping—the kind where you build your own shelter, cook over an open fire, drink water from the spring and bathe in the pond.  (That is if you bother bathing at all….)

But now that Grandpa is getting up there in years <said with a big grin and the expectation of retribution>, his homemade camping shelter is getting a little more elaborate.  Plans for a 20’ x 20’ log cabin are underway, and we all got to help a little bit on its progress.  (Well, I think my only input was in the area of morale support.)  We didn’t get to see it finished, but if nothing more happens at least Grandpa will have the finest tent platform in all of Western NY.  <smile>