July 2011
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Phil, Lily, Merilee & Kaitlyn
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We have big news... No, it has nothing to do with new kids on the way…this time. This news is big because it represents for us the passing of one of the most important milestones of the last six years. In May, following a week of orientation and training at the MAFC main office in Guelph, Ontario, we were officially accepted by Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada as Pre-field Missionaries. Many of you have faithfully followed the journey we’ve been on since leaving London, Ontario, bound for Alberta and Prairie Bible College’s aviation program in 2005. You have prayed for us, you have encouraged us by keeping in touch and some have even made the trek out to Three Hills to visit. We’re blessed to have such a solid team of people behind us as we make this transition.
Orientation at MAF Canada head office in Guelph, Ontario. Our orientation “class” was just us, Matt (a student pilot going to do an internship in Haiti) and the instructors – Art and Remi.
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a worldwide team of specialists who provide for the transportation and communication needs of over 1500 local churches, relief and development agencies and people serving those living in the most remote parts of the world. MAF operates about 130 aircraft on some 2000 airstrips in over 40 countries around the world. Together, MAF reaches out on wings of love to put Christian faith into action, demonstrating God’s love through overcoming barriers of jungle, rivers, mountains, culture and languages – bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
TRANSITIONS In order for us to prepare to join MAF, Phil’s time at Prairie ended in early May. Then we had a week in Guelph, followed by the new concept of having Phil working from home as we build our ministry partnership team. Then there was a quick move across town to a new place and in about mid-August we’ll be saying goodbye to Three Hills and embarking on a cross-Canada road trip. We hope to see many of you along the way – our first stops are in BC! Then it’s back through the Prairies and we expect to be living in London, Ontario by the end of September. It’s not everyday that we get to drive across the country seeing our friends and building a ministry partnership team so if you would like a visit please get in touch with us as soon as possible. We’re putting the route together now.
These are the really rough* dates for our upcoming trip: Alberta–BC–Washington–Alberta–Saskatchewan–Manitoba–Ontario.. Whew! Depart Red Deer, Edmonton, 100 Mile Vancouver, Langley & Three Hills AB AB House, BC BC Abbotsford Aug 15th Aug 16th Aug 17th Aug 20th
Aug 22nd
Aug 27th
Seattle, WA (?)
Three Saskatoon, SK Hills, AB
Moose Jaw, SK
Regina, SK
Winnipeg, MB
Northern Ontario
London, ON
Sept 30th Sept 3rd Sept 7th? Sept 8th? Sept 11th? Sept 13th? Sept 15th? Sept 18th?
* ‘Really rough’ means that we fully expect those dates to change before mid-August. If there’s even a remote chance that we’ll be driving through your area...let us know so we don’t miss you.