Prayer~
Ruth is struggling with another tooth. We are so thankful for our happy baby. We are just about certain when she is getting another tooth even when we can't see it because she is just so fussy. This one is finally showing itself so hopefully she will be back to her normal self very soon.
Things are very busy in the hangar. Pray for Nathan as he takes on more responibility and for wisdom as he works on these airplanes.
Dawn Williams and Tiffany Toews and all their children are leaving on Wednesday to head to the States. They both have a couple of memorial services planned while there. Please pray for safety and strength for them as these are going to be a long couple of months travelling.
Praise~
The kids and I went over to Pastor and Sylvia's house this morning to visit with Sylvia and Judy-Hannah. It was a nice visit and the kids had a great time.
Ruth's SS card finally arrived last Friday. Praise the Lord!
Our taxes for 2008 are finally done and submitted! What a relief not only to have that done, but also to be getting a nice refund! God is good!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Prayer and Praise
Prayer~
We are still waiting for Ruth's SSN. It was supposed to take 10-12 weeks but it has been longer than that now. We need it to come quickly since our tax extension will be expiring in a couple of weeks.
Nathan is really busy at work now. Please pray for him as takes on new responsibilities.
Our kids did excellent with all the babysitters we had to have with everything surrounding the accident. We're so happy they are doing better with either or both of us leaving them. Ruth still won't take a bottle from an African, but she does ok without it since she is eating table food.
We've finished all of our meetings for our homestudy. Now we just have to get a couple more documents for Steve and finish our adoptive parent training and our homestudy should be done.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Pink Bicycle
About a month ago, Nathan went out on a Sunday afternoon and bought a bicycle for Dinah. A sports store here was having a sale and we thought we'd go ahead and buy it since there is hardly ever a sale here. Kurt and Angie were storing it for us in their extra bedroom. Our plan was to save it until Christmas. Well, since we aren't going to be here for Christmas and she has outgrown the tricycle, Nathan decided it was time to give it to her early. She is such a smart little girl. She had us all figured out. When we were getting groceries yesterday morning, Nathan was looking at the bicycles in Nakumatt. She was riding all over the place on the ones in the store. Nathan decided that we would give it to her yesterday afternoon after they woke up from their naps. So after they went to sleep, Nathan went over to Kurt and Angies to get the bike. He and Kurt had to do some minor adjustments to it. Dinah woke up while he was gone and wanted to know where Daddy was. I told her had gone out for a little bit and and he would be back soon. She asked point blank if he had gone to get her bicycle. I stalled and beat around the bush. Finally, Nathan showed up with the bike along with Kurt, Angie, and Micah. She was excited! She wouldn't get on the bike until she had her baby buckled in the baby seat and her baby bottles in the bag on the front. She's so cute on it although it's going to take a little while to get used to riding on such rough roads. Here are some pictures...
Baby Sister
I just took this one about a hour ago. She was sticking her tongue out at Nathan. Look at that hint of red in her hair!
She was scooting around yesterday afternoon and found Dinah's helmet. She puts anything she finds on her head. She's such a silly girl!
She's such a happy baby. She smiles all the time. Especially when she's eating. :) Friday, August 21, 2009
Adoption Update
This past Wednesday we had the last two meetings of our homestudy. I had my last individual interview at 11am and then Nathan and I both went for another joint interview at 3:30pm. Steve told us there were a few more documents that we needed to get for him. We've been working on those the past couple of days. We took a financial breakdown to him yesterday, picked up my certificate of good conduct and took it to him this morning, and Nathan's parents are working on getting our criminal background check. We think thos are the last documents we need for the homestudy. Steve seems to think it will be done in a couple weeks, but we aren't expecting it any time soon. We've seen it take much longer for others working with him so we're prepared to wait.
On an exciting note. Yesterday at Amani, I picked out lots of things to sell in our "African Market" fundraiser when we come home in November. Nathan and I stopped to purchase it all on our way home this morning. It was a lot of stuff, and we're excited about sharing a part of Africa with all our friends and family.
On an exciting note. Yesterday at Amani, I picked out lots of things to sell in our "African Market" fundraiser when we come home in November. Nathan and I stopped to purchase it all on our way home this morning. It was a lot of stuff, and we're excited about sharing a part of Africa with all our friends and family.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Ruth
Wow, Ruth is really doing a lot of new things lately.Here are some of them:
-She's figured out how to drink from a sippy cup.
-She's clapping.
-She's starting to sign "more".
-She says "uh-oh".
-She's doing a one-handed scoot when she has something in one hand. It's quite hilarious to watch!
-She's eating just about anything you put in front of her.
-She's pulled up several times and is starting to cruise when she's standing by the furniture.
-She can get to a sitting position from her tummy, but she doesn't do it often because she really dislikes being on her tummy.
-She can sit up on a bed or the couch when she's laying on her back. She just leans up and sits right up. Talk about some tummy muscles!
What a big girl she is! It's hard to believe she's going to be 1 next month! We love you, Ruth!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday Treats
Last weekend I had washed some towels and put them in the dryer. Nathan got them out of the dryer and proceeded to fold them. I noticed what he was doing and looked a little closer. He was rolling them up the way I do to put them on the shelf in the bathroom. He's folded the towels for me before but has never rolled them the way I do it.
Monday night, Angie and I went to see a chick flick. Nathan finished feeding the kids dinner and got them in bed all by himself. What a fun night!
He is such a great helper. Whenever he's home, he's always helping me take care of the kids and doing things that need to be done in and around the house. I'm so blessed to have him!
What has your Sweetie done for you lately?
Sunday during church, our pastor said that before you pick an argument with your spouse, you should think about what is it you are arguing about in the light of eternity and then decide if it's something you should really be arguing about. If the Lord has blessed you with a spouse, love and cherish him or her, you never know when your last moments together might be.
Monday night, Angie and I went to see a chick flick. Nathan finished feeding the kids dinner and got them in bed all by himself. What a fun night!
He is such a great helper. Whenever he's home, he's always helping me take care of the kids and doing things that need to be done in and around the house. I'm so blessed to have him!
What has your Sweetie done for you lately?
Sunday during church, our pastor said that before you pick an argument with your spouse, you should think about what is it you are arguing about in the light of eternity and then decide if it's something you should really be arguing about. If the Lord has blessed you with a spouse, love and cherish him or her, you never know when your last moments together might be.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Farewell to a friend...
...though not forever.
You may remember that I began a post this way last week. That day, we had said farewell to Ryan as he was placed into a Cessna Citation and flown to South Africa. That was the last time I saw my friend...
Today was Ryan's memorial service. It was a sweet time of songs and Scripture and memories. I had the privelege of writing the tribute that was published in the program, praying the closing prayer, and being a pallbearer. I had thought it was going to be a hard day, but in reality it was good. Just watching Dawn was an inspiration...I didn't cry until the end when she had all the AIM AIR maintenance crew line up down the center aisle and told us that she loved us all because Ryan loved us all and that she wanted us to go to work Monday with our heads held high. It was a sweet time.
I said goodbye for the last time when we hoisted Ryan's casket into the hearse. I know it is just his earthly body and he is with our Lord, but it was still an emotional time, especially watching Dawn and the kids and their families say goodbye. It was a nice time of fellowship afterwards as we stood around a talked and laughed about all sorts of memories of Ryan.
I thought I would post what I wrote for the program for all those who have asked.
He was a great mentor to many people who worked alongside of him in the hangar. He took the time to teach a young mechanic how to do a specific task, and then helped along the way when questions arose. He loved to do sheetmetal; there was no project that he would do that came out with bad results. He cared about the work that he did and took pride in keeping those airplanes flying safely. It was not a matter of working just to do work, but doing work that would honor the Lord. His heart burned for not only for the work of aircraft maintenance, but for the work that AIM AIR took part in throughout Kenya and East Africa. He served his Lord well so that others could also serve through medical missions, church planting, famine relief, Bible translation, and a host of other ministries.
His ministries were not only limited to AIM AIR, however. He was fully involved in his local church and took seriously the call to be God’s witness throughout the remotest parts of the earth. He tirelessly gave his time and his abilities to help with famine relief throughout the Ukambani region. At least one Saturday a month for the past several months, he spent all day driving his van full of people all over that region, helping to distribute food to people who just don’t have anything due to the famine in Kenya. Most people complain about being stuck in traffic in Nairobi for an hour; he never complained about being hot and sweaty and stinky in a van for twelve hours out in the middle of nowhere.
Most importantly, though, he loved his Lord and he loved his family. While he loved working on airplanes, his heart was always longing to be at home with his wife Dawn and his four children – Caleb, Levi, Seth, and Chloe. You knew he loved his family; it was most evident to us in the hangar around the kids’ birthdays. They would show up with him and spend “a day with Dad at work.” He would let them turn wrenches with him and go for an engine run on one of the 206s. They would ride on the dispatch bicycles down the ramp to look at all the other airplanes. They would go and get Kenyan food, because his boys love it so much, even if he wasn’t really in the mood for it that day. Meeting Dawn was perhaps the best thing to happen to him; they met here in Kenya, both doing the Lord’s work. She has been a helpmeet and a strong support for him; even after he joined Frank in glory, so many have marveled at the inner strength she has displayed. Whether it was fixing her juicer or taking her to a movie where they were the only ones in the theater, he loved his wife and cared for her with utmost attention.
This is the testimony of Ryan Williams, that he loved his Lord without reservation. He followed God’s leading and when the time came, he gave his all for the sake of the Gospel. God called his friend Frank Toews home immediately; Ryan, He chose to wait a little bit before calling him home. We don't know why, but He has a reason. We can just imagine that when Ryan entered His Savior's arms, he heard that big laugh of Frank in the background. So now Ryan has joined that great cloud of witnesses that Scripture talks about. We look forward to the day when we shall see our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend again, but for now, we must continue on in our journey. God has called each one of us for a special purpose. As Ryan stepped out into glory, we must step up into his place and continue to carry the Gospel to those who still have not heard. Human minds cannot conceive what lies ahead...but God knows. With that knowledge, we must rest in the loving arms of the Savior, arms that also hold our beloved Ryan with Him in glory.
You may remember that I began a post this way last week. That day, we had said farewell to Ryan as he was placed into a Cessna Citation and flown to South Africa. That was the last time I saw my friend...
Today was Ryan's memorial service. It was a sweet time of songs and Scripture and memories. I had the privelege of writing the tribute that was published in the program, praying the closing prayer, and being a pallbearer. I had thought it was going to be a hard day, but in reality it was good. Just watching Dawn was an inspiration...I didn't cry until the end when she had all the AIM AIR maintenance crew line up down the center aisle and told us that she loved us all because Ryan loved us all and that she wanted us to go to work Monday with our heads held high. It was a sweet time.
I said goodbye for the last time when we hoisted Ryan's casket into the hearse. I know it is just his earthly body and he is with our Lord, but it was still an emotional time, especially watching Dawn and the kids and their families say goodbye. It was a nice time of fellowship afterwards as we stood around a talked and laughed about all sorts of memories of Ryan.
I thought I would post what I wrote for the program for all those who have asked.
Most of the time you could find him somewhere in the AIM AIR hangar working on something; it really didn’t matter what it was, just anything. He loved to work on airplanes, but in reality, anything that moved or made noise, he was into it. He was always doing something with a piki –his, yours, anybody who needed a hand doing something, he was there giving his time and his ability with no questions asked. You could find him tinkering at his toolbox with a toy helicopter for his boys, trying to make it fly again. Or one time, he was making a little kitchen for Chloe out of some odds and ends he had picked up around town. There was even a time he was trying to get this ancient looking juicer going again for Dawn. He hauled it down to the Industrial Area and back again a couple times, trying to get it working again. Now, his toolbox sits silently in the corner of the hangar, a vacant reminder of a man gifted in many ways, a man who will be greatly missed.
He was a great mentor to many people who worked alongside of him in the hangar. He took the time to teach a young mechanic how to do a specific task, and then helped along the way when questions arose. He loved to do sheetmetal; there was no project that he would do that came out with bad results. He cared about the work that he did and took pride in keeping those airplanes flying safely. It was not a matter of working just to do work, but doing work that would honor the Lord. His heart burned for not only for the work of aircraft maintenance, but for the work that AIM AIR took part in throughout Kenya and East Africa. He served his Lord well so that others could also serve through medical missions, church planting, famine relief, Bible translation, and a host of other ministries.
His ministries were not only limited to AIM AIR, however. He was fully involved in his local church and took seriously the call to be God’s witness throughout the remotest parts of the earth. He tirelessly gave his time and his abilities to help with famine relief throughout the Ukambani region. At least one Saturday a month for the past several months, he spent all day driving his van full of people all over that region, helping to distribute food to people who just don’t have anything due to the famine in Kenya. Most people complain about being stuck in traffic in Nairobi for an hour; he never complained about being hot and sweaty and stinky in a van for twelve hours out in the middle of nowhere.
Most importantly, though, he loved his Lord and he loved his family. While he loved working on airplanes, his heart was always longing to be at home with his wife Dawn and his four children – Caleb, Levi, Seth, and Chloe. You knew he loved his family; it was most evident to us in the hangar around the kids’ birthdays. They would show up with him and spend “a day with Dad at work.” He would let them turn wrenches with him and go for an engine run on one of the 206s. They would ride on the dispatch bicycles down the ramp to look at all the other airplanes. They would go and get Kenyan food, because his boys love it so much, even if he wasn’t really in the mood for it that day. Meeting Dawn was perhaps the best thing to happen to him; they met here in Kenya, both doing the Lord’s work. She has been a helpmeet and a strong support for him; even after he joined Frank in glory, so many have marveled at the inner strength she has displayed. Whether it was fixing her juicer or taking her to a movie where they were the only ones in the theater, he loved his wife and cared for her with utmost attention.
This is the testimony of Ryan Williams, that he loved his Lord without reservation. He followed God’s leading and when the time came, he gave his all for the sake of the Gospel. God called his friend Frank Toews home immediately; Ryan, He chose to wait a little bit before calling him home. We don't know why, but He has a reason. We can just imagine that when Ryan entered His Savior's arms, he heard that big laugh of Frank in the background. So now Ryan has joined that great cloud of witnesses that Scripture talks about. We look forward to the day when we shall see our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend again, but for now, we must continue on in our journey. God has called each one of us for a special purpose. As Ryan stepped out into glory, we must step up into his place and continue to carry the Gospel to those who still have not heard. Human minds cannot conceive what lies ahead...but God knows. With that knowledge, we must rest in the loving arms of the Savior, arms that also hold our beloved Ryan with Him in glory.
Love to all...keep up your prayers.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
All I once held dear...
Things are not back to normal. They will be one day...but probably not for a while. The loss of a father and a husband is something these families will carry with them forever. We as an AIM AIR family are merely on the sidelines, watching our friends hurting, and hurting with them from a distance. Nothing we feel comes remotely close to what they are experiencing.
We spent Tuesday afternoon together as a family with so many others, celebrating the life of Frank Toews. It was bittersweet time, as we looked back at what Frank has accomplished for his Lord on this earth and as we said goodbye to a giant of a man. I (Nathan) had the privilege of being an usher and helped with some of the background things during the service. The children from Racefield Academy came and sang two songs for us...and it was beautiful. Some of the AIM AIR pilots brought us reminders of Frank and the great man that he was everywhere he went. It was truly a blessing to reflect on the life of a man who balanced ministry and family life in a way that most others of us dream of doing. The video tribute of Frank's life was fantastic as well, for many of us had never seen some of the home videos of his private life. To see that giant of a man rolling in the grass with his little children laughing his big, rolling laugh left many in tears...For me the most tender moment of the service was when all the AIM AIR pilots (all in their white uniform shirts) stood and escorted Frank's casket to the waiting hearse outside. The Toews and Blackburns followed, and as the pilots stood by, many in tears, the families said their goodbyes. I was standing by also and could not help but take in the scene with tears as well. Seeing those little girls and Loewen saying goodbye to their daddy broke my heart...
We have one service down and one to go. The memorial for Ryan Williams will be on Saturday morning. I can't imagine that it will be easier...but I do know that it will be another bittersweet time as we rejoice over what he accomplished on earth for his Lord and as we say goodbye to him.
The more people I talk with about the whole thing, I am truly encouraged. So many people have expressed that they really are feeling encouraged and have peace, knowing that Frank and Ryan are with the Lord. For some people, it has been harder to process the grief...they might have peace in their hearts, but their minds still have not recovered from the blow. These are the people, like myself, that sometimes stare off into nothing, simply remembering how they interacted with these men, and what will come now since they will no longer have that interaction. I think I would definitely consider myself in this group; I have peace in my heart and know that these guys are with the Lord, but my head is still in a haze. For some, they have voiced that everything still seems like a dream, like it's not really happening.
But the truth is...it has. And we cannot...we must not stay beaten down by the feelings that the Deceiver keeps bringing our way. We must stay hidden in the rock, just like Moses did on the mount when the Lord passed by...we must rest in the comfort of His hand...we must press on for the prize that lies before us, the prize that Frank and Ryan have already received as they entered our Father's arms.
I like these two following songs...they really make you stop and think about where you have your faith and trust. Is it with God or is with your own strength? If you're dealing with issues of life on your own...I cannot imagine how you feel with no hope. We stand strong as believers in Christ because we have hope in our Savior. Nothing else matters...
Knowing You
by Graham Kendrick
by Graham Kendrick
All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres and wars to own;
All I once thought gain I have counted loss,
Spent and worthless now compared to this.
CHORUS:
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You Lord.
Now my heart's desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and know as Yours,
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness
Oh to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings;
To become like You in Your death, my Lord,
So with You to live and never die.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
So Great a Cloud of Witnesses
History has shown that many men of faith have been killed while serving the Lord. Hebrews 11 is so well known as the "hall of faith" giving many examples of people who gave their lives to serve their Lord until death. Chapter 12 begins with the following two verses:
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Perhaps the most well known missionary aviators in the past were the five men who were killed in Ecuador in 1956: Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming. The story of these men sparked a movement in missions that is felt even until this day. The sacrifice made that day was a modern day representation of what Christ did 2000 years ago. While not giving their lives as the propitiation, they gave their lives on that riverbed because they felt that they could not kill the ones to which they had been called by God to go and tell the Gospel. They willingly gave their lives and many came to Christ because of them.
In more recent years, there are the stories of Martin and Gracia Burnham, who were missionaries in the Philippines. They were captured by radical Islamists and, after over a year in captivity, Martin was killed during an attempted rescue operation.
There was also the story of Jim Bowers and his wife Veronica. They were travelling in Peru in a small mission airplane and were pretty much shot down by a military jet. The pilot sustained some fairly minor injuries, but Jim's wife Veronica and their baby girl Charity were killed instantly.
These are just a few of history's accounts of Christians who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel. There are so many more, almost without number, accounts of Christians all over the world who have died the martyrs death rather than forsaking their Lord. This great cloud of witnesses in glory have just been joined by two more saints, of which we have been privileged to know personally. Frank Toews and Ryan Williams gave more in their lives than any of us will ever know. Now, in their deaths, we know that God will use them as a testimony to reach even more people for His Kingdom.
We have seen on our blog feedjit that people literally all over the world have been searching for news about the tragic accident that occurred over a week ago. Frank and Ryan were known in countries like the USA and Canada, obviously, because that is where they are from. But we have seen hits of people searching from the Philippines, Germany, Nigeria, Mozambique, China, Singapore, the UK, Switzerland, and Mexico. These men were known and loved all over the world by people who are interested in missions and who have a heart for those serving the Lord.
While these two men would humbly say that they were just normal guys, we know that they were so much more. They loved God with all their hearts. They loved their families without question. They both loved what they did; Frank flew and "broke" planes, and Ryan fixed them and gave them back to Frank to fly again. They were getting to experience a dream life. Who wouldn't want to serve the Lord, be with your family, and get to work with airplanes?!
I have many fond memories of these two men, though more of Ryan and myself, since we worked together in the shop everyday. I can vividly remember Frank's big laugh, though, when he really was laughing at something funny. I hope I never forget it. Ryan and I spend a lot of time together doing all sorts of fun stuff. I remember how he selflessly gave up some of his Saturdays so he could carry people down to the Ukambani region in his matatu van to help with the famine relief project that our church is involved in. He would come to church the next day just beat from being in the van for almost 12 hours the day before. He never complained.
This is the testimony of two men, that they loved their Lord without reservation. They chose to follow His leading and when the time came, they gave their all for the sake of the Gospel. God called Frank home immediately; Ryan, He chose to wait a little bit before calling him home. We don't know why, but He has a reason. I can just imagine that when Ryan entered His Savior's arms, he heard that big laugh of Frank in the background.
So now these two men have joined that great cloud of witnesses. We look forward to the day when we shall see them again, but for now, we must continue on in our journey. God has called each one of us for a special purpose. As Frank and Ryan stepped out into glory, we must step up into their places and continue to carry the Gospel to those who still have not heard. I don't know what lies ahead...but God knows. With that knowledge, we must rest in the loving arms of the Savior, arms that also hold our friends Ryan and Frank.
I was reminded by a friend that they are not gone; they are just not with us. How can I argue with that...they are with our Savior. How much better can it get?! I will miss them, but I will see them again one day in glory, along with that great cloud of witnesses...
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Perhaps the most well known missionary aviators in the past were the five men who were killed in Ecuador in 1956: Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming. The story of these men sparked a movement in missions that is felt even until this day. The sacrifice made that day was a modern day representation of what Christ did 2000 years ago. While not giving their lives as the propitiation, they gave their lives on that riverbed because they felt that they could not kill the ones to which they had been called by God to go and tell the Gospel. They willingly gave their lives and many came to Christ because of them.
In more recent years, there are the stories of Martin and Gracia Burnham, who were missionaries in the Philippines. They were captured by radical Islamists and, after over a year in captivity, Martin was killed during an attempted rescue operation.
There was also the story of Jim Bowers and his wife Veronica. They were travelling in Peru in a small mission airplane and were pretty much shot down by a military jet. The pilot sustained some fairly minor injuries, but Jim's wife Veronica and their baby girl Charity were killed instantly.
These are just a few of history's accounts of Christians who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel. There are so many more, almost without number, accounts of Christians all over the world who have died the martyrs death rather than forsaking their Lord. This great cloud of witnesses in glory have just been joined by two more saints, of which we have been privileged to know personally. Frank Toews and Ryan Williams gave more in their lives than any of us will ever know. Now, in their deaths, we know that God will use them as a testimony to reach even more people for His Kingdom.
We have seen on our blog feedjit that people literally all over the world have been searching for news about the tragic accident that occurred over a week ago. Frank and Ryan were known in countries like the USA and Canada, obviously, because that is where they are from. But we have seen hits of people searching from the Philippines, Germany, Nigeria, Mozambique, China, Singapore, the UK, Switzerland, and Mexico. These men were known and loved all over the world by people who are interested in missions and who have a heart for those serving the Lord.
While these two men would humbly say that they were just normal guys, we know that they were so much more. They loved God with all their hearts. They loved their families without question. They both loved what they did; Frank flew and "broke" planes, and Ryan fixed them and gave them back to Frank to fly again. They were getting to experience a dream life. Who wouldn't want to serve the Lord, be with your family, and get to work with airplanes?!
I have many fond memories of these two men, though more of Ryan and myself, since we worked together in the shop everyday. I can vividly remember Frank's big laugh, though, when he really was laughing at something funny. I hope I never forget it. Ryan and I spend a lot of time together doing all sorts of fun stuff. I remember how he selflessly gave up some of his Saturdays so he could carry people down to the Ukambani region in his matatu van to help with the famine relief project that our church is involved in. He would come to church the next day just beat from being in the van for almost 12 hours the day before. He never complained.
This is the testimony of two men, that they loved their Lord without reservation. They chose to follow His leading and when the time came, they gave their all for the sake of the Gospel. God called Frank home immediately; Ryan, He chose to wait a little bit before calling him home. We don't know why, but He has a reason. I can just imagine that when Ryan entered His Savior's arms, he heard that big laugh of Frank in the background.
So now these two men have joined that great cloud of witnesses. We look forward to the day when we shall see them again, but for now, we must continue on in our journey. God has called each one of us for a special purpose. As Frank and Ryan stepped out into glory, we must step up into their places and continue to carry the Gospel to those who still have not heard. I don't know what lies ahead...but God knows. With that knowledge, we must rest in the loving arms of the Savior, arms that also hold our friends Ryan and Frank.
I was reminded by a friend that they are not gone; they are just not with us. How can I argue with that...they are with our Savior. How much better can it get?! I will miss them, but I will see them again one day in glory, along with that great cloud of witnesses...
Friday, August 7, 2009
He answered the call...
"Hey!" The shout goes across the hangar floor.
"What?!" The answer, coming from exactly the person who it was meant for.
Ryan has said many times that he knew when I was hollering for him because it would just be a "hey!" But then again, I always knew when it was him calling for me, because it would be a simple "Roberts!" that would echo across the hangar.
Maybe one day again, I'll hear that call while walking down golden streets.
I think Ryan and I hit it off the minute we started talking with each other. Through many conversations and lots of time spent together, we found out that we grew up across Tampa Bay from each other. We talked about places we grew up and how we both felt called to serve in missionary aviation. He went to school at LeTourneau University, a large Christian university in Texas. I went to a small Baptist school in North Carolina. He's actually been serving out here in Kenya since I've been in high school.
We began working together in April of last year. I was fresh and new and ready to learn everything about these two Cessna 206s I was supposed to be in charge of rebuilding. Ryan was a seasoned mechanic, ready and willing to answer all the questions that I had about a 206. We laughed so many times together about my stupid questions about some thing that he would consider to be normal. We would argue about how to do some repair, and then I would have to sneak into his toolbox to borrow his tools so I could do it his way. He never gave me a hard time when I borrowed his tools like he did everybody else.
The last job I remember doing with Ryan was making a fuel line for N4790U. It had developed a leak, and I had to make a new one. He let me borrow his tools for making the fuel line, and I sat there and he helped me make all the crazy bends.
The next time I saw him was when he was lying in a hospital bed, on Tuesday. Kurt and I had the opportunity to go by and see him. I am such a weenie sometimes when it comes to things like that, I had to get Kurt to go with me because I was scared I wouldn't know what to say or do. I looked over into his face, which was very swollen, burned, and gashed, and the words escaped my mind. I had decided what I would say to him, but I just couldn't...I was shocked by how my friend looked. I mumbled a few things and then had to take a step back to where Kurt was standing. Kurt took his turn and then we sorta stood back and talked between ourselves for a minute, wondering about this and that. We decided that we should go, and Kurt stepped up again and said goodbye to Ryan. I stepped back up and mumbled something else about praying for him and we would all miss him. The last thing I said to him was, "I love you, man..."
I had no idea that would be the last thing I ever said to Ryan. Now, as I sit and think about it, and the loss of words that I had...I have determined in my mind that if I ever have to be in a situation like that again, I better make the most of it. You know, we never know when we will see someone again. God's plans are better than our plans. He give and He takes away. This is pertinent in all of life, but we never really think about it until it's too late. I've thought in my mind, what if the last thing I said to him was negative or spiteful? How would that make God feel, for one, and how would that make me feel? That must be why the Bible talks so much about the tongue and how even though it is such a small member, it can do a lot of damage or a lot of benefit. Let's make it a practice to lift others up with our words, and be sure not to leave someone with negative feelings or a bad word...you never know if it's going to be the last you have with them.
I spent a long time this afternoon sitting next to Ryan's toolbox, which I had just covered up this morning. Almost everyone was gone from the hangar because after they told us about his death, they let the maintenance guys go home early. His box is over in the corner and I was sitting on the floor crying for a while and praying and wondering what was going to happen with this and that and the other thing. I thought I could just be by myself and spend time thinking about the memories that I had with Ryan. God had other plans. I got a message from Alan...he encouraged me that he was praying for me...I had heard footsteps on the upper balcony; maybe it was him and he saw me. Then I got a call from Neal, a great friend from NC. He talked with me for a little bit and encouraged me, telling me to keep my head up. He reminded me that God has a purpose for us to be here at this time and for a specific reason. While it doesn't seem apparent now, in time it will be.
And so we all here at AIM AIR are feeling pain and sorrow and sadness; however, nothing we feel comes close to what the Williams, the Toews, the Nienhuis, and the Blackburns are experiencing. We have lost two fellow workers and friends; they have lost husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons. I would encourage you all who read this to know that God's work will go on in Africa, in Kenya, and in Nairobi. My parents' pastor, Dr. Price, called me today and reminded me that many years ago in the jungles of South America, some missionary pilots gave their lives to reach the people God called them to. From those mens' sacrifice, many Christians answered the call of God to serve in foreign missions. So it is here...perhaps this is the beginning of a legacy where God will use the death of these two men to stimulate the spread of His gospel in Africa. He certainly used their lives to do amazing things that perhaps none of us will ever know about. Now in their deaths, we pray that God will do His work through those of us who remain behind.
Ryan Williams was my friend, my co-worker, and a brother in Christ. I loved him like a big brother and am deeply saddened by his death...however, I know that one day I will see him again. But until that day...I don't know if I will ever again be able to yell across the hangar...
"Hey!"
What I do know is that he answered the call this morning as God called him home...
"Hey!"
"What?!" The answer, coming from exactly the person who it was meant for.
Ryan has said many times that he knew when I was hollering for him because it would just be a "hey!" But then again, I always knew when it was him calling for me, because it would be a simple "Roberts!" that would echo across the hangar.
Maybe one day again, I'll hear that call while walking down golden streets.
I think Ryan and I hit it off the minute we started talking with each other. Through many conversations and lots of time spent together, we found out that we grew up across Tampa Bay from each other. We talked about places we grew up and how we both felt called to serve in missionary aviation. He went to school at LeTourneau University, a large Christian university in Texas. I went to a small Baptist school in North Carolina. He's actually been serving out here in Kenya since I've been in high school.
We began working together in April of last year. I was fresh and new and ready to learn everything about these two Cessna 206s I was supposed to be in charge of rebuilding. Ryan was a seasoned mechanic, ready and willing to answer all the questions that I had about a 206. We laughed so many times together about my stupid questions about some thing that he would consider to be normal. We would argue about how to do some repair, and then I would have to sneak into his toolbox to borrow his tools so I could do it his way. He never gave me a hard time when I borrowed his tools like he did everybody else.
The last job I remember doing with Ryan was making a fuel line for N4790U. It had developed a leak, and I had to make a new one. He let me borrow his tools for making the fuel line, and I sat there and he helped me make all the crazy bends.
The next time I saw him was when he was lying in a hospital bed, on Tuesday. Kurt and I had the opportunity to go by and see him. I am such a weenie sometimes when it comes to things like that, I had to get Kurt to go with me because I was scared I wouldn't know what to say or do. I looked over into his face, which was very swollen, burned, and gashed, and the words escaped my mind. I had decided what I would say to him, but I just couldn't...I was shocked by how my friend looked. I mumbled a few things and then had to take a step back to where Kurt was standing. Kurt took his turn and then we sorta stood back and talked between ourselves for a minute, wondering about this and that. We decided that we should go, and Kurt stepped up again and said goodbye to Ryan. I stepped back up and mumbled something else about praying for him and we would all miss him. The last thing I said to him was, "I love you, man..."
I had no idea that would be the last thing I ever said to Ryan. Now, as I sit and think about it, and the loss of words that I had...I have determined in my mind that if I ever have to be in a situation like that again, I better make the most of it. You know, we never know when we will see someone again. God's plans are better than our plans. He give and He takes away. This is pertinent in all of life, but we never really think about it until it's too late. I've thought in my mind, what if the last thing I said to him was negative or spiteful? How would that make God feel, for one, and how would that make me feel? That must be why the Bible talks so much about the tongue and how even though it is such a small member, it can do a lot of damage or a lot of benefit. Let's make it a practice to lift others up with our words, and be sure not to leave someone with negative feelings or a bad word...you never know if it's going to be the last you have with them.
I spent a long time this afternoon sitting next to Ryan's toolbox, which I had just covered up this morning. Almost everyone was gone from the hangar because after they told us about his death, they let the maintenance guys go home early. His box is over in the corner and I was sitting on the floor crying for a while and praying and wondering what was going to happen with this and that and the other thing. I thought I could just be by myself and spend time thinking about the memories that I had with Ryan. God had other plans. I got a message from Alan...he encouraged me that he was praying for me...I had heard footsteps on the upper balcony; maybe it was him and he saw me. Then I got a call from Neal, a great friend from NC. He talked with me for a little bit and encouraged me, telling me to keep my head up. He reminded me that God has a purpose for us to be here at this time and for a specific reason. While it doesn't seem apparent now, in time it will be.
And so we all here at AIM AIR are feeling pain and sorrow and sadness; however, nothing we feel comes close to what the Williams, the Toews, the Nienhuis, and the Blackburns are experiencing. We have lost two fellow workers and friends; they have lost husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons. I would encourage you all who read this to know that God's work will go on in Africa, in Kenya, and in Nairobi. My parents' pastor, Dr. Price, called me today and reminded me that many years ago in the jungles of South America, some missionary pilots gave their lives to reach the people God called them to. From those mens' sacrifice, many Christians answered the call of God to serve in foreign missions. So it is here...perhaps this is the beginning of a legacy where God will use the death of these two men to stimulate the spread of His gospel in Africa. He certainly used their lives to do amazing things that perhaps none of us will ever know about. Now in their deaths, we pray that God will do His work through those of us who remain behind.
Ryan Williams was my friend, my co-worker, and a brother in Christ. I loved him like a big brother and am deeply saddened by his death...however, I know that one day I will see him again. But until that day...I don't know if I will ever again be able to yell across the hangar...
"Hey!"
What I do know is that he answered the call this morning as God called him home...
"Hey!"
Time...
...to say goodbye.
Today, Ryan Williams went to be with his LORD and Savior, along with his good friend, Frank Toews. The infections became too great for his body to fight and he reached into the hands of his LORD and was welcomed into the realms of glory.
"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable...The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works...My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever."
Psalm 145:3, 17, 21
Today, Ryan Williams went to be with his LORD and Savior, along with his good friend, Frank Toews. The infections became too great for his body to fight and he reached into the hands of his LORD and was welcomed into the realms of glory.
"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable...The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works...My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever."
Psalm 145:3, 17, 21
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
Update on Ryan
Here is some information that we have on Ryan:
The latest report on Ryan which has just come in shows he is in a more serious condition than originally thought. After all the bandages were removed, it was evaluated that he has 70% deep and serious burns. He is on three antibiotics and on kidney dialysis. Internal organs are in a precarious state while his biggest danger is infection. The overall evaluation of his condition is "seriously unstable"
It is encouraging that he has been responsive to communication and that his vitals are stable and strong with the hopes that tomorrow he will go back again to surgery to remove more of the damaged skin. However, it is clear that Ryan is in great need of the Lord's help and intervention and so may I encourage you to mobilise your people again to pray earnestly for him and his family. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective James 5:16
Please pray specifically for:
- The infection to clear quickly
- Protection of the organs against damage
- His kidneys to work again
- Wisdom for those caring and treating him
- Miraculous healing
Adding to that report is the report that his white blood cell count is pretty much at zero, which is not helpful when you're trying to fight an infection.
Pray for Dawn and Celeste (Ryan's mom) as they are already on their way to SA.
We love you Ryan!!!
Update on Ryan
We received a text message from our prayer chain last night at about 1130pm saying that Ryan is considered to be seriously unstable. This comes with a greater assessment of his burns and the fact that he is fighting infection. His vitals were good and he was responding to the AIM nurse that is with him...
However, this morning, we received a text stating that we should pray for Ryan right now! This was at 7am.
PLEASE lift him up if you read this! The LORD is on His throne...
However, this morning, we received a text stating that we should pray for Ryan right now! This was at 7am.
PLEASE lift him up if you read this! The LORD is on His throne...
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Address...
...for Ryan, cards and letters only, no flowers or stuffed toys.
Netcare Milpark Hospital
c/o Ryan Williams
PO BOX 91155
Auckland Park 2006
Jo'burg, South Africa
I know anything and everything would be appreciated. Pray for Dawn as she gets things in order for Chloe's US citizenship/passport. She also has to pack up her house in the next few days so that she and the kids can head to SA to be with Ryan.
Lots of prayers still required...please don't stop!!
Netcare Milpark Hospital
c/o Ryan Williams
PO BOX 91155
Auckland Park 2006
Jo'burg, South Africa
I know anything and everything would be appreciated. Pray for Dawn as she gets things in order for Chloe's US citizenship/passport. She also has to pack up her house in the next few days so that she and the kids can head to SA to be with Ryan.
Lots of prayers still required...please don't stop!!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
AIM AIR on Facebook
Yep, it's true, AIM AIR is now on Facebook...not sure where, but I'm sure you can search for it.
Farewell to a friend...
...though not forever. Today I (Nathan) watched Ryan get loaded into a Cessna Citation jet for the trip to South Africa. He will be there for a few months to get stable and then the hope is to take him to the States closer to family. Almost everyone from the hangar was down at customs to wish him farewell, and they even let the ambulance stop outside the gate and they opened the doors so we could all see him before he left. It was a sweet time, but a sad one, as we say goodbye for now to a good friend.
On Monday, we went down and recovered the aircraft from the Kenya Police Air Wing hangar. It was an emotional time for me, as this was the first time that I saw it. I drove about four loads back to our hangar, where we now have the airplane arranged as best we can. So much of it is missing, whether due to fire or thievery we don't know. The entire back of the hangar has the awful smell of fire and death, and I don't think I will ever get that smell from my mind ever again. It is truly, truly amazing that Ryan even survived the accident. God must have some amazing reasons for sparing him. To look at that wreckage every day is going to be a long reminder to me...I will never, ever forget what happened.
Today, I got to lead the Wednesday version of chai time, our usual prayer time here in the hangar. Obviously, there are a lot of things I could talk about, considering the situation and all. I chose to speak about rest. The Bible talks a lot about rest, mostly in the OT referring to the rest that the Israelites would have once they settled in the promise land. There is also a lot of references to death where the term used is "rest" (referring to Christians going to be in heaven). And of course, there are plenty of Scriptures where "rest" is meaning the fact that God holds us in His hands. The latter two where were I focused today. We all know that Frank is now resting with his Lord. We take comfort in that...but we also have sadness and confusion in our minds because we are human. This is where we, as Christians, must rest in the knowledge that God is holding us in His hands...it is a shame that it takes a situation like this for us to really realize that. This whole thought process helped me a lot on Saturday night. I was having a really hard time even wanting to go to sleep...I watched Hidalgo courtesy of Kenyan TV, and then I spent a long time reading my Bible in the bathroom (the only room where I could turn on a light and not wake someone up). I went through Psalms, Isaiah, Hebrews, and lots of other passages that talk about resting and waiting on the Lord. This really has been a help for me during the past few days.
We know that God truly is in control, even when we have no idea what the future holds. Our lives are in His hands and we can have the confidence that if we rest in Him, His will is going to be accomplished. We must wait patiently for Him; for He is the Lord.
Please go to the AIM AIR webpage here. They have begun some funds to help with Frank's family and Ryan's recovery. Please think about how you can be a part of helping the Toews family and also with Ryan's long recovery. They have also done a really good job with this web page; it is a reminder of Frank's love for the Lord.
Blessings to all...we love you.
On Monday, we went down and recovered the aircraft from the Kenya Police Air Wing hangar. It was an emotional time for me, as this was the first time that I saw it. I drove about four loads back to our hangar, where we now have the airplane arranged as best we can. So much of it is missing, whether due to fire or thievery we don't know. The entire back of the hangar has the awful smell of fire and death, and I don't think I will ever get that smell from my mind ever again. It is truly, truly amazing that Ryan even survived the accident. God must have some amazing reasons for sparing him. To look at that wreckage every day is going to be a long reminder to me...I will never, ever forget what happened.
Today, I got to lead the Wednesday version of chai time, our usual prayer time here in the hangar. Obviously, there are a lot of things I could talk about, considering the situation and all. I chose to speak about rest. The Bible talks a lot about rest, mostly in the OT referring to the rest that the Israelites would have once they settled in the promise land. There is also a lot of references to death where the term used is "rest" (referring to Christians going to be in heaven). And of course, there are plenty of Scriptures where "rest" is meaning the fact that God holds us in His hands. The latter two where were I focused today. We all know that Frank is now resting with his Lord. We take comfort in that...but we also have sadness and confusion in our minds because we are human. This is where we, as Christians, must rest in the knowledge that God is holding us in His hands...it is a shame that it takes a situation like this for us to really realize that. This whole thought process helped me a lot on Saturday night. I was having a really hard time even wanting to go to sleep...I watched Hidalgo courtesy of Kenyan TV, and then I spent a long time reading my Bible in the bathroom (the only room where I could turn on a light and not wake someone up). I went through Psalms, Isaiah, Hebrews, and lots of other passages that talk about resting and waiting on the Lord. This really has been a help for me during the past few days.
We know that God truly is in control, even when we have no idea what the future holds. Our lives are in His hands and we can have the confidence that if we rest in Him, His will is going to be accomplished. We must wait patiently for Him; for He is the Lord.
Please go to the AIM AIR webpage here. They have begun some funds to help with Frank's family and Ryan's recovery. Please think about how you can be a part of helping the Toews family and also with Ryan's long recovery. They have also done a really good job with this web page; it is a reminder of Frank's love for the Lord.
Blessings to all...we love you.
Children's World
As I mentioned in the next post, Cammy and I took the Williams boys, along with Dinah, John, Petr, and Andre to an indoor play area called Children's World. It a huge indoor play area. You can actually leave your kids there and they will be cared for and you can go back and pick them up. We stayed with them though. They had a blast. It's about a 3 story play structure with slides, balls, ropes to climb on, etc.
Dinah and John started out in this ball pit to get warmed up to it all.
This is Levi Willaims (6).
I had to convince John to go up a level. It took him a little bit longer to get acclimated to it all.
Seth Williams (4). I asked him for a smile and this is what I got. Must be something with kids this age. :)
Caleb Williams (8). He hardly sat still the whole time, and he wasn't at this piano very long, but I snapped a picture before he got away.
She was trying her hardest to get up through here.
Levi (l) and Petr (r) playing in the balls.
She was running from getting her picture taken.
Andre and Dinah coming down the slide.
He was trying to climb up the slide, but didn't make it.
She was having so much fun. :)
If you look close, you can see Dinah up there playing with the boys. It was fun to see her interacting with them.
Dinah and John started out in this ball pit to get warmed up to it all.
This is Levi Willaims (6).
I had to convince John to go up a level. It took him a little bit longer to get acclimated to it all.
Seth Williams (4). I asked him for a smile and this is what I got. Must be something with kids this age. :)
Caleb Williams (8). He hardly sat still the whole time, and he wasn't at this piano very long, but I snapped a picture before he got away.
She was trying her hardest to get up through here.
Levi (l) and Petr (r) playing in the balls.
She was running from getting her picture taken.
Andre and Dinah coming down the slide.
He was trying to climb up the slide, but didn't make it.
She was having so much fun. :)
If you look close, you can see Dinah up there playing with the boys. It was fun to see her interacting with them. The Kids This Week
Little Bit~*She waved bye-bye to Nathan Monday morning all by herself. It was the most precious thing.
*She's doing much better with me leaving her. Although she won't take a bottle from anyone but me. Crazy girl. Since we started reading our adoption books, we've realized she doesn't have attachment issues...she's got detachment issues. :)
*She's still scooting and not crawling. I think the scooting instead of crawling may have hindered her from being able to sit up on her own. She's still not doing that. But boy can she scoot. She's really good at walking while holding your hands, too. We were hoping she'd be walking by the time we left for home, but who knows. She's so different than Dinah and John.
John John~*He has a baby named Henry that he loves to take care of. He feeds him every night before he goes to bed. :) And holds him while he sleeps. Maybe it's strange that he plays with babies, but we both agree, we'd rather him play with babies than guns.
*He has 2 pillows in his bed. Most nights when we go to check on them before we go to bed, he is sleeping on top of the pillows. It's quite funny.
*He's calling Dinah, "Dinah Belle." I guess he hears me call her that so much, he's picked up on it. It's really funny. He'll go around calling, "Dinah Belle, Dinah Belle" when he can't find her.
Lovey~*She is really getting in to pretend play. She sets up her tea cups, arranges her dollhouse, and then gets John to join in with her. It's fun to sit back and listen to them playing together.
*Yesterday morning a friend and I took our kids and the Williams boys to an indoor play area. Dinah and John were a little apprehensive at first, but they warmed up pretty quick. Dinah was the only girl, but she was running around playing with the boys. It was fun to hear the boys calling to her to do something.
*She's trying to pick Ruth up and help her walk. It's very sweet of her to try to help her, but I'm afraid she's going to fall. Ruth's not too much smaller than she is. :)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tuesday Treats
~Nathan is so great about knowing where we are going and figuring out how to get there; we hardly ever get lost.
~It's so sweet to see him going in to check on the kids before we go to bed. He gets them all fixed and covered up before we head to bed. What a sweet Daddy!
~He's so nice to ride his bike to work when I need the car. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, he doesn't complain. I just have to pray harder for him to have a safe trip to work.
~It's so sweet to see him going in to check on the kids before we go to bed. He gets them all fixed and covered up before we head to bed. What a sweet Daddy!
~He's so nice to ride his bike to work when I need the car. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, he doesn't complain. I just have to pray harder for him to have a safe trip to work.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Prayer and Praise
Prayer~
Wow...I don't even know where to begin with this. There are so many ways AIM Air needs praying for. I will list some of them so you know how to pray specifically.
-There is a team of 9 assembled from the pilots and managers at AIM Air that are taking on the investigation, legal matters, and big decisions. Please pray for them. They have a lot on their plate. Charles, the acting director, is sick. Please pray for healing for him.
-The two guys, Dan and Rob, that were photographing, need prayer as well. Dan is a believer and seemed to be doing ok, but started having some complications yesterday. Rob is a nonbeliever and wants nothing to do with anyone telling him they are praying for him. He is the one that pulled Dan out of the wreckage and went back for Ryan.
-Please pray for logistics for Frank and Tiffany's parents to get here. They are trying to arrange to arrive around the same time, but some other things have to fall in to place pretty quickly.
-Tiffany, Frank's wife, has some pretty big decisions to make in the next couple of days. Please, please lift her up. My heart is really aching for Tiffany right now.
-Ryan and Dawn have a lot of decisions regarding medical care for Ryan in the upcoming weeks and months. He seems to be doing well at this point. Please pray against infection. He has some second and third degree burns and deep lacerations. Also, Dawn has mentioned that the kids are asking to see their Daddy and they can't. She requested specific prayer for the kids. Their names are Caleb, Levi, Seth, and Chloe.
-All flights at AIM Air have been grounded for the indefinite future. Please pray for the organizations who are trying to pick up some of the flights that were booked.
-I've just received a phone call and have been asked to line up some outings for the Williams children.
-Please pray for the AIM Air team as we pull together and get everyone through this.
Zipporah, our houselady on Monday and Friday, got a call Friday that her stepmom had passed away. Please remember her as she has gone home to handle the arrangements and burial and for safe travels back to Nairobi.
I have my interview tomorrow with our social worker.
Praise~
God is still on the throne and in control even though we don't understand why things happen.
Wow...I don't even know where to begin with this. There are so many ways AIM Air needs praying for. I will list some of them so you know how to pray specifically.
-There is a team of 9 assembled from the pilots and managers at AIM Air that are taking on the investigation, legal matters, and big decisions. Please pray for them. They have a lot on their plate. Charles, the acting director, is sick. Please pray for healing for him.
-The two guys, Dan and Rob, that were photographing, need prayer as well. Dan is a believer and seemed to be doing ok, but started having some complications yesterday. Rob is a nonbeliever and wants nothing to do with anyone telling him they are praying for him. He is the one that pulled Dan out of the wreckage and went back for Ryan.
-Please pray for logistics for Frank and Tiffany's parents to get here. They are trying to arrange to arrive around the same time, but some other things have to fall in to place pretty quickly.
-Tiffany, Frank's wife, has some pretty big decisions to make in the next couple of days. Please, please lift her up. My heart is really aching for Tiffany right now.
-Ryan and Dawn have a lot of decisions regarding medical care for Ryan in the upcoming weeks and months. He seems to be doing well at this point. Please pray against infection. He has some second and third degree burns and deep lacerations. Also, Dawn has mentioned that the kids are asking to see their Daddy and they can't. She requested specific prayer for the kids. Their names are Caleb, Levi, Seth, and Chloe.
-All flights at AIM Air have been grounded for the indefinite future. Please pray for the organizations who are trying to pick up some of the flights that were booked.
-I've just received a phone call and have been asked to line up some outings for the Williams children.
-Please pray for the AIM Air team as we pull together and get everyone through this.
Zipporah, our houselady on Monday and Friday, got a call Friday that her stepmom had passed away. Please remember her as she has gone home to handle the arrangements and burial and for safe travels back to Nairobi.
I have my interview tomorrow with our social worker.
Praise~
God is still on the throne and in control even though we don't understand why things happen.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Tragedy in our midst.
Yesterday at approximately 2:30pm Nairobi time, a Cessna 206 owned by AIM AIR crashed into some apartment buildings a short distance from our house in one direction, Kibera in the another direction, and Wilson airport in the other. The pilot Frank Toews was killed on impact. Ryan Williams, one of my closest friends here, was in the copilot seat and was severely injured. He is currently at Nairobi Hospital, undergoing surgeries for his broken hip, broken pelvis, broken patella, numerous very severe burns, and a number of deep lacerations. There were two passengers who escaped with fairly minor injuries and are receiving care also at NH.
The cause of the accident is still unknown. I don't want to make any speculations, but there are a number of news articles that you can find simply by searching the internet for "airplane crash nairobi." Below is one of the videos you can also find on the internet.
Please keep the families of those involved in your prayers. This is a very trying time for the AIM AIR family and much uncertainty lies ahead.
Pray for the leadership of AIM and AIM AIR while decisions are made about the future of our organization.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..."
Psalm 46:1-2a
Wait for the LORD; be stong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD."
Psalm 27:14
The cause of the accident is still unknown. I don't want to make any speculations, but there are a number of news articles that you can find simply by searching the internet for "airplane crash nairobi." Below is one of the videos you can also find on the internet.
Please keep the families of those involved in your prayers. This is a very trying time for the AIM AIR family and much uncertainty lies ahead.
Pray for the leadership of AIM and AIM AIR while decisions are made about the future of our organization.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..."
Psalm 46:1-2a
Wait for the LORD; be stong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD."
Psalm 27:14
Lake Nakuru National Park
Yesterday morning we got up early, packed some snacks, woke up the kids, got Sammi and Micah, and headed off to Lake Nakuru National Park. We were hoping to see lots of animals, but apparently the drought is causing the animals to go in search of water. So, we didn't get to see as much as we would have liked, but we had a good time together.
Ruth was having a hard time riding in her seat so she sat with me for about the last 30 minutes of the drive. Thank goodness there are no laws about children being in carseats here. She found the map and took over the job of copilot.
We had the hardest time getting both of them to look at the camera much less smile. This was the best we got out of them. :)
Lake Nakuru is known for it's flamingos. There were probably millions of them. They were all over the lake. I guess this is one animal we've not seen before, but we were hoping for more cats.
Two cuties! :)
There were flamingos as far as you could see.
This is one of my favorites from the day.
If you click and make this picture bigger, you'll see these funny feather things coming off this birds head. It was really funny looking.
If you look close, you'll see specs of pink...all of that is flamingos.
Lake Nakuru.
This was the best we could do for a family picture.
We saw rhinos way off in the distance. They were mingled in with a herd of cape buffalo. The lighter color to the left of the picture is a big rhino and there is a baby beside it.
This is really zoomed in so it's kind of blurry, but you can still make it out.
John fell asleep on Nathan and poor fellow couldn't get very comfortable. Daddy doens't have much cushion. :)
Ruthie finally fell asleep around 12. It was a fight.
These are pictures of Nakuru as we were leaving town. It's a very busy city.
A pack of cyclists we passed on the way home.
She finally fell asleep on the way home. Sleeping babies are so precious. :)
Ruth was having a hard time riding in her seat so she sat with me for about the last 30 minutes of the drive. Thank goodness there are no laws about children being in carseats here. She found the map and took over the job of copilot.
We had the hardest time getting both of them to look at the camera much less smile. This was the best we got out of them. :)
Lake Nakuru is known for it's flamingos. There were probably millions of them. They were all over the lake. I guess this is one animal we've not seen before, but we were hoping for more cats.
Two cuties! :)
There were flamingos as far as you could see.
This is one of my favorites from the day.
If you click and make this picture bigger, you'll see these funny feather things coming off this birds head. It was really funny looking.
If you look close, you'll see specs of pink...all of that is flamingos.
Lake Nakuru.
This was the best we could do for a family picture.
We saw rhinos way off in the distance. They were mingled in with a herd of cape buffalo. The lighter color to the left of the picture is a big rhino and there is a baby beside it.
This is really zoomed in so it's kind of blurry, but you can still make it out.
John fell asleep on Nathan and poor fellow couldn't get very comfortable. Daddy doens't have much cushion. :)
Ruthie finally fell asleep around 12. It was a fight. 
These are pictures of Nakuru as we were leaving town. It's a very busy city.
A pack of cyclists we passed on the way home.
She finally fell asleep on the way home. Sleeping babies are so precious. :)
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