The Holtzes

Reflections on Technical Evaluation

2011-01-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

By John

In a profession in which a few screws failing to be tightened could result in a million dollar airplane crumpled at the end of a runway, or even worse, the death of passengers, it is only expected that they would want to evaluate my technical skills. The harsh conditions faced in Africa demand a high level of care for the aircraft, to make sure they are mechanically sound and ready to perform at a moments notice.

As I approached these last weeks, before my evaluation, I found myself imagining two different scenarios; one where I passed and one where I did not. They both filled me with a certain amount of dread. I saw my evaluators as passing judgment on who I was as a human being, not simply on my aptitude for working in missionary aviation. If I failed that would mean I was worthless. If I passed then I would be bound to live up to this label of being ‘good enough.’ In both cases I was believing the same lie: that my identity is rooted in my accomplishments.

I was reminded that my identity is not in my performance; it is not in what I do or fail to do. My identity is held secure in Christ. He died for me and raised me up as a co-heir. I am a child of the most-high God and nothing, including my ability or inability to fix airplanes, can rob that from me. I don’t have to live in fear of not living up to a standard; therefore, I am free to do my job well, in thankfulness to God for his deep love for me.

All this is to say that at the end of my evaluation I passed!

I learned a lot during the evaluation, but I am glad to be on the other side of it and moving toward Africa. I am more thankful still for my God who is the sole justifier of my existence, and he defines my worth, not anything else.

Thank you to every one who was praying for us; it was on the whole a very peaceful time and one in which we felt quite blessed.

Our Biennial Gingerbread House Contest

2011-01-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

So, this year was the second time that we had a gingerbread decorating contest with John's family. The participants included Team Amazing: John and Clarissa. And Team Almost-As-Amazing: John's Mom, Shari and sister Rachel.

The following pictures chronicle the epic event.

The day before we had to assemble the houses. We used a kit, which made it much easier, but it also forced us to constrain our creativity within the parameters of the structure designated by the kit.

As you can see, our house (the one on the right), had some graham cracker additions that we deemed necessary to our finished product.

John'a mom giving us the look of, "we know our house will turn out better, but don't worry we'll be nice about it."

Our goal was a medieval castle, complete with mote, drawbridge, and stained glass windows...however, we decided that our food-dye stained banana chips (which were supposed to look like stone walls) really just ended up looking lame. In the end we deemed that their marshmallow cottage was the winner.

We thought the most creative element of the whole process was the "log fire" built out of old french fries. Way to go Rachel!

2010 Year in Review

2011-01-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

We realize that January is half over; however, we didn't want to pass up the opportunity to share some of the crowning moments of the past year.

Here it is, top ten style:

10. Going on a dinner-cruise on Lake Cour d' Alene with all the Moody Staff and 2010 graduates.

9. Celebrating the last year of Clarissa's 20's (i.e. her 29th birthday) with a 1920's style Murder Mystery party. No one solved the murder and we concluded that none of us would make successful detectives in real life.

8. Running Bloomsday in May in a smashing 1 hour and 30 minutes. For you non-Spokanites out there, Bloomsday is the largest road race in the world with something like 50,000 participants. Though only a 12k race, there are always some Kenyans who fly in for the race and win it. Our hope is that after a few years in Kenya, we can come back and win Bloomsday.

7. Flying into Sudan, especially now that the next time we go, Southern Sudan will most likely be a whole new country. If you haven't been following that, you can learn more here.

6. Visiting friends in Pennsylvania and seeing a. real Amish (yes, they actually drive around in a horse and buggy on the road with cars) and b. the liberty bell.

5. Moving into a new apartment. Check out this post for photos of our new little living space.

4. Celebrating 2 years of being married by staying in a tented cabin overlooking a watering hole on the African savanna (and going on a short little safari).

3. For Claire: having reunion with some of her favorite people: Sarah G, Allegra Hochstetler, Kacy (C0x) Dudrey, and Katie Lyon. For John: The addition of several men to our missional community.

2. Making new friends in Kenya. We are so excited and we can't wait to go back!

1. The grace of God that transcends our comprehension and has sustained us throughout this year, regardless of our awareness and despite our accomplishments.

What is T.E.?

2010-12-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

T what?

T.E. It stands for Technical Evaluation.

It is 10 days of testing a pilot or mechanic's skills to determine if they are technically competent as well as if they will be a good fit with the organization. Essentially, it is a extended and thorough job interview.

Thus we are both flying to to North Carolina January 4-17. From 9-5 (more or less) John will be asked to troubleshoot engine problems, perform routine maintenance and probably work on airplanes he has no previous experience with, and hopefully by the end of his evaluation they will tell him he has passed. At first we weren't sure whether or not I would join him there, but as we talked to other couples who went to T.E., who strongly encouraged wives to come, we made the decision that I would go too. The facility there has a pretty established community, so I am sure I won't get too lonely during the day while John is busy.

Just to clarify, we are currently accepted with Africa Inland Mission(AIM); however, this evaluation is specifically for the aviation branch, AIM AIR. We are excited about this next step, knowing it brings us to the point of just needing the rest of our funding before we begin orientation in the fall and then off to Kenya!

Please pray for safety in travel and that John would be able to accurately represent his skills and not get too stressed out over the whole thing, but would trust that God is sovereign over the entire evaluation.

We've moved!

2010-11-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it was only 7 blocks. We are still in the same neighborhood of the lower South Hill, but we really wanted a little bit bigger living space because we have people over so often. We started looking for a new abode about a month ago when we found the humble little apartment that we moved into just before Thanksgiving.

We kept thinking we were crazy to go through all the hassle of moving since we are planning to move again in 10 months. However, now that we are settled in, we are really excited to be here.

Here is our living room right when you walk in the front door.

Here is the other side of our living room, facing the front door

Looking into the dining room from the living room.

Dining Room

In the dining room, looking into the kitchen through a wonderful little window.

The Kitchen (Claire's favorite room in the house)

Our tiny bedroom (yes the bed takes up the whole room) And just because I think John is amazing, I have to note that he made the frame that is situated around the bed (it was his wedding gift to me!)

Another wonderful thing about living in older homes is getting a large clawfoot bathtub.

Though we only plan to be here until September of next year (when we are scheduled to leave Spokane and head to orientation), we are thankful that we will get to spend our last months in this quaint little place, so ideal for hosting dinner parties, and generally inviting people into our home.

Pray with us that this place will be full of God's love and that all who come into it will feel overwhelming welcomed and at home!

Cliche Metaphores + Dying Leaves = Deep Thoughts

2010-10-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

Using Autumn as a metaphor for change in life seems so cliche. However, if you live somewhere, like we do, where the changing colors deciduous leaves is so dramatic, it's hard not to get sucked into some deep contemplation on account of having the erie sense you are living inside a Thomas Cole painting. Current contemplative reflections have included the evolving awareness of how much our lives will change when we move to Kenya and (on a much lighter and strictly weather-related note) a dread of the coming winter (which is predicted to parallel the winter of 08-09 with its 6+ feet of snow; oh joy).

Here are some pics of the changing leaves in our neighborhood.

Moving to Kenya our lives will change. A lot.
As more time passes since our trip to East Africa this past summer, we are beginning to see more clearly how our lives will change when we move there. Already we are being changed. Being confronted with the poverty, the need for aviation, the beautiful people, and something else that can't quite be described only experienced, has ushered us into a season in which our perspectives are changing, our values are shifting and our hearts are undergoing some major renovations.

What is really important? How much money should we be spending on rent? How much space do we really need to live comfortably? How important is comfort anyway? Do we really need all our stuff? What does it mean to be thankful for what we have, but not find our comfort and identity in it? How should we really be spending our time? Perhaps these questions are to be expected of anyone planning to move to Africa, but we find ourselves thinking about them here and now, both in regards to our future, but also our present. These questions (and a couple dozen more) seem to creep into every conversation and decision. We look to scripture for fixed answers to these questions and see that we are confronted with the challenge (and freedom) to "walk in the Spirit." Somehow, there are no right answers, yet we embrace the Big Story we know we are a part of and use that to help us answer these questions.

There is a Redeemer, and He is redeeming brokenness. He brings beauty out of ashes and light out of darkness. He cares for the poor, He is zealous for justice, He sacrificed Himself and is calling us to sacrifice ourselves. To sacrifice our time, our perceived need for comfort and predictability and to sacrifice our own narcissistic desires to serve people who will likely never repay us (except for, of course, with their smiles and joy, which is worth more than anything money can buy).

Just give me an electric blanket and down booties and I may survive
On a much (and I do mean very much) lighter (and some might add trivial) note, Fall has been a daily reminder that Winter is coming. Already, I have begun to wear long underwear almost every day, and already I am drinking 4-6 cups of hot tea every day just so I can hold the warm mug in my hands and keep them warm. I am fairly certain that my tolerance for cold has greatly decreased over the past 5 years, and I am thinking this must be God's way of preparing me to relocate to a tropical climate. However, I still have to make it through the next 6 months of frigid Spokane tundra.

Perhaps it sounds like I am complaining (and maybe I am), but there is one thing that the decreasing temperatures is doing (maybe it the whole colored leaves, living in a painting, provoking deep thoughts thing) and that is that I am continually confronted with how easily my joy is dependent on being comfortable. If I am comfortable, I am happy. If I am uncomfortable, suddenly the wicked witch of the West (or at least a distant cousin) shows up. I am unmotivated to get out of bed (the floor is cold), accomplish anything (which would require throwing off my blanket and getting off the couch), or even invite people over (mostly because I would have to do the first two things. In a word, I become lazy and selfish. Ick. And all this just because we can't afford to heat our apartment to a charming 85 degrees. So, I am learning (or at least praying that I am) to not let my joy or my contentment be dependent upon what the thermostat says. Amy Carmichael is my hero in this. If only I could have an ounce of her joy and peace in trying circumstances (And yes, I fully realize that being slightly less warm than I would like can hardly be called a trial.) I am consoled, though, to know that the God who gave her joy and peace in her circumstances is the same God who provides for me to have hot cups of tea, and who can ultimately give me joy and peace in Him, if only I would seek it there rather than in being roasty toasty all the time.

Here are some fun pics from going apple picking.

Children of Kibera

2010-09-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

I recently realized that these pictures were never posted! So, here are some of the sweet faces of the children we met at a school in Kibera.

Poverty and Joy

2010-09-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

By Clarissa

I am occasionally caught with that far off look of longing when I see someone with the latest apple gadget (read here iPad or iPhone 4). Though I know it cognitively, I must continually repeat to myself that getting said item will not bring me lasting happiness and technological paradise on earth.

When we were in Kenya this summer, I had the opportunity to meet someone who John and spent much time with on his previous trip to Kenya.

Joyce is full of life, but most of us would not say that her life is full. At least not by the standard that we often use. She has never been to the beach. She eats almost the same thing every day. There is no running water in her home. She doesn't go to concerts, or shop for new clothes, or google things whenever she has a question. And she definitely does not have an iPhone.

And yet her smile is constantly be spilling out. Joy seems to eek out of her. Even when talking about her concerns for where money will come from to send her kids to school, there is a radiance about her that can only be described as the aroma of Christ.

She invited us to spend a day with her at her home in Kibera and we felt like royalty as she proudly welcomed us into her humble dwelling.

She asked us about our families, what hardships we had endured in life and listened compassionately as we shared some of our own struggles. Struggles, that while very real to us, seemed somehow a lot less important as we sat in the middle of the largest slum in Africa.

Joyce and her family are a constant reminder to me. A reminder that true joy is found in knowing that God's goodness does not hinge on my circumstances. And certainly a reminder that having the newest and coolest apple thing will not bring all the happiness that the commercials promise.

Joyce's Kitchen

Joyce's oldest and youngest.

Some of the wonderful meal prepared for us!

She showed us her neighbor's Sakuma Wiki Garden. It seems miraculous that anything green can grow in Kibera. The kale-like greens are grown in sacks so that in the event of an emergency they can take them with them.

These three beautiful girls were sitting on a pile of garbage just outside Joyce's home.

Into Southern Sudan, Part 1

2010-08-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

Note: We are finally back in the states! However, we still have lots of pictures and stories that we have not had a chance to blog about, so we will slowly be adding new blog posts over the next few weeks to try and catch up with all the stuff we still have to share.

We find ourselves in bed, under a mosquito net, thanking Jesus for the rain the previous day that had broken the muggy heat of Lokichoggio. Outside of our window we can hear the village just on the other side of the fence clapping and signing. I can only imagine the tall guant Turkana people bouncing in their traditional turkana hop dance. Ornate bead work rattling around their necks & bright blankets gleaming in the firelight.

I can hear a goat bleating in between the sharp claps and I wonder if he is dinner. What are they celebrating? Some unique tribal holiday, or perhaps receiving of food relief?

Flying up to Lokichoggio takes only 2 1/2 hours. It is flight that replaces two solid days of driving. On the way we passed a river that caught the sun so that it looked like a liquid gold flowing between lush green forests I thought as we crossed it that this must be some of the most beautiful country in the world. Soon after that river the deep green faded to rusty brown. Instead of sparkling rivers we saw dry beds, vacant of any moisture. In the rainy seasons these smears turn to rivers but now they are mocking reminders of thirst. I was awed by the contrast and wondered how anyone could live in such a desolate place.

We stayed in Lokichoggio for two nights with a missionary family, of which the husband is a pilot. On the third day we joined him on a flight into Sudan.

The Turkana people who live in the Northern dessert-land of Kenya are like the environment. Harsh and thorny. They are not precisely hostile, but they are not like other Kenyans who are smiling at you before they even know you. They have a nomadic history and settled in the Lokichoggio area because it was possible to dig down into the dried river where, a few feet beneath the dusty surface, there is water.

There were tons of bushes and trees with huge thorns. Needless to say, the environment did not have a very friendly feel to it.

Because we were just passing through and did not have the opportunity to build relationships with any of the Turkana people, we didn't want to take their picture blatantly and offend them. However, this website has great photos of the Turkana people.

A desert rose, one of the few splashes of color we saw.

An aerial view of the dried river bed in Lokichoggio.

This house where we stayed was built by a Austrian man in the 70's. It is made entirely out of containers.

Why Sudan?

Sudan has been in the news a lot recently. Perhaps too much as it is easy to tune it out. Twenty years of bloody civil war has earned the country a spot on the genocide list. At least 2.5 million people have been displaced in the Darfur region as a result of the conflict, and it is estimated that as many as 400,000 people have been slaughtered. Being the largest country in Africa and having 597 different tribes, the needs in Sudan are vast and deep. One AIM Air pilot estimated that as much as 75% of the flying that AIM does is into Sudan. Because of the instability of Sudan, historically many humanitarian and mission organizations have had to be based outside of the country. Kenya, being a stable country and sharing a bit of border with Sudan is an ideal place to have a base for flying in and out. Lokichoggio, located in the northeastern corner of Kenya, is only 20 miles from the border. It is hot, dry, and remote.

Lokichoggio is still strategic, it is still a vital part of the ministry of AIM Air to Sudan, enough that two pilots and their families are based there.

Because of Lokichoggio's ideal location, at the height of the genocide and conflict in Sudan, this place was the largest UN base in the world. They built a road from the airport into town, a road which is now so dilapidated and and full of massive potholes, that everyone actually drives on the side of the road instead.

Into Southern Sudan, Part 2

2010-08-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

Note: This is part two of a segment that seemed to long to have all as a single post. If you have not read part one, you can read it here.

Leaving the Lokichoggio airport and heading into Sudan in the Cessna Caravan, we flew over two hours of jungle, briefly inerupted by rusty earthen ribbons winding their muddy way through the dense foliage. Our first stop was to be be in the remote village of Akot (home of the Dinka people) at a hospital where we would be dropping off 4 months worth of medical supplies. We landed on a dirt strip and taxied up onto a small concrete platform. The hospital is small, there is only one doctor, and a few nurses that rotate in and out. They have facilities to manage many more patients than they have but not the staffing. They are surrounded by lush green jungle and isolated by poor roads but still people come from miles away for treatment because they are the only hospital in the area. For more information and pictures of the Akot Medical Mission, check out their website.

The back of our plane, full of supplies for the hospital.

We flew over the Nile River!

John actually got to spend quite a bit of time flying the plane.

An aerial view of the mission hospital in Akot.

Getting ready to land on the dirt airstrip.

Unloading Supplies

Some of the kids from the village came out to see the airplane and help unload supplies.

During a short tour of the hospital, we learned that while there is technically a road that they can take to get to a larger city, there is a very high chance of being carjacked, and that the roads are absolutely impassable during the rainy seasons (of which there are two, each lasting multiple months). Getting to see first hand how much this ministry is dependent on aviation has given us an eagerness to continue pressing on to the goal of serving long term in Africa.

As we were flying out, we actually saw some of this impassable road. We also saw some of the huts that the Dinka people live in.

After dropping off the supplies at the hospital, we stopped at Lopit, a Sudanese village nestled into the crook of a small mountain. We dropped off Victor, a Sudanese pastor who had been trying to get across the border back into Sudan, to bring building supplies for churches and homes damaged by the war, and had been prevented. Our stop was quick, only a few minuets, so we did not get to see what was happening there, but here is a story of an AIM missionary who is working among the Lopit people.

Perched on the side of a hill, the Lopit people build their houses very close together, much closer than in most other villages around Southern Sudan.

We had planned to land in Nagishot, a village up in the Didinga hills of southern Sudan, but unfortunately the airstrip was covered in clouds, and we were unable to land. This is an area in which there are no roads. Other than aircraft, there is no way of access for missionaries carrying the life-giving Word. Flying over this area, perched high up in the mountains, it was obvious that without the airstrip and the planes that flew into it, there would be no missionaries there. Here is a video that some missionaries put together who are serving with the Didinga people. This is a link to a Blog of a young woman serving the Didinga people with AIM.

Though our trip into Sudan was short, we were able to experience first hand how the ministry of aviation is truly serving dozens of other ministries. Our hearts feel full when we think about the privilege we have of, in a small way, being a part of such a vast array of ministries that God is using to serve Eastern Africa.

The hanger through a 50mm lens

2010-08-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Our Canon f1.8 50mm lens is great for taking close up shots, and since it was the last day at the hanger, Claire came and took a bunch of shots. So, here is a day at the hanger through a 50mm lens.

More Pictures!

2010-08-16T05:08:00.000-07:00

Hopefully our pictures can give you more of a sense of what life is like here!

Dead chicken tied to the top of a bus. What more is there to say.

Along Ngong road. You can get pretty much any furniture made here.

Nairobi traffic...a somewhat artistic representaion.

More traffic.

While there are some nice houses around here, this is what most of the homes look like, especially outside the city a bit.

We managed to make it to the equator. We were told that for a small price we could watch a demonstration of water swirling the opposite directions on either side of the equator, but we didn't want to pay for it, so we declined.

There are chickens and roosters everyone, but this one actually looked healthy. In fact, he was the best looking chicken I have seen since we came here.

This is an Ibis. They are all over Nairobi and they make a horrendus sound. Something like a cross between a seagull and terradactyl.

I barely managed to whip my camera out in time to snap a shot of this sign. This is in a town that has lots of coffee plantations and I can't help but wonder what this hotel would be like.

There are driving schools all over, and many of them come up with odd names for their schools.

A Hindu temple. We were told that they give tours and that the inside is really interesting, but we have not gotten around to going.

A mosque, not far from where we are staying. We often hear the call the prayer multiple times a day.

Getting outa town: Amazing Grace Church and singing with Masai

2010-07-31T05:44:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to take a day trip out of Nairobi, and visit some villages away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Our guide was Pastor Mugambi. Though he is from a different tribe, he told us he felt God calling him to reach out to the Masai and start a church among them.

Pastor Mugambi drove us about an hour outside of Nairobi to Kisarian, a shanty town where he started Amazing Grace Church.

He and his wife have also started a school, though they only have pre-school through grade 2 right now. He told us he is praying for God to provide the funds to provide grade 3 and so on for the students they now serve. A man of faith, his face would light up as he told us one story after another of God’s faithfulness to him. When he first felt called to reach out to the Masai, he was given a bicycle to make the trek to the remote village where the Masai live. He would ride his bike over 25 miles of hilly terrain and poor roads just to reach them and share with them the good news of God’s love for them. He had been trekking out there a few times a week for a year when his bicycle was stolen. He prayed for God to provide another means of transportation, and after 6 months, he was given a car! Now, he travels out there often to meet with a small group of Christians, in addition to his commitment to the church in Kisarian, and the school he oversees.

Pastor Mugambi and his wife.

These are some of the kids that they have taken in.

A few images of their kitchen.

This is his office.

After visiting his church and home in Kisarian, we began the drive out to the Masai village.

Some roadside businesses

(Bycicle repair shop)

(Car Wash)

When we arrived, we were eagerly greeted by the Masai women who mostly make up the church. When we say church, we literally mean the people and not the building as they meet outside under the shade of an acacia tree. During most days, the men are all out with the cattle, so we only met one older man. John was asked to preach, right there on the spot and had to come up with something to share. Thankfully there was a translator, though we are unsure how much was actually communicated through the large cultural differences present between our world and theirs. Standing under that tree the sun blasting down on the ground those differences seemed vast as we looked through our sunglasses at a people who live all day under relentless heat. We also had the opportunity to sing with them, though we could really only clap, and try to pic up on some of the foreign words.

Singing with the Masai from Clarissa Holtz on Vimeo.

After singing with them, they shared with us some of the things they had made to sell, which have become one of their primary means of income, since a major drought, which led to the death of many of their cattle last year.

They also invited us into their home, a traditional mud/manure hut with rudimentary beds and a cooking area, where they served us milk from a gourd. Only a few of us partook, the rest decided it might be better to possibly offend our hosts than to carry home some strange illness. We feared drinking unpasteurized milk that had been sitting in a gourd for who knows how long, having come from potentially sick cows.

The Masai are often portrayed as an edifice of tribal culture, unchanged by the western world. They seem to represent the quintessential African tribe, with their brightly colored blankets, beaded necklaces and simple nomadic life style. However, there is a darker side to this romanticized picture.

It was not until we left the village that we learned some new facts about the Masai. While there are aspects of every culture that are good and beautiful, there are also aspects of every culture that need to be redeemed. One of the horrifying things we learned about the Masai is that 93% of them practice female genital mutilation and will marry their daughters off as young as 7 or 8 years old to whatever man is willing to pay the most cattle and goats. Men will purchase as many wives as they can afford, but then each wife is expected to construct her own mud hut without any help from the man; if she is troublesome to him in any way, he beats her. If she gives birth to a daughter, even as an infant, business deals are made to sell her off to her future husband. Boys are raised to take care of the cattle, and as soon as the boy is old enough to herd the cattle on his own, then the father gives the responsibility over to his son so he can sit in the shade with the other men and drink.

We are thankful that we were able to spend a day with these people, and though the language barriers are cultural differences made a wide gulf between us, we know that we made some friends.

On the hanger floor

2010-07-31T05:09:00.001-07:00

A bustling center for safari, commercial, and private flights as well as a wide variety of humanitarian flights, Wilson Airport is also home to Africa Inland Mission’s hanger. Walking around it is not uncommon to see airplanes with logos for Red Cross or the UN World Food Program. They are constant visual reminders that we are in a place surrounded by much need. Wilson Airport is, in fact, the busiest airport in Africa. Nairobi is a major base for flights into the most remote and difficult to access places of Eastern Africa. Places like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Southern Sudan, places so torn apart by war and instability that something as basic as roads, and healthcare and food are virtually absent. Places which are hard on the people and hard on the airplanes, making well-trained pilots and mechanics essential. Being here makes us thankful to currently be training these much needed people at Moody, as well as eager to move here ourselves to contribute to the work being done.

AIM has a video that was put together as they were evaluating the needs of the hard to reach central region. You can watch it here. Be warned you might feel the need to get up and go!

Move Against the Fear from AIM On-Field Media on Vimeo.

The AIM Air hanger is not only staffed by missionaries but also by national staff, and walking around, it becomes apparent that Kenyan faces far outnumber wazungu (whites). We have the distinct privilege of working with our Christian brothers (and a few sisters as well) who often have as much of a desire to serve the church as we do. In many ways some of them make far more sacrifices than we ever will. The Kenyan aviation maintenance system is difficult to navigate (and full of corrupt bureaucracy), so part of what AIM Air does is work to help the national staff to get their Kenyan mechanics licenses. The Kenyans range in experience, from those who have been working for longer than I have been alive and have much to teach us, to those who have not even completed school.

One day Claire and the other wives came to visit for lunch. Claire got to have the same lunch that John orders every day from a man who comes to the hangar and delivers Kenyan style food.

Claire was ecstatic that there was a cargo crate from Prince Edward Island, she kept squealing, “this box came from the home of Anne of Green Gables!”

The hanger has over ten aircraft in its fleet: Three Cessna Caravans, one DC-3, one King Air, one Cessna 2-10, and five Cessna 206s. Here are a few of them after the hanger was closed up for the day.

The Kenyans take their Chai (tea) breaks very seriously, everyday midmorning and midafternoon. Here is John pouring a cup of afternoon Chai.

Elephants, Giraffes, and Warthogs! Oh My!

2010-07-19T00:14:00.000-07:00

We were recently able to see some of the wildlife of Kenya up close and on one account VERY personal. Thankfully, these encounters were within the confines of fences with wildlife experts and gamekeepers nearby.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Orphanage brings in baby elephants and rhinos who have been abandoned due to mothers being poached or injured. Were were able to visit the orphanage and see some of the baby elephants being fed, though apparently the rhinos don’t do so well with lots of people, so we didn’t get to see them.

When the baby elephants are brought in, one gamekeeper becomes more or less their mother for the next potentially 10 years as they are slowly introduced into the wild. The game keepers even sleep with the elephants!

On the same day, we also stopped by a giraffe center that allows you to feed giraffes and they will even kiss you! (if you put food in your mouth). Needless to say, John was willing to try, while Clarissa was not.

I guess the warthogs are friends with the giraffes because they were wandering around their feet the whole time.

Even Dickens would be at a loss for words…

2010-07-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

by Clarissa

Being the literature fiend that I am, I often see things through the lens of great authors. I am reminded of how Charles Dickens wrote prolifically about the poverty he witnessed in industrialized London. He labored to use his pen to raise awareness of the horrendous conditions endured by children living in the city. And yet, as we visited two slums in Nairobi this past week, I found myself thinking that even he would have been challenged to portray what is there.

This past week James took us to visit a church/school that he serves at in the heart of Kibera. It is true that words cannot really describe Kibera. Poverty, squalor, filth can come close, but there is a depth of suffering and resilience that can only be understood when walking though looking into the faces of the residents. Right in the middle of Kibera is a Christian school, run by a church and also working in partnership with Compassion International. Our group walked through the gate and we were stormed by hundreds of little children crying “wazungu” which means “white people.” Speaking with the headmaster we were told that many of these children have lost parents to AIDs and live on less than 2 dollars a day. Surrounded by such precious little faces, suddenly all the ridiculous concerns that I normally carry around seemed to dissolve.

As I pray about how I will spend my time in serving the people here when we move here in the next few years, I can’t imagine living so close to these little ones, and not taking time to be with them. On Thursday I will be going back with two other wives to read stories to the kids and then leave them with some books. Pray that as we spend time with them that God will communicate to them that they are loved and valued.

This painting was in the church...I love it.

Living in the Heart of Nairobi

2010-07-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

After arriving in Nairobi, it took us a few days to get over jet lag and be oriented to our new surroundings. Our team is staying at Mayfield guest house. A cozy establishment owned by Africa Inland Mission that offers comfortable rooms, common living rooms and three square meals a day.

The entire establishment is run by Kenyans who have been quite helpful in learning Swahili, and they only laugh at our bizarre Americanisms occasionally. James and Samual are two of our favorites and they both have a wonderful sense of humor and are always joking with us.

This is James

Mayfield, like pretty much every other building (aside from the slum) is surrounded by a wall with barbed wire and has big steel gate with a guard 24/7. Crime is a huge problem so everyone tries to make their property look less vulnerable than the next guys’.

This is the little house where the gate guard sits all day and night.

Also included in our orientation was “transportation lessons” which consisted of James teaching us how to ride the Matatus (a.k.a suicide vans). These 15 passenger vans careen around Nairobi taking over every spare inch of pavement, even if that pavement happens to be the lane of oncoming traffic. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to where they stop and how much they charge you, making it a daily adventure.

Goats blocking the road are a common occurrence.

Beyond the gates of Mayfield, Nairobi fits the profile of a big city in a developing country. Plumes of diesel smoke being spewed above a never ending snake of traffic, bicyclists hauling all manner of freight, roadside vendors taking advantage of the traffic to hawk their wares to weary drivers, sprawling slums with open sewage, people burning piles of garbage, and small children running about seemingly unsupervised.

We have started to settle into a rhythm here. Monday through Friday 8-5, eight members so our team take matatus to Wilson Airport where they are serving in the AIM Air hanger doing much needed maintenance to airplanes that are constantly enduring African runways. Clarissa and two other wives, plus 2 young children have the opportunity to connect with other wives of AIM Air pilots and mechanics as well as serve in various ministries around Nairobi.

This friendly little Chameleon was a bit timid, but didn't seem to mind us picking him up.

Next Stop Nairobi!

2010-06-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsi, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York.....Next stop (and final destination) Nairobi!

We have traveled over 3000miles, and have not yet even left the states. We were able to see Mt Rushmore, and Crazy Horse national monuments along with the infamous Wall Drug in South Dakota. We saw a huge lightning storm over southern Minnesota and were able to detour through Niagara Falls on the way into Syracuse, NY where John’s family is living.

Thursday we are getting on an airplane with our team (11 of us + two children)-- half of whom we just met today-- and travel approximately 8 hours by plane to Amsterdam, have a quick 2 hour layover there and then another 8 hours to Nairobi.

However; the biggest distance we will have to cross will be the divide between all our expectations for this trip and actual reality. Regardless of how much experience we may think we have or don’t have, we construct an image of what we want or hope. It may be as simple as what we will have for dinner, or as uncontrollable as how a team that has no previous relationships will gel together in an unfamiliar environment.

We will try and share our experiences of having these expectations dashed or pleasantly fulfilled over the course of our trip.

Here are a few of our attempts to capture sights from our travels to get this far.

Before heading East, we detoured through Seattle to visit some of Clarissa's family. This is Hannah, Clarissa's second cousin.

Start them early.

Ah, Pike Place Market...so many memories (for Clarissa anyway).

After heading East, we camped the first night in Montana, and there was a peacock living at the campground!

Driving through the Black Hills of South Dakota, we snatched a shot of this guy standing next to the road.

A roadtrip doesn't really feel complete without a stop at a National Monument, so we managed to make it to Mount Rushmore.

If you have never been to Wall Drug in South Dakota, it is worth stopping, though without a doubt it is a major tourist trap.

I am pretty sure this was a taxadermied horse...uh...weird.

Because of major storms, we could not camp the second night, but we were able to snatch this picture of the lighting that was lighting up the sky. It is official. Midwest storms are A.MAZ.ING.

Apparently our trip would not be complete without getting stuck in Chicago traffic.

We also managed to make it to Niagara Falls. Impressive, but utterly run over with tourists...I guess it is to be expected.

Midwest = Corn, therefore here is a picture of corn growing in John's grandparents garden in Ohio.

We finally made it to Syracuse to spend time with John's parents and sister. This is from a walk we took through a nature area near their house.

Memories of My Previous Trip to Nairobi

2010-06-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

By John

When I went to Nairobi in 2006, I got to know a woman named Joyce, who lived with her family in the Kibera slum. One day she invited me to visit her. The following is a reflection of my afternoon visiting her. I hope that I will get to see her this summer and that Clarissa, too, will have the opportunity to meet her.

Myself, Jeremy (my roommate at the time) and two of Dawn and Ryan’s boys, Caleb (5) and Levi (3), got dropped off like the spoiled white Americans we are and met up with Joyce’ brother her husband and her two boys. We made our way through a makeshift bus station that was clogged with fifteen passenger vans stuffed with too many sweating bodies, and black diesel smoke. We made our way down a dirt side street lined with little dukas that sold American hats and taped music, that they would blare.

We came out of this dark cramped ally into an open area with dukas on both sides, divided by a railroad track with steel ties, presumably to protect against termites. The shops amid the squalor were bright splashes of color; remarkably clean and well kept clothing hung for sale in a rickety duka that was made of crooked sticks and tarps hung where corrugated steel roof could not be found. We paced the ties down what feels like a kilometer under the African sun to a look out spot where as far as we can see in the distance are the rusted steel roofs of Kibera. Dirty, and stained red brown, like the African earth, the slum stretched out into the horizon.

Just below our lookout, amid a pile of garbage, a teenage girl stared, the whites of her eyes standing out against her dark skin. Mutely, she watched as we snap photos of a novelty, and she lives in that hole.

We turned and walked back the way we came, going the long way around to Joyce’s house so that we might see more of Kibera. We made our way down garbage-paved streets, past little barber shops, dukas selling cokes and phone cards, people staring with large eyes. We passed churches with loud sound systems pumping their Swahili sermons into the dusty lanes. The walls of the shacks alternate between mud slapped around an exposed structure of gnarled sticks, and steel with faded advertisements for cigarettes.

We arrived at a little gate large enough for Caleb to walk through unhindered. We passed between mud houses into a little open area with 4 or 5 doors facing each other, wet laundry strung across the gap.

We entered the house, built on a cement slab, assembled of mud and sticks and topped with a rusty steel roof that leaks in the rain. In front of us and to the left, once my eyes adjusted to the dark interior, hung two light blue sheets hanging from the ceiling and reaching to the floor. To the left was Joyce’s bedroom; ahead was the boys’ room, which was just a mattress and a window in the wall. A couch and two chairs were set up around a coffee table, the couches were really just benches covered in bright green knitted blankets with some cushions underneath. Inside it was cooler, but I could still feel the perspiration running down my back. Joyce met us with a big smile and a strong handshake. She gave us sweet rolls that she had made in our kitchen the day before along with chi. We sat and talked the boys went out to play with a warning from Joyce to stay close by. We talked of Kibera while Joyce and her niece labored in the corner they called a kitchen. Lunch came as beans, Ugali, a stew with mystery meat, Sukuma wikki, and chapattis. First taste of the pasty grits like Ugali, not bad, a bit bland but you could live off it…whether I could thrive on it…probably not.

We speak of school and the cost it takes to send kids to secondary school. Their oldest will be in form one in another year. 10,000 Kenyan shillings(approximately $130) or more for three months--a fortune for Joyce. The going rate for work was maybe $6 a day. The kids are getting tired, and I am sickened at heart enough that I don’t want to be there any more. I feel too rich, too blessed. I don’t want to answer when they ask me if I have a car. I don’t want to answer when they ask me about America.

I have been thinking about the passage in Luke that talks about those who have been given much being required much. I have seen a bit of what that means. People born in poverty don’t ask to suffer, they don’t ask to go hungry. They don’t go looking for difficulty; it all comes to them. He wants me to ask to suffer, to ask to go hungry, to look for difficult places to live. He calls me to ask, to as Christ did, volunteer for the pain. To know comfort, to know ease, and to give it up for His Glory. I am frustrated and tired and just want to tell Him to go away, but as the disciples said, “to whom shall I go, He has the words of Life.”

Out of Africa, or rather into it Part, 2

2010-05-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

If you didn't get a chance to read our first post, you can read it here: Out of Africa, or rather into it, Part 1

Picking up our lives and moving to the other side of the planet, we have hundreds of questions. Questions about culture, people, transportation, food, health, raising children, etc. We are thankful that our trip this summer will enable us to better prepare as best we can for life there. Knowing what to expect can avert some of the frustration, disillusionment, culture shock, culture blunders, etc. that we are bound to experience in some ways regardless of how well we try to prepare ourselves.

So many questions...

Which of my clothes should I give away, and which would be appropriate for living in Africa?
Should we bring any of our keepsakes or should they be packed away and stored with family?
What does the Church in Africa look like? How can we join God in the ways He is already working there?
Should we bring our bikes to get around? Will it be safe to ride our bikes around the city? Should we buy bikes there?
In what ways will Clarissa serve (we already know there are dozens of possibilities)? Should she bring all of her teaching materials?
What tools will John need that he cannot get there? To what extent should we try to purchase some of those tools now?

This summer we will get to see first hand and bring back stories of what God is doing in East Africa. We anticipate that we will be stretched and blessed by our African brothers and sisters. We will have the honor of worshiping God in a different language and learning from the Kenyans what it means to live life in community.

Please pray that through this trip we will catch a vision for what it will look like to live life in Nairobi, to pour ourselves out in relationships to our neighbors, through working in aviation, and through serving "the least of these." God has blessed us to be a blessing, and we want to know, "What does it look like to be a blessing in Africa?" We want to go as learners. Learning from Africans about their own culture, learning from other westerners about how to best fit into society and learning from God what it means to humbly serve those who are different than we are.

What is Missional Living?

2010-04-25T16:16:00.001-07:00

Perhaps some of you have heard us use the word "missional". We know that it may have some meaning to a few of you and to others of you it may be completely foreign (even our computer doesn't recognize it, as it is currently underlined with the infamous dotted red line).

This is how one person explains it:

Missional Living at its core is living as a missionary in whatever context God has placed you. It is adopting the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel. This involves understanding the culture, language, and background of the people you are trying to reach and meeting them where they are with the gospel of Jesus.

Another person stated it like this:

There is no better advice I can give for missional living than this: stay close to Jesus and draw close to people far from Him.

OK, so that sounds not that revolutionary. And, in many ways it is not. However, as we have attempted to actually live this out, we realize that it requires that we rearrange our lives and move beyond our comfort zone.

When we first started thinking about serving overseas someday, we realized that if we could not learn to live as missionaries here and now, and learn how to serve the people in our lives in Spokane, then we surely wouldn't suddenly be able to do so in Africa.

So what does missional living look like?

It means letting other people (even people we don't necessarily like!) interrupt our schedule.

It means letting our identity in Christ be public, not something private and hidden away.

It means learning how to listen to people's stories and walk the journey of life with them.
It means viewing our time, energy and money as not ours, but as resources God has given us to bless and serve others.

It means recognizing that where we live, work, and play is no accident. God is calling us to love the people around us by knowing them, serving them and blessing them.

It means getting to know our friends and neighbors intimately enough that we can see how the gospel would be good news to them. (Where are they trying to find purpose, satisfaction, identity, redemption?

We have been reflecting on this a lot over the past year, and it has been humbling to realize how unnatural this is for us. However, we are confident that whether we are living on the cobblestone streets of the lower South Hill in Spokane or the bustling African Melting Pot of Nairobi, missional living is something that God is calling us to embrace.

Burning Heart

2010-04-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

John recently took a little break from teaching maintenance at Moody to get some more training himself. Here are his reflections.

The Kodiak is an airplane designed by missionary aviators with missions aviation in mind

I have come to believe that a jet engine is a brilliant example of the gospel.

It is possible that I will bore you. You may find that what I have to say is of little interest to you. After all, my topic is that of jet engines. Some of you have already stopped reading. For those that have braved your way through my preamble, I promise that these engines have much to do with the gospel.

A few weeks ago I attended specialized training for the Quest Kodiak, an aircraft recently designed specifically to fulfill the very demanding needs of mission aviation operators. The ideal missionary aircraft must be able to take off and land in short distances; it must be able to carry a lot of fuel, cargo and passengers, and it has to do it cheaply. The Kodiak has been engineered with all this in mind, and since this aircraft is in many ways the future of missionary aviation, it is essential that pilots and mechanics become proficient with this aircraft. Thankfully, Spokane Turbine Center is providing this necessary training!

This Kodiak is currently being used to do relief work in Haiti

We spent a good portion of the training looking at the heart of the aircraft: the engine. We went through it system by system to understand all the pieces that make the engine turn. Lives depend on our comprehension of how the fuel control unit works (among other things), regardless of how interesting it first appears.

John removing the accessory gearbox

Titanium compressor blades spin at 38000 RPM in order to push enough air into the combustion chamber to feed the ignited fuel that has turned into a ring of fire driving a turbine that drives the propeller.

It is that simple.

A controlled inferno that brings life to those in need. It pulls an aircraft through the air carrying the sick and dying. It carries translators and Bibles, men and women who have devoted their lives to the gospel.

Similarly, the gospel is the fire fed by the Spirit that propels us as believers. It drives us desperately toward Christ and we find Him serving the lost, speaking, and being good news to them. And so we are compelled to do the same.

After 3 weeks of class, John and the rest of the "students" are now ready to work on the Kodiak.

Out of Africa, or rather into it, Part 1

2010-03-17T13:13:00.001-07:00

Last summer we spent our days tending to our community garden, going for long walks, drinking homemade smoothies on our front porch and talking to our neighbors. John worked on his motorcycle, and Claire experimented with baking bread.

This summer will be different.

This summer we will be going to Kenya for two months. This summer we will be leading a small team of Aviation students on their internships. This summer will be spent practicing Swahili, eating fresh tropical fruits, praying that our matatus(15 passenger taxis) don't crash, working on airplanes with Kenyans, and visiting villages only accessibly by small aircraft.

We will be serving primarily through aviation with Africa Inland Mission. We are enthusiastic about joining in the ministry at the hanger knowing that we will be part of a vital cog in the machine that moves the gospel work to as yet unreached peoples. We will be working alongside Kenyans in the hangar, as well as living alongside them in the city. We are eager and humbled to see and participate in the work that God is doing in Nairobi and all over east Africa. In many ways this 8 week trip will be a preview trip for what our lives will look like when we move to Kenya long term.

There is a lot that has to happen with us leading this team and it can easily feel overwhelming when we consider the position of responsibility we are in.

It is by faith that we are taking this on. Faith because neither of us has ever lead a missions trip before (and Clarissa has not yet even been to Kenya). Faith because Nairobi is a crazy city often referred to as "Nairobbery". And faith because we have to raise around $7000 extra on top of the monthly support we are currently depending on for our work at Moody.

We need a lot of faith.

However, we are thankful and are often reminding ourselves that our faith is not just wishful thinking, but it is trust in a God who is faithful. And as we were recently reminded by our upstairs neighbor, if God isn't bigger than all these things, then we are in big trouble.

We need faith, and we have hope. Please pray for us:

That God would give us deep trust in Him
As we raise these additional funds.
That we would be brought together as a team on this trip.
That we would be useful and not burdensome to the long-term missionaries we partner with in Nairobi.

If you would like to partner with us for this trip you can send checks to

Proclaim Aviation Ministries
PO Box 356
Worthington, MN 56187
Or give through their website. www.proclaimaviation.org and click on the donate tab.
Please be sure to specify that your gift is for our Kenya trip this summer in the comments section at the bottom, as the money is handled differently than our monthly support.

Africa Inland Mission Video

2010-02-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

This video provides a great introduction to Africa Inland Mission's heart for Africa.

From Candidates to Appointees

2010-02-23T13:02:00.000-08:00

The snow was falling all day. A thick blanket of the stuff covered the ground outside the window and I couldn't help but smile at the irony of the situation. We talk of Africa, of getting (or not getting) malaria, of life in remote villages, of learning new languages, of how God is bringing redemption to peoples who live amongst the red dust and the heat. It is almost surreal to think that as we sit watching the icy crystals fall, on the other side of the planet people wipe the sweat off their brow as they walk under the indelible African sun. A delightful juxtaposition.

Our time at Africa Inland Mission's Candidate Week was amazing. Being surrounded by so many people who have a passion for Africa makes my heart smile and we find ourselves happy to think that many of the friends we made we will possibly see across the pond someday.

Here are a few things that made Candidate Week an enriching time for us:

Seminars on interacting with and living in African culture
Our 3 hour counseling session in which we learned a lot about ourselves
learning about AIM's vision for ministry
Learning how to live healthy lives in Africa
Learning all the nitty gritty details of how AIM finances are structured, what our health care will look like, what education will look like for our kids someday, having a retirement account, taxes and the like
How to have healthy relationships, conflict resolution and how to say goodbye in a healthy way and transition to life in Africa
How to share with others what God is doing in Africa and how we are planning to be a part of it

We have now returned from Africa Inland Mission's US Headquarters in Pearl River, New York.

When we left, we were candidates and now, we return as appointees (being "appointed" is the official term to signify that we have been accepted with the organization)

Our tentative departure date for Nairobi, Kenya is January 2012.

In some ways that date seems very near. It seems near when we think that we are planning to move to Kenya indefinitely. It seems near when we think about the amount of financial support we have to raise. It seems very near when we think about saying goodbye to family and friends and places that we love.

In other ways that date seems very far. It seems far when we think about the people in Nairobi whom will be our neighbors. People whom we don't know yet, but already feel a deep desire to know. It seems far when we consider that we have been looking forward to this for years.

We want to say thank you to those of you who have been praying for us and specifically to those of you who prayed for us as we went to Candidate Week.

Because of the generous gifts that came in almost all of the cost of Candidate Week was covered! There is a remaining balance of only $500. Information about making financial contributions to Candidate week is here.

March 17the Update: Due to some more donations for Candidate Week, we now have a balance of only $300 remaining.

A Posse ad Esse

2010-01-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

A posse ad esse
- From possibility to actuality

This Latin phrase seems fitting in light of the fact that Africa Inland Mission Candidate Week is nearly upon us. It begins on Monday, February 15th. At the end of Candidate Week we will know whether or not we are accepted to be long term missionaries in Africa with the organization. Something that has for so long been a possibility (our dream of living and serving in Africa) may perhaps be on the cusp of become a reality. Considering this though, we don't want to be presumptuous about our acceptance, nor do we want to make conjectures about our future, knowing that it is God who turns the pages and writes the narrative of our story.

With all that said we want to ask you to pray with us and for us as we fly to Pearl River, New York in the next few days. Pray we have hearts that would be humble to learn from those at AIM. Pray that AIM has discernment and wisdom about whether or not we would be a good fit for them and them for us...And in light of recent weather conditions on the East Coast, please pray that we have patience during potential delays and that we would not find ourselves stuck in Chicago (our layover) for days on end.

Regarding Financial Contributions to Candidate Week

2010-01-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

In response to our previous blog, Candidating, a few people have asked how they might go about giving financial gifts to help make this trip possible. Just like any other contribution, financial support can be given through Proclaim Aviation Ministries by clicking on their "donate" page, or mailed via snail mail to:

Proclaim Aviation Ministries

PO Box 356

Worthington, MN 56187

***Also, please make sure to designate that the gift is for "Holtz AIM Candidate Week"

Christmas in Pictures

2010-01-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

We had too many Thanksgiving pictures to post here, but you can check out our Thanksgiving pics here and here. The rest of the pictures posted here are from our trip to the Seattle area to spend Christmas with Clarissa's family.

Ice Skating!

With Clarissa's Sister

Clarissa's niece Josie, learning to skate with help of John and Dad

Clarissa and Josie making Julia Childs' sticky buns for Christmas morning

Christmas would not be complete without a gingerbread Americano at Starbucks

For our 17 month lunaversary we went out on the town in Seattle which included swing dancing and yummy late night Korean food in the University district

Neices: Bailey and Josie

John experienced Dim Sum for the first time, ah Chinese food at its best!

Hiking in the cascades with Starbucks; it would feel wrong if it didn't feel so right.

Clarissa and Mom

Mom's Christmas Village... a long standing tradition

Buddy (mom's dog)

Christmas Eve= Homemade Pasta = Yum

Singing Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve

My favorite Christmas morning pic :-)

Candidating!

2010-01-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

The light of the sun is deceptively warm looking on the city of Spokane. Unlike last year we are not buried under four feet of snow, but our apartment is still quite chilly even when the golden sun rays are streaming in the windows. The dawn of a new year gives us the opportunity to re-calibrate our hearts onto God's purposes. We remember that we have been saved out of the mire of our own sin and selfishness. We are no longer enslaved to the things that we thought would bring significance or success. We are no longer under condemnation of trying to live a good enough life and continually failing. We live in the freedom to do good out of joy rather than obligation. That is such an amazing promise that we are often too busy to remember and reflect on how incredible it really is.

Our next year is already filling up rapidly. We have plans to attend Africa Inland Mission's candidate week in mid February. All prospective long term missionaries are required to attend as part of their application to work with the organization. This means we will spend a week at AIM's headquarters in Pearl River, NY for what might be described as a week long interview, company orientation, and counseling retreat all rolled into one. At the end of the week we will find out if we have been accepted with the mission, so it is a rather intense point in the process.

If we are accepted my(John's) technical evaluation will be scheduled, and if I pass that then we will be accepted into the aviation arm of the mission. And after that (yes, there is more) will be my technical orientation. I know you don't know what those are either but I did not want to overwhelm you in one blog post. We are really excited about this next step, it brings our dream of working and serving in Africa into a more real and possible light. Every one keeps asking how long it will be before we are actually overseas long term, and we are still measuring that distance in years. Candidate week will move us more strategically forward and give us more complete answers on what is required next.

Whew, it is a long process and an expensive one, candidate week alone will cost $750 a person plus air fare. Please continue to pray for us as we raise funds for our current work at Moody and the candidating process with AIM. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thanks for praying.

A quick preview of what is on the horizon for us: We are planning a short (2 month) trip to Kenya this summer that has a two fold purpose. The first is to lead a small team of aviation students from Moody on their internship, which furthers their ability to complete the program. Second, it will be a vision trip for us. We will be looking into housing options, and getting a feeling for how we as a couple (and eventually family) will be able to fit into the work there. More on all this later. Thanks for letting us share with you as we go though this process.

A New School Year, Jordanian Refugees and The Windy City

2009-10-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

The seasons change so quickly in Spokane and we are reminded that time does not stand still. Already a new school year has begun and midterms are just around the corner. Many things have taken place since this last post, so we'll try to touch on each them without being too verbose.

1.) On July 21, we celebrated our One Year Anniversary. A few weeks before we had been able to take a trip to the Olympic Peninsula (see previous post). We are so thankful for the year of marriage that God has given to us. Though there have been challenges in learning to resolve conflict, and how to communicate well, these minor things have been eclipsed by the joy of living daily life together. Being married truly is a journey of looking not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of the other. In dying to my own desires, a unity and joy much more beautiful is born.

On our anniversary, we dressed up in the same attire we wore at our wedding and went to Manito Park for a picnic of deli food from Huckleberries.

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2.) Moody Aviation recently began a new school year, which means new students entered into the hanger, and the graduating class made their leave for wherever God is calling them next. To see the graduating class move on is bittersweet. There is great joy in knowing that they have been trained well and are now equipped to be used around the world, and yet there is also sadness to see them go, especially with the maintenance specialist students, whom John has worked very closely with for the past year. At this point, the school year has been underway for almost three months, new students are flying for the first time and Moody Aviation is in full swing. The Our Ministry page on our website explains more about our involvement at Moody.

2009 Graduating Class

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3.) In August we made some new friends. Naimah and Haidar are refugees from Jordan who were recently placed in Spokane. One day when Clarissa was getting into her car, she was approached by a woman in full hijab, who, with very limited English language skills, communicated that she needed quarters for laundry and wants help learning English. We were delighted by the answer to specific prayer. Recently we had been praying that God would give us insight in who we should be serving. We moved into this neighborhood because of the diversity, poverty and proximity to downtown, with the desire to be servants to those around us (and quickly found that it was not very easy to step out and make friends with people who are different from you). Getting to know Naimah and Haidar has been a blessing. They are very devout Muslims and we have been learning a lot about Islamic practices and cultural norms. In September, Clarissa and a few other girls put on a baby shower for Naimah, and recently Naimah gave birth to their first child, a baby boy they named Muhammad. It has been both a challenge and a great joy to figure out how to serve them.

____________________________

4.) At the end of September, we took a trip to the Chicago area. Our purposes were two-fold. First, we wanted to attend the wedding reception of one of John's best friends who was recently married in Spain. Second, we hoped to connect with some of the people that John knew from living in the area for 10+ years. We planned three African Dessert Nights that people graciously offered to host for us in their homes and sent out postcards to over 50 people inviting them to come and hear about aviation ministry and how we are involved. Though we were discouraged that not many people were able to come, we know that there were many people who wanted to be there and were unable to attend. Now, we are gearing up to host some African Desserts in our apartment here in Spokane. Other highlights of our trip to the Chicago area (this being Claire's first trip there) were getting to walk around downtown Chicago, going up in the Hancock building, eating authentic Chicago Deep Dish at Gino's Pizza, seeing Moody Chicago and visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Anniversary Trip to Olympic National Park

2009-07-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

For our one year anniversary we drove to the other side of Washington to go backpacking in the Olympic National Park. It was a wonderful time to get away, be together and be outdoors. Here are a few things that made the trip memorable:

Getting to spend two nights backcountry in the Hoe Rainforest and two nights camping on the beach.
Having a mouse take up residence in our car while we were back country (he made a little nest and also found some trail mix which he "hid" in little piles all over the car). We named him Herb so Claire wouldn't be so freaked out if he ran across her lap while driving to the coast. Note: We stopped in Forks (yes, land of Twilight) to buy a mouse trap, but he never took the bait. We figured he ran out when we weren't looking.
Forgetting our eating utensils when we were back country, so John whittled spoons out of sticks.
Seeing a coyote up close; he looked at us and completely ignored us. Somehow this little guy must have missed out on the whole fight-or-flight gene.
Getting to see tidepools. This is one of Claire's most vivid memories from her childhood.
Reading a Spurgeon sermon together after dinner every night.
Praying through the goals we set back in January and thanking God for enabling us to meet so many of them.
Going to a marina in La Push and seeing a boat named, "Miss Clarissa"
Watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean from our campsite.
Having a lavender flavored Americano in Sequim (home of Washington's largest lavender festival)

Our Journey Begins

John sets up the stove

View from our beach campsite

Eating with John's whittled spoon

My husband is sooooo good looking.

A boat named Miss Clarissa

Community Gardening

2009-07-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

Is it strange that we live next to other living breathing humans, who in imago dei should be honored, valued and known, and yet many times we barely know their names. We go about our separate lives, isolated by a yard, a fence, or (as in our apartment/house) a wall. Is it not also strange that though we have the ability and the space, we have other people grow all of our food? Sometimes I wonder if a more tribal way of life, of living in community and eating food that is the fruit of our own mutual labor is more of how God intended us to live. Though I by no means will deconstruct the entirety of our post-industrialist society and claim things ought to be different, I can't help but wonder if we have disconnected ourselves too much from one another and the means which were origonally used to obtain our nutritional substinance. Just a thought.

This year marks our first real attempts at cultivating the seemingly barren Spokane soil to produce something we can eat. In May we talked with some of our neighbors who had also expressed interest in having a garden and together we tilled the soil in the empty lot next door (though often it is not quite as empty as the name implies, having various transients taking up overnight residence). We figured that if any of the homeless folks living on the lot decided to ransack our garden for tomatoes and spinach, they probably needed it more than us. Now, 2 months into our horticultural adventure we are starting to see the evidences of all our toil. Especially considering that is only our first garden, we are quite pleased with the results. Getting to spend time with our neighbors, digging in the dirt together has also been worth the effort and thoughts are already begin to take shape of how next year's garden could be bigger and better.

Sean

Claire

Becca and Sarah

Applying for AIM Air

2009-04-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

We recently started the application process to become long-term missionaries with African Inland Mission. AIM has a specific aviation division based in Nairobi, Kenya and they are constantly in need of pilots and mechanics. John actually worked with AIM Air for 6 months in 2006-2007 and had a really positive experience with the organization. The application process for long-term missionaries is long, but we are excited to be taking these first steps of eventually serving in Africa.

10 days, 8 states, 2 countries, 2 national parks, 2 sets of grandparents and lots of driving

2009-04-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

We recently returned from a delightful 10 days of Spring Break. One of the wonderful things about working at schools is that we still get a spring break. Wanting to see some sunshine, spend time outdoors and see grandparents, we set out on our road trip. Our first night we spent with my mother's parents. The next morning we got up early and drove to Southern Utah where we spend the night at Bryce Canyon. However at over 8,000 ft, Bryce was not exactly offering the southwest weather for which we were looking. It was snowing and 15 degrees that night. Needless to say, both John and I have decided that snow camping is not for us!

This is John at our campsite. The wind was so strong we had to hang up the rain fly of another tent to shelter our fire from the wind. Thankfully, the next day was beautiful and the hike down into the canyon was amazing.

After a few hours of driving south we reached Zion National Park. Pictures don't do justice to this majestic place. After driving through the canyon, it is evident why it was named Zion. We loved hiking there and even hiked up the narrow ridge of aptly-named Angel's Descent.

The Mother Omelet

2009-03-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

Not that this omelet has spawned baby omelets, but the name seemed fitting because it reminds of a mother ship....big and round (at least before was folded over). Actually, this particular omelet fed both John and I for breakfast. Here is what is in it: tomatoes, avocado, mushrooms, chicken sundried tomato & provolone sausage, grilled onions, red peppers, and a sprinkling of Tillamok medium chedder cheese. Mmmmm. I am so thankful to God for yummy food, the tastebuds to enjoy it and a delightful husband who likes to share it with me.

Valentines Day and Benjamin Button

2009-02-15T09:53:00.001-08:00

For Valentines Day, John and I went to a before noon $5 movie at the AMC downtown. Prior to our cheap cinema date we had intended to get coffee and French pastries from Madaline's. (For those who are strangers to Madeline's, they have spectacular croissants and they pull great shots.) Unfortunately, it beeing Valentines Day, the place was packed and we had to settle for Starbucks. Coffee ok, pasteries sub par.

At 11:05 we settled into our seats. Little did I know, I would be using my sleeve as a Kleenex for the next 160 minutes. The film has a Forest Gump-esk feel to it, following the life of a unique man, from his birth to his death. After the film, I couldn't quite place what made the film so sad, and yet satisfying all at once. His "condition" of being born old and growing younger as the years pass seem to bring so much pain and saddness into his life. At least that is how it appears on the surface- hopeless. However, upon further reflection, it is clear to the honest viewer that life is no different for any of us. We grow up and live our lives in a world where people die, hearts are broken, and some of the most deirable things are left wanting or fade with progression of time. As I continue to think on it, I am all the more convinced that Benjamin Button's curious case is not what made his life lamentable, but because life just is lamentable. There are so many things that are broken or lacking in our individual lives, in relationships, in our communities and on it goes. I am reminded of C.S. Lewis' perspective on Heaven, when he muses that if we crave something better than what this life offers (unending happiness and true love), and if we have that desire outside of ever expereincing it on this earth, then clearly we must be made to experience it at some point. I am eager for Heaven, but thankful that this journey here makes me all the more aware of how much I want that place of peace.

Miniature Edible Holiday Architecture

2009-02-10T20:47:00.000-08:00

I am aware that it is the middle of February, and as such Christmas is long past, however, I could not resist the temptation to post these photos. Over the holidays we had a bit of a Gingerbread decorating contest with John's mom and sister. We each had a kit that provided us with a basic structure, but the rest of the creating was left to us. It turned out to be way more fun than any of us were expecting. This was definitely a tradition in the making. If you can't tell from the pictures, ours is an African hut (karibu means welcome in Swahili) and John's mom and Rachel's is a log cabin.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2008-12-19T15:39:00.000-08:00

Over the past few days, we have gotten 2 feet of snow! It has been incredible. Spokane came to a complete standstill. Two days ago, it took us almost 2 hours just to get from the freeway to our house (normally a 3 minute drive). They were not letting anyone drive up the hill without chains. So, we pulled under a overpass where it was dry, and started to put on chains. While do this, we met Shad. Shad is homeless and has one leg. He asked to borrow a marker to create a sign on a piece of cardboard. He reads Plato, has lived in China and lost his leg during a climbing accident in Yosemite. A very interesting character. We enjoyed getting to know him, and perhaps will run into him again as he is homeless, and we live within a few blocks of downtown. We were finally able to get chains on, and the police let us drive up the hill while hundreds of other cars sat around us in gridlock. Then, yesterday we woke up to a foot and a half of snow. Of course school has been canceled, but we were shocked to discover that almost every store in the mall was also closed (6 days before Christmas!). The time of being snowed in has been an unexpected blessing. We got to spend extra time with my sister, to get some cleaning done around the house and get an early start on Christmas break. And...it is so beatiful. (Though I'm sure John might have a differnent opinion having spent almost 3 hours digging out our cars!

Fleeting colors

2008-12-05T17:15:00.000-08:00

By this point the trees outside my window are all naked. Their leaves are gone, but it was only a few weeks ago that vibrant colors painted the sidewalks of our neighborhood. What a joyous eye-feast and blessing it is to live in a neighborhood where the streets are lined with ancient oaks and maples. We are also thankful that our friends Dan and Heather Milligan live only 6 blocks away!

Home is where your rump rests

2008-06-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

The words of Pumba ring true, and I was unaware of how much our apartment could not feel like home to me until there was a suitable resting place for my rump (i.e. a couch). Stirrings of discontent had begun weeks ago, and continued until I felt I could no longer enter my living room in peace while the ugly brown monster couch shared my residence. Here you can see what once took over our living room. Don't get me wrong, I am perfectly aware that there are people all over the planet who would rejoice at having this couch, and I did make every effort to maintain a heart of thankfulness for having any couch at all. However, I truly desired to have a couch that guests would not be afaid to sit on. And so, for weeks I scoured craigslist, to no avail. Then, sharing my dilema with friends, they prayed with me for a couch, though I hardly thought that God should give me a nicer couch when I had such a sour attitude about the one I already had. (How glad I am that God does not treat us based on what we deserve!) As you might guess, God did decide to bless us with a great couch. Our classy new (to us) rump-rester goes great in our pre-1900's apartment and is a continual reminder that God loves to give good gifts, even when I have had a heart that is discontent with what I already have! Such lavish grace!

Something New

2008-06-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

I have decided to join the blog scene and, like every other blogger out there, have my own unique twist to my blog. So, this whole thing is going to be a record, (if for no other reason than to remind myself) of answered prayers and unexpected blessings.

I am calling the blog Manna & Lavender. Manna was God's way of providing for the Israelites, when it seemed like they would starve to death. After moving into my new apartment, I was pleasantly surprised to see that God would ordain for there to be a lavender bush right outside our back door. Lavender is one of my favorite flowers and it provokes a smile of gratitude every time I step out onto our back porch.