This video provides a great introduction to Africa Inland Mission's heart for Africa.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
From Candidates to Appointees
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:
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.
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
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.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A Posse ad Esse
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.
- 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.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Regarding Financial Contributions to Candidate Week
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"
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Christmas in Pictures
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 :-)
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 :-)
Friday, January 1, 2010
Candidating!
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A New School Year, Jordanian Refugees and The Windy City
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.
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
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.
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.
____________________________
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____________________________
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.
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