Thursday, April 30, 2015

Training has begun!

We are excited to report that a lot has happened since our last blog post.Thank you so much for your support so that progress can begin!

Flight training is going well. I started training with Destination EFC flight school, working out of the Jones Riverside Airport (RVS).  I have chosen to use them, because they are very professional, teach things in a way that is easy to understand, and they use a full motion flight simulator. The FAA allows about 10 hours of the required training to be in the full motion simulator. I am finding this training to be more valuable than using the airplane at this point, for two reasons. 1) I can do an exercise, then we can pause the simulator and discuss what went well and what needs to be done differently. Then in a matter of seconds, have everything set up to do it again, instead of flying for 15-20 min to be able to practice the exercise again. 2) It has been so wet and muddy, I hadn't able to get the plane out of the hanger. Whereas the simulator is always ready!

I have had three lessons so far. I am starting with classes three days a week to see how well I do with that intensity, as far as retention of the material. If I am doing really well we may bump it up to four days a week. Please pray that I will learn quickly and be able to retain what I have learned.


Annual Inspection. Thursday last week (5-21) it was sunny and windy enough to barely dry out the taxi way where the plane is based. My dad and I were able to get the plane out and onto the runway (great time to practice soft field technique). I took the plane over to Gundy Airport (O38) where a mechanic will do the annual inspection. We started the inspection and found that one cylinder is really weak and needs to be reworked. The mechanic gave us the name of a guy who works the cylinders over, fairly inexpensively. He has a two day turn around, instead of six months like some other places.

Maranatha called and asked if I would go and serve as a Nurse for the two week, Ultimate Workout, to Panama. We will be going down on July 20 and coming back August 3. 160 kids from ages 15 to 20 will be participating in 4 different project sites in north eastern Panama. Laura is especially excited about this opportunity as she has never been out of the country. This will be an excellent introduction for her, to international travel and mission work. Please keep this project in your prayers. We would also like to ask for your prayers, that we will be able to find reasonably priced plane tickets!

Passports! All three of us have our passports, current, up to date and in our possession! Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for your prayers, we have had our faith built by seeing the Lord leading and providing in the last few weeks.

God bless you all! Thank you for your love and support!
Edwin, Laura and Kathryn




Mission Opportunity!
The Davidson family (Edwin, Laura, and Kathryn) are very excited to announce we are stepping out in faith into the mission field!  With a little help from you, we will complete the necessary pilot aviation training and enter His service.  We would like to tell you a little more about this opportunity in hopes that you will consider partnering with us in this timely endeavor!
It has been Edwin’s goal to be a mission pilot since he was a little boy.  A few months ago, David Gates of Gospel Ministries International (GMI) gave us a call to serve in S. America, on condition that Edwin gets his pilot instrument rating.  Lately, we have tried to make this happen on our own, but the Lord has made it evident that we can’t do it on our own – we need help!  God’s timing is perfect; we have faith that now is the time and pray that you will consider sponsoring us and being a part of this work!
Over the next few months, Edwin will be working toward his pilot instrument rating which requires 40 to 60 hours of instrument experience (with 15 of that being with a certified flight instructor).  Edwin has located several pilots that are happy to ride as safety pilots for free while he practices the skills and builds up his experience. Most instructors advise against trying to accomplish the rating in less than 3 months. They say the information and skills don’t stick with you if you pack it in too tight.  Another cost saving is being able to use Edwin’s dad’s airplane, which is about half the price of renting a plane.  At the end of his training (3-5 months), Edwin will take the FAA exams to get the instrument rating license.  We are estimating that between living expenses, flying, and FAA testing, we will need to raise $7,000.
With the instrument rating, we will be placed somewhere within South America depending upon the immediate need of Gospel Ministries International.  David Gates wants us to work with other missionaries for a while, then move to a station of our own.  By God’s grace, we hope to be in service to Him by January 1st, 2016.  We are asking for earnest prayer that the Lord will be with us each and every step of the way.  We are truly stepping out in faith and following the Lord.  It will be exciting to see which country the Lord will send us.  We plan to start a blog to keep everyone updated.  We will miss all of you, our family and friends in the US, but our time on this earth is short. The Lord is returning soon to take us all home.  We will have all of eternity to spend with you in heaven and the new earth.  We must work hard and fast to invite others to know and love Jesus.
With the help of Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Inc. (a local Tulsa-based humanitarian organization) we are able to accept donations that will be 100% tax deductible and eligible for employer matching.
“There is something for everyone to do.  Every soul that believes the truth is to stand in his lot and place, saying, ‘Here am I; send me.’“ Isa 6:8. Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 49.
“He who becomes a child of God should henceforth look upon himself as a link in the chain let down to save the world, one with Christ and His plan of mercy, going fourth with Him to seek and to save the lost.” The Ministry of Healing, p. 105.
Please pray for us and we would be most grateful for your support.  Instructions on how to make our mission opportunity a reality are attached.  Keep looking up!
Blessings,


 Edwin and Laura







Our partnering organization is Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Inc.  They will receive your gift and send a donor receipt letter to you at the end of this phase of the project (estimated to be before the year's end ).  Please fill out the voucher below and include it with your gift in the enclosed self-addressed envelope.  Thank you for joining with us to hasten the return of our Lord.

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To help us reach our goal, please select a gift amount set by our sponsor:
2 Hours Plane use    $100

10 Hours of instructions       $250

FAA Exams            $500

20 Hour Plane Use $1,000

Or

Other $_________

Monthly Gift $_________


My Employer Can Match (please send a receipt immediately)

Mail to:

Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Inc.
1214 Forest Dr.
Sand Springs, OK  74063

Be sure to include an address to send the receipt to.

* To protect the deductibility of your gift, please do not include any notes other than “gift” or “donation” on your check.