In the air!

Hi,
It's Jason this time. Wanted to let you all know that I have started my check-out process here in Palawan!

The first phase has been to ride along with Garry, our chief pilot, to learn the routes and see the airstrips. It's been a great learning experience.

The first was a medical flight for a tribal guy that has TB. He came out with his wife and son and our co-workers here in town took him to the hospital where a doctor who is a believer will care for him. A few weeks ago another man died of TB in the village. Pray for the missionaries in that village. They are still in language and culture study and hope to start teaching later this year. We look forward to sharing their progress with you!

The other flights have been to a team working in a different location. They were having a concrete floor poured under one of the houses (it's on stilts) to have a place for teaching small groups of people. We flew in the materials and two of our co-workers and then brought them back out. Flying there presents a bit of a challenge as it is on the west side of the island (we are based on the east) which means crossing the mountains to get there. Because of the low clouds we have several different routes through different passes and had to use them all. Sometimes we go up and over the clouds then can come back down along the coast on the far side, we had to do that too. We also had to spend the night at our shuttle airstrip (used to be our flight base) because it was too stormy to get back home! Glad we have a very secure house and of course Maizy our dog to look after the family.

We're headed up to Manila for a few different reasons, one is to get my temporary pilot license. I have gathered some of the paperwork here, but also need to go to the embassy there for a report on my U.S. record, get a medical certificate and then apply at the air transportation office. If all goes smoothly they will issue me the temporary license so I can fly myself with Garry or solo for 10 hours. After that I will get a commercial ticket for an examiner to come down from Manila to give me a checkride. Then I will get my two year license. Pray that things go smoothly with all of that.

We're also going to attend a missionary safety seminar and gather some parts from our hangar north of Manila.

Thanks for all your prayers!