Merry Christmas!!

Just wanted to send you a “Christmas Card” via our blog wishing a Merry Christmas! 

 It may be 100 degrees outside, but our Charlie Brown Christmas tree helped get us in the spirit of the season! 

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 

Luke 2:10-12

Other News: A trip to the States and First Flights

 One of our planes has a propeller that needs an overhaul (required after 2400 hours).  The propeller is one of the few parts on a plane that regular aircraft mechanics can’t work on without special certifications.  Because this plane is registered in the U.S., the propeller needs to go to a shop certified to work on propellers in the United States.  After doing some checking around, we learned it is actually cheaper for someone to carry the propeller as luggage on an airline flight than to ship it to the US and have it shipped back after the work is completed.  Also, Dave will have an opportunity to observe the propeller assembly which is great experience for when we bring it back and it needs to be reassembled and put back on the plane.  Given the timing of the work to be done, we decided to schedule a holiday visit to our families in Texas as well… what a blessing!

Also, Dave has started his flight checkout process and has started flying.  We thought we would include a few pictures of some of his first few flights here as well! 

Dave was dropping off one of our flying doctors so she could treat patients in a remote area for the week.  In addition, a patient was being flown back to his village after a stay in the hospital in Nampula (he was flown to Nampula from his village on a previous flight).  

Dave next to the patient that was brought back to his village from Nampula in the MAF plane

Talking to some of the kids who came to greet the plane