Propelled

Missionary Flights Fourth DC-3

2010-08-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

Even before the devastating earthquake in Haiti the desire at Missionary Flights was to acquire another turbine DC-3. The older radial engine DC-3's are tired and require much more maintenance. One of these planes became available toward the end of last year and before we were able to look at it the earthquake hit. This tragedy made it clear that it was time to move forward and purchase this plane. After being purchased earlier this year, the plane was flown to Ohio where it is going through extensive upgrades, modification and repairs. A couple weeks ago I was asked to travel to Ohio to assist in the inspection on the tail section. Our family all traveled there last week and we were able to visit many friends around my busy work schedule. The photos show the plane in its current condition. The wings have been removed to fit it in the hangar. We removed the rudder, elevator and vertical stabilizer this week to better inspect. I am hoping to return for a couple weeks to assist in getting this plane into service sooner. Once all the work is complete the plane will be sent for paint late this year or early next year.

NASCAR to promote MFI

2010-01-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

BE SURE TO TUNE IN! Sunday night on the SPEED channel NASCAR is doing a one hour special on the Relief Work in HAITI airing at 8pm ET. They had film crews at MFI yesterday and they will be highlighting the work that Hendrick Motorsports has been partnering with MFI to accomplish. They are also asking for financial help to go through MFI. God is using all of this for His glory. There are countless hearts that are being forever changed as they have become a part of what we do in serving the hurting country of Haiti.

Relief for Haiti Continues

2010-01-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

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This is a quick update to let you see a little of what has been going on at MFI. They are better about daily posts on their website than I am. Please check there for more information or to find out ways you can help. I do know that we are receiving more goods than funds to get it there. Please pass this on to people you know who are interested in helping financially. Thank you so much! http://missionaryflights.org

Helping Haiti on a Large...and Small Scale

2010-01-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

There is so much going on it is hard to know where to begin. It has only been 4 days since the devastating earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti. But in those 4 days MFI has gone into overdrive. As I (Terah) write this, Brian is sleeping in between shifts. We are humbled to be a part of what is going on here. I am having a hard time finding the words to describe the feelings I get when I go to the hangar and see what is happening there. I am choked up every time. The first day Samaritan's Purse had a truck here filled with water purification systems to be sent. Then they decided they wanted to help get more stuff there even faster so they chartered a DC-6 plane for cargo and our plane was able to take a load of rescue workers and cargo. We have had donations flooding into our hangar. We now have the Hendricks (NASCAR) plane, with 7 crew members to use to transport people so our planes can take the cargo. We are amazed at the generosity we are seeing all around us.

The donation sorting area set up inside our hangar.

People getting ready to leave today.

All three of the planes that left for Haiti today.

On a more personal note, we had been talking about how we as a family could help. The kids and I were able to go in and help sort donations on the first day but it has become so busy and fast paced now it is hard to have the kids there. We decided since we had a direct link to getting actual goods to Haiti that instead of giving money we would take our kids out and shop for Haiti. We filled 2 shopping carts at WalMart and the kids carried all the bags in to MFI.

The kids with their donation to Haiti.

The kids and I helping with donation sorting.

This is the DC-6 being loaded.

One more amazing part to the story is that right now the only planes being let into Port-au-Prince are US Military and MFI. Our reputation goes before us and our God is a mighty God. May He be glorified through this tragedy.

So, from the large organizations pitching in down to the small WalMart shopping trips we are so thankful that we can be a part of what is happening to help the nation of Haiti as they are hurting and devastated.

She Returns

2009-06-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

For 6 months, one of our DC-3's was broken down on the island of Nassau in the Bahamas. In mid January our crew was returning from a cargo flight to Haiti when they experienced engine problems. We praise God they landed safely in Nassau. Because of delays at the overhaul shop and no definite date of when we would receive the engine, we were forced to purchase another overhauled engine. Hurricane season officially began June 1st and we did not want to have the plane exposed on the island as it was. This past Monday we flew with the new engine and all our tools to Nassau in one of our other DC-3's. Four of us worked two full days installing the new engine. We flew home Wednesday and returned to Nassau on Friday to complete a couple repairs before flying her home. The flight went well and since we were in two planes I was able to get some good photos of the plane in flight. We now have all three DC-3's in the hangar again.

God Provides Parts

2009-06-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

On Monday June 8th I traveled to Panama City, Florida with 3 other guys from MFI to pick up some parts that MFI purchased at an auction. The State of Florida had shut down a mosquito spraying operation that used a DC-3, the same plane that we use. We flew over in the Cessna 206 which took about 3 hours. We were told that everything should fit in a 26 foot moving truck but when we arrived we knew it wouldn't be enough. A list of parts was presented from the auctioneer but fortunately for us there ended up being more, much more than was on the list. So much more that we ended up with two 26 foot moving trucks and a trailer. For just over $6000 we received tens of thousands of dollars in parts. God is good. Pictured above are just a few of the parts being off loaded at the hangar.

Sierra's First Date

2009-03-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

Friday night, March 13th Sierra went on her first date...with her dad. Terah dressed her in a beautiful dress and did her hair. We went to dinner at TGI Fridays where I enjoyed a salad because I'm on a diet and Sierra ordered the mac & cheese. She probably won't be ordering that when she goes on her first real date. The restaruant is by the mall so we went shopping after dinner. I took her into Claire's and I got her a butterfly necklace and bracelet. Terah was jealous when she found out. I never take her to the mall. Needless to say the mall is not my favorite place. It has been over a years since I was last there. But I would go just about anywhere just to see the look on her face as she got to hang out with dad by herself. We later went to Target and picked out a present for Evan's birthday. Nerf Basketball.

Two weeks of Visitors.

2009-02-26T15:46:00.001-08:00

The last couple weeks we have had several visitors which is always a treat. First, Norm & Kitty Jones, friends from California visited for a couple days. Taking people to the beach is always a highlight. The top photo is of Norm & Kitty. A few days later we had two friends, Chuck & David from MMS Aviation in Ohio, stay as they were helping with a major inspection at the hangar. Another couple days went by & the Hengst family, also friends from MMS stayed with us a night. Most recently, Josiah Feeney whose family are missionaries in Argentina, visited for 5 days. Josiah has recently received his private pilots license in Argentina and is interested in mission aviation someday. When I saw him in December in California I invited him to come and Check out MFI. Today Josiah traveled to Haiti as a flight attendant on one of our flights. His flight is about to arrive so we'll see how is day went. The lower photo is of Josiah yesterday when we went fishing.

Back to it.

2009-01-28T18:14:00.000-08:00

It has been way to long since our last post. It seems with the Holidays some things get put on the back burner. So it is with our blog. We made it to Ohio for Thanksgiving to visit many friends for a week. Shortly after returning, Dave Gould, a friend from California came to visit. Just before we headed to California for a couple weeks at Christmas, Terah's sisters family came for a visit. We all flew out to California on the same flight. Life is settling down again which we are all thankful for.

Photos (Top: Every moment captured on camera at the Lites Christmas, Evan and Sierra with Grandma, Cousins at the beach in Florida and at our house for an early Christmas, Bottom: Having dinner with friends from MMS Aviation in Ohio.)

My first 5k

2008-11-15T18:31:00.000-08:00

In the last year or so I have developed a new interest...running. This might seem normal to some but not to me, I have always referred to myself as "NOT a runner". I'm still not quite sure that I fit in the runner category but ya gotta start somewhere. After putting it off for quite sometime, I finally gave in and committed to my first 5k race. A friend from church asked me if I would want to run one with her so I took the plunge. It was this morning and I have to say it is one of the hardest things I have done but I think it went quite well considering it was on the beach at high tide. I think I would like to do another one on solid ground...I'm sure that would be better. The picture of me is one that Evan took after I returned home today. The other picture of the kids and I is a 5k we were all in last week that was mostly a walk. I must say it is nice to be able to still start new things in my mid 30's. There is something about completing little goals along the way that makes it so rewarding. I am so thankful for my "Ohio running friend" whose encouragement pushed me to places I did not think I could go. Everyone needs someone like that in their life.

KABOOM!!!!

2008-11-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

Fort Pierce is home of the Navy Seals museum and each year for Veterans day they put on a big event including a Seals demonstration. We went with some friends. It was very hot out and I think we are all sun burnt. It doesn't seem natural to be saying that in November. Anyway, here are some photos and a video. Sierra wasn't to impressed as is quite obvious. The explosions were very loud as were the helicopters The rest of us enjoyed it.

MFI Banquet

2008-11-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

This evening Missionary Flights hosted a banquet in the hangar for about 300 people. It was the first such banquet in this new hangar. We have spent the last week preparing the hangar and airplanes for the event, a task not easily accomplished when five flights were made to Haiti, Dominican Republic and the Cayman Islands. With MFI being located in Fort Pierce for only 2 1/2 years, our focus was to inform people of the work that we do and why we do it. Many people have no idea. We had a Haitian Pastor share about the impact MFI has on his and other ministries in his country. An appeal went out regarding the funding of the engine overhauls on the turbine DC-3 which will need to be done in about a year. For being the first annual MFI banquet in Fort Pierce it was a good night.

Kids being kids

2008-11-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

We decided to do some rearranging in the living room this evening. It included re-routing wires through the attic and walls. After moving the entertainment center, the kids, who always like little cubby holes, found a new one. The plant on the left, which is already in bad shape took a couple direct hits from the door. Don't know if it will resuscitate. Anyway, mission accomplished. Not much damage done and the kids had fun. Oh yes, the parents had fun also.

Another Milestone

2008-10-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Today was a "Red Letter Day" for us. Luke completed the program we used to teach him to read. I thought it would be fun to make this a big deal for him. So I got out the streamers and balloons, chocolate (of course), and some noise makers. We got everything ready and brought Luke in for the big surprise. It was so cute to see the smile on his face. He was really excited about the "reading certificate" I made for him, too. He read part of "Hop on Pop" to all of us. Homeschooling ROCKS! This is what it's all about!

Fall landscaping

2008-10-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

We have never lived in a place where you being landscaping and planting flowers in fall. The weather has begun to cool down enough to make being outside enjoyable. We had a garage sale a few week back and we decided to spend the money on landscaping in front of Sierra's room. The sun hits her room all day long and it can get quite warm. We planted some palms and other shrubs that will hopefully grow up shade her room. Brian was bit only a couple times by fire ants during the whole project. Amazing.

Hangar Life

2008-10-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

Each day working on our fleet of airplanes brings new challenges. You never know what you are going to get yourself into. Being stuck in the belly of the airplane has given me a new respect for Jonah as he was stuck in the belly of a whale for three days. Praise God I wasn't there for that length of time. Added flights to Haiti and the Bahamas flying hurricane relief has added more maintenance. As we work to get the planes out the door, I am amazed at the amount of donations that have poured in since the devastating storms in the Caribbean. Today we received over 1800 new tents which will be flown to Haiti. Clothes, food and medical supplies from all over the nation have been delivered. Please pray for MFI, the missionaries we fly for and those affected by the storms. The affects of these storms are still very real to the people in Haiti and surrounding Caribbean islands.

Back to Work

2008-10-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

Well, after having 8 days off work with pretty severe pain from the kidney stones and surgery, I am back to work. I have been back for several days now. Work has been busy with all the hurricanes and tropical storms that have hit Haiti and other Caribbean Islands. One of our airplanes spend 2 1/2 weeks in the Turks and Caicos Islands which is just north of Haiti. They transported 81,000 lbs of relief supplies. The islands were devastated by hurricane Ike. In one week we made 7 other flights to Haiti with the other three airplanes. Donations from all over have been coming in to the hangar. Clothes, food, money for fuel and medical supplies. Walmart donated several pallets of food and approximately 15 tons of bottled water. Many churches have been getting involved. Medical Assistance Program (MAP) has donated over a half million dollars in medical supplies (www.map.org). Our problem now is keeping up with the maintenance so we can get all these supplies to relief workers and missionaries. Please pray for the safety of the flights and crew and especially those affected by these storms.

The kidney stone experience we don't want to repeat.

2008-09-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

This turned out to be a little more than your "run of the mill" kidney stone experience. By Saturday night Brian spiked a fever, which was still there Sunday night after 24 hours of antibiotics. After talking to the Doctor, it was decided to get him to the hospital. By the time they got him to a room and hooked up to morphine he was in excruciating pain. It took an hour for the morphine to start working. Finally, sleep came. The next day the Doctor did a procedure to remove the kidney stone for him. After seeing it, the Doctor said he would not have passed it on his own anyway. He is now home and recovering. What an ordeal!! This is one of those experiences that you can't help but question God and say, "Why, why does he have to experience all this pain?" This is the kind of question that we may never know the answer to. But we can rest in God for the strength we need to endure. I am reminded of the word picture I heard one time that says our lives are like a beautiful tapestry that God is weaving...the only problem is we can only see the underside...God can see the beautiful tapestry being created from the top. He knows what is best and it is times like this that our faith is being strengthened.

When it rains, it pours...

2008-09-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

...and I'm not talking about "Hanna". I'm referring to trials. This time it was Brian's turn. He woke up in the middle of the night with such severe abdominal pain we made a trip to the ER. After a very intense few hours it turns out he has a kidney stone. Yes, he has now joined the club of men that know what it feels like to have a baby. Some friends from MFI came and picked up the kids from the hospital. Then I was able to stay with Brian until we knew what was going on. It was very scary for a while but God had his hand on our family and we were well taken care of. We are all together at home now getting some much needed rest. The stone should pass in the next couple of days....just in time to prepare for Hurricane Ike...

Hanging out with the family on Labor Day

2008-09-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

We started out the day with a scavenger hunt around the house for the kids which ended in finding a prize of a bowl of ice cream with M&M of top. Mmmm!! Brian put up a swing in the tree in the front yard and the kids are loving it. No one has hit the tree yet. We are waiting to see what tropical storm Hanna does as it has been lingering over the Bahamas. Forecast call for it to turn into a hurricane. Pray that wherever it goes that it be a mild storm. Enjoy the photos. We added some to the slide show below as well.

Sierra's first verse

2008-08-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

Terah started home school with the kids last week and all is going well. Part of their lesson is to learn Bible verses. Sierra just learned her first memory verse today. We just wanted to put in a little video clip of her because it is so cute. Home school is paying off. You can't do this in public school.

Wing inspection

2008-08-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

October will be three years since I (Brian) was first introduced to Missionary Flights International. I was part of a team from MMS in Ohio that traveled to Florida to assist MFI with a wing pull inspection. Every 2000 hours of flight time it is required that the wings be removed and the mating surfaces and interior be thoroughly inspected. The plane has reached 2000 hours again and today we began the process by only removing one wing. If a hurricane should form and the plane needs to be flown to a safe location, it is much quicker to install one wing instead of two. This in my first attempt at video. Hope it works.

Tropical Storm Fay

2008-08-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a good tropical storm to motivate you to prepare for the next storm which could be a hurricane. We have had 7 inches of rain since 8:00 a.m this morning and more is on the way. Wish we would have bought that canoe a while back. We could have used it in the front yard today. Several tornado warnings have been issued, one of which was within a mile of our house. Luke keeps looking out the window looking for "tormados" as he calls them. We closed the hangar today and canceled the flight that was scheduled for Haiti. Praise God that despite all the wind we still have power.