Nee's News Archives - 2006
December 22, 2006
An Early Christmas Present
When Dave was working at Missionary Flights this week, he sent me an email update with an interesting postscript. It said: "P.S. - Dick bought a plane". Well, Dick Snook, President of Missionary Flights International and his son had found a beautiful little Cessna over in Ocala, and decided it was the plane they were looking for. He picked it up today, and then blessed us by stopping at the Inverness Airport to show us all. Evan even got a quick ride, during which he was told to take the controls, turn left, turn right, and line up with the runway for landing. Dick also surprised Evan with his very first log book - for recording his air time taking flying lessons. You see, many years ago, God got a hold of Dick Snook's heart and gave him a passion for missions. It is not Dick's vision to simply retire some day and enjoy flying around in his plane. He sees the boys and young men hanging around the hangar, looking longingly at the planes, and wants to teach them to fly. He wants to encourage them to take up the call to serve God with missions aviation. As Evan said, "the flight was great, but the best part was the log book, because that means there are more flights to come!"
Preparing for take-off. The spectators. Almost airborne.
Dick with future aviators.
I can see the propeller! My turn! Dick heads home.
November 4, 2006
A Book for Terri
A new project we are working on is a book of images and stories from our time at the Hospice. It is our desire to honor those who were there, to share their stories, to show the truth behind the Hospice protests, and to explore the question, through the use of Scripture, as to whether or not Christians should speak out against the culture of death. We are looking for anyone who was at the Hospice who would be willing to submit a testimony of (1)the reasons why they felt compelled to be there and (2)what they experienced there. Please contact us at photos4Him@aol.com if you are interested in being a part of this project. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be split between the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation (www.terrisfight.org) and Scott Thomas (www.scottsfight.com).
October 31, 2006
Reformation Day Celebration
Game #1 - Pin the Theses on the Wittenburg Door
Game #2 - Throw the Indulgences into the Fire
Game #3 - Bobbing for Apples? Well, it wasn't very spiritual, but it was fun!
Happy Reformation Day!
October 23-25, 2006
Haiti Trip #7
Dave just returned from another 3 day trip to the Cap Haitien area of Haiti. On this trip he traveled to the town of Limbe to document the work of a school, recorded the delivery of a free sewing machine (one of 4,000 being donated by the Viking Sewing Machine Company), and spent time with a well-known pastor in Cap Haitien. His photographs and the information he gathers will be used on the MFI website on various pages, including Up To The Minute and Missionary Spotlight. With each trip that he takes, our prayer is that he will both be blessed and be a blessing to those that he meets.
August 30, 2006
Dave and Evan in Ohio with Missionary Flights International
Dave and Evan headed off early Friday morning from Fort Pierce. Their destination was a missions conference in Ohio, appropriately called "Missions at the Airport". MFI was one of several featured missions aviation groups who flew in to help ignite a passion for missions, and especially for missions aviation.
After stopping in North Carolina to pick up some representatives of Samaritan's Purse, they landed in Coshocton, Ohio to have lunch and a tour of MMS Aviation (Missionary Maintenance Services). Dave and Evan remained there for the afternoon, getting photos and more detailed information on their missions work for an upcoming "Missionary Spotlight" for the MFI website. Evan learned that he could spend two to three years there getting his mechanic's certification, since all MFI pilots are required to be trained as mechanics.
MMS serves missions groups that are impacting the whole world! One of their specialties is their "Rapid Response Teams", which spring in to action when there is a missions plane is need of repairs literally anywhere in the world.
Saturday morning started the conference at the airport in Kidron, Ohio. A favorite part of the day for many visitors was the opportunity to take rides in the airplanes. The Turbine took about 450 people for a trip! There were also rides available in a 1942 Stearman biplane, a helicopter, a Cessna 206, and a Helio Courier, all owned by JAARS.
A fun side note is that the airport is in a part of Ohio that is heavily populated by Amish people. Driving to the airport each morning was challenging, as it was common to get caught behind buggy after buggy, all traveling at about 5 miles per hour. The Amish people enjoyed watching the airplanes, and a few even took rides!
If you're at all interested in airplanes, Kidron was the place to be. Evan had a blast watching planes take off and land all day. Both Dave and Evan took many photos for use by MFI, and Dave also shot some video. Check the MFI website's "Up to the Minute" page for more information!
Each mission was given a display area and a time to speak about their organization. We pray that God will bless the work that was done in Ohio, and that many will answer the call to share the Gospel through one of these outstanding organizations. The MFI staff flew back to Fort Pierce late Sunday night, and Dave and Evan arrived home Monday afternoon, exhausted but happy.
August 23, 2006
It's been a while since I last wrote an update. Dave has been so busy, between his part-time job and traveling for missions work. His latest project for MFI has been to put together an informational DVD for passengers to watch while waiting for their flight in the morning. The video explains the whole process, from arriving at the hangar all the way through boarding a tap-tap in Haiti and heading out to get to work. The video is nearly done, just needs some background music and we're good to go! Dave is really starting to enjoy doing video and using his creativity to put together a finished project. The kids just like to watch the airplanes taking off and landing!
Memorial Day Flights with MFI President Dick Snook
Who's Afraid to Fly?? Not Me!
Those of you who have been receiving our updates from the beginning of our missions adventure may well remember my trepidation about being involved in anything to do with airplanes. Remember the first time Dave and Evan flew off to Haiti? Well, finally, after 17 years of staying firmly on the ground - I flew!
We were blessed over Memorial Day weekend with a visit from Dick and Linda from MFI. Our pastor had invited them to come share the ministry of MFI with the church here on the Gulf Coast. It was wonderful to see them both, and a real blessing to see the response of our new church family to the work that is being done at MFI. Dick spoke at the Sunday evening service, showed our newly revised video, and had a time of questions and answers. I don't know yet what the Lord has in mind, but the church is now affiliated with MFI, and we'll be keeping it all in prayer. There is a couple at the church who are involved in ministry work in the Dominican. Perhaps there will be another group from the church taking a trip soon!
On Monday morning, Dick took 5 loads of church members up in one of the MFI planes. We toured Crystal River from the air, even flying over our church and some of our houses. It was wonderful to see our new town from above. Crystal River is confusing with all the inlets, rivers, and "King's Bay", so it was especially fun for me to see what was where. I was blessed to be seated next to a sweet 3 year old boy and to be able to look down with him on the bay where his dad and grandfather keep their fishing/crabbing boats. What fun! And what a blessing to watch a budding relationship between the church and the mission that is so dear to our hearts.
May the Lord richly bless you and yours!
Pre-Flight Check and Instructions Taking to the Sky!!
Pastor Hoffman family, Mikey, and Evan Candy and the kids - and me!
(IrisAnne not included).
Charlene as chaperone. Seeing-eye co-pilot! Proctors and Brothers fly, too!
May 13, 2006 - Walk for Life
Today we participated in, and photographed, the annual Walk for Life for the Life Choice Care Center (the local crisis pregnancy center). Evan raised $255!
May 8, 2006 - Jacksonville, Florida
Today we traveled to Jacksonville where Bob and Mary Schindler spoke about their work to stop the advancing culture of death in our country. Scott and Pamela were also in attendance to hear them. It was the Schindler's foundation - The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation - that first brought attention to Scott's life and death battle. Bob Schindler shared with us that Scott was the first of many cases that they have worked with over the past year since Terri was killed. It is their desire to help save lives by speaking out about individual cases, to educate the general public about euthanasia, and to assist victims of serious brain injuries and their families. We were privileged to both photograph and video this event for future use for both Scott's website and the Schindler's work. We Christians MUST understand what is happening in our country and begin to speak out. If we, as believers, do not understand and value ALL life, who else will?
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4
... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ephesians 5:11
Meeting for the first time. Bob and Mary. Speaking out against euthanasia.
Evan supervising the video. Scott, Pamela, Bob, and Mary. Some precious time together.
April 1, 2006
"One Beautiful Day"
One bride... One groom...
Three families...
Two rings...
One covenant before God and these witnesses...
As long as we both shall live!!
Mr. and Mrs. Mark DeRosa
March 19, 2006
I also just checked the website for Christmas Bags for Haiti and was thrilled to see it up and running, with new pictures from this last December. Check them out at www.christmasbagsforhaiti.com.
February 4, 2006
Today we traveled to Orlando for the quarterly meeting of the Florida Right to Life. They had invited Pamela Patton, Scott Thomas' mom, to speak about her experiences over the last year and a half since Scott's injury. We met them there to take photos and video of the event. It is so crucial that the word gets out about what is happening in America to those who are unable to speak for themselves. Just this week, a man was dehydrated to death in a Port Charlotte, Florida hospice. His crime? He suffered a stroke while here on vacation, and the doctor recommended that his feeding tube be removed because he "would never again be a complete man." A friend came to visit and fought for his life, only to be rewarded by being barred from seeing him. The nurses had reported finding pudding and juice containers in his room after her visits, and they were worried that she might be feeding him! By the time word got out to pro-lifers, Mr. Stith was hours away from death. He died later that night. Hearing about his plight only strengthened our resolve to fight the culture of death in our country.
Pamela spoke to the group, giving a summary of events since Scott's injury in September 2004. After answering many questions from the group, she sat down to a standing ovation. We are hopeful that, through the Florida Right to Life group, she and Scott will have more allies in their fight for life. One board member spoke up to tell us that, originally, Right to Life was started as a group to battle euthanasia. Roe v. Wade was still a year away when they began. Of course, euthanasia and abortion are just two different pieces of the same death puzzle. We, as Christians, need to understand what is happening, and start to speak up and maybe, together, make a difference.
The first photo is of Scott and caregiver/friend Amy, listening to Pamela speak (middle photo). The last photo is Pamela and Scott posing with Robin Hoffman, the President of Florida Right to Life. Scott gave us one of his characteristic big smiles for the camera.
[ Top ]