Elise and Isla

We took a ton of pictures of those cute cousins, Elise and Isla on Thanksgiving. Oh and one or two of us adults!

And a video of the girls for good measure!

The other day Heather and I got a good laugh after we pulled up this next video on the computer. I guess at the time we were used to it, but since it's been a year since Elise did the scoot, we've forgotten just how funny and odd it looks! It now makes sense to me why there was a little crowd gathering around in the airport when she was doing this. God sure gave us a funny, unique little girl! She adds so much laughter and fun to our lives.

Drive to Utah

Yesterday we got in the car with my sister Kelly, her husband Joe and baby Isla and drove to Utah to visit family on Thanksgiving. Here's a few pics from the beautiful drive through northern Arizona/southern Utah....

Isla hangin' out in the front with Kelly and Joe

One funny thing that happened was the directions Kelly and Joe printed from google maps took us right through Zion National Park, with no warning. It would have been a pleasant surprise except for the 25 dollar fee to drive through there! That poor park ranger gets to break that news to people quite often. To avoid the fee we would have had to backtrack an hour and take another route. Thanks for the warning google maps! We definitely enjoyed the view as we drove through Zion though. We are planning to come back on Friday to Zion, so fortunately our fee is good for one week and we would have had to pay then anyways. Here's a few shots from zion. I notice that pictures don't really capture this place.

In Zion we ran into a family of big horn sheep right off the road, where the road enters a tunnel. Above are the kids hanging out on the cliffside right above the tunnel. Can you see them? They blend in pretty good! The parents (below) were right next to the road, paying no mind to the cars driving by, stopping and watching them!

Today is Thanksgiving, and I am very thankful to get to spend time with my Dad and stepmom Penny together with Heather, and my twin sister Kelly and her husband Joe and baby Isla. We get to meet Penny's sons Tim and Brian this Thanksgiving too, and our half-brother Scott is here too. Thankful to see family that we don't get to see very often.

Haircut

Elise got her first (real) haircut today. Guess what they gave her afterwards? She was very excited. She loves succers!

Here's some other (fairly) recent pictures.

It is a challenge to describe a ministry and its impact before having seen it in person. This is a challenge that Heather and I have as we prepare to serve with MAF and share this ministry with people. The best way to find out the specifics of MAF's impact in Indonesia has been both talking to and reading the news letters of MAF families who are already out there. But it feels like trying to soak in a beautiful view by looking through a paper-towell tube sometimes!

Today I read the newsletter of an MAF pilot from Wamena, one of the bases we very well could end up on in Papua, Indonesia. It was fascinating to read his colorful description of Wamena and the flying that he does. A few things that stuck out...

"One missionary told me "It took you 50 seconds to fly over what it takes me a whole day to hike!"

"I personally medevac a critically ill or injured person almost every day I fly."

(picture....caption) "Difficult flight.....taking a patient home so he can die. His mom lays her hand on her son while we pray before departing."

(picture....caption) "Best part....bringing a very sick woman to Wamena so she can go to the hospital."

(picture...caption) "A celebration at a new airstrip called Sinokla. For a time I was the only pilot serving this remote airstrip! A dangerous 5 day hike to Wamena from this village is a 30 minute flight for me!"

If you would like to read these stories for yourself and see the pictures, check out MAF Pilot Isaac Rogers' newsletter here