Mission Flight

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A few Saturday’s ago we all gathered in front of the new hanger by 7:45 a.m..  The plane was out and ready for flight.  Quite a few church members were “coming along” with Gary and Darron on this mission flight.  This was the first “mission” flight since the weekend before Bob’s fatal crash.   Why did this “feel” different?  The plane has been flying for over a month now.  Hartley, our Indonesian pilot, has been faithfully flying about 2 flights a day.  We all still “listen” differently to the plane landing and taking off.  We have all been changed, forever.

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This flight, felt different because this wasn’t a flight for money.  Not for keeping aviation operating in the black verses the red.  Not for moving goods.  No.  This flight was for mission work.  To encourage people in a remote place.  To bring them hope and light.  To let them know they have not been forgotten.  This is what Bob would have wanted.  And this was his son, Gary, carrying on this mission flight.  First solo, passenger flight, here in Papua. 

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Eric (Gary’s older brother, and one who has with great dedication and sacrifice trained both Hartley and now Gary), gives a few words of advice before take off.  The wind.  The airstrip.  Everyone is loaded.  The engine engages.  The children relish in the wind made from the plane.  The air is full of something.  Is it fear?  Is it loss?  Is it hope?  Is it joy?  Is it pain?  Is it love?  Is it hate?  Is it everything?  The plane taxies to the end of the runway.  Wait a few minutes.  Then they are off….. 

 

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By 4:00 we know that they are soon to land and we all re gather to welcome in the mission plane.  Something, a duck, is in the runway.  Gary misses it.  All the passengers climb out.  Happy to be back, but happy to have gone.  The duck is caught and Eric gives it to Gary, congratulating him on his first passenger solo flight here in Papua.

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It’s Darron birthday.  As the sun rests we open up our home to a spontaneous birthday party.  We rejoice in the day and the safety and the continuation of a beautiful thing.  Mission flight.

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