ON WHEEL-SKIS AGAIN

Parallel to necessary repairs on the plane, we installed the wheel-skis again for this winter season, to bear the safety of landing anywhere with a flat snow covered surface like lakes, we do have enough in Manitoba. This comes very handy in case of an emergency, we don't want to happen, but should always be prepared for.

With no brakes on snow, we would need a lot of space to turn the plane around at the end of a snow covered RWY or lake, so we use a 2x4 with a rope and then we can turn the plane around almost "on a dime"

GOD TRULY CARES

to HIS glory, I want to share what happened to our ministry airplane, which came out to be a blessing:

here the minutes from that week:

- TUE, Oct 2nd, after a successful landing in St. Andrews, a 
  wind-gust lifted the plane's tail up high and the propeller 
  stroke the ground
  Daily Bread reading: Be Contend,  I have learned 
  in whatever state I am, to be content,                                                         
  (Phil. 4:11)

- WED, Oct 3rd - Daily Bread: The High Cost of 
  Living Love the LORD your God,... obey His voice,... that you dwell in the 
  Land                                   (Deut. 30:20)

- THU, Oct 4th - Daily Bread: Timing Is Everything - All things work together 
  for good to those ... who are the called according to HIS purpose                                                      
  (Rom. 8:28)

- FRI, Oct 5th - Daily Bread: Least Powerful People, Let him who thinks he 
  stands take heed lest he fall         (1 Cor. 10:12)

- SAT, Oct 6th - Daily Bread: Drop Your Hands - Be still, and know I am God,                      
  (Ps. 46:10)

We only had to wait four days till Saturday to find out what it was for: 

After taking the engine out, we found a almost rubbed trough fuel line, which must have rubbed on the firewall since the last time the engine was out which was 241 hours ago.

This fuel hose most likely would have ruptured in the near future and would have spilled fuel over an hot engine and also ended the fuel supply to the engine - forced landing or crash (I often fly at night, there is no chance of a forced landing with positive outcome)

Now we had the answer for the many "why" questions we had, since the flip occurred. 

We now understood, why we had three flight cancellations in AUG and SEP - it was God's protection

Thanksgiving on Monday was a true Thanksgiving for us.

The cost for the engine rebuilt and prop replacement amounted to $44,000, which were covered by insurance.

We thank you for you faithful support over the years.

With this incident and my health issues , we are taking a time to retreat and ask for your prayer

The plane is repaired (engine rebuilt, new prop), on skis and ready to go.

FLYING MINISTERS TO ISLAND LAKE FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AND TENT MEETINGS

This time the flying task was to bring several people from Interlake Christian Fellowship Church to Island Lake for a week long Vacation Bible School and all of them also helped to raise the tent used for the week long Revival Tent Meetings.
I picked up a Preacher from Big Trout Lake together with his wife and two grand kids who was ministering to the people from Island Lake during the revival and was also in charge of all the electrical connections necessary for the tent. 


The start of the tent meetings fell on Pastor Joe Littles passing a year ago and therefore a Memorial Breakfast was organized and brought together a lot of Joe's family and friends.

Here is one of the VBS teachers report:
"Jesus said: Suffer little Children, and forbid them not to come unto me; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven".
For four years we've been flying to Garden Hill for a time of bible school with them. This verse has been an inspiration to us as we've joyed to engrave the images of THE TRUTH in those young minds. Sometimes its been by presenting THE LIFE through the simple yet profound truth of the colourful stories and parables in the bible. Other times its been showing them THE WAY by the testimony of our own lives; long before (or after) school hours have expired.

From giving piggy back rides to holding their hands and walking them home late at night. From fishing and swimming with them to talking with them about the seriousness of sin. From visiting with some of their parents to praying over some of their needs. 
From fun, laughter and games to having serious one-on-one talks with them about their future. 
From cleaning their wounds to teaching them that the bible can be absolutely trusted in all of life....We have seen bible school not as “Bible School” but as “The Children;” not as the time spent in the sessions, but time spent all day. 
The children are not projects to us but relationships. The times we've come here have not been islands but an ongoing building of trust, understanding and love. Our hearts have not cooled and warmed each time we’ve come and gone but rather grown in passion each time we've come here.

One afternoon on my way to the bible school facility (a 5 min. Walk from living quarters) I was accompanied (as usual) by some of the children. 
This particular walk sticks out to me as a more serious, inquisitive young man joined me. I proceeded to give him a heads up on the bible lesson that we were planning to be teaching that afternoon. We were planning on talking about Adam and Eve. I tried conveying the concepts of 'the first sin,' 'the first parents,' 'the first condition of man before the fall' I felt like God was giving me words as this young man earnestly listened and asked questions. 
I was thrilled the very next day as soon as he saw me he approached me and asked me a series of questions: Do you mean that we all have the same parents...does that make us all one family? Do you mean that we'd still be in heaven if Adam and Eve hadn't sinned? Do you mean that Jesus actually made a way where everything can be right again what Adam and Eve did wrong? Do you mean we can actually know God? His childlike earnest simple mind was sooo refreshing! I had a blessed time sharing the gospel with him and preparing him how to respond when God calls him. 
Its been proven that some seeds sprout decades after they’re planted. May the seeds sown there sprout, flourish and bear fruit! May Gods name be glorified by his gospel working in Garden Hill.
A vital link to our involvement heavily relies on Northern Eagle Ministries. We could not reach this place any other way this time of the year. This is the only time of year where bible school would be possible. We are thankful for the willing support and fellowship of NEM as we serve the Lord together. Jonathan Waldner

FLYING THREE CHRISTIANS FROM PIKANGIKUM ON TO BLOODVEIN RIVER MB FOR TEACHING, HEALING AND FELLOWSHIP

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On Friday the first of June 2012, after I delivered my friends to God's River for their "Youth Camp Rebuilding" weekend, I had the privilege to fly three Christians from Pikangikum First Nation in Ontario to a Healing and Teaching weekend in Bloodvein River, a First Nation community, located about one hour by small airplane north of Winnipeg on the east side of  lake Winnipeg.


Colleen Estres from Living Hope Naive Ministries in Pikangikum ON asked me to do this trip - read here what she heard from this weekend: 
Every other month for the past 7 years,   Pastor Jerry Cummings  has been making the long trip from Norton, Kansas to Pikangikum First Nation, encouraging and equipping believers in life-giving ministry to their own people.  Recently during these teaching weekends, Pastor Jerry met  Roy and Vanessa Moskotaywenene, Pastors from Bloodvein, Manitoba,who were also ministering in Pikangikum,  and the Lord connected their hearts.  Pastor Roy invited Pastor Jerry to teach in his church in Bloodvein, but it was on Jerry's heart that this be a "team ministry trip," with the brothers and sisters from Pikangikum exercising their gifts.  Because of Northern Eagle Ministries, Simeon Moose, Trevor Keeper, and Diedre King were able to be used by the Lord in that community to bring healing and encouragement.  At a special healing service, a man showed up who was so crippled by arthritis that he could hardly move. The Lord touched his body, and he was completely healed.  Trevor came to Bloodvein with an infected eye, and the Lord took care of that, too. Plans are being made to return in the winter so people from neigbouring communities can be strenthened as well.  The team from Pikangikum said felt a special bond with Edgar right away.  We are thankful for NEM making this trip possible.

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On Monday the 4th of June, I first flew the three back from Bloodvein to Pikangikum and then went to God's river to pick-up the four hard working men and returned them home to their families.
What a huge welcome we had in Gimli - how many kids fit in a Skywagon


What a Blessed weekend for all of us !

FLYING TO GOD'S RIVER FIRST NATION TO REBUILD A YOUTH BIBLE CAMP

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Early Friday morning, I headed out to Gimly to pick up four members from Interlake Christian Fellowship Church to fly them to God's River First Nation, located 540 km north-east of Winnipeg to help Pastor Marcel Okemow to rebuilt a Youth Camp, which he has built 25 years ago with his own hands. (My smiling Co-Pilot took over and gave me a 2.5 hr rest)
This task has been on the Interlake Christian Fellowship Church hearts for years.
Pastor Marcel has brought in the building material on the winter road, so the four men had a good start on Friday to get the place cleaned up first and then worked hard for two and a half day with installing walls, windows, doors, stairs and part floor in the two cabins.
Read, Lorin Hofer's story (one of the fellas) about their weekend:
Greetings from Interlake Christian Fellowship. 
On June 1st 2012, 4 married men from our church near Arborg, MB flew from Gimli, MB to God's River First Nation in Northern Manitoba (see map above). 
Our pilot was Edgar Schreiber with his Cessna 185. There is only access to the community by ground transportation a few months in winter, when the lakes and muskeg freeze enough to support vehicles or by plane.
It was a 3 hour flight with his plane. We were invited by Marcel Okomow, Pastor of the church at God's River to come help with repairs at the youth camp.
Our work started on Friday with yard cleaning, raking around the 2 camp buildings, burning trash, cutting branches and fallen trees.
On Saturday we raised walls on the newer building - used for sleeping quarters for the children of this community in summer when they make a 45 minute boat ride to this place where they will have a bible camp - hosted by Marcel and the believers at God's River.
The building had only 3 rooms - about 20'x12' each. We raised walls to split 2 of large rooms, framed doors and covered both sides with plywood. They now have 5 rooms in that building and more privacy for families.
We also moved some walls in older camp building, swept and cleaned inside.The stairs to the buildings needed reinforced as well.

It was a great experience for all of us and a blessing to visit with our native brothers. We had some encouraging fellowship with some of the believers while fishing from their boat after work. It is a beautiful wild land up there.
All our food and gear, 2x4's, plywood, tools, nails and windows were hauled to the camp by boat.  It is different to see a boat-load of lumber plowing through the water - powered by a 30 Hp outboard. 
We're all grateful to Edgar for his flying and navigation skills. He kept showing us landmarks like rivers and islands and native communities. The Lord bless you and your wife as you serve the Lord so faithfully. Lorin Hofer.

TRIP TO POPLAR RIVER AND BERENS RIVER FIRST NATION FOR PATHWAY CAMP MINISTRIES

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After a couple of delays do to weather, we finally were able to do the flight to these two Fly-In communities, located on the east side of Lake Winnipeg about 300 km north of Winnipeg on Thursday, May 31st.

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Flying from St. Andrews to Ashern to pick up Rick and Eliz Greer, Directors of Pathway Camp ministries and fly them to the above mentioned communities to promote to the students in school the upcoming summer camps Pathway Camp Ministries has planned month ago.


The meetings with school staff members and community officials to wrap up the technicalities connected to the summer camps went well and we were on our way back home mid afternoon. (Rick is a pilot too and was doing most of the cross country flying)

FIRST TRIP ON SKIS

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our first trip on skis took us to a lake about an hour north of Winnipeg for a week-end of fellowship and simple living in the Manitoba wilderness.

It was 15 below and before landing and putting the plane to rest for two days, we had to prepare our departure in creating a "runway".


We couldn't see it from the air, but there was about two feet of snow on the frozen lake which acts as an insulator and there could be slush between the snow and the ice.


So we checked the snow condition with a low flight along the "runway" and so we also could see whether there would be snow drifts present or not.



It looked pretty good and the next step were several long touch and go's, which means we packed the snow of our "runway" and now were able to see how much snow was there and whether the amount of slush would be ok to handle - which was the case, so the next approach led to a landing with a huge turn and finally coming to a stop.


The first steps was a feeling like the astronauts must have had on their Apollo Mission to the moon - untouched surface and lonely wilderness around us.


It was indescribable awesome.

I went up again to packed the runway a little bit more before we prepared the plane for hibernation which meant draining the oil out of the engine, removing the battery, putting the wing covers on and off course tying the plane to some trees.


Now to get to the cabin, we had to snow shoe 1.5 miles on a trail cut out last summer, we also had to drag all the gear (oil, battery and food) with us.

After the weekend with fellowship, snowshoe hikes, hard wood splitting work and the try of ice-fishing we went back Monday early afternoon to wake up the plane (it was still 15 below) and prepare for restart which meant preheating the engine with two propane torches which took us an hour, before we could refill the hot oil back into the engine, which now allowed a guarantied material save restart.




Thanks to the well prepared "runway" the take off was easy followed by an uneventful  flight back into civilization.

FINALLY ON SKIS

after hard work we are finally on skis which is a huge safety feature flying cross country in Northern Manitoba and Ontario with all the lakes, being a possible landing site in case of an emergency