2009 Event Blog
Monday, August 3
Looking Back
Attending EAA AirVenture as a retired JAARS pilot—now working with vernacular media—brought back a flood of memories.
Being surrounded by so many aircraft and pilots brought to mind the flights I made to dozens of villages in Brazil. And as we handed out hundreds of JAARS brochures, I was reminded of one particular brochure that made its way into my hands decades ago, at an American Air Force base on another continent.
I was a new follower of Jesus, seeking what God wanted me to do in life. I don't know how that brochure ended up over there, but God used it to connect me with JAARS, who pointed me to Moody Aviation for pilot training—and the rest is history.
I pray some of the brochures we gave out will find their way into the hands of talented people, whom the Lord will lead to join us or like-minded organizations in bringing the Good News to every language group.
Another fellow from France showed me his house on Google Earth, then his yacht, which he pointed out from thousands of others in a marina on the Mediterranean coast. He said he owns six airplanes—and his wife says he’s crazy.
May the Lord show him—and all who attended this year’s AirVenture—how boats and planes can serve a purpose far greater than personal satisfaction!
—Mike Navratil, JAARS Vernacular Media Services
Sunday, August 2
Everyone Has a Story
“Everyone has a story”—just a comment I heard in passing, but it captures my favorite part of being here at EAA AirVenture. It’s been amazing to be in Oshkosh, Wis., as part of the JAARS team, hearing visitors’ stories and answering questions about the work we are doing to support Bible translation.
There was Jacob, for instance: still in high school, but already pursuing his dreams of aviation work and passionate about designing better aircraft for missions. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet with many other high school and college students who are just beginning to pursue a career in aviation and missions. They are hearing God’s call and seeking direction.
It’s not just the young, though.
Of course, this is an air show, so most folks here are fliers, past, present or future—it’s the passion they share. And this year’s focus on mission aviation is inspiring; the testimonies of mission aviators—fueled by their common passion—are having an impact.
—Michele Axelson
Saturday, August 1
Thank you, Bob
My husband often says that we at JAARS are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.
I have seen that confirmed this week.
Fast-forward to summer 2009. We stand here this week at the JAARS exhibit—and with three of our aircraft—listening and praying with men and women who strongly sense God calling them into missions.
It's an unprecedented year for inquiries by young, talented, godly people.
The new generation is here. Many are determined to take their place in mission aviation. Our lives intersect all because someone had an idea to take the JAARS vision to aviation's world stage: Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Thank you, Bob.
—Jane Reeves, special assistant and wife of JAARS President David Reeves
* Editor’s Note:
In the early 1970s, Bob returned to the United States after piloting in the Philippines and began organizing public relations efforts for JAARS. “I thought, well, where’s a better place to sell what we do with airplanes than the biggest aviation gallery in the world? We started out very modestly,” he remembers, with a picnic tent and a camper. “But it slowly grew.”
During his years at EAA AirVenture, Bob cultivated lasting relationships with EAA personnel, Mission Aviation Fellowship and other mission organizations. Today, he says, “I look back and marvel at what the Lord has done. It’s a marvel in my eyes.”
Friday, July 31
Just Over Half-Way
The skies are sunny today—a welcome relief after a wet Thursday.
I'm impressed with the number of visitors that come through the JAARS tent every day, rain or shine. The exhibit is superbly designed, with a great balance of wall-size images, vertical banners and videos—showing JAARS people serving, as well as those whom we reach with Scriptures.
The whole tent looks very professional and impressive, and yet very simple and inviting. It makes it easy for us to have conversations with our visitors and invite them to partner with us.
Today, we're just over half-way through EAA AirVenture 2009. Please pray that we'll have the stamina to continue engaging each person the Lord puts in our paths.
As an engineer, I've been walking the grounds during my time off and soaking in all the things on display—especially the crazy ideas that aviators have used to design machines that fly. And the afternoon air shows showcase simply amazing aerobatics for hours at a time!
At first, I thought a pilot would need some forward air speed to keep control. Then I saw several pilots stall their plane and execute an end-over-end tumble. One of them pulled out of the tumble horizontally and upside-down. I even watched a helicopter do end-over-end flips.
I just don't understand where a pilot gets the nerve to try that the first time!
—Bryan Wussow, test manager for JAARS Information Technology
Thursday, July 30
Good Weather for Ducks—and Conversations
Hello on a rainy Thursday! With all this rain, there's a lot of activity inside the tents!
It’s been so nice this week—not the blistering heat we were warned about. The wind, however, is sometimes quite brisk. Just yesterday afternoon, during our Helio Courier flight demonstration, a strong, gusty crosswind came through. Pilot Mike Mower did a masterful job of keeping the Helio going in the right direction, resulting in another impressive demo!
The people from the Mission Aviation Support Association continue to pamper us with wonderful housing and great meals. They are so earnest in their desire to help us, whatever our needs might be. May the Lord richly bless each one of them!
The interaction between the mission representatives sitting around tables, enjoying those yummy meals, is also enriching. It is a privilege to hear stories of what God is doing in their lives and the areas where they serve. And what a small world it is sometimes! How often we’ve met someone we trained with many years ago, or who is good friends with our colleagues.
Oh—here come some aviation students from Liberty University. "Good morning! Welcome to the JAARS tent!"
—Rebecca Navratil, JAARS Vernacular Media Services
Wednesday, July 29
Beneath the Wing of a Helio Courier
Honestly, after 20 years of being married to a pilot and more aviation-related dinner conversations than I can count, you’d think I’d be totally “in the know.” So why is it I get questions like “What’s the difference between the engines in N242B and N60JA?” and “What is the prop RPM at takeoff?”
Give me a break! Why doesn’t anyone want to know the multitude of Helio Courier facts I can state with confidence?
Okay, so standing by the Helio here at EAA AirVenture with a deer-in-the-headlights look isn’t always comfortable. But it’s still a great experience that I wouldn’t want to miss out on. The highlight for me is interacting with people ... like the two men from Riverside, Calif., who asked if they could sit in the shade under the wing.
Lord, please continue to bring people across my path that you want me to interact with—and help me remember what the useful load of N60JA is!
—Becky DuBois
Monday, July 27
Opening Day
The tent is constructed, the floor installed and carpet laid. The banners are hung, the landscaping completed, and every exhibit is in place. Today, a year of planning, designing, preparing and praying culminated in the opening day of EAA AirVenture 2009.
This morning, with every detail in place and the JAARS team dressed smartly in our blue shirts, we opened the doors (Okay, they're actually tent flaps, but "doors" sounds more impressive.) to our exhibit and began welcoming the flood of visitors that came to see what we're all about.
I enjoyed watching people's facial expressions as they learned how their particular skills can be used to support Bible translation, and in several cases, I could sense their eagerness to take that next step toward involvement. Thank you, Lord, for these connections!
A fun part of our exhibit is how we've set up the Kodiak to look as if it's being loaded for a village supply flight. When the photos are posted, be sure to note the decorative chickens, a particular favorite of mine. :-)
On the lighter side ... I've heard they have flushing toilets here this year, so my Tuesday goal is to find them!
—Pat Mower, JAARS Missions at the Airport
Monday, July 27
Truly Overwhelming
This is my first time attending EAA AirVenture, and it is truly overwhelming. How can one take it all in? I have never seen so many airplanes or varieties of aircraft in all my life. I have never seen so many portable toilets in all my life!
I arrived at lunchtime Wednesday with the JAARS setup crew . Since then, I have been blessed to see the camaraderie among the hundreds of humanitarian and mission aviation organizations represented here. God’s hand is very obvious as He pulls this all together.
On Friday, for example, John Pepper and I were to prepare the JAARS site for a cedar split-rail fence that would surround our Kodiak display. That meant 11 postholes would need dug. We had borrowed a posthole digger and purchased a crowbar to help soften the soil.
We could only envision a whole day of hard digging in the hot sun.
Before getting started, John and I walked down to AeroShell Square—the event’s main showcase area—to see a split-rail fence already installed at the Ford display. On the way back, we came upon a Bobcat configured with a large posthole auger. The two-man crew was helping set up umbrellas for a presenter. I boldly stepped forward and asked who the “auger man” was. He identified himself, and I asked how much it would cost to hire him to drill 11 postholes. In jest we bantered back and forth, and then he said if we would have the exact locations marked, he and his partner would show up at 1 p.m. and drill the holes.
Like clockwork, the team showed up—and in less time than it would have taken us to dig one hole, they drilled all 11. I wanted to give them something to say thanks, but they refused to take anything, saying this was what they were getting paid to do. Wow! God is good.
Then Sunday, we went to “The Big Gathering” of all the mission aviation organizations present and being served by MASA, the Mission Aviation Support Association. What gracious hosts! I had tears in my eyes and a tingle down my spine as 400 people somehow involved with missionary aviation sang praise songs together and worshipped an awesome God.
Many people are saying this year’s event is historical because of the number of missionaries and organizations represented. Public-benefit and mission-based flight operations have joined together at EAA AirVenture 2009 to recognize the volunteers who generously devote their flying abilities to make our world a better place.
You who are unable to be here but are praying for us are equally sharing in what God is doing here. Pray that each of us will be used by God to administer His grace to the thousands we expect to talk with this week.
—John Hutchinson, director of JAARS public relations
Sunday, July 26
What is God up to?
To an aviation nut like me, EAA AirVenture is the pinnacle of the aviation dream come true. But to be here representing God’s work in Bible translation is really a special treat.
I had misconceptions of what this would be like, as I often have when doing things for the Lord. When picturing AirVenture, I thought of how I could give my time and the gifts God has given me to help spread the news of Bible translation.
But God showed me once again that His plans are bigger than mine.
So far, two things stand out that have really blessed me. The first is the volunteers of the Mission Aviation Support Association, also known as MASA—members of God’s Church body that give their time and energy to meet the needs of the many mission aviation organizations here at AirVenture. They cook meals, provide housing and vehicles, and much more. They are an awesome bunch who love the Lord and love us in the Lord. I pray He returns their selfless giving many times over.
The second blessing wasn’t even related to our work here. God has provided a potential resource for one of my sons' educational situation. I know this is God taking care of His workers. He orders our steps and meets our needs in places that we never expect. After 12 of years serving ...
... Maybe I should start expecting.
The displays are coming together; the Kodiak is corralled; and I believe God is going to do a great work through the opportunity He has orchestrated at this year’s fly-in. To God be the glory, and thank you all for praying for us and this event.
Your prayers are felt, and the results are being seen.
—John Pepper, director of JAARS Land Transportation
Saturday, July 25
Wait Until They See
Phew! What a week it has been. A small group of us arrived here on Tuesday and Wednesday to start preparing the JAARS exhibit for EAA AirVenture 2009. The first night, we were welcomed by an amazing group of people—the Mission Aviation Support Association—that has been organizing many of the local logistics for those participating in the event.
Every year the people here are called upon to house, feed and support the missionaries that come to share about the work God is doing around the world. I cannot tell you how awed I am by their care. I am so humbled.
I pray that our Lord is at the forefront of all of the work done this week as we prepare to share how JAARS advances Bible translation. Already today, as we were having our last briefing, I could hear people peeking into our display area, wondering about the wooden model that illustrates the many functions of JAARS Construction and Maintenance.
Wait until they see the rest of the displays! Wait until they hear what the Lord is doing all over the world. Wait until they hear about the many language groups that don't have God's Word.
I know that the Lord will use this time for such great things.
—Lois Clark, maintenance coordinator for JAARS Construction and Maintenance
