Blizzard in Africa!

Did you know that at 18,000 feet the temperature is always below freezing? It’s true. The air pressure and the air temperature are related in such a way that when the pressure is lower, the temperature is also lower. When the air pressure is higher, the temperature is also higher. So even here in Africa when I’m headed toward the Sahara desert at 14,000 feet, the temperature can get really cold.

Photo credit Brandon Penkoff

On a recent flight I was heading for home with three African men who work in various ways to help Bible translation projects advance in their local area. Well, the airplane cabin was feeling pretty cool to me so I turned on the heater. If I’m feeling cold then my African brothers are feeling really cold! As we flew along, the sky became increasingly cloudy. After a few minutes in the clouds, I noticed that a lot of slush was sticking to the corners of the windshield where the wings attach to the fuselage. That sight caused me to turn on several other systems that provide heat to various parts of the airplane, ensuring that I could safely fly in those conditions. Thankfully, all the systems worked perfectly.

Photo credit Brandon Penkoff

When I looked outside … I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was flying through snow! My eyes must have been the size of dinner plates as I looked out the side window and saw a scene that made me feel like I was back home in Colorado driving through a winter blizzard! The light shone in such a way that I could see huge white snowflakes passing by. I really enjoyed the situation I found myself in. Although snow was blowing by outside my window, I had the equipment necessary to keep myself, my passengers, and the airplane warm and comfortable as we made our snowy way across … Africa!

Brandon Penkoff

Brandon Penkoff

Brandon and his wife, Rachel, have been serving in Cameroon, Africa since 2012. They have three daughters.