It has been way too long since our last update…so much has happened. As you all know we are interested in working with MAF in Nepal.
I (Tony) actually met two Nepali men (Rabin & Sabin) who are in the US as students and are working in our home town! As soon as Rabin learned that we were planning on moving to Nepal some day he was very friendly and out-going.
After months of talking a little here and there I offered to take Rabin & Sabin on a night flight over downtown Dallas. What fun it was to be able to share aviation with the two cousins.
Tony & Sabin
Tony & Rabin
Since then they have taken us out to eat at a Nepali restaurant in Irving. We had “momo” (mow-mow) which are kind of like a meat-filled dumplings, various curries, and a couple kinds of Nepali desserts. It was a great experience.
Momo
At the Nepali restaurant
Traditional Nepali Meal
We have all been praying for the men since we started developing our friendship. Becca and Shane have been praying for them faithfully all these months.
On Easter we invited the young men over to celebrate with us. They attended our Easter service, the first time they had ever set foot in a church, and while it was all new and a little overwhelming, they seemed to enjoy it. We then returned home and, along with Mom & Dad and my sister, Tiffany, had our Easter meal, played games and the kids did their Easter egg hunt.
Becca & Shane
Rabin & Sabin looking on as the kids hunt for eggs
(left to right) Shane, Tiffany, Becca, Marcy, Larry
Since then we invited them over for supper and they asked if their other room-mate, Karma (also a Nepali student) could come as well. We said, “of course!” So we had the three of them over as well as Mom & Dad.
Becca was very excited to show them the “resurrection eggs” she had made. Resurrection eggs are basically plastic Easter eggs with little trinkets in them which each tell a part of the Easter story. (We had run out of time on Easter for her to share them.)
Afterwards they invited us all over to their apartment for supper.
So the next week we went over to their apartment where they cooked for us and showed us all how to make momo.
Oh no! Sheea is “ruining” the food!
Sheea showing her work
Shane having a go at making momo
About to begin our meal
Karma drew Becca a picture
Aviation Update
I have completed about 112 hours of the 400 required. God has blessed me with a contract which allowed me to pay down some of the training debt and I am now preparing to begin my instrument training.
In addition I have joined the Civil Air Patrol and after undergoing the prerequisite training I will be able to fly in their Cessna 182’s and later, their GA8. Both of these planes are considered “high performance” and will allow me to build up my required 50 hours for MAF. I will also be eligible to serve our country on missions!
In other news it looks like it might be possible for my private pilot instructor to train me for my instrument rating! He is a very gifted teacher, demanding precision and knowing how to teach to that precision. He is also a brother in Christ and headed toward missionary aviation himself.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for our Nepali friends, that God would bless them, protect them, and bring them to Himself.
Please pray for Tony as he begins his instrument training, that an inexpensive plane would be available and that his prior instructor would be free to train him.