http://player.vimeo.com/video/17003775?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

http://player.vimeo.com/video/17003587?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

http://player.vimeo.com/video/17003387?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

He endured a slight weather delay due to low ceilings and then won the battle with gusty winds the remainder of the day. As he said about the winds, “it wasn’t any different than what I had dealt with the couple of days prior! So why not get it done?!” Good for you Jacob for not letting the winds spook ya or keep you from doing a good (no, GREAT) job!
See ya ’round the airport!

Now that I’ve had some time to reflect on the whole experience, I would like to share some thoughts about what it meant to me. Although Curt and I have discussed many of these lessons, I am sure each of us has a different perspective on the experience. In no particular order, here are some of mine.

1. If you feel called to help, don’t let anything or anyone stop you. In retrospect, we spent too much time trying to figure out how we could fit our abilities, resources and resolve into other people’s relief efforts. Once we decided to trust our faith that we could make a difference, and that somehow, the necessary support would be forthcoming, we were able to focus on the mission. You still must do your homework, but you must avoid “paralysis by analysis” and know, that if it is the right thing to do, just do it. Somehow it will all work out.

2. Remember to look at the big picture. Inevitably, your view is narrow. While your efforts are important, they are only a small part of an immense undertaking in which many people are making contributions to the overall effort. Many of them do not get to see the results of their work, so be sure to share your experience with them and thank them for their help.

3. Expect and accept that everything will not go as planned. Just do the best you can and realize that others are doing the same.

4. For pilots, watch out for “mission completion bias”. Don’t let the urgency of the effort alter your judgement. Remember that the laws of physics and gravity are not changed by the fact that you really want to get something accomplished.

5. Finally, know that you will receive more than you give. Your effort makes a difference. Expect to be changed in significant ways. Don’t be surprised when your perspective about your own problems is altered. The rewards of shared sacrifice, effort and accomplishment of difficult goals in service to others are priceless.

Remember, life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Fair Skies,

Ken

Headed Home!

We have been home since Wednesday and I think we are finally getting reoriented to the daily schedules and routines of our regular lives. Homecoming was wonderful with friends and family happy to have us safely back. However, for both Curt and me, there is a lingering bittersweetness of a task not quite complete. We are quietly proud to have been able to help some people in an unimaginably bad situation, but we are completely aware that so much more is needed. While we have most likely done all we can for this effort, we are also comtemplating what we can do going forward.

We want the Flight Assist program to continue and grow in a way that will allow us to respond more quickly to the next event where general aviation can once again provide the critical airlift capability necessary to support relief efforts. We are discussing how this might happen, defining goals and making plans for the future. It seems to me, that we should establish a network of disaster relief teams, many of whom are faith based, and let them know how general aviation aircraft and pilots can participate in their efforts. So that is our immediate direction. Please stay tuned for more as we move forward. Again, Curt and I would like to thank all of you for your interest, prayers and contributions towards our fuel expense. It has been an incredible journey.

Fair Skies,

Ken

As we approached the Hill Country, I told Curt how much I appreciated his faith and hard work. He has truly made this trip manageable. It is simply too hard to do alone, in my opinion. Curt has seen things that many pilots never experience and I believe both of us will remember this time with a warm sense of accomplishment and joy in this task. As I have already said, we deeply appreciate all of you who made the journey with us. And I wish God Speed to those who will come after.

As we taxiied in, Curt’s family was there to greet us, kids so excited to have daddy home, balloons and all. After the engine stopped, we sat motionless for a few minutes, shutting down the airplane for the last time, listening to the faint whine of gyros spinning down, just enjoying the last moments of this incredible experience. For both of us there was a bittersweet feeling that, while our immediate work is done for now, there is much left to do. Now, we will recap the trip in photos, video and writings, then share this with any group who would like to hear from us. We still have a lot of money to raise if we hope to cover our basic costs, and possibly return in a few weeks.

Fair Skies

Ruth on the way home

We got an extra special mission today. Ruth Scott, who works in Haiti with Agape Flights, needed a ride back to Les Cayes, where her husband was waiting. Ruth has been visiting family in Texas for a month. When in Haiti, she and her husband work to help missionaries with all sorts of administrative tasks so they can be more effective. Ruth has lived and worked in Haiti for years now and has a dedication to service that is simply amazing. Despite the challenges of being so far from home, she and her husband know this is where they need to be.

The flight from Nassau to Provo, then on to Les Cayes featured the best weather of the whole trip. Skies were partly cloudy with a strong tailwind on the way south. We refueled again in Provo then took off for Haiti.

Curt does the Customs Paperwork in Provo

 After levelling at 9,500 we settled in for the two hour ride. As we approached the coast, the clouds had built high enough that we needed to climb on up to 11,500 to clear the build-ups. Once we crossed the south coast, we were out in the clear air again. We descended all the way to 1500 on the way into Les Cayes, following another airplane who was bringing supplies in also.

Mr. & Ms. Scott in Les Cayes...together again!

After landing and taxiing in, we unloaded supplies and visited with Paul, the other pilot. He had  been flying between Santo Domingo and Les Cayes for the last couple of days, bringing supplies that had arrived in the Dominican Republic. He let us know there is now over 500 tons of relief materials and goods to be brought in with no pilots available. What an opportunity if someone wants to get involved! The distance is much less, allowing several round-trips to be made in a day.

Curt completed the paperwork with the official at the Customs office and we walked outside to depart. In the distance, we could hear a church service underway. At the airport fence, a group of kids begged for food, making it a bittersweet moment as we settled in to begin the long ride home. For this is the farthest point southwest in our remarkable journey. Every mile from this point brings us closer to friends and family in Texas. As we climbed again above the building clouds and set a course for Provo, we had some time to review the video that Curt will upload tonight. I hope it helps you see what we have seen. A gathering of people who met as strangers from around the U.S. as well as from other countries, who quickly become bound by the shared experience of this time. The love and compassion demonstrated by these folks towards people in almost unimaginable circumstances is an inspiration to Curt and me. We have been here for such a short time, before returning to the security and comfort of home. We carry the memories of so many unique sights, sounds and events from the last week along with us. One more night in the warehouse and we’ll be headed home. We still have a long trip back so we hope for an early start.

Here is what we brought from Ft. Lauderdale today

 We have now unloaded and hope to return this afternoon for another load but the weather may make that impossible. Meanwhile I have an opportunity to update yesterday’s post with some of the photos. We are also starting to interview and video some of the pilots and relief workers to give you a better sense of the individual stories that define this mission. I hope you will keep all of them in your prayers.

Message follows:

Q.N. #1: We would like to strongly encourage you to refer your pilot friends who have access to aircraft who may like to volunteer to fly either between our state-side supply depots, to our Command Center in the Caribbean, or even to Haiti for the benefit of the effort! Your word of mouth is making a huge impact and we ask that you continue so do so. We appreciate all of your support. To refer your pilot friends, please ask them to go here http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/?p=1342 and sign up (important) and let them know that they will receive mission opportunities afterwards and can respond to them as they are able to become affirmed & slotted on the schedule. If they do not have access to a computer, then you could fill out the information for them and submit it on their behalf with their permission. Our collective efforts together (as a team) are making an amazing impact!!!