URGENT NEED- Turbocharger damage

Hello Supporters, 

our aircraft is grounded until we get a part. 

There is a lot of "head scratching" on how this damage 
occurred. Typically, you might expect more "symmetrical"
type damage on a part that spins at high rpm's. 

About a week ago, damage to the aircraft turbocharger 

was discovered. We have carried a spare on hand, but 

since we recently swapped the turbo and since we are

expecting to swap aircraft in just over a year, we were 

keeping our spare turbo on a shelf in the USA, hoping

that this sort of thing wouldn't happen.

Would you please consider assisting in this 

unexpected expense?

We will need to raise $5883

in the next week (by 09 April) 

so that the overhauled turbo can be 

sent to a visitor to Gabon

who has agreed to add it to their

checked luggage.

We will be using funds from the Things Above Project

(dba Elevation Squad) Wells Fargo bank account.

You will be sent a charitable donation receipt.

The giving instructions are below.

Thank you for your giving that allows 

critical aviation operations to continue in

Central Africa!

Here are pictures from a medical evacuation

from just last week:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Holiday Wrap-Up

 2025 Ends and 2026 Begins in a SWIRL!

Hard to believe this was just 2 months ago!
So much has happened! Alace calls it "A Swirl"!
In mid-December, our oldest, Joe, visited us
on our missionary-in-residence at York Alliance Church
to help us pull off an epic Christmas Party for the 
student ministry.

We had a great Christmas celebration dinner at a local 
restaurant in York with the AWESOME team of 
volunteer youth leaders from YAC.
We really miss this crew. It was an
honor to ministry alongside of them all.

As we were getting ready to leave PA on some holiday travel, 
we were surprised by my sister Bec (in black), and her daughter
(on my other side) who had just returned from university in 
England! It turned out that Henrica was visiting us as well, 
so worlds were colliding!

Then it was off to Ohio for Christmas at Alace's mom's.
Joe reunited with us along with his girlfriend, Christy, 
an MK from China, now a 2nd grade teacher in Chicago!

Then, for the New Year celebration, we were joined by our middle
kiddo, Megan, and her husband John (they also live in Chicago), 
as well as our dear friend, Leanne (from NC) who we used to 
work with in Gabon! Our hearts were full with all the family
and friends around!
(can you tell that Joe is the honorary selfie-taker?)

In mid-January, we were the featured speakers at a Mission

Celebration at Fairlawn Community Church (near Williamsport, PA)

which you can see online (click here). Then it was packing and

more packing for our departure on the 19th of January, 

returning overseas.

...And we know what you're wondering about all our travels in the US...

Yes, we did make it to a Buccee's!!!

Thank you for supporting us through the SWIRL!!!

Our time in the US was refreshing and encouraging. 

We can't do it without your teamwork!

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Christmas Miracle!!! (Henrica Update)

 We were sure we knew what it meant when we 

saw the following notice in the email inbox...

In October, we applied for a very normal, 

and almost always accepted, 

extension to Henrica's educational 

visa for a year of on the job

training, which our friends at JAARS 

are collaborating with us on.

We've been waiting for the response, but 

with little hope. The current environment

surrounding foreigners has made us 

pretty pessimistic. In our last update, we even

told you of the plans for Henrica to have to

return to Gabon on 11 February.

BUT... we all continued to pray.

Then, more difficult news. On 16 December, 

the US government announced INCREASED

travel bans which now included Gabon!

BUT, we continued to pray, but hope was dwindling

in our hearts.

Then, the alert came to check the status of Henrica's request

and we all held our breath...

This may or may not be a reenactment 😁 
Joe, our oldest child, who met Henrica as a
13 year old in Gabon, celebrates with her,
17 years later, in the USA!

HENRICA GOT APPROVED!!!

We praise God!!! Stay tuned for updates!

Next step: January 2nd, Henrica moves into 

her apartment at JAARS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

L-R: Joe, Henrica, Alace, Josi (Steve's niece), Steve, 
and Bec (Steve's sister)

HERE IS Hernrica's CHRISTMAS VISIT TO York Alliance Church:

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Strategic Shifts! New Home in 2026!

Steve: from Base Manager to Mobilizer

Steve's role in the Gabon aviation department shifts from “base manager/pilot” to “mobilizer”. This gives him more time to strategically focus on recruitment, team care, fund raising, and project oversight. Previously, there was simply not enough time for these tasks and the Gabon Alliance church realized that, without someone giving more focus on this, the future viability of the ministry would suffer. Steve is excited for this role! It will also be a remote role, that aligns with God’s invitation to their new geographical base (see below). Rob, the other pilot/mechanic, will step into the base manager role. Steve will also be periodically leading short term mission teams to Gabon as well. Come join!

NEW HOME IN 2026!

We'll be moving from Gabon to France! Following times of prayer with their home church (York Alliance), the Gabon Alliance church, and US-based Alliance leaders, they are discerning God’s invitation to run a retreat center in the Brittany region of France. The current American missionary couple there are retiring and have invited us to continue the important work of refreshment, debriefing, prayer, and care for other missionaries and French Christian workers. We've personally been the recipients of such care which has kept them serving international for going on 2 decades! They are thrilled to be able to help others stay resilient and thriving on the field. Come and visit!

(NOTE: although the work in France will not be under the Alliance International Ministries structure, we will be attending a local Alliance church and we’ll remain connected to the Eastern PA District of the Alliance with a “special assignment” classification. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR THE TIME BEING. We will send along new information in January).

While on sabbatical this summer in France, we had the opportunity to visit the Manor House for a week. It turns out that, in Spring of this coming year, the American missionary couple that have been running this retreat center for OVER 20 YEARS are retiring. After spending some time with them and hearing each others' stories, they, along with the owners of the property, invited us to continue operating the Manor as a place of respite. This was something we brought to our sending church leadership and others on our core prayer team. Together, we sensed confirmation that this was God's invitation just for us.

It’s coming together at a really cool time in our lives too- in our mid-50’s… feeling some transitions and refocusing necessary to maximize the upcoming chapters of the adventure. We feel that we are moving from “addition” to “multiplication”!

We will align the work with a world-wide network of retreat and debrief locations for Christian workers, called “Oasis Rest International” (https://oasisrest.org/). ORI will be the structure that will process our supporters donations, which we will still need (NOTE- this will be a free ministry for those seeking rest and there’s no revenue in it for us). In terms of the C&MA, we will remain connected, but, for the purposes of confidentiality for guests (to have "safe ears"), it will be away from the international ministries structure- we’ll be on “special assignment” from the Eastern District of the Alliance. In this way, we’ll maintain our Alliance “official workers” role. 

You may know that, in our almost 2 decades of international work, we received care, on a number of occasions, that was uniquely tailored toward missionary families. In 2013 an anxiety attack was my wake-up call (Steve). Rest, debrief, care, counsel, and refreshment- that care kept us serving and resilient in our walk with Jesus and our work. God is inviting us to a chapter of life to now do the same for others. Here is a video outlining a couple and the impact Oasis had for them:  

Without exception, when we ask those involved in this CARE and DEBRIEFING work report that they are fully booked and are praying for more to help. Also, we are seeing an aging population of care-givers, like the couple we are replacing. (They need young people like us! 😁)

We anticipate room in our schedule, from time to time, to host work teams, as well as join other teams who will be serving at events, like field forums, around the world. There will also be opportunity for regular trips back to Gabon for project work there with the aviation program. Come join us!

Stay tuned for more information about OASIS Rest International and PLEASE PRAY for the long-term visa process for France. 

 

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Aircraft Refurbishment Update

(Adorable passengers from our Friday, 05 December flight)

While our trusty Cessna T207 (T for Turbocharged), 

known as "Bravo Hotel" (tail number N207BH) 

continues to serve faithfully in Gabon under Pilot Rob's direction...

... "Foxtrot Delta" (N207FD) continues on its refurbishment

journey at MMS Aviation in Ohio. Enjoy some of the photos

taken this week. COMING SOON... New avionics &

overhauled and upgraded engine! STAY TUNED!

HERE IS THE AVIATION PACKAGE WE ARE PLANNING (& Est. Costs):

~ Dual Garmin GI-275- Attitude & Direction Indicators ($11,100)

~ Garmin GI-275 EIS- Engine Monitor ($4200)

~ Garmin GTN 650xi- GPS/Nav/Comm1 ($10,500)

~ Garmin GNC 355- GPS/Comm2 ($6300)

~ Garmin GTX 345- Transponder/ADS-B ($5700)

~ FlightStream 510- Avionics connectivity software ($1200)

~ CIES Fuel quantity sender ($1150)

~ ELT Artex 400 upgrade ($7500)

~ USB Power Supply Unit ($385)

HERE IS THE ENGINE RELATED UPGRADES (& Est. Costs):

~ "Smooth Ride" Engine Mount system ($6000)

~ Engine Top Overhaul & Vitato STC- 2200 Hr. TBO ($53,665)

~ Remote Oil Cooler kit ($4000)

~ Propellor Overhaul ($4000)

~ Cleanable Oil Filter from Challenger Aviation ($400)

Please pray for us for the provision for each of these important items that make our aircraft safe and reliable for service outfitted for service into the next 2 decades!!!

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

In Other News!

We've been able to visit family with some of our time in the US!
My father has been able to move to Virginia, closer to my 
oldest brothers family. 

 

We've had some time to reflect, pray, and plan
for the next chapter of life! More on that 
coming soon!

We've also had time to connect with our org- the Christian
& Missionary Alliance. Here we are with Eastern PA district
leaders, Sharon and Nate. There have been zoom calls, reports, 
emails, and more... both to/from US and Gabon org leaders.

Speaking of Eastern PA district, we were invited to participate
with the district's annual gathering- this time, held in Philadelphia.
We were honored to be special guests in the children's & 
youth programs as well as on the main stage.

We've also had opportunity to speak to supporters!
So far, in State College, Philadelphia, Selinsgrove
& Lancaster. Soon, Williamsport and several in
the York area. Here are a few:
07 Dec: Cassels Community Church, 10:30am
14 Dec: Spring Grove Alliance, 8:30 & 10:30am
21 Dec: York Alliance, 8:30 & 10:30am
11 Jan: Fairlawn Community Church, 8:30am & 10:30am

We also got to babysit! Believe it or not, these are children
of a couple who USED TO BE teens in our youth group!
So, we were feeling some grandparent vibes. We also 
got to catch up on some Paw Patrol episodes. 

We also got a SWEET gift from our former Gabon teammates.
They put together a picture book that was a great flashback
over the last two decades.

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Missionaries In Residence UPDATE

 

As a reminder, this past summer we were SURPRISED
to get an invitation by our home church pastors, Brian &
Amanda Kannel (in photo), to be in the US for 5 months 
as Missionaries in Residence!

Our main role is pastoring the team of volunteer youth leaders.
We have come to love this team! They are teaching us
so much about dedication and investment to discipleship
in the local church setting.

Steve also got a chance to pull out some of his
old Youth Pastor chops at the Fall Youth Retreat.

Alace led the students in an art experience
to display their belongingness in God and
in community. 

It's been A LONG TIME since we loaded up for a weekend
with a youth group! We were "feeling all the feels"!
The students and leaders have welcomed us and 
been so loving. We are having a great time!

My friend Fred giving me some orientation on
the Student Center audio/visual tech machines.

The students have a great worship band!
(that's me giving some announcements... not singing!)

The Mission-in-Residence at York Alliance Church is only part-time through mid-January. 

In another post, we'll share more of what we are doing with some of our other time. 

Also, we continue to rely upon your prayers and financial support. 

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)