Henrica Update - Making Strides!

 

Most days, you'll find Henrica, our 
trainee from Gabon, at the JAARS hangar,
at her desk, studying hard for her FAA
mechanic exams. She's passed two already!

At times, she is also getting hands-on 
experience, helping maintain and repair
JAARS mission aircraft.

She's also making friends with others
who are getting trained to be sent out to
show God's love through the tool of 
aviation, to places all around the world!

Especially of great encouragement is the
"LIMA" group - Ladies In Mission Aviation.

The JAARS organization (in North Carolina) has
been a great partner with our Gabon program. In 
fact, there is another JAARS pilot/mechanic and
his family, from America, looking into coming to
join the Gabon team! In this pic, you see a loaner 
car that Henrica can use to run errands and get to 
her exams. 

Other supporters are nearby to check in with Henrica.
Here are our other Gabon pilot, Rob Peterson's
parents who live near Henrica. They have hosted
her for meals on multiple occasions and helped her
run errands! World's are colliding!

Henrica got to attend the Peterson's church in 
Charlotte- she had never seen such a large, 
arena-style sanctuary! 
Speaking of big...

Henrica has been able to engine a wider
variety of cuisine than is available in Gabon!
She sent us this picture and her text was...
"Guys, I think I saw one of the craziest
Chinese food!"

Our friend Keith, from our "Things Above
Project" NGO board popped in for a visit at
JAARS to see Henrica. 

Please keep Henrica in your prayers!

- a 3rd FAA Mechanics Exam ("Powerplant") soon

- a final series of FAA Oral and Practicals exams to follow

- hangar experience at JAARS

- returning to Gabon at the end of the year

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To support HENRICA financially,

you can do so through

Things Above Project's

PayPal link below:

THINGS ABOVE PROJECT

Oasis Rest International - new sponsor

 After much investigation, prayer, conversations, 

feedback from our key supporters, 

we made the decision to move to Oasis Rest International!

Over the last several months, we've had the opportunity to meet with many of you to share this news. For others, you may have some questions, so, below, we have some responses to FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions about our move from Gabon to our work, running a retreat center in the Brittany Region of France:

1. Are you leaving the Alliance (C&MA)?

No, we are official Alliance workers on special assignment 

with oversight from the Eastern Pennsylvania district of the 

Alliance. When Alliance workers come to us for care, they 

won't have worries that we aren't "safe ears" that they are 

free to be completely open with. Our sending church, 

the York Alliance (C&MA) Church, remains the backbone

of our sending body. We are so thankful for their partnership

with us over many, many years, and helping us to discern

our new chapter of ministry.

2. Is Steve leaving the Gabon aviation ministry?

No, in fact, since February of 2024, Steve has been in more of

a "remote" role, shifting from "operations" toward "mobilization."

Steve's tasks focus on staff care, mentoring, fund-raising, and 

project oversight- all from his new base in France.

3. Who's flying the airplane in Gabon?

Since 2013, Rob Peterson has been a teammate, as a pilot

and mechanic. He and his family enjoy life at Bongolo and 

plan to be there for years to come. Other families are

investigating joining! 

4. What is Oasis Rest International?

Oasis was founded out of the Navigators ministry over 

20 years ago. International workers (IW's) were burning out 

and seeking resources. Oasis provides "sacred places" with 

"sacred faces" (trained hosts) in over 20 free locations

worldwide. 

5. Why the Manor House in Brittany?

The former hosts were retiring and the setting is so beautiful

and peaceful (built in 1613) ! The need for care is great- 

70% of IW's leave their work due to preventative reasons.

From life on the steamy equator (Gabon)
to the chilly/moderate 48th parallel (Brittany)!

6. Why shift and Why now?

Through prayer with key friends and our sending church,

we saw the Lord opening doors & sensed the invitation.

By God's grace, this new chapter allows us to leverage the

full scope of our life experiences, training, and over 3 decades

in ministry to pour into wounded and tired IW's. 

Don't worry,
"Frenchy Steve" still knows how to
connect with the youth!

7. When Can I come!

Yes! Please come and visit!

After some time to settle in and orient ourselves a bit, we 

will start receiving guests. IW's needing care are our top

priority, but we'll sprinkle in others. Our AWESOME sending

church, York Alliance, is sending a work team in October!!!

Thank you for your support!

This month, we are officially switching to support

through our new sponsor- Oasis Rest International!

Here is the link to our "coming soon" 

announcement:  CLICK HERE

Here is the link to support us 

through Oasis:  CLICK HERE

(if you'd prefer an EFT/ACH transfer, please email us

at Steve.Straw@oasisrest.org)

France! Getting settled in...

 An update from Alace!

About 4 weeks ago, we set out!
Cincinatti to Philly... Philly to Paris!
Thank you American Airlines.

Arrival at Paris!!!
All checked bags arrived!
I posted up at the curb while
Steve went to fetch the rental car.

The bags all fit!!!

Operating on a lot of adrenalin,
after a 6 hour drive, we 
made it to our new home!
The "Ar Poull" manor house.
(note: Ar Poull means "the well"
in the Breton language)

After some recovery sleep, we got to work!
Here is the "haul" from one of 
our first shopping trips- 
unloading in the Manor
House kitchen.

April 28th journal entry...
We have been sorting, cleaning and moving in.
Steve’s been doing all of that plus some yard work.
He’s been weeding and hacking back overgrowth
to exposed borders and the entrance gate. 

We started prepping our room on the 
3rd floor for painting.

Steve's been staining and sealing the 
the wood floors.

We hosted our dear friends (currently with 
Barnabas Int'l; formerly Alliance), David and 
Janet Kronbach, who run the Rapha House-
another retreat center in France. 
They have been important mentors over the
past 2 years, sharing their wise counsel,
encouragement, and blessing.

Our epic door key!

The view out our side, kitchen door, 
looking West.

From the "south lawn" looking
back at the Manor House.

One of our neighbors, Fabrice, is a 
farmer who keeps his cows in the 
fields that surround our forested area.

Our 2nd full day, we dropped off the rental 
car and took in a professional football (soccer)
match- the local team, Lorient, versus our 
favorite team, Marseille. Let's just say, the
local fans went away very happy.

We also visited a local beach- it is just an 
hour from our home! It will be a very nice
day-trip excursion for our guests.

Our first weekend, we shopped for 
some plants to bring life to the house!
The plant market was a great place to 
meet many new people! There are a lot 
of British expats in this region. 

I decorated the window sill with my 
childhood set of classic books and 
a tiny painting from my Grammy.
The bookends I picked up at a local
thrift shop for cheap! The sunlight 
shines through them lighting up 
the cool veins inside!

We are likely to regularly attend a
french-speaking Alliance
church that is about 25 minutes away, but
the first Sunday, we opted to investigate an
English speaking church much closer. It 
was very sweet... and small! We were the 
youngest people there among a total of 8
worshippers!

We hung out with some neighbors!
The wife is from England and the husband
is American! They are very helpful to us and 
we had a lovely time visiting in their back yard.

Finally after a couple weeks of hard work, 
we finally got to sleep in our own bed!!!

Thank you for your support!

This month, we are officially switching to support

through our new sponsor- Oasis Rest International!

Here is the link to our "coming soon" 

announcement:  CLICK HERE

Here is the link to support us 

through Oasis:  CLICK HERE

TURBO REPLACED! AIRPLANE BACK IN ACTION!!!

 Thank you to all for prayers

and support!

Our Airplane is FLYING

Today with your help!

After the AMAZING response to our appeal
to raise over $5800, the overhauled TurboCharger
was transported to Gabon!

Rob and his hangar helpers, mister Bah
and mister Brice, knocked out an annual 
inspection PLUS installed the Turbo
that a kind group of Samaritan's Purse
visitors (who were coming out
to work at Bongolo Hospital)
had transported out to Gabon! 

So... it was very fitting that today...

Rob loaded up the airplane with 
his passengers...

... the very same guys from Samaritan's 
Purse that brought the Turbo to Gabon
with them from the USA!

At the end of the Bongolo runway, 
preparing for departure.

This is very much like "dry season" weather...
lower overcast with blue skies above!

Our airplane saves our visitors about
7 hours of driving through
equatorial African jungles!

Thank you, again, for all your partnership 
to keep our small aviation ministry flying
and serving to show the Love of God
to those on the margins where the
road ends in Central Africa!

>Your prayers and financial support are so important. 

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To support us financially, use our link through PayPal:

THINGS ABOVE PROJECT