Big changes (maybe)!

Good Morning! I realized I never wrote a blog for August so here it is! Well. I made it back to the states in 1 piece. Thankfully the guy I’ve been doing construction for had some work that I could do so I was able to start saving up more money for my flight hours that I will be working on this spring. I was glad I went home too! I got to see my brother again before he heads out to Loma Linda for OP, I got to spend my birthday with my parents after I got off work, and I got to see my new niece, Adalyn. It was well worth the trip up! On my way to the airport the night before my flight I was able to visit some family friends in Holly, who I’ve know for 17 years! It was sweet to hang out with the Olivers and I was really thankful for them opening up their house so I wouldn’t have to wake up so early the next morning to drive 3 hours to the airport! My brother dropped me off at the airport and I landed in Cancun without a problem. Y’all should know by now that I love the beach! So of course I made my way out to Playa Carmen and spent about 6 hours soaking up some rays and enjoying the sand before heading to the bus station to catch a flight to Belize. When I got to the airport this lady randomly started talking to me. Turns out she lives on San Pedro, in Belize. I started to try out all the stuff Jeff has taught me about witnessing, and started to move the conversation into something spiritual (my first time ever with a stranger while traveling). After a while of talking she said, “I don’t know if you’ve heard of Adventists, but that’s my church.” I told her that I’m actually an Adventist missionary in OW and she actually stood up and gave me a hug! It was so hilarious and ironic. We kept talking till we boarded the bus about an hour later, encouraging each other and sharing stories. It was such a huge blessing! I arrived in Orange Walk and didn’t see Yessi, who was supposed to pick me up, so real quick I hopped on a bus heading to Belize. I jumped off at Carmelita and then hitchhiked the rest of the way to MOVE. When I got there they called Yessi and told her I arrived at MOVE (apparently she was waiting for me and I just missed her). Since being back at MOVE there have been a lot of changes! Jeff finished fixing his plane and used it to bring missionary directors from South America to a meeting at MOVE. He used it to take people to Bolivia for a mission trip, to take people to the states for a mission project, and then to return everyone to their homes in the end. I still haven’t seen the inside of the plane all put together, but I saw the outside as I drove by the tarmac to pick one of the groups up a few times! It looks awesome! Anyways, some of the people that came for the mission meeting stayed cause they are opening a project and want to take the course I’m in (Mentorship). One of the guys that wasn’t a missionary and just came to pick up a missionary and take him home, ended up staying. He is now one of the students and is interested in mission work (He’s an awesome mechanic). Javier didn’t end up coming back. After our mission trip in Colombia, he returned to Mexico and decided to stay and work to help pay for some family medical bills. This means that I have 2 houses I’m in charge of. I’m basically the boys dean for all the boys! There are 4 single girl staff for 6 girl students, and 1 single guy staff, me, for 11 boys. It’s definitely been interesting. I have to eat and cook in both houses, lead out in worship, answer questions, make sure they are staying clean, and just be a role model... which is a lot. I’ve really been trying to rely on God more so the kids don’t see me, but see Him shining through me. There are more families and staff here at MOVE now so technically my job should be “easier”. But I’ve been trying to put 110% in and be the absolute best I can be. A lot of times when I get to the end of something, I end up slacking off a little. Seeing as how this looks like it will be my last course here, I’m trying to do something different and make it the best one yet, which it has been, so far. I’m working on being more organized and everything... It’s interesting at times. Speaking of this being my last course here, I was talking with my parents and my dad brought up SMAT, a mission aviation school in Ionia, Michigan. Well, my parents ended up doing research and found out that maybe I can afford it and that I could get my airframe and powerplant certifications (my aviation mechanics certification) done in 1 intense year of school! I was wondering what to do after this program. If you work in aviation mechanics for 3 years you can try and test out and see if you can get certified. There is an option maybe that I could go that way while serving in the Philippines at PAMAS or something, but its not for sure I’d pass. I looked at dates and everything seems to be lined up like God is opening the door so far. I sent in my application, and am waiting to hear back. My grandparents said I could live with them already, they only live 30 minutes away. I could get a job for the summer and raise money to live on and for my classes. And that would give me this spring to hopefully finish up 1 or two of my flight licenses, if the FAA approves me (Yes, we are still waiting to hear the final word). By fall of 2020 I could be fully certified and with all my pilots licenses. It sounds so far away, and it is a lot of time I will be spending in the states after being out for 2 1/2 years... but it's the quickest way, and I want to get it all done so I can just go serve! I’m praying every day that God will open and close doors, financial, and in every other way. If you guys wouldn’t mind adding this to your prayer lists it would be greatly appreciated! I’ve got to say, it feels good to be back here in Belize. Even though I’m here for 3 or 4 months, then leave, then come back... it has been over a year that I’ve been committed to this place, and it's starting to feel like home. I’m back to rice and beans every day, one of my favorite salsas, and teaching people to serve. As much as I don’t consider myself a good teacher for adults, I was thinking this morning about the past 2 groups of students that came through, and where they are at now, some of them are coming up on a year of service! Even though I’m not out in the jungle (where my heart is feeling called every second), I can see that God is using me here. And also, that he is using here, to change me! And I’m ok with that! Thank you guys for support in donations, in prayer, and every other way you guys support me! Please continue to pray for the situation with the FAA and with SMAT, that God’s will will be made clear, and that I will be open to any change He puts in front of me!