Welcome to Jennifer!

Dear Friends and Family,

We would like to make this a special letter from the Mead family to announce the birth of our fourth child: Jennifer Katiana Mead. She was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida on September 18, 2009 at 11:38pm. At birth she weighed 6 lbs, 6 oz and measured 20” tall.

We are very grateful to God who provided a very easy (by comparison!) and quick delivery. We were scheduled to go in the following day at 7:30 am for Maggy to be induced if she didn’t go into labor earlier. While we were OK with the induction, we would have rathered to forego that and were praying about that along with many of you. Maggy had been having irregular contractions, but they always went away.

Around 5:00 pm on Friday the 18th, she began recording her contractions again. They were about 14 minutes apart. By 7:00, they were about 9 minutes apart and we called the doctor. After getting the OK to go to the hospital, we packed up and headed in. She was admitted and after a brief check in Triage to confirm that she indeed was in labor, we were sent to Labor and Delivery. No sooner had the epidural been given and the contractions stopped! (According to the machine) The nurse set up the delivery table and got all ready to go and started a drip of Pitosin. After everything was ready, she was going to leave us and see if the contractions returned. But she decided one last check, and found the baby’s head almost out!

The doctor came in and after only one push, the baby was delivered! Daddy got to cut the cord and our 4th little one was officially ushered into our world! The remainder of the stay was pleasant and they released us at about 11:30 am on Sunday.

Maggy is resting comfortably and the whole family is very glad to have the new one! Thanks to all of you who have been praying for this to go smoothly. God has blessed us tremendously and we thank him for that!

David, Maggy, Joni Karina, Joshua, Jonathan and Jennifer

David Gets to Go to Ecuador

Thanks to all of you who are praying for us. God is really doing some exciting things in our lives and the plan to go to Ecuador is really coming together.

We have the dates now for me to go to Ecuador to take the evaluation. I will be leaving the 2nd of October and returning the 18th. Since our last letter, we knew we needed to rely on God for all the costs associated with this evaluation. I needed flight time to brush up on my skills, airfare to get to Ecuador and the evaluation costs itself.

God has planned ahead for all this and is working it out! I discovered that I had enough frequent flyer miles to travel to Ecuador for $23! (The tax on the ticket). I also belong to the Civil Air Patrol and can fly an airplane for practice for less than half the cost of a rental. The only item left is the cost of the evaluation itself. It is estimated to be around $2000. The exact amount will vary with exactly how much flying I will have to do, I assume. Since 2 out of 3 items have been taken care of by God already, we are making the arrangements for my trip and we'll watch how God provides the rest.

Even Maggy is excited for me to be able to go. She feels a lot better about moving down if at least one of us can take the opportunity to look for housing options, schools for the kids and other such arrangements.

Other plans and arrangements are going well. We got rid of a ton of stuff at our garage sale. We got quotes from a shipping company that are very reasonable to move the little stuff we have remaining. We have our stuff in order enough to take our time packing for the move at our leisure.

The plans for the banquet in November are coming together too. I will be able to finish up work on the presentation after returning from Ecuador when I will have much more information on exactly how things will work for us. By that time, God willing, we will be full members of ADSE (MAF-Ecuador) as well.

The kids are doing well in school and are mentally preparing for going to a Spanish-speaking school. There is some resistance, but I know they will do well once we get there.

Maggy is still getting bigger and the baby seems very content to stay inside! She is kicking and moving a lot. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and we will know if everything is still normal. Our only concern at this point would be a possible breach birth if she is not in position. Our trust is in God.

Praise

• That God has provided for the air fare to Ecuador as well as the training in preparation for the evaluation.
• That Maggy is feeling good still (but tired!)
• Another month with all the bills paid

Prayer

• God's provision for the rest of the evaluation cost (about $2000)
• Safety in David's travel to/in/back from Ecuador
• Healthy delivery of baby Jennifer
• Our monthly financial support needs

September Newsletter

September 2, 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

A lot has been happening with the Mead family and we want to keep you up to date on all the goings on. We have been trying to keep in touch with most everyone in one form or another, but it looks like sending out a regular news letter is going to be the most effective way to keep everyone up to date. Especially as our lives change so quickly!

We want to make sure everyone is filled in on what has brought us to this point, so here are the details.

David has spent the last 2 years getting his Commercial pilot’s license and aircraft mechanic’s certificates. We both feel strongly that God was leading us into full time mission’s work after our construction business failed and he has provided tremendously to accomplish all that David needed to fulfill the requirements of most aviation mission’s organizations.

At the beginning, it seemed obvious that we should go to Ecuador, where Maggy is from, to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship. But as time went on, we realized God doesn’t always work in the obvious ways, so we expanded our search to see if God may be leading us to work elsewhere. We moved up to Waxhaw, NC where David was invited by JAARS to do a maintenance internship. It was a great opportunity to build skills and to get a close first hand look at how JAARS operates. Maggy and the kids enjoyed the time as well, connecting with missionaries who were returning from overseas or headed back.

As we searched for God’s leading, he made it very plain that we were indeed uniquely prepared to serve in Ecuador. But instead of heading through the normal channels of the US branch of MAF, we applied to the Ecuadorian run branch called Alas de Socorro – Ecuador. The Ecuadorian government is no longer issuing pilot’s or mechanic’s licenses to foreigners, so it has been very difficult for MAF to staff the work in Ecuador. David will be able to gain Ecuadorian citizenship because he is married to an Ecuadorian citizen. Thankfully, he will not have to give up his American citizenship as Ecuador recognizes dual citizenship.

Our application to ADSE has been reviewed and is only pending David’s flight evaluation down in Ecuador. We are making plans for David to go down to spend about a week or so to do the evaluation and he will also use the opportunity to try to arrange housing, get information on the schools for the kids and be more informed in general about our new lives there.

There will be costs involved with the trip as the cost of the travel and evaluation itself is the responsibility of the applicant. David will need to brush up on his skills in the airplane before going down as it has been about 5 months since he has flown. We know God will provide for these costs if we are following his will, so we depend on him.

In the mean time, Maggy has been busy adding to the family! Our kids are now: Joni Karina, 12 and in 7th grade; Joshua, 10 and in 5th grade; Jonathan, 14 months; and baby Jennifer is due the middle of September. The older kids have such a great attitude about moving and even about going to a Spanish speaking school. They have been to Ecuador numerous times, although not specifically to the jungle, so they are somewhat familiar. Maggy, also, is very excited to be going. Even with the little ones, she knows we will be well taken care of there. She has had a burden for many years to work among her own people and is very happy God finally got through to me to do that!

We will be living in a little town called Shell in the province of Pastaza. The town was named after Shell oil who continues to do much work down there. It also is the same town where Nate Saint lived with his family. (If you haven’t seen the movie The End of the Spear yet, please do!)

Our plans at this point will be to move in early January. Since we are joining the Ecuadorian branch of MAF, things are a little different. All of their applicants to date have come from Ecuador, so we are unique in that we will be coming from the U.S. Most of the details of the move and our financial support are going to be largely up to us. I still don’t have all the details and we are learning as we go, but we are very comfortable with the arrangements so far and are trusting in God to supply as he so faithfully has been doing.

Until our application is finalized after my flight evaluation, we are unable to receive donations through MAF. Should you desire to send donations, you can send them directly to us for the time being and we will advise as soon as that changes.

We are so grateful for your prayers that have helped us to this point. We ask that you commit to continued prayer for us as the details continue to be worked out and our progress in getting to Ecuador proceeds. Our blog is updated about weekly and you can find specific prayer requests and praises on there. www.davidmeadfamily.blogspot.com

Right now our prayer requests are: health for mommy and baby, good decisions about details leading up to moving, funds for the trip to Ecuador and evaluation, strength to continue trusting God.

We commit everything we do to God,


David, Maggy, Joni Karina, Joshua, Jonathan, Jennifer

Huaorani Student Pilot

Maggy found an article in an Ecuadorian newspaper about this Huaorani man who is in the U.S. taking is pilot training. It was neat for us to see this, as it sums up very well why we are going to Ecuador. We will help to overcome many of the obstacles in place that keep indigenous people from being connected to the outside world.

I have not verified any of the information in the article nor do I support any of the content. It is a direct translation from the original article.

A Huaorani Studies to be a Pilot

Olga Imbaquingo Correspondent in New York

From the Ecuadorian jungle to Michigan with a dream; become a pilot to return to the jungle to establish an aerial bridge and save the lives of his own people: the Huaorani. Menewa Nenquimo Enqueri had already taken the first huge step to obtain it 15 years ago.

This young man of 25, who came to learn through oral history the story of the 5 American missionaries who died in 1956 from the tips of the arrows of his people, has just graduated as an aviation mechanic.

In September, he will begin his studies to be a commercial pilot, which consists of 250 hours piloting airplanes.

In addition, there is a factor in the merging of his world and that of Tim Paulson, a pastor’s son, who remembers as a child of hearing and reading of the “5 missionaries who landed an airplane on the banks of the Curaray River. The Aucas thought that they were a curse and they killed them.” Throughout the years, the story has been cemented in his memory.

Over the years, Paulson got to know the son of the pilot who took the 5 missionaries to the Curaray River and in addition, he himself is a missionary and takes young people to see how the Huaoranis live. It was in one of these trips that Nenquimo’s parents asked him to help make him a pilot, because when there is sickness or any other type of emergency, they do not receive help immediately.

That is how this young Amazonian man arrived at the School of Missionary Aviation Technology in Iona, Michigan (United States) with 2 years of high school and no knowledge of technology.

“Menewa knows more than the pilots because he is a mechanic. He has made several flights as a co-pilot in one of his instructor’s airplanes”, Paulson says. “This young man is very intelligent, bright and determined.”

Nenquimo has his own version of the experience. “I suffered because I am not from the city, I am from the jungle and we do not have technology there.” He tells of the time that he realized that his friends didn’t understand how neither the cold nor the snow affected him. “Here, they are always covered up, and I am fine with just a t-shirt.”

His inherent ingenuity is attacked by worrisome moments. His roommate was the son of Colombian parents who helped him pay his rent, but he changed schools. “I believe that economy here is also bad, I still have not found an apartment near my school.” Paulson lives 96 kilometers away and it is impossible for Nenquimo to commute every day.

Both are waiting for “God to help us…”

The young Huaorani man, in his favor, has his commitment, that has turned into an obsession, that his people are waiting for him and that “they in more need than am I. Everything that I do is for them.”

When he leaves, he will leave with the memory that the “gringos” that he has met are not as bad as his ancestors once believed.

“Without a doubt, what I have enjoyed most are the people. Where I go they are very kind.” Jim and Julie McKay also are part of the story. Many weekends are spent with them.

According to the Argus-Press of Caledonia, Julie McKay says that Nenquimo has spent a few Christmases with them and “he likes potatoes, because he ate them in Ecuador.”

Jim McKay is one of the professors and has students from Africa, Brazil and Honduras. “Culturally, he fits perfectly and is excellent in academics, in spite of the language barrier.” It is with him that he has gone up as co-pilot in his spare time. He also takes his daughter flying.

The progress of this young man in technical English and understanding of mechanics has qualified him so that “they have me inspect the work of my classmates”, relates Nenquimo.

“This is the story that shows us that the Huaorani have much to offer us and that we just have to show them how to fish and they will do it themselves”, is Paulson’s conviction.

Nenquimo also tells of his experiences…
Nenquimo has been in Michigan since June 16, 2008 and it has been the assistance of the churches and a few volunteers who have made it possible to proceed in his studies. The total cost to be a pilot is $47,000 U.S.

The school where he is studying has not lowered its prices, but at least are accepting payments. Anyone who would like to help is able to communicate via this email: eaglewingtp@aol.com. Paulson is not silent with his intention to help Nenquimo. Together, they traveled to Iowa and Colorado to interview with anthropologists who are familiar with the Huaorani history to attempt to secure assistance. Nenquimo also has spoken, telling of the way of life in Amazonia. “People are impressed with the knowledge of this young man. Thank you to those who understand that there are other perspectives of living,” says Paulson.

http://www.elcomercio.com/

No Baby Yet

Well, it has been quite a busy week, but no trips to the hospital for a baby, yet! Mommy and baby Jennifer seem to be doing fine, and while the baby is very active, she seems quite content to stay in her warm cozy home for a little while longer. The due date given by the doctors is Sept 20, so we are in no hurry just yet. They don't cry when they are still inside.

The kids are back in school. They are happy to be returning to a familiar school with some old friends. Karina walks to school as it is only about 1/4 mile up the road and we drive Josh up to drop him off along with his cousin.

We are fairly prepared for the yard sale this weekend. Our stuff has been sorted through and we have determined what to keep and what to get rid of. Our house is very near a busy intersection, so by placing a few signs around, we hope to attract a lot of attention and buyers. Our goal is more to get rid of unwanted stuff, but it will be nice to make some money to help with moving costs. We have had several people donate some stuff that should sell to help with the expenses.

We also are planning a presentation dinner in November. We are approved to use the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church Temple Terrace and have had a ton of help getting that coordinated and ideas for the event. We are really seeing God work in a mighty way to prepare for our ministry in Ecuador. So many of our friends are getting really excited about this with us and are pouring themselves into helping us. It is so great! If you are interested in attending, it will be November 6 at 6:30pm. Email me for more details.

I have enrolled in St Petersburg College. I am currently taking two classes with a third to start next month. All are online so I will be able to continue taking classes while I am in Ecuador. It will be good for me to learn more about accounting, management, business and such. Best of all, the Pell Grant covers all the tuition! But books are so expensive! I can't believe I have to pay almost $200 for a book! I hope to be able to sell them to recoup some of that to another student after my class!

More News

We have been busy settling back into Tampa life and it has been good. It is always good to get back home even though this will only be home for us for a short while longer. It has been good reconnecting with friends and family.

Maggy has the kids enrolled in school and they are ready to begin next week. She has most of our household stuff transferred back to Florida life and now just waiting for baby Jennifer to decide when she well make her grand entrance to the world! We are all in good health and in good spirits. Great is our God!

While I did get some hope of getting some work from the flight school, I have not been called in yet. I will continue checking in with them, but I am getting the feeling that God may want me to be full time in preparation for our move. I certainly have plenty to keep me busy for the time being and I will make very good use of my time while I don't have any work. In the mean time, he is providing for us very faithfully. Thank you to those who are giving to us to sustain us!

Also, I have discovered that I qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, so I will take advantage of having some time and take some more courses at a local college toward a Bachelor's Degree. My mechanic school credits transfer to a local community college and combined with past college courses, I am not that far from the B.A.S. More education can't hurt and I had been wanting to take some financial management classes anyway. Thanks God for the opportunity!

As for the airplane, it turns out that that particular one was not in God's plan as it was sold last week. I will be continuing to search for an airplane as I still feel strongly that one is needed before I go down, so that I won't have to return to buy one later. Some money has been given for the project and we will continue looking to God to provide the rest. Looking at the previous one was a great experience as I learned more about the process and about that particular airplane as well. We will wait on God to provide in his time.

There is one item of praise that I have been forgetting to mention. I had been concerned about my weight since I knew I would be flying small airplanes. Not that I had ever heard that any mission group had a max weight for pilots, but if I could lose some weight and still be healthy, then that would be more cargo or fuel that could be carried making my flying more useful. Since most of you who know me know that I abhor exercise and rather enjoy mealtime, I knew it would only be through God's strength that I would be able to do it. I stuck to my diet while in NC and continued my exercise and he blessed me! I was able to lose about 40 lbs and I feel great and know that I am much healthier. I even started playing soccer with the college age kids and was somewhat able to keep up with them!

Moving forward with Airplane

Well, I looked at the airplane that is for sale here in the Tampa area that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. It is a good looking airplane inside and out and appears to be exactly what I am looking for.

Additionally, it has a semi-major problem that could work out to my favor. There is a tiny crack in a place that is very hard to get to, and requires many hours of labor to make the repair. The owner is aware of it and realizes that he will have to reduce the price of the plane substantially to sell it as is. Fortunately for me, I have made arrangements with the flight school/maintenance shop that I used to work at to be able to do most of the work myself being supervised in the shop. I will be able to save quite a bit of money while getting very familiar with the airplane.

The asking price of the airplane is $24,900, but it seems the owner will be open to an offer of about $18,000. I expect to spend about $1000 in hard costs for inspections and repairs to make the airplane 100%. So, it looks very promising that this might be the airplane that I was looking for. One of the best things about it, is that it is local and can be looked at in person by people I trust to help me.

I spent the better part of the day talking to mechanics and aircraft brokers that I know getting some very good advice about it. They all agree that it is the ideal airplane to do what I intend to do with it. And the flight school has agreed to lease it back, so it can be earning income for itself while we are in the U.S.

The next step would be to do a pre-purchase inspection. I would be involved with that doing most of the grunt work taking it apart enough to get a good look at everything. My old boss will do the inspection itself and he is very thorough. Then it would just be a matter of doing a title search and making the financing arrangements. Once the purchase is complete, I would be able to get to work on the repairs. My boss said it would be about a week's worth of work.

Of course, my finances are still very limited, so I am trusting in God to provide for that part of it. I know that if this is the right airplane at the right time, then he will provide. We have committed our plans to him, so we know he will bless.

In the mean time, I did get a commitment for some part time work back at CAMS flight where I used to work. I will be able to work both in the hangar doing maintenance and some fill-in instruction, so that will work out well. I will have plenty of time to work on getting ready for moving to Ecuador and have a little bit of income to sustain us while we are here. Plus I will be able to keep active flying and in maintenance to keep my skills sharp. Praise God for his perfect provision!