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Waiting To Go

I have no idea what I've posted since we arrived back. We've been in Oakhurst about ten days. On Tuesday we emptied our storage unit and brought it to the garage at this house where we're staying. Wednesday we picked up the U-Haul truck. Ellyn went nuts that evening and loaded most of the truck herself. I know, it sounds like I'm lazy. I told her I'd do it Thursday and Friday, but she just couldn't wait. I helped her with the heavy stuff. She thrives on the challenge of something like having to fit everything in a space where it initially looks like it won't fit. She did it, and everything we now own is in the 17' U-Haul. By Friday we had the last of it done, and we're ready to go. We have been able to spend some time with friends, and I managed to fit three bike rides in during the last two days. You can't imagine how excited I was to bike on forest single-track under blue skies and tall pines. Tomorrow, Sunday, we'll worship at Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church once again, and then they'll have a potluck for us after church. We're planning to pull out of town around 8 AM on Monday, overnighting in Reno before arriving in Idaho on Tuesday afternoon.

We're Here

I've been way too busy to post anything here in the past several days. We arrived safely in the US on Wednesday night. We've been busy every since. I've travelled from Oakhurst to Southern California twice, we've shared at our church on Sunday, and we been able to start making plans to sell our house here in Oakhurst. It's really hard to make many plans for the other end, so we're having to just wait 'til we get to Idaho. We've reserved a U-Haul truck, and will be leaving on Monday, arriving on Tuesday the 28th. Exciting, busy, stressfull, confusing times. One day at a time, and sometimes just hour by hour is the only way we are going to make it, and with lots of prayer. It's been really good to see friends here in Oakhurst. Everyone has been so supportive of us, and wanting to help us however they can. We are blessed!

One Last Night

This is it. We are getting up at 4 AM and fly out at 6:50 AM. I think the flight will leave on time, because the weather is good tonight, and the plane should be able to land. When the weather is bad, the plane can't get in on time, then arrives the next morning after overnighting in Guyaquil. We are flying on American. We were able to accomplish all we needed to in Quito the past two days. Visiting last night with friends, and saying goodbye. A dentist visit today for all of us to get teeth cleaned. Taylor had a baby tooth pulled to make room for a new tooth. Then went to see Star Wars III with the boys this afternoon. Only $8 for the three of us, so better to do it here. Oh, and I also did several hours of I.T. work at the home of an MAF family here in Quito. I set up a linux firewall and content filter server and also wireless access for the house. My last contribution before I leave. I almost didn't get it all done, but was able to pull it off in the nick of time.

Goodbye Ecuador. We will miss you.

Goodbye Shell

Well, this is it from Shell. It's a wonderful rainy night, and I'm looking forward to going to sleep with the rain pounding on the roof. It's been an amazing journey, and none of us would trade any of it for the world. We learned and grown in many ways. The next months are an unknown for us, but looking back over the last six years, we know that to follow the Lord one step at a time is enough. Thank you to all who have supported us prayerfully and have given to MAF on our behalf. We can't do it without you, and we are blessed to have consistent team.

Our last dinner at El Jardine was great, and we'll miss that. After dinner we went to Chad's and Andi's to watch the last part of American Idol. We still hadn't seen that, and didn't know who had won. Andi had taped it, but the tape was bad, so we didn't see the last part of the show. Of course we got on the Internet and figured it out very quickly. Chad and Andi are taking Lou the beagle, so we got to see her in a new environment, and say our goodbye to her tonight. Sad times here, mixed with anticipation and excitement as we look to the next step of our journey.

Flying Again

I forgot to write sooner that we once again have insurance that the DAC recognizes, and they've issued the paperwork. By noon on Friday the guys were flying again, with four planes out. Things were backing up so much that on Thursday, we had Atur and Aereo Regional, two local operators, do a flight each for us. Darryl and Dale both flew yesterday. Darryl was the regular on-call pilot, and Dale flew to help catch up on things a bit, especially since there were three very sick emergency patients waiting for flights. Darryl is out again today. He started early, then was held up by some bad weather, and is now out again this afternoon. He's got a couple snake bit victims to pick up, one of them not doing well at all. I'm glad we're insured again and able to fly, because if we weren't, the snake bit victims have no other options.

Saying Goodbye

I'm over at the hangar copying some Linux CDs in case I want to install Linux on any computer in the next few weeks. All the suitcases are packed, packing lists typed out, and the bags are weighed. Oh, and the bicycle is packed in it's box. We're going out to dinner in Puyo with Chad and Andi to our favorite restaurant, El Jardine. They normally aren't open tonight, but when Andi told them it was for the Hoffmans, they said no problem, they'd open just for us. Ellyn has established a great relationship with Edgar and Sophia, and brought them much business with visitors and work teams over the past four years. We'll certainly miss them and the excellent food they prepare.

We ate lunch at La Casona de Maria yesterday, saying goodbye to Maria. Then we walked up to the hardware store and said goodbye to the owners. They gave us a small leather wall hanging with a scarlet macaw on it--so I can take Lucy with me after all. We also said goodbye at the little grocery store, and a couple other places where Ellyn shops. Then it was back home to say goodbye to Margarita, the lady who has cleaned the house once a week the past three years. I know, you must be thinking what a life of luxury, the Hoffman's have a maid! Yes, it has been nice, but it helps Ellyn make up for time in other areas that things take longer here, plus it serves the important place of giving a local person a job. Ellyn has a wonderful relationship with Margarita, even though they can't speak each other's language. It tore my heart seeing Margarita cry and cry and hug Ellyn for so long. Saying goodbye has not been easy at all.

Final Packing

The road must be open again. A horde of trucks, buses, and cars just went roaring by the house for the past ten minutes. There was a landslide on the Baños road between Mera and Río Negro around 8 AM this morning. That is exactly what I am praying will not happen on Monday morning when we leave for Quito. We had some hard rain last night, and in general June is a rainy month. Two other families are driving up to Quito in vans this morning, but they had planned a late start and weren't affected. Earlier this morning Taylor and I walked over to say goodbye. Two of the boys leaving were in his class. Sam is from Germany, and his dad has been working as the anesthesiologist in the HCJB hospital here in Shell. Sam and his family are leaving for good. Luke is Taylor's best friend, and his family is going on a summer furlough to the US.

Yesterday Ellyn and I packed suitcases. We were thinking we'd have no problem fitting everything into seven pieces of luggage. The eighth piece will be my mountain bike. As it turns out, we will just barely have enough room for everything in our suitcases, and our carry-on bags will be very full. We head up to Quito on Monday morning with another family, all on a chartered bus.

Grounded Fleet

Here's an update from the program manager on our insurance situation. "Our fleet has been grounded since Tuesday this week due to problems with satisfying Civil Aviation with insurance documentation for our planes and pilots. The DAC insurance office is being less than helpful, merciless, and has changed what they require several times. Ecuadorian law requires that we carry local insurance and our local insurer has had to change the policy several times this week because of DAC's inconsistent requirements. We hope to be flying later today (Thursday). Meanwhile, flights are backing up and there are several groups of missionaries and some patients waiting."

Still Critical In Sumatra

I thought you'd enjoy reading the most recent update about the PACTEC internet cafés operating in Sumatra:

Mark and Jon Blomberg arrived in Meulaboh a month ago and dug right into the work with enthusiasm. They have been working on installing the long-range wireless system to link several remote sites - which will hopefully include the MAF guys at the airport. They ran into a glitch when the 18v power supply for the antenna on the 90' tower wasn't adequate, and had to wait for a hand-carry to take out a 24v power supply. Since Tranzeo did not have the needed power supply in stock I had a 'fun' day searching for 24v power supplies with the required specifications and eventually found a workable unit in an electronics store in San Bernardino. It was an amazing place - like the wrecking yard of electronics equipment - but with new stuff too.

Mark and Catherine Nonhoff did a fantastic job in Banda Aceh during the month of May. Since May was 'power supply challenge month', the power supply on the netmodem at Banda Aceh decided to fail and the entire cafe came to a screeching halt. This was complicated by the fact that Bill Clinton was scheduled to be in Banda Aceh at precisely the time the system went down, and OFDA (who funds the cafe) was in a flap about that. Mark Nonhoff saved the day by dissecting the power supply and using certain components along with several 12 volt truck batteries to power the Netmodem. Mark - YOU ARE THE MAN !!!

Getting the new Netmodem power supply out there was another challenge. Thankfully Mark Blomberg found a hand carry with Samaritan's Purse of Canada, and we were able to overnight the power supply and a spare Netmodem to Phil Wilson in Seattle, who drove up to Vancouver, BC and handed off the Netmodem to the SP man who had a brief layover in Vancouver airport. Many thanks to Phil and the SP Canada office staff who went out of their way to help us.

Mark Blomberg is up at Banda Aceh for a week until Phil and Erin Wilson arrive. Phil and Erin, along with 14 month-old Caitlyn, are enroute to Sumatra as I write. Phil will manage the Banda Aceh cafe through the end of July and Erin will help with accounting and some documentation projects. This is a return trip for Phil, who was there in March, but will be the first time for Erin and Caitlyn. Please pray for them as they adjust to life as a family in BA.

Patar Daniel and Reza Fikri have been two of our faithful Sumatran staff since we opened the cafe in Banda Aceh. They are quick learners and are now able to assist in operating the BA cafe. Patar is currently down at Meualboh for a few weeks, assisting with the wireless installations.

Air Serv is in the process of negotiating with a number of NGOs that are willing to help fund the Meulaboh cafe after June. Since there are no working phones or internet providers in Meulaboh, the cafe is critical for the organizations who are working there.

We continue to receive much appreciation from the users of our service in Sumatra. The cafes and our staff have been a blessing to many, and they in turn have been blessed by their participation in this project.

No Flying

The guys aren't flying again today. We sent one of the employees to Quito overnight with paperwork to present to the DAC this morning. It was everything that we were told to have, but when it was presented this morning, we were told there are things missing. So more paperwork to do, and no flights 'til then. Not a good situation for us.

My Bad

Well, the day got off to a bad start. I came over to the hangar at 7:30 AM to get some wrenches to work on the water heater. When I tried to use them, none of them were the right size. I thought that would be the case. Usually when I do that job, I have some wrenches that belonged to Nate, when he was storing his belongings in our bodega. All that is gone now, so I'm back to using tools from the hangar tool box. Anyway, I ended up using a large adjustable wrench and snapped the fitting off. What a drag! Now I've made more work for Ron. We're going to change the water heater out after lunch, as he has a spare. And, this water heater we have now needs to be cleaned like this a couple times a year, while the one we're going to replace it with has never need to be cleaned. It's going to be good in the end, but it's bad timing.

Cold Water

Wow! Only five full days left. I think we're on track, and I'm hoping the weekend can be relaxing, spent with friends. Tonight I found the water heater flaming out, so I'll have to work on that in the morning. Not the sort of unexpected thing I want to have happen in these last days. It should only take an hour of my time to take the burner out and clean it, but we'll see. I guess we'll have only cold water 'til I get it done.

Today there were no MAF planes flying. We are without insurance. Not sure what the status is, but we should be flying again soon. This seems to happen every year when it's time to renew the insurance.

This morning I did the water run for Ron. Dustin and Taylor came along with me. I used the trip to say goodbye to a couple guys that work up at the camp, and the people at the gas station. This afternoon I finished all my documentation changes and updates and got them printed out and in the binder. Tomorrow I need to burn the CD that goes with that.

Tonight Taylor found this neat praying mantis in the house that looks like a dead leaf.

Tsunami Relief Video

There's a short video of MAF's tsunami relief work in Sumatra. I have a short part in it. People have donated close to $3 million to MAF for their work in Sumatra. MAF has purchased a Cessna Grand Caravan and has outfitted it with floats so it will be amphibious. They'll use that to support Samaritan's Purse and others in the work or rebuilding houses.

Goodbye Lucy

It is raining, raining, raining today. A fitting way to end our time in Shell--June is a rainy month. The 20-year average is 22.8" of rain for June. This afternoon I'm going to drive Lucy out to the Fatima animal preserve and say goodbye to her. Will be a sad day for me, and her too. Yesterday we had out final little yard sale and sold or gave away the last of our stuff. Now we're ready to start packing suitcases.

Dustin was at camp this week, and now he and six other Shell MKs are heading down from Quito on the bus. I think now that his week at camp is over, and our selling and getting rid of stuff is done, we'll all just be ready to leave. But, we'll have one more week left. Actually, it will be a nice buffer for us, giving us time to say goodbye to Ecuadorian friends, and not rush out of here in a crazy fashion. I've got a few things I want to wrap up at work, and that'll take me through next Wednesday. Well, that is unless something unexpected comes up.