Early Team Itinerary: (Jason, Connie, Charity, Philip, Luke, Hilary, Nathan A, Sarah, Nathan B)

Monday, Dec 8

• Northwest #1276
  LV: Boise 8:00am
  AR: Minneapolis/St Paul 11:51am

• Northwest #42
  LV: Minneapolis/St Paul 3:20pm
  AR: Amsterdam 6:30am (arrival date Dec 9)

Tuesday, Dec 9

• KLM #591
  LV: Amsterdam 10:05am
  AR: Johannesburg 9:50pm

Rest of Team

Sunday, Dec 28

• Northwest #1276
  LV: Boise                            7:55am
  AR: Minneapolis/St Paul     11:51am

• Northwest Flight #42
  LV: Minneapolis/St Paul       3:20pm
  AR: Amsterdam                  6:30am (arrival date Dec 29)

Monday, Dec 29

• KLM Air #591
  LV: Amsterdam                10:05am
  AR: Johannesburg              9:50pm

Back To Idaho (everyone):

Sunday, Jan 11

• KLM Air #592
  LV: Johannesburg             11:55pm
  AR: Amsterdam                10:00am (arrival date Jan 12)

Monday, Jan 12

• Northwest Air #55
  LV: Amsterdam                   3:35pm
  AR: Minneapolis/St Paul       5:50pm

• Northwest Air #1275
  LV: Minneapolis/St Paul       9:15pm
  AR: Boise                         11:17pm

Work: After working for a major corporation 18 years, I recently “retired” (the dang company up and moved away from Idaho.. but it was a blessing in disguise!) I finished up my masters degree and currently work from home as a marketing consultant and web designer. I also do the finances & marketing of our growing Nampa salon. I have a few other business endeavors I’m trying… right now it’s a lot like throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. But I’m having a great time. Not to mention “house-dad,” which has recently anchored my belief that the cliche about “housewives having tougher jobs than their spouses” is really quite true.

My “God story”: I love to hear peoples’ “God stories” — partly because it’s amazing to hear how differently he comes into, and works in, each of our lives. Far from the notion of “cookie-cutter Christians,” our unique testimonies certainly attest to the fact that Christ died to save us individually, as well as collectively. My “God story” is rather anticlimactic, compared with some folks who have near-death experiences that “wake” them up. When I was very young my dad told me who God was, how he sent Christ, and that I had a choice. I prayed then and received Him. That said, while I always “knew” of God, I rarely “acted” of him. It wasn’t until adulthood, after my son was born, when I began seeking a deeper meaning in life besides just work, money, cars, vacations, … (junk). In subsequent years, I’ve come to believe that some (certainly me) just don’t care much about life until they have some “skin in the game” … having accountability to — and/or responsibility for — something more than just themselves.

A favorite quote: “veritas lux mea” … latin for “the truth is my light.”

What people say about me: I’ve been told I’m a “renaissance man” because I like to try and do different things. But I wonder if that’s just a euphemism for “jack of all trades, master of none”

Things about you that most people don’t know: Behind my smiling, calm, laid-back persona, is a frenzied, maniacal task-master who loves checklists, productivity, and success in his endeavors.

A verse, quote, or thought you tend to “live” by. “Love those who don’t love you, for if you love only those that already love you, what is the reward in that?” - Jesus

What are things about you that most people don’t know? That I like Phantom Of The Opera, and Lucianno Pavarotti is one of my favorite musicians

Personality? I can be outgoing and funny, and I can be shy and quiet probably all in the same conversation

Have you lived in any unusual places? My room

Do you have talents? Funny things about you? I’m a pretty good bass singer, and I can burp my alphabet

Something you really want to do? I would love to perform in the All-Northwest choir

What is important to you? Jesus, friends, family, making friends, and music

What “irks” you? Hearing something sung out of tune, and getting interrupted

Favorites: In my free time I like to drum or do something related to music, my favorite book is “Exodus” by Leon Uris, my favorite dessert is a strawberry milkshake with fries, and I don’t have just one favorite movie

I’m in the 8th grade and I’m the youngest of three. I have two older brothers, Aaron and Luke.

I became a christian when I was 5, in Lesotho, which is in Southern Africa.
When we moved here to Nampa, Idaho I had a rough first year. And I felt as if Satan was trying to tear us apart as a family and me individually. It was tough to adjust to living in America after growing up in Africa.   So I started to listen to good Christian music and pray often and that’s how things turned around for me.   God has taught me a lot. But I still have a lot to learn
A verse I live by is Luke 9: 24-25 which says, “If you try to hang on to your life you will lose it, but if you give up your life for My sake you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but you yourself are destroyed.

I love people. That’s my personality. But I can be very shy.

Oh, and I love horses. That is Dusty in the picture with me.

My God-story began when I was very young. My Christian life was way more than just accepting Jesus as my Savior and going to church every Sunday. I remember longing to know Who God was and what He was about. It was a journey and all I needed to do was follow where He was going. At about 10 years old I began to sense the Lord calling me to missions. That sense of calling was greatly challenged and wasn’t even very clear during my teen years. But during my first year of college, God did make it very clear that He wanted me to be a missionary. I had my own idea of what that was to look like, but God had other things in mind. Instead of going single and working with women helping them grow in their walk with Christ, God brought Jason and I together and we worked with Mission Aviation Fellowship using airplanes to reach the poor and the hurting. My passion for kids began with my own, of course, and then with the orphanages in Lesotho, Africa that began to grow due to HIV-Aids.

My life verse comes from Matthew 22:37: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This verse has always meant so much to me because it speaks of the desire I have always had for an intimate relationship with God. He wants all of me, not just the things I do for Him. It doesn’t matter where I live or what I do, I can always love Him.

I am an outgoing person who loves people. I re-charge by being with people mostly. There are times I love to be alone with a good book and a cup of peach tea. But that doesn’t happen very often and that’s OK. I LOVE what I do and the family I get to do life with!

We have lived in Lesotho, Africa for 13 years. Lesotho is the childhood home of our 3 children. After a year in Paris, France, we then moved to Mali, West Africa for 2 years. Mali is where Timbuktu is located. My mother told me when I was young that if I didn’t shape up, she was going to send me to Timbuktu. She had no idea that it was a real place. That is the honest truth. She really said that. Well, Timbuktu is in the Sahara Desert which we visited when my parents came to visit. It is a great place if you like sand, camels, and lots of wind. You don’t smile or you will get a mouth full of sand. Actually you do anyway, because the bread you eat there is made in outdoor ovens and the wind blows in the sand which is backed right into the bread. Now that’s fiber!

That’s enough about me. I am excited about this trip and to get to know all those who are going to Lesotho.

I am single, I have 5 wonderful children.  Through marriage, I have 7 more wonderful children!  I have three adorable granddaughters.

My God Story:

When I was 7 years old, my dad took me to a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles.  I heard the gospel and knew it was the truth.  I grew up in church, but took a 16 year sabbatical from fellowship and church and that didn’t work out so good.  Like the prodigal son, when I was down to a broken life, I turned back to the Lord and He accepted me with open arms as any good father and healed my broken, destroyed, wounded life.

My two favorite Bible verses:

Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

My passions: Besides my family, they are my love for the Lord, the ocean, and golf.

Things most people don’t know about me: Oh, I’m weird, believe me.  I’m not sure I want everyone to know…

Favorite Food: Mexican

Favorite colors: Red and pink

*I have had a relationship with the Lord for as long as I can remember. I was about 21 when the Lord walked me through some personal trials and my heart really became open to His love and His grace set me free to receive it. My life has never been the same since.

*My life scripture is Galatians 2:20- NO LONGER I

*My wife says she married me because I was a fireman.

* My middle name is Wayne.

I am the manager at Living Water Book and Coffee.  I love my job because not only do I get to help customers in the ordinary ways i.e. finding books, posters, movies and the like.  I also get to listen to their stories and sometimes pray with them.

MY God Story:

I grew up in and out of church until I hit high school, when I chose not to attend as often as I should have.  I followed another path which led to boys.  This is a path I followed through out my high school years and almost into my college years.  I was supposed to be moving to Seattle to attend the Art Institute (which I still did attend).  I was also supposed to be moving in with a certain someone while I attended school.  The day before I was to move God and my mom decided it was time to talk.  I remember sitting on my parents couch and having my mom tell me what I was doing was wrong and against God’s will.  It was then that I realized exactly how much she was right and how much I had strayed away from my relationship with my Savior.  The next hour or so was the change in my life that I was desperately needing.  Within the hour I had broken up with the certain boy, gained back my relationship with Christ (and many other relationships I had strayed from)and was signing up to live in the Art Institute’s dorm rooms. Since that time I have graduated from college, moved back to Nampa and have been enjoying a growing relationship with my Savior.
Two of my favorite verses are in Hebrews and 2 Corinthians.
Hebrews 10:39-11:1 States: But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate.  We have faith that assures our salvation.  What is Faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.  It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
2 Corinthians 1:3 States:  All Praise to the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us.
My family and friends would tell you that I am quiet until you get to know me.  They would say I love kids and would sometimes rather spend my time with them  then with adults (but not all the time though, I do love having my “adult” conversations).  Lastly they would tell you that I am a giver (of my time, my resources, my energy, my everything)
One big thing that people don’t know about me is my desire to live and work in an orphanage (even if it is for just a season:)).

Something that has really touched my heart has been my relationship with my sponsored child.  It’s been moving to know I am having a small impact on a child and his family.
Something fun that I would like to do is travel.  I’m really interested in how other cultures live.  Language is also a fun thing for me to explore and learn more about.    One of my dreams in this would be to travel in Europe and Russia.  Two very different places but exciting to travel into.

My God story: I was 21 yrs old when I was introduced to Jesus at an Easter re-enactment of the book of John. I was invited by a co-work at my office.
Favorite Scripture: Romans 12:2-6 (New International Version)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

What my family says about me: Family of Origin - I am loved! Family of Faith - I am loved! They would all say I am serious and committed. That I walk on absolutes and that I have high expectations. I am watching God perform His Will in many lives to confirm His word to me because I want a faith that walks on water and raises the dead and heals the sick. That I am empathic towards people’s hearts and needs, but I tell the truth from my experience of the truth.

Personality - Extroverted

Something I really want to do: I really want to get my private pilot license - I have 7 hours of flight time. I would like to serve the Lord in many nations.

Things that are important to me: It is important to me to be honest. I see how easily I can be deceived and how I can deceive myself.

Favorite color is red - Favorite Dessert: Anything made with dark chocolate!

Things I like to do: I like to read and study nutrition and alternative health remedies.

I’m 28, married for four years to Marcie, own a landscaping company.
What is your God-story or testimony?

I became a Christian at a very young age, but re-dedicated my life to Christ when I was 16. I was at a Harvest Crusade, and it was by a campfire on the beach.

A verse, quote, or thought you tend to “live” by.

1 Peter 1:3-5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

What your family/friends say about you?

That I’m a hard worker, work-aholic… etc.

What are things about you that most people don’t know?

That I tie flies for my fly fishing habit. That I don’t like squash. That I am a certified arborist.

Personality?

Laid back, easy going.

Do you have talents?

I have been told I have a keen eye for rock placement in landscapes.

An accomplishments you are proud of?

Owning my own business, becoming a certified arborist.

Something you really want to do?

Fly fish in countries around the world. Become a dog trainer.

What “irks” you?

Bad drivers, backseat drivers (ahem, Marcie…)

Favorites:

color? Blue

Favorite thing to do with your free time? Fly Fish, Hike

book? Lord of the Rings

movie? Gladiator