It's a Wrap on 2022
Merry Christmas 2022
2022 ended on a fruitful note. Urbana is a major Christian student missions conference that is held every 3 years. Joel and I had the privilege of representing AIM and AIM AIR at Urbana 2022 from December 28th through to New Year’s Eve. As we interacted with students and mission minded individuals, we were reminded of our “Why”. In our positions of AIM Short Term Mobilizing, AIM AIR Training Supervisor, and Liberty University Team Leader (Missions Focus), we are in strategic positions to encourage the next generation of missionaries.
Representing AIM Short Term and AIM AIR at Urbana
Short term
The Short-Term Mobilizing Program is recuperating from the effects of Covid restrictions. Last year we successfully interviewed, trained, launched, received back and debriefed 60 individuals to East, Central, South, and North Africa. We mobilize university students seeking 6-8 week internships to meet Global Study course requirements; teachers, dorm parents, and maintenance personnel to AIM boarding schools in Kenya and Chad; families seeking confirmation to God’s call with a 6-8 month assignment; clinical psychologists; and AIM AIR internships. These assignments can be life-changing, and it's encouraging to hear how lives are being changed/directed in service to the Lord.
LaReina is currently interviewing applicants for 2023 and launching 3 individuals the first week of January. It’s a busy season, but we praise God for continuing to bring quality applicants with a heart to serve with the gifts and talents God has given them! It’s an honor to match willing servants with a need from the field.
AIMAIR's newest candidate after passing Technical Evaluation at JAARS
AIM AIR Mobilizing
AIM AIR is growing! 2022 saw three new families join the AIM AIR teams in Nairobi and Arua. We were with AIM AIR's Chief Pilot at Urbana and are thankful for continued open relationship with AIM AIR leadership. Joel will be leading a group of 8 students and instructors from Liberty to Kenya for 2 weeks this summer. Hosted by AIM AIR, the trip will focus on mission aviation. They will be spending a week in Nairobi with AIM AIR and 2 other mission organizations and then spend time in northern Kenya seeing mission aviation in action.
Upcoming attractions for AIM AIR 2023: in mid-January, Joel and LaReina will travel to JAARS for a Technical Evaluation Debrief, and it is likely another three families will be joining AIM AIR in Africa this summer.
** If you have enjoyed the AIM AIR calendars in the past and would like the 2023 edition, please contact Joel and we will get that to you!
2023 AIM AIR Calendar
Joel at Liberty University
Patience is a virtue. We absolutely believe this is where God has us for this season. Joel is excited to be working directly with the instructors and students specifically interested in mission aviation. He is in a position to daily come along side these individuals encouraging and training them in their pursuit of missions. Joel is on several advisory boards specific to missions aviation including the student-led SOAR club. Ian has also been attending the SOAR club events and building relationships within that community. One of the students that Joel mentored helped Ian study for his Private Pilot License which he passed November 23rd (yes, the day before Thanksgiving!). It was a Happy Thanksgiving indeed!
Ian passed his Private Pilot check ride with Joel as his signoff instructor!
Ian will finish his freshman year this spring and continue in Liberty’s Aviation Technology (mission aviation) degree program. In May 2023, he will be starting the Maintenance Technician portion of the degree which is a requirement for most mission organizations. He is experiencing all that dorm life has to offer and is a server at Texas Roadhouse restaurant on weekends.
Renee is into her twenties!
Renee is on track to graduate May 2024 with a degree in Education, English Secondary from Liberty University. Her first classroom internship was in a seventh grade Honors English class at a private school. She will intern in a public and high school before having her own class for her final semester in spring 2024. Renee moved into the basement suite of our townhouse for this year and has been working at a vintage, DIY project shop called Blue Mountain Barn since June.
THANK YOU!
We are thankful that God has provided us the opportunity to encourage not only our kids, but other parents’ kids as well. We are thankful for our experience overseas that we can draw upon to benefit others who are just starting. Most of all, we are thankful for the assurance of our Savior that this is HIS story that He is writing. We are honored to be invited to play our part, and we are humbled by what He has done, is doing, and will do in 2023 to further His Kingdom. Thank you for continued prayers and support.
In His Service,
Joel, LaReina, Renee and Ian
