Two Months in Australia: Standardization/Orientation

How time flies!  We have been in Australia for almost nine weeks now, and lots has happened.  For the first five weeks we were staying in a town called Mareeba, about one hour drive west of Cairns.  MAF International has their training and maintenance base there, and this is the home of the Line Pilot Standardization course that all new MAFI pilots must complete.  For me (Tim) this was an amazing time of growth and learning in both professional and personal areas.  

On one of the days we loaded up the airplanes and all went to a remote airstrip to practice various maneuvers.

The standardization course covers many topics that are impractical or non feasible to train in most other contexts, yet are often crucial skills for MAF pilots.  As an example, if you are training on the Canadian prairies, you will likely be taught that if you have an engine failure after takeoff, you will pick a landing site straight ahead glide towards that field.  But, what if you are flying out of an extremely remote jungle airstrip, where off the end of the strip is nothing but tall dense jungle?  In this course we work through these situations, assessing and prioritizing risks, learning how to consider the aircraft capabilities, the precise handling that would be required, and the consequences both positive or negative that might result.  Does that mean that a MAF pilot can always turn back to and land on the strip he just took off from?  No, not necessarily.  But he does have tools and training to look back on and say "I know I can do this, and this is why" or "That isn't an option, and I shouldn't spend precious time thinking about it."  

VH-MZL is the Cessna 206 that I used for most of the course.  A fantastic airplane that previously was part of the MAF PNG fleet.

The second half of the course is designed to give exposure to "line flying,"  making decisions about who, what and where you can fly, loading airplanes safely and efficiently, and managing the variables that happen throughout a typical day flying.  I think the instructors have a lot of fun with this one! For example, in one flight I was given a scenario in which I was to fly a parcel of vaccines to a remote hospital.  As I arrived at the strip for landing the instructor said, "OK, there is a large herd of cattle sleeping on the runway.  What are you going to do?"  I decided to do a low pass to try to scare the "cows" off the runway, but apparently this didn't work - the instructor could still see the imaginary cows had not moved.  So now what?  Try to call someone on the ground to scare off the cattle?  Perform an air drop (not an approved technique any more, so not this option!) or divert to another strip?  In this case my decision was that a landing here was non-viable, so off to the next item on my agenda.  And wouldn't you know it, just as I was thinking I had everything under control the engine fuel pump failed, and the switch for the electrical back up lit on fire!! (All simulated, of course. The safety of the flight is NEVER jeopardized.) Time for more decision making, and you better hope you can remember that emergency checklist.  

Another Cessna 206, I flew VH-KBN to finish the course, and commemorated a successful final flight with this picture.

While in Mareeba for Standardization, we lived in community with other MAF trainees and their families.  This was great for Laura and Hannah who had people to spend the days with - others who were in the same stages of transition.  We joined together to make pizzas one night and invited all of the families living in the complex (at one point each unit had a pizza in the oven!) 

The Tilse Street Community on Pizza Night

At the end of our time in Mareeba, we left most of our luggage
(along with eight detailed pages of PNG customs forms)
in the hangar ready to be sent up to PNG whenever a MAF plane is headed that way.

At the end of March, we moved down to Cairns for a week-long Orientation to MAF-International. Our time in Mareeba meant that we already had relationships with most of the families who took the Orientation course with us.  It meant that Hannah knew the kids as well as some of the ladies running the (excellent) childcare program.  Although Cyclone Debbie was initially projected to make landfall near Cairns during our Orientation week, it detoured south and we experienced very hot weather (37C) instead. 

Hannah enjoyed a week of going to "school" everyday.
"Mom, seriously, that's enough pictures!!"

Throughout the week, some of our workshops ran through policy and the various departments throughout the organization.  Others dealt with the more practical - and serious - aspects of the role we are accepting: detailed workshops on safety and security protocol (such as how to exit a vehicle during a car-jacking), bribery, dealing with potential health issues, spiritual warfare and spiritual health. 

Our fellow pre-field missionaries came from all over the world:
The Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, India, and Papua New Guinea.

At the end of Orientation week, a number of the families moved to the programs where they will be working and others moved up to Mareeba to complete the standardization course that Tim just finished.  Although we will be working for the same organization, we've formed friendships with people with whom we may not cross paths again.  However, we look forward to reconnecting with some of these friends in PNG in the future.

And now... language training!  Pray for us as we endeavor to become proficient in New Guinea Pidgin (Tok Pisin) before arriving in Papua New Guinea.  During our remaining time in Cairns, we are working with a tutor from PNG.  When we return to Canada for the birth of Baby Neufeld, we'll continue with book work - unless we can find some retired missionaries in our area who want to revive their Tok Pisin skills!

Australia: Settling In

Praise God that our travels to Australia have gone (for the most part) smoothly.  On February 21st, we left Calgary for Cairns, Australia, with stops in Los Angeles and Brisbane.  Our luggage was checked right through and met us at customs in Brisbane.  Unfortunately, we missed our connection there, but were quickly on the next flight to Cairns.  We reached Cairns about 36 hours after leaving Calgary - just a little bit exhausted!  Most of our luggage will continue ahead of us into Papua New Guinea whenever MAF is sending goods into the country.

An early start at Calgary International Airport

Getting set for our longest leg

Los Angeles to Brisbane = 11,500 km or 14 hours of flight

We had the weekend to recover and adjust to Australian time at Tree Tops Lodge in Cairns.  A joint venture between MAF and Wycliffe, Tree Tops provides a quiet retreat for missionaries taking a break from the field.

Hannah welcomes you to Tree Tops Lodge.

The weather is hot, humid and rainy, a welcome break from an Alberta winter.  It does take some time to adjust to all the living things around us.  Hannah had forgotten that house flies are harmless.  She also told stories of seeing what she described as a "house squirrel" in our kitchenette.  On day two, Tim confirmed that the sightings were of a gecko (phew!).

We are enjoying the summer weather!

A swim in the pouring monsoon rains.

On Saturday we felt rested enough to take a bus into town and explore Cairns a bit.  The beach at Cairns is not for swimming (news to me!) but the Esplanade area by the shore includes a boardwalk, public swimming pool, playgrounds and a splash park.

Off to explore the city.

The pool at the Esplanade

In the city of Cairns, the tide comes in and out across a mud flat.

Early on Monday morning, we were picked up from Tree Tops and driven an hour or so up onto the Tablelands (a large increase in elevation) to the small town of Mareeba.  Hannah and Laura were dropped at our accommodations along with our luggage, while Tim continued on to the airport to begin his first day of his Standardization Course.

Settling into our accommodations in Mareeba

Tim has now completed the first of four weeks of required flight training here in Mareeba.  The days are long, and there is a still a touch of time zone adjustment happening. The hot humid weather takes energy out of you also.  There are three other pilots in the course, two Dutch (one headed to Arnhem Land then PNG, the other to Chad) and an Australian also headed to Arnhem Land.  Flight training with MAF is so different than many other places.  It is much more "what decision do you need to consider or make to mitigate a threat" than it is "here is how use this type or machine."  Tim is very grateful for the good base knowledge and training he had at Prairie that was taught very much in line with MAF philosophy, but is struggling with it being several years ago.  There is plenty of rust that needs to get knocked off still.

Tim will complete his Standardization Course on the plane on the left - a Cessna 206

When he returns from his training each evening, Hannah greets him with, "So what did you learn today, Daddy?"  She hasn't really been used to Daddy leaving on a schedule in the morning and home in the evening, the last few years have been a much more erratic schedule for our family.

Hannah has been making cards for "the ones we miss."

We have been met with great hospitality by the MAF Mareeba staff and other pre-field missionaries here for training.  We've been provided with meals, rides, and invitations to various groups and events (mostly Hannah and Laura). The property we are on includes six units housing individuals or families from all over the world who are here for training with MAF.  Hannah enjoys playing with the little boys next door; she will be fluent in Dutch soon!

The Final Countdown

In less than two weeks, we will be on a plane (several, in fact) bound for MAF's training base in Australia.  So what is involved in moving a family overseas?  Every time I turn around there is another task to be accomplished, from the important to the mundane.  Let me give you a taste of some of the last minute details.  

Once our flights were booked, Tim applied for our Australian visas (the PNG visa application is more complex and was initiated months ago). The last few weeks have been a blur of medical appointments (doctor, dentist, optometrist, vaccines), meetings at the bank and the law office to ensure everything is in order to be handled from overseas, and final connections with churches and friends. Because of the generous loan of a vehicle from friends, we were able to sell our van with lots of time to spare.

Sometimes a treat is required as a reward for all those pokes and jabs.

While Hannah had the flu, I sat on her bedroom floor keeping her company and working on the more mundane projects: Sorting a limited variety of ribbon, thread and supplies into my sewing box; writing my Pinterest recipes out on to cards so that I can cook without my phone; and organizing larger kids clothes by size and packing them into Ziploc baggies.  All of our belongings are being organized into the smallest and lightest format. 

Packing little things into Tupperware or Ziplocs to keep out moisture.

We have decided to use excess baggage on the airline, rather than sending a shipment by sea, and this has meant rethinking our packing choices.  We had been planning to ship large airtight drums with as much weight as necessary.  Now the challenge is to pack our belongings into totes with maximum total dimensions of 62 inches and weighing no more than 50lbs.

Sorting station in the basement.  Some things will go; others will be in storage.

We spent this past weekend in Peace River saying goodbye to good friends and our home church.  We moved away from Peace River in July, so we were able to give an update on our journey since then and celebrate being fully-supported and ready to go.

Prayer from the elders of the church

Hannah insisted on getting her time at the microphone as well.  We agreed, thinking she would clam up when put on the spot.  We couldn’t have been more wrong! Since her contribution was unrehearsed, I’m not sure exactly what she said, but it went something like this: “My dad is going to fly an MAF plane to take sick people to the hospital and people who are hurt and they can have their germs taken out of them… and he’s going to fly Bibles and food and toys to people who don’t have them.”  It was a privilege to be commissioned by our church for God’s work overseas.  

Hannah's turn at the mic

Please continue to pray for us this month as we travel and begin flight training and language school in Australia.  Look for our newsletter to arrive in your inbox or mailbox in the next week or two.  If you don't receive our newsletters but would like to, please drop us a line at tneufeld@maf.org

A Year in Pictures

In January 2016, we began our journey as pre-field missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship. We didn't know where in the world we were headed; we were tasked with raising monthly support as well as a considerable outgoing fund; and we didn't relish the idea of speaking in front of large groups.  A year later, we are preparing for a move to Papua New Guinea with our out-going fund complete and our monthly support at 95% (and counting!).  Although we'd still rather meet with a small group or over a meal, we have shared in front of 16 churches this year - trembling a little less each time.  The new year is a great time to reflect on God's guidance and provision throughout the journey.  Here is a look back at a few highlights along the road....

In January, we began our ministry partnership journey by speaking to our home church in Peace River.  We are blessed to be a part of such a supportive church family.

Hannah was thrilled about our upgrade to a van (complete with entertainment!)  This vehicle has been such a blessing during our long road trips this year.

In February, we joined the MAF team at Missionsfest Edmonton.  The trip south included meetings and events in Central Alberta. 

In March, we shared at Lacombe E-Free Church where Tim's family had been commissioned as missionaries in 1989.

One of the joys of our travel has been time with family members whom we do not always get to see.  Grandpa Neufeld was a great host in Lacombe.  In November, he went to be with Jesus and we're so grateful for the times we had together this year.

In April, we found out that our assignment with MAF would be in Papua New Guinea.  Time to start researching!

Our little princess turned three.

We had the privilege of sharing with the youth group (March) and AWANA club (April) at our home church.  It is important to us that all ages know the missionaries supported by their church.

In May, we listed our house for sale.  Despite the economic downturn, we hoped we'd be able to sell during the summer.

To our astonishment, our home sold in five weeks.  A true answer to prayer.  Now we had to figure out where to live for the remainder of the year... This opened up the opportunity to move ourselves to Red Deer in order to better connect with churches and contacts in Central Alberta.

In June we hosted a dessert night to thank members of our home church for their support and to provide more information about MAF's work in Papua New Guinea.  We were so blessed by the response.

Taking the ferry across the Peace River during a road trip to La Crete and High Level in June. We were in front of churches three out of the four Sundays in June.

The Peace Regional Air Show in July was a unique opportunity to interact with people in a different environment than usual. One of the pilots even gave MAF a shout out from the cockpit over the PA system during his routine.

July was a month of moving sales, cleaning, and packing along with our final church visits in Northern Alberta.  We pared our belongings down to the contents of an 8x10 trailer and set off for Red Deer to spend the fall in Central Alberta.
Generous donations meant that our one-time outgoing fund reached 100% this month.

In August we spent three weeks on the road through Southern Alberta and B.C.  Here are Tim and Hannah in front of the Enchant E-Free Church where Tim's Grandpa Burrell pastored in the 1970s.

Part of our August road trip included vacation and family time.  On a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, we got a taste of what we might see in Papua New Guinea.

In September we settled in to Red Deer.  One of the things we have enjoyed most about being in Red Deer is being so close to our family.  It is so great to spend time with them before we head off.  Hannah is enjoying having two sets of grandparents nearby, not to mention cousins!

October took us back up to the Peace Country for a missions conference at Peace River Bible Institute and a church visit in McLennan.  Hannah is such a great ambassador for us when we visit churches.  She will often hand out prayer cards and magnets to anybody in the area.

We enjoyed a tremendous fall season of visiting many churches throughout Central Alberta, such as this Sunday at Clive Baptist Church in November.

November brought a large project: preparing documents for applying for our PNG work permit and entry visas.  Medical, Xrays, Police Checks, forms, certified copies - it all totalled over 80 pages!

Hannah is full of Christmas spirit which necessitated finding a Christmas tree (maybe we shouldn't have sold quite so many belongings at our moving sale in July!).  We've enjoyed a Christmas season full of family time and are looking ahead to what promises to be a crazy 2017.

Happy New Year to all of our friends and family.  We hope to spend time with many of you before we leave in February.  Please be in touch if you haven't heard from us recently.

If you would like to donate to MAF or join our monthly support team, you can do so here.
Donations for the 2016 tax year can be made up until midnight on the 31st. 

The Pilot Episode

We spend a lot of time looking forward right now.  We try to see what life in Papua New Guinea will be like and try to find examples of the many ways that MAF impacts lives there.  In this post I want to look back a bit, and tell you about the journey I have been on to be able to even apply to be a missionary pilot with MAF.

To begin this story we need to go back to 2008.  I was in Calgary working in an unrelated field and was more and more convinced that aviation, specifically mission aviation, was where I wanted to invest my energy.  I was aware of the flight training program offered at Prairie Bible College through the (then named) Prairie School of Mission Aviation.  I applied and was accepted into the program and arrived on campus in January 2009.  The program is a two year diploma, but since I had a year of Bible school credits from my time at Peace River Bible Institute, I was planning on spending one year there, focusing on the aviation elements of the course.

After finishing my training at Prairie, I had my Canadian commercial license with Multi Engine IFR.  The next step was arguably the hardest part of this whole process: finding that first flying job!  It took a long time, countless resumes were sent out to anybody who I thought might look at me.  During this time I needed to keep working, and got a job working on the ramp at Calgary International with Air Canada.

This is what the cargo hold of an Air Canada 777 looks like

They even let me drive the push back tractors.  This would have been either Calgary to London or Frankfurt.

Working for Air Canada was not without benefits.  With Laura's teaching schedule we were able to spend a fair bit of time traveling on the standby employee passes that were available. 

In November of 2010 I visted Dallas Derksen (PSMA Instructor and friend, now with MAF in Mongolia.) in Northern Alberta.  Since I always had a stack of resumes in the car, I dropped one off at the airport in Peace River on my way home.  About two weeks later I received a call from the Chief Pilot saying that they needed a ramp worker, with the intention of being moved up to the flight line in due time.  I called Laura at work, we talked about it a little bit, and I gave notice at Air Canada the next day.  We were off to Peace River.