Botswana Bound

Over a year ago, I began the process of applying for a pilot position with Flying Mission Services (FMS) in Botswana, Africa. I knew about the organization through a friend and former Liberty flight instructor who had left to go fly for them a year or two before. Scrolling through Facebook posts one day, I noticed that FMS was in need of pilots for their single-engine aircraft program, and I already met the minimum requirements. That intrigued me. Most missions groups wanted pilots with at least 50 hours of time in high performance aircraft, but I didn't have that or have any way to get it. Here was a group that would take me with what experience I had and work with it. I liked that. So, I emailed in my resume and began to dialogue via the internet with their human resources department. In the midst of this, I was given the opportunity to go through Liberty University's Aviation Maintenance Technician School and decided to pursue my aircraft mechanic certificates through Liberty's one-year intensive program before leaving to go anywhere.

Since last August, I have been studying airplane systems and components like it was my job - the only difference is that I'm having to pay money for this job instead of getting paid for it. I'm more than halfway through the program and can honestly say that I am very glad that God led me to stay in Lynchburg for awhile longer and go through all of this extra schooling. I was initially dreading having to be in class eight hours a day, five days a week for an entire year, but the Lord has shown Himself strong on my behalf and turned my poor attitude around. Not only have I had the great blessing to learn a ton of material about aviation, but I have met and become friends with a lot of great people that God has used in my life already. It has been a great experience so far. By the middle of August, it will be over. I will have both my Airframe and Powerplant ratings on my Mechanic certificate and will be able to legally work on aircraft and their engines if the opportunity presents itself.

So now, with the end of school in sight, I have recently been back in contact with Flying Mission Services and within the past two weeks have done a phone interview, sent in my application form, and been offered a pilot position with them. My official start date is September 5th of this year! There are lots of question to ask, details to confirm, things to arrange, and so on, but I am very excited to be finally setting out from the school environment (even though learning continues through our lives) and heading into the "real world" where I can apply the things I've been learning for so many years. I know that it's going to be a great journey because I have seen God's hand working and moving to bring me here. If He is in it, then it will go beyond all that I could ever dream or imagine. The journey continues!

FMS Website