We published our first newsletter of the year! If you would like to receive an electronic copy, send an email to djandjodi@gmail.com and we'll put you on our mailing list.
KNOTT NOTES, Volume 1, Issue 1
IN THIS ISSUE…
Expedition 2011
Did you know?
Retire or Retread
To Be Like Jesus
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A Stocking Full of Missionaries
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| Don (SM in Siparuta), DJ, Mario (short-term, Mexico), Jodi, Lena (SM in Siparuta), Joel (short-term, Puerto Rico) |
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| Joy, Julianna, James, & Jenna Ash |
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| Jenna & Julianna |
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| Mischievous Kitten |
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| Missionaries that work at Davis Memorial Hospital - Sabbath Christmas Potluck |
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| Yummy food :P |
Christmas at the Davis Memorial Hospital
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| The sisters proudly smile with their craft at the Hospital's Christmas party for Aids Children. |
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| Robbing parts from the "donor" ambulance. |
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| Fixing the broken flex plate and the cracked drive shaft on the SDA Hospital Ambulance. |
Container Cleanup
The GAMAS shipping container used for storage at the local airport needed some patchwork for its leaky roof and a bit of TLC. Here is the "before" picture.
The container was emptied of its contents which were taken to the container by the hospital where we were staying - a two day process.
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| Lena, a student missionary in Georgetown for the break carries water in buckets to our worksite. |
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| Joel, a short term volunteer from Puerto Rico, DJ, and Don, a student missionary from the States spending Christmas break in Georgetown begin working on the roof. |
DJ and Mario, a short term volunteer from Mexico install the "whirly-bird" for air ventilation in hopes that the container will dry up and the frogs will not find such a suitable environment to live in.
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| Jodi scrubs the mildew and grease off the walls in an empty container. |
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| The close to finished product! |
Thursday, December 22, 2011
December Update
I wish I could write an update that said: Normal. Life is normal. We eat, go to work, exercise, read and sleep...and everyday is the same.
October often found us at the local airport doing the annual inspection and repairs for the Cessna 182 that GAMAS operates here in Guyana. For many suns and a few moons, DJ (and sometimes I) were inspecting, recording, researching, ordering parts, receiving, repairing, exchanging, assembling, writing, and finally gluing. And if you're not sure what all that means, maybe someday you'll become an airplane mechanic's wife too and have to figure it all out. At last, though sleepy-eyed and less than bushy-tailed, we finished just minutes before heading to the international airport to catch our flight to the States.
Other October activities included working on the van... yes the same van that is pictured in the previous post with a note saying that it was almost done. The engine has been completely torn apart three times, and halfway torn apart another 7 or 8 times. Poor thing hasn't been to the doctor in about 5 years and it was re-tired the last time it went. Doctor plans to prescribe re-tirement again as baldness comes with age. So the van's still being worked on. Welcome to the mission field. Why so long, you ask? Well, what do you expect from a bird doctor trying to diagnose a hippopotamus with a heart problem?
November brought a little bit of change. We received a tough email near the beginning of the month that DJ's grandmother had just passed away. The next few days were filled with preparations to go home for the memorial service. A kind relative wanted all the family to be able to be there and graciously helped with tickets. We busily finished the necessary projects here in Guyana and headed North. We are truly grateful for the chance to be with family and loved ones during this time.
Though we seemed to bring plenty of work with us, we often scampered into the snow-dusted woods for quiet walks and scrambled up nearby mountains to capture breathtaking views. The New England forests and the crisp, cool air brought us a much needed rejuvenation after several months in the humid, trash-filled city of Georgetown. Applesauce, family meals, and visits with church members cherry-topped our visit and were as delightful to the heart as a batch of homemade preserves.
The next 12 days brought more travel and bustle. I did the routine chores, ran errands, visited friends, and made several trips to town gathering precious goods to take South for us and the other missionaries, like almonds, yeast flakes, kids Christmas presents, and nursing scrubs. DJ worked with Jeff Sutton doing "Jeff and DJ airplane things" (which include, but are not limited to: Routine checks on the Aerostar, maintenance on the white 172, organizational meetings, yacking on the telephone, researching future options for GMI's fleet, and coming home late for lunch - but not too often ;). Those two cronies also decided that the three of us should take a trip out to Oklahoma to look at an airplane (for Guyana). Thirty-five hours and 1,700 miles later we arrived back in Collegedale.
The last two weeks have found us busy once again with the duties of mission life and work. The airplane needed a little maintenance, the hippopotamous heart continues to be a dilemma for the bird doctor, one of our volunteers needed lice treatment and a haircut, clothes get dirty and our tummies continue to ask for food. So we have plenty to do in one way or another. Two new members were added to the missionaries' apartment while we were gone: a kitten named Tiger and a CD/DVD Replicator. Under the direction of James Ash (pastor/pilot) and with copy permission, hundreds of thin, circular shaped objects have slid through this replicator and been distributed to local Adventist pastors and Bible workers throughout Guyana.
But alas, it is not so. Welcome to the last 2 1/2 months...
October often found us at the local airport doing the annual inspection and repairs for the Cessna 182 that GAMAS operates here in Guyana. For many suns and a few moons, DJ (and sometimes I) were inspecting, recording, researching, ordering parts, receiving, repairing, exchanging, assembling, writing, and finally gluing. And if you're not sure what all that means, maybe someday you'll become an airplane mechanic's wife too and have to figure it all out. At last, though sleepy-eyed and less than bushy-tailed, we finished just minutes before heading to the international airport to catch our flight to the States.
Other October activities included working on the van... yes the same van that is pictured in the previous post with a note saying that it was almost done. The engine has been completely torn apart three times, and halfway torn apart another 7 or 8 times. Poor thing hasn't been to the doctor in about 5 years and it was re-tired the last time it went. Doctor plans to prescribe re-tirement again as baldness comes with age. So the van's still being worked on. Welcome to the mission field. Why so long, you ask? Well, what do you expect from a bird doctor trying to diagnose a hippopotamus with a heart problem?Scattered between van fix-its and airplane fix-its were Guyanese visa fix-its. We had to resolve previous visa confusion, overhaul the letterhead to be used, mend the letter content, patch up relationships, and come up with a solution that makes us and the government happy.
November brought a little bit of change. We received a tough email near the beginning of the month that DJ's grandmother had just passed away. The next few days were filled with preparations to go home for the memorial service. A kind relative wanted all the family to be able to be there and graciously helped with tickets. We busily finished the necessary projects here in Guyana and headed North. We are truly grateful for the chance to be with family and loved ones during this time.
Though we seemed to bring plenty of work with us, we often scampered into the snow-dusted woods for quiet walks and scrambled up nearby mountains to capture breathtaking views. The New England forests and the crisp, cool air brought us a much needed rejuvenation after several months in the humid, trash-filled city of Georgetown. Applesauce, family meals, and visits with church members cherry-topped our visit and were as delightful to the heart as a batch of homemade preserves.After nine days in New England, we traversed across Canada bound for Yooperland with the intent of visiting Miss Knott, her dear pickle-ball playing, flash-drive flushing students, and her dear Mr. Gibbs. An all too brief visit and then back in the car. Eight hours to Andrews, a car shuffle, and another 10 to Collegedale.
The next 12 days brought more travel and bustle. I did the routine chores, ran errands, visited friends, and made several trips to town gathering precious goods to take South for us and the other missionaries, like almonds, yeast flakes, kids Christmas presents, and nursing scrubs. DJ worked with Jeff Sutton doing "Jeff and DJ airplane things" (which include, but are not limited to: Routine checks on the Aerostar, maintenance on the white 172, organizational meetings, yacking on the telephone, researching future options for GMI's fleet, and coming home late for lunch - but not too often ;). Those two cronies also decided that the three of us should take a trip out to Oklahoma to look at an airplane (for Guyana). Thirty-five hours and 1,700 miles later we arrived back in Collegedale. Before we knew it was 3 a.m. and we were sweating again, riding in a taxi driving lighting speeds down the left side of the road. A 'Welcome home' sign was taped on the front door of the missionaries' apartment.
The last two weeks have found us busy once again with the duties of mission life and work. The airplane needed a little maintenance, the hippopotamous heart continues to be a dilemma for the bird doctor, one of our volunteers needed lice treatment and a haircut, clothes get dirty and our tummies continue to ask for food. So we have plenty to do in one way or another. Two new members were added to the missionaries' apartment while we were gone: a kitten named Tiger and a CD/DVD Replicator. Under the direction of James Ash (pastor/pilot) and with copy permission, hundreds of thin, circular shaped objects have slid through this replicator and been distributed to local Adventist pastors and Bible workers throughout Guyana.It's too hot and rainy here to think much about Christmas, so please enjoy the holiday cheer for us :) Don't forget to tell the weatherman we'd like some snow!
- Jodi
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Promises and praises
A Bible promise claimed many times since we've been here in Guyana is Habakkuk 3:17-19.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;...
In looking daily for reasons to praise Him, we've noted a few of them to share. May these examples encourage you to look daily for reasons to rejoice and be joyful.
A good working airplane and the ability to use automotive gasoline, which is less than half the price of AvGas.
The first Adventist secondary school in the deep Guyanese interior began on Sept. 19, 2011. This is only the 4th Adventist secondary school in Guyana, 2 others of which are run by GMI mission projects.
A temporary roof is on the GAMAS container at the local airport to begin solving water leaking problems.
Volunteers arrive! A Russian family (2 children pictured), a girl from Germany, a guy from the States, a lady from Canada, and soon to come...the Brooks family.
Oranges from our neighbor, handed to Jodi "to help her skin" when really, we just needed some fruit.
GAMAS' Toyota Hiace "bus" is very close to running... after many hours of undoing local mechanic's work and redoing it properly.
Trips to the zoo. A Guyanese "Tiger" (ocelot).
The chance to leave the city for a week and spend time eating soursop and doing airplane maintenance at the GAMAS hangar in Bethany, a 20 minute flight from Town.
So at the end of every day we should look back and remember what the Lord has done for us in that day, count our blessings, and be reminded again of His great love for us.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;...
In looking daily for reasons to praise Him, we've noted a few of them to share. May these examples encourage you to look daily for reasons to rejoice and be joyful.
A good working airplane and the ability to use automotive gasoline, which is less than half the price of AvGas.
The first Adventist secondary school in the deep Guyanese interior began on Sept. 19, 2011. This is only the 4th Adventist secondary school in Guyana, 2 others of which are run by GMI mission projects.
A temporary roof is on the GAMAS container at the local airport to begin solving water leaking problems.
Volunteers arrive! A Russian family (2 children pictured), a girl from Germany, a guy from the States, a lady from Canada, and soon to come...the Brooks family.
Oranges from our neighbor, handed to Jodi "to help her skin" when really, we just needed some fruit.
GAMAS' Toyota Hiace "bus" is very close to running... after many hours of undoing local mechanic's work and redoing it properly.
Trips to the zoo. A Guyanese "Tiger" (ocelot).
The chance to leave the city for a week and spend time eating soursop and doing airplane maintenance at the GAMAS hangar in Bethany, a 20 minute flight from Town.
So at the end of every day we should look back and remember what the Lord has done for us in that day, count our blessings, and be reminded again of His great love for us.
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