Flying High

This week has been brought to you by the letter F for flying. Everyday I have been doing at least one thing for flying including studying a multitude of questions for my written test, planning flights/ how to get from one destination to the other, and then actually flying. I did two short cross country flights with my instructor two days in a row. These usually range from about 75-125 miles and the distance from one airport to the next should be about 50 miles.

Red boxes= airports, blue lines= routes.

 With my instructor we went to southwest to Rough River and north to North Vernon. Yesterday I did my solo short cross country flight! I went to Breckinridge Airport which is to the east of Louisville just past Frankfort and Lexington.

It was quite an experience to have to plan and perform all the tasks by myself, but I know the Lord was working through me. He calmed my nerves and rid me of my anxiousness and I was able to fly with no worries and everything went well. I did have to correct for a lower ceiling. This means that the clouds were lower than what I had planned and I couldn’t fly through them. Now all I have left is the written test, a long cross country solo flight, where I land at 3 different towered airports, a final review, and then the checkride (test). 

Flying towards Georgetown, I-64 on the right.

 As for my trip I have gotten a lot of the funds I need and I thank all of you who have donated. You have helped me reach my goal. I am almost at the amount I need and I will use that for traveling throughout South Africa. It is also tentative that I may be able to work with a volunteer group going to ZUMAT. Nothing is set in stone yet but it’s moving along. 

There are more pictures on my facebook, so feel free to check those out.

Fly with Christ,

Helen

Destination Explanation

Here is a map of my whereabouts for my mission trip. I will fly into Johannesburg and be mainly staying in Pretoria with family. In Lesotho I will be near the capital Maseru. If I am able to work with ZUMAT I will be somewhere in the Kwa Zulu Natal region in the eastern portion of South Africa below Swaziland and I would be flying out of Durban. If I get to work at the school that would be near Pretoria. 

Looking UP

           Everyday I am reminded to look up. Usually planes will fly overhead and I always look up to see what kind they are. I am also reminded to look farther UP- to the one who saves! I am so thankful for what God is doing in my life each and everyday and all the people he is putting in my life. I thank all of you for your prayers!

           On Tuesday night (May 10) I went on my first night flight (3 hour flight with 10 landings). We hopped all around Kentucky and briefly visited KBRY (Bardstown), KLEX (Lexington), KFFT (Capital City- Frankfort), and KJVY (Clark County)- where we fueled up the plane and then went back home to KLOU (Bowman). I arrived at 8:45 pm at the hangar and we discussed our route plan and my instructor showed me how to plan routes. Around 9:30 we headed out into the darkness. It was so neat to see the different cities around Kentucky. You could only see black and spots of little orange twinkling lights. J It was cool to think of how large our country is and even the world. Even better is to think of how magnificent and great our kingdom in heaven will be!

            I am nearing the end of my flight training for getting my private pilot’s license. I hope to get it before I leave in June. I have yet to plan and go on 2 50 mile trips (one with an instructor and one solo) and a 150 mile flight. I also have to study for and take a written and oral test. After my tests and cross country flights (long distance) I will do a 3 hour review flight and then take the check ride which will determine if I become a pilot or not (it’s like the drivers license test but a lot harder- atleast I don’t have to parallel park!) Please be praying that my tests go well.

May God continue to bless you all!

Helen

(Remember to look UP!)

First Flight

Hello everyone!

I have created this blog to make it easier for you to be able to read and hear about my flying updates.

I am currently at the University of Louisville and am now pursuing a degree in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Geography, Religious studies (Missions), and Health Promotion. God is also blessing me with the ability to take flying lessons at Bowman Field Airport here in Louisville. Since September I have been taking flying lessons which are leading me to the ultimate goal of becoming a missionary pilot. As a missionary pilot I would follow God wherever He leads me to deliver supplies, people, and other things like that to remote areas all around the world. This year I began to look for more opportunities to advance my knowledge of flying and this mission trip will help me with that. 

 

It is my privilege and pleasure to tell you that God is leading me to go on a mission trip during the summer. On June 16th I will leave for South Africa and will join a team on a Vision Trip with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) to Lesotho in the southern part of Africa. We will be working with missionary pilots and learning firsthand what they do in the field through flying.

After Lesotho, I will stay in South Africa till the 25th of July and be working with several organizations as well as spending quality time with my family. I will have the opportunity to work with Zululand Mission Air Transport (ZUMAT) in the Kwa Zulu Natal region of South Africa in order to learn more about what kind of mission operations they do and learn how the daily routine of the mission field looks like.I will also have the opportunity to work with the school and medical center at Mukhanyo the school that my parents are connected with.

Throughout this trip I will seek God’s will and share the gospel in every way possible. I will learn more about what is in store for me as a missionary pilot and put my full trust in Christ to keep me safe and to guide me. In the past I have gone on several short term mission trips within the U.S. and have taken several trips with my family overseas. However, this is the first time I will be going alone overseas but I will rely on God to support me throughout the trip.

Here is what you can do: PRAY!!

Pray for the ease of travel as well as safety throughout the month and a half that I will be there as well as for the other missionaries I will be working with. Pray that our time together will be focused towards God and that we will work to advance His kingdom. 

Another thing you can pray for is finances which God has already been blessing me with so much.

Thank you to all of you who have already donated. It means a whole lot to me. 

I will need to raise about $3500-$4000 and I am almost half way there. Donations will help pay for plane tickets, as well as support the missionaries I will be working with. 

I will post updates on my blog throughout the next couple of months on what is happening with my trip as well as my flying in general. Feel free to email me at hagg.helen@gmail.com. If you would like these updates to be sent to your email subscribe on the top right hand side of the page.

May God bless all of you! 

Helen