Ice Cream for Ian & Navajo Engine Run

There was excitement in the hangar for a couple reasons Friday afternoon: 1) the Navajo project for Arctic Barnabas is getting near completion as Dale and Tim pulled the airplane out of the hangar to run the engines, and 2) the anticipation of eating cake and ice cream to honor one of our long-term staff, Ian Hengst.

Ian

Ian came to MMS after twelve years of service with Missionary Flights International and has served as staff with MMS for nine years. MFI recently invited Ian to return to Florida in order to serve as their Director of Maintenance. MFI operates four DC-3s in support of more than 700 missionary families in Haiti, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. After prayerful consideration Ian has accepted that position and has rejoined MFI, though he'll still be in the area for a short time tying up loose ends before making the move south.

Gathering as a group to share in cake and ice cream as staff depart or as apprentices finish their thirty months of service has become something of a tradition at MMS. It was our privilege to spend this special time with Ian. While we feel God has specifically prepared Ian for this new role, and are excited for this new opportunity, we'll very much miss having him in our hangar as staff, brother, and friend.

But before we broke for the cake & ice cream, Dale and Tim had the Navajo outside to run the engines. The target for completion is Wednesday when the airplane is scheduled for IFR certification at another aviation facility north of here.

Tim & Dale in the Navajo cockpit.

Thanks for your interest and involvement as we continue to prepare people and planes for worldwide mission service.