Journey to Idaho

Bright and early on Saturday morning, Steve and five other pilots along with three instructors started out for Allison Ranch in Idaho. This trip is the last part of Steve’s technical orientation. He and the others will spend five days flying around in Southwest Idaho on marginal, crazy, dirt and grass airstrips. It is the best missionary pilot training available in the United States.

The weather was beautiful here in So. Cal. However, being good pilots they checked the weather along their route and found it to be not so good the farther away they went. So, before they left, they decided to take a slightly different route. This meant they had to plan it all over again. Good practice for life in the tropics where storms can come up quickly.

One of the other wives and I watched as they loaded the planes, did one last check over everything, hopped in, and pulled out. It was exciting to see our husbands going to do their last bit of training. We were sad that we couldn't go with them of course, but it was a proud moment in the life of a missionary pilot's wife. Watching our men fly off in the red and blue stripped Cessna’s that they have worked so hard to master so that they can serve others for our Lord.

They did make it to Allison Ranch, but not that day as they had hoped. They spent the night in a little town south of their destination because they ran into some snow and had to turn back. That's good training for the pilots. They must have excellent decision making skills.