A New Mechanic in Town

Today, a little after noon, I finished Paul Jones' FAA Mechanic exams. Paul fulfilled the Federal Aviation Administration's 30 month aircraft maintenance experience requirement in February and qualified to take the tests for an FAA Mechanic Certificate. He took three written tests at a computer testing center, passing them with excellent scores. That brought Paul to the oral and practical exams which I'm authorized to administer.

Paul answers a question from my book of many questions.

Paul's oral and practicals began yesterday.  In my book of test questions there are about a thousand questions that cover General, Airframe, and Powerplant subject areas.  I choose 176 questions to ask for the oral portion of the exams.  There are 44 subject areas and I'm required to ask four questions from each.  Once Paul successfully completed the oral exam, we headed for the hangars to do the practical part.

The guy with the clipboard gets to give the test; the guy with the hydraulic cylinder gets to answer the questions.

Again, all 44 subject areas had to be tested.  Paul demonstrated his ability in hydraulics by replacing the "O" ring seals in a landing gear door actuating cylinder.  The entire oral and practical is usually a day and a half of pretty intense testing.  I always hope the applicant finishes successfully and is at least a little more exhausted than I am.

Paul is a graduate of MMS Aviation's mechanic training program and will soon serve as a pilot/mechanic with Missionary Air Group in Guatemala.

It's Not All About Airplanes

Remembering Dad, M. Brown Jarboe

My father, Marvin Brown Jarboe, Sr., finished the earthly part of his life today.  Until he had a massive stroke last Wednesday morning, he enjoyed reasonably good health and an ability to interact with family and friends.  He was unloading the clean dishes from the dishwasher for Mom when the stroke occurred.

Dad was born June 4, 1916 and the Great (economic) Depression and World War II were formative events in his life.  However, I believe his strong personal Christian faith, reinforced by his parents, siblings, and extended family, was the primary influence on his life.

At Mom's and Dad's fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration their children and spouses as well as all the grandchildren posed for pictures.  (There's a serious version of this one somewhere.)

Mom's birthday in September, shortly before their 65th wedding anniversary November 17, 2010.

Dad was a wonderful grandpa.  He adored his five granddaughters and one grandson as much as they did him.  In 1979 Mom and Dad traveled to Cochabamba, Bolivia to meet our daughter, their first grandchild.

Jennifer Lynn (Jen) gets acquainted with her Grandpa Jarboe.

Our son, Scott, met Grandpa after we returned from Bolivia in 1981.

Just so things don't stay the same, he had one great-granddaughter and four great-grandsons.

Chanelle Robinson, Jen's eldest, delights Great-grandpa.(1999)

Javin, Chanelle's little brother, shares Great-grandpa's enthusiasm for old John Deere tractors.

A couple months after Dad's 94th birthday, I took this picture at a family reunion of Dad and Javin.  He looked pretty well for an old man, didn't he?

Our Purpose - To Spread God's Word

When I saw this 10 minute video of a mission airplane delivering God's Word, I just had to share it with you.  The absolute joy and excitement these dear believers express will warm your hearts and inspire you to continue to pray for missionaries everywhere. It also inspires us look ahead to what airplanes that are sent to MMS Aviation do, after they leave our facilities in Ohio.
~ Rena

A Short Trip South

Last Saturday morning Rena and I headed for my parents' home in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  The seven and a half hour drive began in almost blinding snow but after about forty-five minutes we were on dry roads and enjoyed good weather the rest of the week end.

February 12, 2011 near Coshocton, Ohio

The reason for the trip was to attend a church service Sunday evening at which my youngest brother, Frank, would be ordained as a minister.  Frank is known among reenactors of the American Revolutionary War era as Parson John.  His wife, Carol, portrays Maggie Delaney, Parson John's indentured servant.  A good introduction to their participation in living history is the About Us page of their web site.  This has become their full-time work and ordination adds another dimension to Parson John as historian and minister.

Parson John tells how he came to faith in Christ.

(He used a strange futuristic device to strengthen his voice.)

It was a special evening.  A couple pastors whose ministries helped Frank grow in his faith were there and spoke.  A number of reenactors also attended dressed in 18th Century apparel.  Frank's pastor, Tim Harris, brought an excellent message he prepared for just one person; and, even though it was for Frank, Tim let the rest of us listen. 

My family: Pam, Eric, Dad, Frank, Mom, me, Marvin

The family assembled for a group picture following the service.  Marvin and I look distracted from the picture taking and a bit amused in this shot, but it's the best picture on our camera.  (The picture is honest--no Photoshop hypocrisy here.)

Rena and I returned home to Coshocton on Monday, Valentines Day.

Heat

Over twenty eight years ago when we built and moved into our house we opted to heat our home with wood. Dwight built a double barrel wood burner from a kit and we were nice and warm. Located in the basement, the wood burner produces plenty of heat for the whole house. (The upper barrel provides more area for heat transfer.)

Time to add more wood to the double barrel woodburner

Some years later we added a geothermal heat pump. We were offered 1/2 price from a dealer who wanted to make us his guinea pig project. This also enabled us to add air filtering capabilities and cool air for the summers. We hadn't planned to burn wood this winter, but with the failure of the blower motor on the heat pump, we were scrambling to find firewood to keep the house warm. It took a week for the motor to arrive and Dwight picked it up at the dealer last evening.  Everything is working fine now.


Installing the new motor