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October 1977 Newsletter
COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
San José del Guaviare in Colombia, South America
Volume 5, Issue 10 October, 1977
(PHOTO)
Senda de Vida Church in Villavicencio from which we will be working next term.
PRAISE THE LORD!
All year I have been working on a instrument rating for my pilots license. That has been one of the most grueling things I have ever done. All year there was one delay after another. The amount of time that it took made me think I was back in Colombia.
The last five weeks were the worst as we tried to pack, get our shots, and finished up a million other projects; I had to spend every day at the airport. An instrument rating requires that a pilot be able to maneuver an aircraft, find an airport, and land, all by instrument. During this whole time there is never any visual contact with the ground. Needless to say, this wasn't easy, I slowly improved as time rapidly slipped by. It was going to be close.
I didn't realize my goal of getting the instrument rating a couple of weeks before our departure. In fact, my instructor wouldn't sign me off as qualified until two days before we were to leave. It was going to be a one shot deal. If I failed the check ride with the Federal Aviation Agency instructor, there would be no time to try again.
I was so nervous as I flew over for the checks ride that I could hardly fly the plane. So I prayed for skill, concentration and confidence. The FAA inspector gave me a verbal quiz, which I did OK on. Then he motioned me to the plane. That was it. His amiable nature eased my tension. We took off. My first instrument approach was a precision approach to Akron-Canton airport. Things went better than I had expected 200 feet above ground. I took off the hood and there was the runway, dead center ahead and only 1/4 mile away. I began to become hopeful. My next two approached came off equal as good. I began to feel confident, even ecstatic. As we did the maneuvers it was evident I was going to pass.
We landed the plane, things had gone will and I was fairly sure of the rating. The inspector looked over and said that it was one of the best check rides he had ever been on. I felt like jumping out of the plane and shouting "Praise the Lord." Instead I bowed my head and thanked God.
We are now ready to leave for Colombia. I sit here in an empty house and plan to spend my next night in Colombia. We are now more anxious than ever to preach the gospel in the isolated towns of the prairie and jungle of southeastern Colombia.