Zach and Jane Keller Training to Serve in the Philippines Northern Luzon Flight Program
Praise the Lord, the helicopter is here, assembled, and registered with a Philippine Licensed NTMA pilot, flying today as I write this. Thank you for your prayers because it has been a long, complicated 2 year process to get to this point. We have some very happy missionaries who are back in their tribal locations with flight support. We are so thankful for our coworkers, Brian and Katherine Schaadt, who have worked diligently to get the flight program running while we are in language study. Zach was able to help with shipping, assembly and paperwork but Brian is doing all the flying right now.
After we finish language study in October we hope to return home to AK for a short furlough. When we return to the Philippines at the end of January, we will move north, settle down and learn the ropes of the flight program so we can take over while Brian and Katherine go on furlough. What a blessing it is to have coworkers to help share the load.
The Toughest Place to be a Bus Driver
Fantastic video! Please watch if you’d like an insiders look at Filipino life and culture, specifically surviving life in Manila. It is very well done. We ride a Jeepney to language school everyday and have many Filipino friends who struggle daily with the same seemingly impossible circumstances. We are so privileged to share in these beautiful peoples lives, even though our hearts are constantly breaking.
The Toughest Place to be a Bus Driver
Salamat Sa Dyios!
Salamat sa Dyios, nagaaral kami magtagalog! By God’s grace we are learning Tagalog! When we first arrived here, the words and sounds we heard flying around were totally indistinguishable. On one of our first Jeepney rides, Zach and I sat listening to some Tagalog speakers and Zach leaned over to me and said,“It sounds like a chicken falling down the stairs.” Now, after 10 months of language study we can understand a lot of what is being said and sometimes we can answer with a simple, but complete response and interact in simple conversation with people. This is huge! We had a progress evaluation a couple weeks ago and found out we are definitely making progress, even though it doesn’t always feel like it. We only have 4 more months to devote to language study so please continue to pray for us. There is much to learn in a very short time.
I could attempt to describe what it is like living in a city like Manila but I will not even try. You have to smell it, hear it, feel it and see it for yourself in order to understand. Our days here are full. Cramming homeschooling, language study and life in general into 1 day is a challenge but we are so thankful that we have had time and opportunity to build lasting relationships with Filipinos and other missionaries from all over the world. Even though living here is difficult, we really do love it and we love the people. The poverty and hopelessness we see everyday is heartbreaking. Only our Great God can make a lasting difference in these precious lives. We are privileged to be used by Him to accomplish His plan here in the Philippines. Please pray that God would enable us to be a light for Him wherever we are.
THANK YOU to each of you who have prayed for us, supported us financially and encouraged us through this past year. We feel so blessed by your love and concern and we give thanks to God for your ministry in our lives.
Packed, Loaded, Shipped
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We are thankful to report that the helicopter, after long waiting, has been shipped. Right now it is somewhere on the Pacific Ocean making its way to this side of the globe. Along with the helicopter there are lots of tools, toolboxes, an airplane engine and airplane prop. Needless to say we are praying that it all gets here safely. The scariest part of the journey will be trucking from Manila up north. I have driven that road a couple of times now and it’s…less than ideal not to mention the different “style” of driving they have here.
The arrival of the helicopter will not affect Jane and I very much as we will be continuing on with language school for another year. It will have a big affect on the missionaries that are currently out of the tribe waiting for it to arrive, they have been waiting since May of this year when they lost flight support. We will take a little time off of language to go up and help assemble the helicopter but all the flying for the next year will be done by our partners Brian and Kathrine Schaadt.
There are many potential “snags” even after it gets here so if you could be praying with us we would appreciate it. The things we are a little concerned about are; getting it out of customs, getting the airworthiness certificate, and Brian getting his pilots license. The concern is that it will take a long time, or a lot of money, to get through those different processes. Please pray that things go as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Ready and Waiting
Before we left Arizona for the Philippines, I helped get the helicopter ready to ship.
Unfortunately it is still in Arizona.
It is hard to be patient knowing that there are several tribal works stopped or slowed because we do not have the helicopter yet. The tribal works have been on hold since May when SIL shut down their flying operations in the Philippines.
Fortunately the other 2 flight programs that SIL was operating are still going because we (NTMA) have been able to step in and fill the need. The flight program in Northern Luzon is the last and final flight program that we need to get up and running.
Basically we are waiting on funds to come in before we can ship the helicopter. We need $50,000 for parts, shipping and customs and we need another $30,000 to cover the start up costs. We are waiting on the sale of an airplane in the Philippines that will hopefully provide the $50,000 needed for shipping.
The only comfort in this is that it is completely out of our hands. The Lord knows what is going on and when He wants a flight program it will happen. When the helicopter arrives we will take a break from language study in order to help our partners, Brian and Katherine Schaadt with assembly and set up of the helicopter. Brian will begin flying while we finish language and then we will join them in Northern Luzon.
The Lord Provides
As I flew back to Port-Au-Prince on my last flight in Haiti, I realized that it was exactly one year before that I began training in the helicopter. I was suddenly reminded of the Lords amazing provision over the past year. I have to be brief, but I hope you are encouraged as I share a little about the past year.
Jane and I started into this helicopter adventure with some anxiety knowing that we where not in the financial position to pull it off. We have watched, fretted and praised as the Lord, step by step, has provided for the training. I never had to stop training due to finances which is miraculous considering it cost about $40,000.
As each rating was completed we would praise the Lord and wonder how we would afford the next step. He provided for each one on time and sometimes ahead of time. When I completed my ratings I had 150 hours of flight time, but needed, at the very minimum, 250 hours to meet NTMA minimums.
We moved back to Arizona in November hoping to finish that last 100 hours. We had no idea how this would be accomplished, at $200 an hour and at least 100 needed…well we didn’t have that kind of cash lying around. But we did have a little and I picked away at the flying for a couple of months. Then the Lord worked it out for me to fly for Samaritan Air in Haiti. I left Haiti with 70 more hours and invaluable experience.
A few months ago I finished (and paid off) the last step, advanced training at NTMA. I also had the opportunity to build time instructing. I recently added up my hours and found that I have close to 350 hours of helicopter time. I praise the Lord. He has provided through our supporters, savings, insurance companies (don’t ask), friends, strangers, and unexpected circumstances to pull off what seemed impossible a year ago. We serve an amazing God.
We are now in Manila, Philippines where we will be living for the next year as we learn the language. After we have completed the language school we hope to join our co-workers Brian and Kathrine Schaadt at our new flight center in Northern Luzon. We are excited to finally be in the country where we hope to serve for many years. Keep praying for us, this next year will be challenging.
Home Again
Thank you for all your prayers. They have been answered. We safely flew 70 plus hours in 3 weeks. By Gods grace I was healthy the whole time and the helicopter worked flawlessly. We flew 15 people to the hospital for medical emergencies. We also flew medical supplies, food, and medical teams. We did several survey flights to assess the need for medical attention and water in remote villages, and just a couple of beach landings to take a quick swim. It was an amazing experience, that I feel privileged to have been a part of. I saw the Lord work in incredible ways as he directed my coworkers and I, putting us in contact with the right people. We learned to trust His timing. If there was a canceled flight we learned to watch and wait because it meant God had a more urgent flight we needed to be available to take.
It was hard to see so much pain and suffering day after day. The devastation in Port-a-Prince is overwhelming. We would usually take off from the airport and head south west over the worst of it. I couldn’t help but think, as we flew over miles of densely packed and destroyed houses, how many sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers lay buried beneath all the rubble. I couldn’t help but wonder, where is God in the middle of such devastation? But God is there. The more chaotic and painful the situation, the more God’s peace and love stands out. The darker the night, the brighter the light. It may sound strange but I experienced God more tangibly than maybe any other time in my life. I know that ultimately the pain of this world is not what He had planned for us, but He sustains us as we struggle through it.
There is hope for Haiti. The last day I flew over the streets of Port-a-Prince, they were packed with people gathered together to pray and worship God. It might seem that this terrible earthquake would cause the Haitian people to curse God and turn further from Him, but instead, they are being drawn to Him. The hope for Haiti is the same hope that is available to the whole world. His Son, Jesus Christ. Keep praying for the people of Haiti.
One more thing: It was never far from my thoughts, the fact that, God provided a team of people who support our family financially and because of this I have the freedom and flexibility to drop everything and go to Haiti. I just want to say thank you to all the people who have chosen to partner with us and give us the flexibility to do this job. We could not do this without you.
MK’s all over the place
Even though we are currently living in the desert where trees and green living things are scarce and rain is in short supply, there is one thing we are NOT short on around here… Missionary Kids! They are everywhere! The Keller kids, being social butterflies all three, wasted no time at all and made quick friends with all the little missionary offspring running around almost the very moment we set foot here at NTMA. What a thrill is has been to see all these precious little people enjoy life together. They come from all over the world but they all speak the same language…kid. The newest development worth noting is that many of our younger MK’s, inspired by the older, have learned to ride bikes, the Keller kids included. So, watch out because the NTMA MK’s have mobilized!
One of our favorite things to do is visit the Estelle family mini farm that is a pleasant bike ride distance away. If the kids and I set out for this hot spot and are detected while on the way, it isn’t long until our little troop multiplies into a force of MK’s so strong that the peaceful farm animals must be in a frenzied panic long before we arrive. They always look so calm and aloof when we herd ourselves up to them, but I’m certain this is just a front and they are practiced experts at suppressing their inward excitement as hand after little hand shove food directly in their faces.
Here is our favorite farmer/helicopter pilot instructor, John Mark Estelle, giving each of the kids a turn with the pitch fork. What a guy!
From the Mouths of Goof-Balls
Here is a fun collection of silly Keller Kid Quotes said this last fall/winter…at least the ones that made it into my notebook. Enjoy.
~Tov was just refused his second chocolate chip cookie but Daddy helped himself to a second…because…well…he’s the daddy! Tov continued to follow daddy to the couch, crawled up next to him, and watched very closely as daddy savored every bite, following with his eyes, cookie to mouth, cookie to mouth. Then when the last bite went in he asked…“Daddy, can I smell your breath?”
~I happened to walk by the kids room when I overheard Miah and Avery in serious debate.
Miah: “Avery, you know we have two dads don’t you?”
I suddenly became very interested in the explanation she was about to give! She proceeded to explain…
“We have God…He is our heavenly Dad, and then daddy…he’s our other dad.”
~ Tov loves to dial the phone and comes up with all sorts of ridiculous reasons why he needs to make a call. It is usually an urgent request which is also strategical, of course. This is one of my favorites.
He came up to me to point out a superficial boo boo on his big toe, then said…
Tov: “I need to call Grandma.”
Mommy: Why do you need to call Grandma?”
Tov: “So she can pray for my toe.”
Mommy: “I can pray for your toe.”
Tov: (Beginning to get frustrated) “But Mommy! I need to call Grandma ‘cuz she prays more longer!”
~ I was eaves dropping on a conversation Avery and her sweet little friend Anna were having about friendship and this is what I heard-
Avery: “I have lots of best friends, pretty much everybody. Especially God. He is on the very top of my list….then you Anna.”
~ Tov watching Avery color yet another pink ballerina princess picture - “Why do you love pink so much Avery? Is is sooo sentimental?”
~ Miah loves listening to audio books and will sit in her room, work on a project and/or write letters and listen to stories all day long if I let her. Many of the characters is the stories she listens to (like Focus on the Family Radio Theater The Chronicles of Narnia) have British accents and she is obviously being influenced. She praised Tov after he performed a new trick for her on his bike with “Jolly good show!” (said, of course, with a thick British accent).
~Tov has also been influenced by the many stories he hears in our house everyday. He doesn’t sit still and listen like the girls do, but he must catch tidbits here and there. He’s been known to say, very dramatically, that he is “in the depths of despair!” when things aren’t going his way and he came up to me one evening when I was making dinner and proclaimed…”Marilla! I didn’t mean to intoxicate Diana!” “What does intoxicate mean mommy?”
One day I called him down from the loft (we were living in the AK cabin at the time) and I heard him say, quietly but with authority…”before the sun sets on my sixteenth birthday…then I will come!” He came down of course but just had to throw that in there. (He modified this statement from the original Sleeping Beauty version to fit the situation, as he often does.) I love it!
Just the other day Tov came to me with a special request. “Mommy, will you help we tuck my shirt in my pants…just like Bumpa!”
