Biography

Mexico 1969-1972

As the years passed, my folks prepared themselves for the mission field and were accepted by MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) as a pilot/mechanic for Central America. I came along just before our move from California to Mexico. The next years are busy and full of more interesting adventures. After my folks learned Spanish in Puebla, Mexico, we moved to Xocempich, in the Yucatan Peninsula where dad began flying almost new 1968 Cessna 180 XB-LER as a mission pilot. This was in January 1971. This was a good training area for a fresh pilot. The area is very flat but had some tricky airstrips. Mom was getting accustomed to the life of being a mission pilots wife, and a mom - again. My little brother, Delmar, was born in a small clinic not far from our house. So now our family counted five - there were no more.

Colombia 1972-1975

1972 Saw us moving again. This time we moved to Monteria, Colombia. Dad was still flying a 180, HK-850P. Colombia brought its new and different cultures and flying conditions compared to Mexico. The one thing I remember the most of Monteria was the heat. At night it got as low as 92 degrees. We boys ran around in shorts and shaved heads most of the time. I remember that we always had animals around the house though. Raccoons, rabbits, deer, a dog and a cat... maybe there were more. Of course by this time my sister and I spoke Spanish like the locals while my folks were still learning a bit. I'm sure it was frustrating at times when we spoke it with such easy while they stumbled. My sister had to be school by this time, being four years older than I so we would pack her up and send her to Quito, Ecuador where she attended the Alliance Academy, a boarding school for missionaries and others. There were only a couple years of our lives where my sister and I actually went to school together.

Continue to Chapter 3