Biography
United States 1984-Present
"Honor your mother and father…” It was due to the deteriorating health of my
grandfather that we finally decided that it was time to return. It was time to
be with my grandparents in their time of need. They had supported and prayed for
my mom and dad for the many years we were overseas so now we had to do our duty
and take care of them. It was an opportunity for us kids to get to know them
better before their health prevented them from enjoying us. I was grateful for
the few years that I had to get to know them before their deaths.
Graduation! 1987 saw major changes in my life. I finished high school from
St. Croix High School in Hammond, WI and chose to attend Moody Bible Institute in
Chicago where I began theological training for two years. I believe that living
in Tegucigalpa had prepared me for the busy life of that major city. As I
studied the liberal arts and Bible classes I decided that my gifts and talents
were such that I too should try to enter the aviation program that Moody
offered. After attending a week long testing session in Elizabethton, TN I
received word that I had been accepted.
Moody Aviation is located in the picturesque foothills of Tennessee. It is
ideally situated for training pilots for the challenges for being a “bush”
pilot. The program was a three year ordeal. The first year is in classroom study
and receiving your A&P certificates. There was lab work but most training was
done on the actual airplanes we would soon be flying. The next two years are in
flight training and in building maintenance experience. One week I would fly and
the next would be working in the shop on the planes. At the end of the flight
program I walked away with my Commercial, Instrument, Tailwheel, High
Performance/Complex and Instructor Ratings. We flew a variety of airplanes from
Cessna 172’s to Bonanzas and Cessna 185’s. It was a valuable experience in which
I met many amazing people and made many friends. Graduation in 1993 came none
too soon after so much study and effort.
It was during my time at Moody that I was married to my wife, Julissa, whom I
had met in Honduras as a young teenager. We were married at First Baptist Church
of New Richmond, WI on June 7, 1991.
After Moody, I accepted a maintenance job in Valdosta, GA at the local FBO so we
loaded up my $500 Volkswagen van and trailer and we drove south. Having some
aviation work experience is something that mission boards desire in new
applicants so I felt it wise to spend a couple years doing so. During this time
I rebuilt and flew my dad’s KR2 that I brought down from Wisconsin. This was a
experience as well and allowed me to continue affordable flying. I also had
begun a side job of rebuilding cars. Of course, like all things in life God
sometimes upsets our plans and changes our direction. Working in the real world
is different than being at a Bible school. Though the job gave me good
experience it also taught me that “fairness” is not always found in employment.
I ended up leaving that job position and began working on creating my own
business of restoring antique automobiles. I sold the KR2 to be able to finish
paying school bills and also purchase a home with shop just outside Valdosta.
In March on 1996 we moved into our first home where I still live today. My
daughter, Julissa Elaine, was born on July 16th of that year. Elaine was born
with some severe medical issues that caused me to put all my plans for the
mission field on hold. We knew that we would have to spend years in treatments
and hospitals to deal with all the problems that Elaine faced. I am grateful to
the Lord that most of the critical problems that she had turned out to be much
easier to overcome and handle than at first thought. She is now a very normal
(other than she’s smarter than her dad) 10 year old girl today. She is one of
the joys of my life and such a pleasant girl to have as a daughter. I truly
enjoy her company and we do many things together.
As I continued with developing and growing my business, there were hard
situations to face as well. My wife of thirteen years decided she want a
different lifestyle and chose to leave me in 2002. I had the choice to be
slightly depressed or to continue forward with my life. It had been a few years
since I had any flying and I really wanted to fly, so I got recurrent in a local
Cessna 152. It was then I realized how expensive aviation had become so I
decided to build an airplane. Since I knew the KR2 I decided that was the way to
go. After a few months of work, I flew N41768, a Corvair powered KR2S, on August
26th, 2004 for the first time. Experimental aviation has returned to me more
than I deserved. Through it I have made many new friends, learned many new
skills, and found that love of flying that was dormant for a while. The last
couple years have truly been rewarding. This is an activity that I can include
Elaine in and we travel and see many new things together.
The last couple years have seen many changes and adventures in my life as well.
Learning to be a part-time single dad, continuing the car business, maintaining
a home, and working ever increasingly in the aviation community have been good
to me. Currently I attend Perimeter Baptist Church in Valdosta that has a
thriving singles group of people my age and encourages me in my growth as a
Christian. Elaine also enjoys her Sunday School and here friends there. As I
have been flying more I have become more involved in experimental aviation and
the Corvair engine design. The KR2 has allowed me to expand into working part
time for William Wynne at FLYCORVAIR.com and help other builders and pilots with
their projects and goals. Check my services page for more information. There are
many new ideas and plans for the future. Although stressful at times I can
surely see God working forward in my life, perhaps not in the direction I first
though back in Moody, but still in His direction. I can only trust Him as he
develops me more into His likeness that He will guide me down the right path to
do His will. I am sure there will be many new challenges and rewards to come as
I await that greatest of adventures with Him.
Romans 8:28
“And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose….”
And the adventure continues...
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