One week out from our departure....

Wow!  Time is flying and we are excited!  The time to leave on our new assignment is just around the corner.  The home is mostly packed, and our time is filling up with last minute moments with our friends and family.

We DO have a home as of yesterday, Monday, December 19!  We will be temporarily in Pahokee, FL living in a farming community.  Looks like I will need to homeschool, so pray for us all as we begin a new chapter in our lives and the kids' academic careers.  Continue to pray for our monthly support and those who will partner with us through constant prayer and monthly financial support.  We will need to continue to raise more partners over these next few months.

BUT today, I want to focus on the reason we have committed our lives to full time Christian missionary work.  That reason is Jesus.  Our story began many years ago!  John and I, on our wedding day, June 3, 1995, vowed to serve God and man for as long as we both should live.  John's schooling at Moody Bible Institute was specifically for Missions Aviation.  We both knew that our lives would be invested in other countries where Jesus' name, nor his hands and feet have not been shared.  We served for a 4 year term with Haiti in 1998-2002.  Since that time we have been raising our family and accumulating more helicopter experience for the sole purpose of putting a helicopter in Haiti. 

Without Jesus' love changing our lives so many years ago, we could not possess the love we have for others.  Our desire to make life easier for those who have a lot less than we do is something planted and nurtured by our love for Jesus.  We are lives that have been changed by Jesus.  Now using our skills and desire to serve, we will become the hands and feet to reach the physical, practical needs of others just because "He first loved us."   Being Technical missionaries, we get to use the modern day tools that we have been blessed with here in America and take them to those who NEED help, but have no resources like the helicopter can provide.

So as Christmas approaches, and you remember the first gift of Jesus as a baby in a manager, remember, His sole reason for coming was to serve man and to save us.  That Baby born so long ago had a purpose, and it was not to be known as the greatest of anything, but rather, to serve the least of humanity.  That is the kind of love that changes life.  That is the kind of love we want to take to the world.

Merry Christmas and always remember that Jesus is truly the reason for this season..... and the reason we love unconditionally everyday!

Be still and....WAIT!

Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
Wow!  This week of housing arrangements have taken us on many turns.  We were trying to be wise.  We were doing our homework.  We had friends on the ground in Florida looking with our best interests in mind.  We were diligently praying and trying to use wisdom to make the decision of a temporary home in Florida.  Then Friday came...  TGIF!  WE had made a decision.  It was a great option, a true gift, we thought.  The home was a small little cottage with some land for the kids out in the country.  The home earlier in the week had closed as quickly as we entertained it (from our earlier post).  So this next home had to be the one, afterall, we are less than two weeks out.  We still would need to get utlities ordered, things disconnected here with a "final address" to give them, etc.  I mean that is how the "world" works!  That is what you are "suppose" to do when you are moving to a new place. RIGHT?!?!?!  ;)  Then we get the verse above.  "WAIT" as in... "Don't make that decision. Be still.... I have everything worked out.  WAIT ON ME."

You know, its been said by many in the Christian circles, but few believe it and even fewer still, live it!  BUT when God calls you and YOU let Him be in control, things don't work like they are "suppose to" by the "world's" standards.  We DO know that!  And God has proven once again, the He has our backs.  This is HIS deal for us, and He will take care of the details.  Once again God is smiling and saying, "Hands off, April!  I've got you covered!  I have a place picked out for you and I have taken care of ALL the details."

Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
So this Sunday Morning we arise with new excitement!  A home that is affordable for missionaries on a "tight" budget.  It even includes all the utilities, no deposits, no lease, trees to climb and a large circular area to ride bikes and scooters.  It is in a farming community away from civillization as "we" know it.  And, interestingly enough, it is in a community of "Haitian workers".  Ahhh, even in Florida we will have the privilege to live near, go to school with, learn from and minister to the Haitians that God has given us a love for.  

And the journey continues..... 

Quail and Manna

Today is our "2 weeks and counting" day.  The move is upon us and details are still coming together.  Thank you to all who have sent in their monthly prayer and financial commitments and those who have sent in one time gifts!  God can use anything and multiply it to do His work!  So, thank you!

This morning as I sat and prayed over our housing situation in Florida, I asked God to give me wisdom and discernment about the house He has handpicked for us for our temporary dwelling in Florida.  See this next year will be a transition year of continued support raising, training at the mission, testing of the helicopter and building a hangar in the country of Haiti, so temporary is what we will be looking for.  God directed me to the Isrealites provisions in the desert.... quail and manna!  It was just what they needed, nothing more, nothing less.  Today we were offered a home in the country part of Florida with lots of land at a great monthly rental price.  I was told it was a "step up from camping".  I had to smile and think, "Perfect!  Our boys will love the idea of living on a year long camping adventure."  Though the living space isn't much, the outside areas of ponds, trees, trails, kayaks, rope swings, and beautiful sceneries will more than makeup for what may be lacking on the inside.  So now, we bow to say, "Thank you Father for providing those things we need as we step out to do your work.   We continue to ask for guidance as we make a final decision, but we know, no matter what home we decide, that God, YOU will provide! Amen!"
God is good...all the time!

Prayer Requests

Today as we move into 3 weeks and counting, there are a few immediate prayer requests we would like to share with you.

1.  Pray for the rest of our prayer and financial supporters to come in this month.
2.  Pray for a home to rent/lease in Florida hand picked by God for us.
3.  Pray for our boys and this transition.  They are not overly excited about leaving their friends. :)

For those of you who do end of year giving and are looking for an organization to give a one time gift to, Samaritan Air can receive those on our behalf as well.  You will receive a tax- deductible receipt from Samaritan Air.  Just send checks to:

Samaritan Air

3161 S.E Chandelle Rd.    Jupiter, FL 33478,

Write on the memo line: John and April Kandel

Thank you to each who have already committed and have been praying for us.  It is very clear that God is clearing the paths as we walk forward.  Blessings to you this wonderful time of year.

Check out more pictures of the helicopter that will be placed in Haiti @ http://www.samair.org/

Where the burden was birthed...

The year is 2002.  The place is Northern Haiti, where the road ends and the hike begins.  A medical missions team that John is accompanying is ready to make its way to a remote clinic.  The team loads up in bed of the pickup truck to begin the four hour drive.  The roads are less than passable.  Huge pot holes and much mud and debris make the road almost inpassible.  The "potholes" make for a journey in themselves.  The team unloads so the truck can move through the deep hole in the road that is half full of water.  The team walks around and then reloads in the truck on the other side.  Finally the teams gets to the end of the road.  The hike begins here on foot for a few miles to reach the clinic.  Upon arrival at the clinic, hundreds of Haitian families surround the clinic waiting for their turn.  The doctor summons the team to come with her.  After getting them set up, she begins to tell the leaders a story:

Over the last few years this doctor had taken one of the Haitian nationals under her wing.  She began to train this lady in nursing skills and clinic management.  This lady was well equipped to keep the clinic running in the absence of this doctor.  She did a great job for this doctor.  The doctor continued saying that this lady had recently become pregnant and the time for delivery was near.  During the delivery process, the baby was breech, and they could not get the baby to turn.  They had no other choice but to hike her out and load her on the back of that pick up truck DURING the delivery process.  They knew the closest facility that could help would be about 2 hours away, but they had to try.  The lady did not make it.  She bled to death in the back of that truck.

At this moment, John looks up and prays out, "God, there is a clearning right here at the clinic.  A perfect place for a helicopter to land.  A helicopter could have gotten that lady to the facility within 20 min."

That is the moment that God birthed a desire to bring the helicopter to Haiti permanently.  We finished our term with the mission we were serving with and begin all the necessary steps to obtain enough helicopter flight time and maintenance experience to be able to take a helicopter into Haiti on a permanent basis. 

Though John has gone into Haiti on numerous occassions over these past few years with short term mission teams, our time has come to see the dream become a reality.

We are humbled and blessed to be given the opportunity to serve others with such a tool as the helicopter.
The helicopter is the tool we use to literally multiply time. A two day hike, a four hour car ride or a fourteen hour boat ride is transformed into ... a 30 minute flight to deliver food, medical supplies or a transport to the hospital.

Speaking at churches....

We are so very excited to worship together with First City Church this Sunday, November 27 and to share a little about our work with Samaritan Air and our hearts for Haiti. 

We have four other Sundays before we leave that we are trying to schedule at various churches in the area to share our work and build more monthly partners to join us on the mission field to which we have been called.  Please let us know if you have a small group, community group, Sunday School Class or church congregation that you would like us to share with. 

I cannot begin to convey the excitement we are feeling!  Though there are many unknowns still left to play out, we do know that God is working and working quickly to move us to Florida to begin our work with Haiti.

 

Update on Home and Move

Wow!  When God moves, just buckle up and enjoy the ride!  We have a family that drove by the home and asked if we would do a long term lease of our home.  PERFECT!  Just like God to protect us and keep us moving in this housing market.  So they move in January 1, 2012 and we head down to Florida right after Christmas.

John will finish his job the last week of December and begin packing up the moving truck. 

We will be speaking at a few churches our last weeks here in Tennessee to build our support base.  Any support brought in during the month of December will help with our move and finding a place to rent.  Our monthly support will need to begin by January.

Thank you to all who are just as excited to partner with us and pray for us during this new adventure.  WE are so very excited.  The unknown is always unnerving if we look at it through our flesh, but that is where faith comes in.  The moment we said we are ready to return to our work, God has blessed.  We must continue to trust His direction and moving and let all the details fall into place like only He can make them.  It's His puzzle to work, we are just the pieces eagerly waiting to be placed at the correct place in His big picture.

Blessings to all!

Prayer Requests and Praise

·      The next chapter in the Kandel family's Kingdom Purpose is about to begin

·      Our monthly partners.

·      Samaritan Air as they prepare to receive us.

·      The boys through this transition.

    A place to rent in Florida

We will be in Florida in January, 2012.  Financial partnerships can be sent to: 

Samaritan Air

3161 S.E Chandelle Rd.    Jupiter, FL 33478,

Write on the memo line: John and April Kandel.

Our Return to Service in Haiti

Nine years, 3 moves, and 2 more kids later, we are returning to full time Christian missionary work in Haiti!

Over these last nine years John has been working on building lots of helicopter flight hours and even more hours of maintenance experience so that we can return to the mission field using the helicopter.

During our first 4 year term as missionaries back in 1998-2002, John found his niche in the aviation world, flying helicopters.  Thus began our journey in accumulating enough time and experience in the helicopter so he could use his talents to serve God and man on the mission field.

We are extremely excited to be returning to South Florida and partnering with Samaritan Air as their first Missionary Family.  This is a young, small mission organization that partners with many in providing air support using the helicopter.  Samaritan Air has just finished preparing their Bell 206 BIII Jet Ranger for service in Haiti. 

We will be moving as soon as possible to Florida to begin training and preparing a hangar in Haiti to receive the Jet Ranger.  This is the aircraft that John will be flying and maintaining while in Haiti.  John will be spending about 40% of his time in the country of Haiti.  The rest of the time will be in Florida at the headquarters helping with donor relations and maintaining stateside helicopters.  John will be serving as a pilot/mechanic.

Our immediate job will be to raise our monthly crew of prayer warriors and financial partners.  Our work begins with Samaritan Air January, 2012.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Samaritan Air Video