Whirlwind

This past month was a whirlwind! My travels began with a flight to Washington State where I was provided the opportunity to share about Wings of the Way (WOW) at a conference with other mission aviation ministries. The response for partnership by other groups was tremendous and our network of pilots and those interested in assisting WOW is growing at a rapid rate. WOW could not be more grateful and blessed to see others come alongside the passion that has been on our hearts for years. Our goal is to expand a network across the United States, increasing the ability of safe houses and other agencies to relocate survivors in the fastest, safest, and most secure way possible.

After being in Georgia for a couple of days, I hopped back into my 4-Runner and made my way up to Tennessee to visit one of my former training programs. They were having a retirement party for the founder of that organization. The following Sunday, I was blessed to share an update with the church I attended during my year in that program and was given a love offering of $340! I was extremely surprised and so grateful. Thank you to The Well in Tullahoma!

From TN, I drove to Florida to attend Sun ‘N Fun, one of the largest airshows in America. Each year at Sun ‘N Fun, there is an area designated for mission aviation ministries where airplanes are displayed and organizations can share about the work they are doing around the world. I made some great contacts there. While I was in Florida, I gave several presentations, met with aviation ministries and anti-trafficking organizations, and connected with friends when I could. Overall, my time in Florida was extremely productive.

Being completely worn-out, I knew a break was in order. I decided to drive the extra distance, past Georgia, to Kentucky, so I could spend Easter with my sister and her children. We all spent the next week relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. It was a much needed time of rest. This week, I am following up on connections that have been made over the last month and will be off to Michigan next week for additional meetings.

I am very grateful for each opportunity to share what the Lord is doing through the ministry of Wings of the Way. I am also delighted at all the partnerships we have made along the way. It is a pleasure to serve alongside great organizations with a common goal in mind. May God continue to grant us favor in the months ahead.

Last, but certainly not least…

Please take the time to watch this short video. I am incredibly grateful for the work of Invisible Angels and our work together to see lives restored.

Logistics and Maintenance

Some faithful blog readers might remember me mentioning a non-profit organization, Anti-Predator Project, which utilizes private investigators and individuals from various agencies to locate missing and trafficked children. About six weeks ago, I was blessed to have a phone meeting with their president. I wanted to learn more about their organization and see if there might be a way that we could work together. As we wrapped up our conversation, we began talking about how Wings of the Way (WOW) might be able to help them. They told me of a situation that they had been working on. Their team had rescued a family from a dangerous situation and they were trying to find housing for them. Due to the family’s unique situation and the current housing market, we have come up empty. Please pray that the right doors will open and that this family will find a safe and secure place to begin their healing journey.

Much of my time lately has been spent coordinating schedules, emailing churches and ministries, and preparing presentations for some upcoming conferences and meetings that I will be a part of. I have just arrived in Washington state, where I will have the opportunity to share about Wings of the Way (WOW) to various missionary aviation ministries. The conference will take place at Moody Aviation, a division of Moody Bible Institute. It will be my first time on their campus, and I am really looking forward to it.

When I conclude my trip to the West, I will be headed to Florida where many missionary organizations will be represented at one of the largest airshows in the country, Sun N Fun. While I am in Florida, I plan to visit several ministries and introduce them to the ministry of Wings of the Way.

I mentioned Moody Aviation earlier. Well, God has used them in a unique way to bless me. Allow me to offer some background. After three years of holding an aircraft mechanic certification (A&P), one can become eligible to test for the next certification which is called Inspector Authorization (IA). You must meet with a representative from the FAA to discuss your eligibility to test. I wanted my IA but I wasn’t sure I would qualify because I hadn’t been participating in maintenance full-time for the last year or so. Upon moving to GA, I tried to involve myself in as much maintenance as I could while still maintaining my focus of developing the anti-trafficking ministry here. I helped mentor youth, worked alongside another IA, and watched online maintenance seminars. I was very nervous about the meeting with the FAA representative. I knew if the maintenance over this time period was not accepted, then receiving my IA would most likely never happen After explaining how I had been actively engaged, the FAA representative granted me permission to test. I was thrilled! This is where Moody Aviation comes into play. I had reached out to two missionary organizations that teach aircraft maintenance to see if they had a program to prepare a mechanic to take the IA test. The first ministry said they did not, but the second ministry, Moody Aviation, did. In fact, they were in the process of developing an online course that would meet my exact need. The traditional schools that offer training of this kind cost nearly $1,000. They offered it to me for free if I would be willing to provide feedback to the developers. This is such a blessing and I plan to begin the course at the end of this month. This additional rating will be very valuable in the ministry work that I am a part of and will also be a way for me to earn additional income on the side.

In other maintenance news, I was able to assist Christ Flight Ministries (CFM) as they returned their Cessna 172 to service. We needed to replace four cylinders as well as change out some critical hardware that had become corroded over time. I was blessed to be able to help with that project. The newest project is a Piper Cherokee that is having its engine replaced and is also due for its annual inspection. Chris, the head mechanic, has been wonderful to work with and I am very grateful to assist him when I can.

Left to Right: Wesley (director of CFM), Myself, Pastor Owen Mears, and Pastor Joseph Lee

Surprise, surprise! A pastor friend of mine from New Jersey texted me one Sunday morning to say that he was in Gwinnett county visiting his dad. I was surprised, to say the least. Gwinnett county is where my church is located as well as the airport that I work out of. We were able to have lunch together and the following day the director of CFM and I gave him, along with my pastor from the Korean church, a tour of the ministry.

My brother Jonny and I 🙂

During our trip to New Hampshire for my uncle’s funeral, my mom, dad, and brother were able to visit the church where my grandmother used to attend as a teenager. We had never been there before, so it was a neat experience.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. There was so much more to share, but I could not fit it all in. Stay tuned! The next blog will be exciting! 🙂

Christmas Blessings!!!

When I first purchased my vehicle from a friend of mine, I was warned that there was an issue with my automatic braking system which would not affect the safety of the vehicle but it did illuminate the check engine light. It was a costly repair, so the work was never done. In Florida, that was not an issue because vehicle inspections are not required there. When I moved to the Atlanta area, it was a different story.

As I began to troubleshoot the causes of the check engine light being illuminated, there were several issues. I was able to fix several of them myself, which was a blessing. One repair saved me $800.00! The ABS problem proved to be a bit more challenging. I found a salvage part online and wanted to attempt the repair but needed some guidance. At the missionary guest house where I was staying, there was a mechanic who was recommended. I learned that he had been a missionary for 13 years and thought, perhaps, he might be able to help me.

I called the mechanic and told him who I was and the predicament I was in. He asked if I could bring my vehicle over so he could look at it. I asked him if his shop could do an oil change while they had it. I was also interested in receiving an estimate on replacing the rotors. I knew I could do the work myself, but I did not have the space to work on it and my tools were in storage. He loaned me a car and kept my vehicle for several days.

A few days later, I received a phone call from the shop. They said the vehicle was done and that I could pick it up. It was unclear to me what had been done, but I knew at the very least, the oil change must have been completed.

I proceeded to the shop where the owner went through the details of the work. The oil change was done, the rotors were installed, and the ABS problem was resolved. I noticed the amount on the bottom of the bill was $1,725.91. I was not sure what to think. I saw that he received a good price on the ABS part so I was glad about that. As he finished speaking, he folded up the bill and told me that I did not owe him anything. I was shocked! Not even for the oil change, the price of the parts, taxes…nothing? Wow! I was speechless.

Have you ever been given a gift so generous that you simply could not pay it back? When it happens, a deep sense of gratitude fills your heart and while the words “thank you” seem inadequate, that is all you can say. It is a poignant picture of what Christ has done for us. He sacrificed everything so we would have eternal life. There is nothing we can do to repay Him. All we can say is “Thank You!” We can live out our thankfulness to Him and trust that others will see our good works and glorify Him.

I know of so many who are grieving the loss of loved ones this year. Nothing can be said to take the loneliness and pain away. But, I was reminded that despite the loss that is amplified during this time, we can find joy in knowing that Jesus left everything in heaven, to come as a baby, not to live for himself and his own pleasures, but to die so that we might live forever with Him. He loves us that much, and for that, we can be grateful. May His loving care be your comfort this season. I wish you all a most blessed Christmas season and a Happy New Year!

Enjoy the pictures below.

Family Christmas 2021

What I Didn’t Know

I am sure you have heard the phrase, “Things are not always as they seem.” That sums up my short stint working as a PI. After receiving my Private Detective certification in Georgia, I worked for an agency for 2 months and it quickly became apparent that the job was not a good fit for me. I know that I enjoy investigative work and there are many facets to this career field, so I am trying to find the space in the profession that would best allow me to use my gifts and abilities to fight trafficking on a day-to-day basis.

As I continued to seek connections here, I was invited to meet with the Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit of the local sheriff’s department. Present at the meeting were three sworn officers, a victim advocate, and myself. The reason for the meeting was to see how I could help them fight trafficking within the community. The plan that had been discussed prior to the meeting consisted of me graduating from the police academy and volunteering part-time with their department. At the meeting, I was informed that I had been given incorrect information and because of the nature and sensitivity of the work, a volunteer could not serve in that capacity. One would have to be employed full-time with the sheriff’s office to assist their unit. As you can imagine, that came as a blow. I had hoped to attend the police academy in January and now that was not going to happen. Upon the investigation job not working out, and now the disappointment with the sheriff’s office, I was left confused. Amidst the confusion, I was at peace knowing that my relocation to the Atlanta area was not a mistake and that God has a plan. I was blessed to spend 5 days at a nearby missionary guest house where I could seek the Lord about what His next steps for me were.

After two nights at the guest house, I realized that if I were to stay longer, I could take care of some end-of-the-year ministry tasks and begin the groundwork for coordinating flights on the East Coast and see where that might lead. The staff at the guest house graciously allowed me to extend my stay for an additional two weeks.

The airport where I have been volunteering some of my time is located in Lawrenceville, GA, halfway between where I currently reside and where the guest house is located. When I first moved to the area, one of my first visits was to the airport. I noticed that there was an airplane parked with a logo on it that I recognized. It was a plane owned by Wings of Grace, a ministry that had partnered with Harvest Aviation to bring relief supplies to the Bahamas while I was there. It was obvious, based on where the aircraft was parked, that it needed maintenance work, so I attempted to connect with Wings of Grace to see if there might be a way that I could help them. Two months went by and I had not heard a response. Finally, I thought I would give it one more try. I reached out to the director through LinkedIn. He responded the next morning and the floodgates for ministry connections began to open.

What I didn’t know was that the Wings of Grace ministry had expanded and they began a chapter of their ministry at the airport in Lawrenceville! Through a partnership with another local ministry called Christ Flight Ministries, youth that are pursuing a career in missionary aviation can receive maintenance and flight training and participate in various missionary service projects, locally and abroad.

You ready for something even more wild? As I began to acquaint myself with the staff of Christ Flight Ministries (CFM), Wesley, asked me what my purpose of moving to this area was. I told him that I relocated to help fight trafficking. He told me that CFM had been talking about participating in the same kind of work. He asked me if I had ever heard of a ministry called Wings of the Way (WOW). I chuckled in amazement and replied that I am on the Board of Directors for WOW. Wesley said that CFM had been talking with Justin, the director of WOW, for a couple of months now about how CFM could assist with flights for trafficking victims. About 10 minutes later, I was speaking to Damon, the director of CFM, when he stopped and exclaimed, “You’re Liz!” I said, “Yes, I guess so!” It was amazing. Apparently, the directors of each organization had been talking about me, but no connection had ever been made. The next day I would meet a pilot, Greg, whom Justin had told me about. It turns out that he also volunteers with CFM and is passionate about assisting in transporting victims. It is really incredible and a bold reminder that God is at work even when we don’t see it.

I do not know what God is going to do with the law enforcement and investigation piece of the plan. I still have an interest to be involved in that capacity, I just don’t know what that will look like. As you can imagine, after the story I have just shared, I am not too concerned about it. I know that God has a plan and that He is working out something very good. In His time, of course.

A Balancing Act

It has been a challenge balancing the many ministries and responsibilities that I have. I know, to be effective, I need to commit to a few and do those well. These past two months, I have been exploring avenues of service and work and believe that I am approaching a healthy work, ministry, and life balance.

I have been involved in both the Japanese and Korean communities since moving to Georgia. I am seeking to learn more about the trafficking happening within these communities and work alongside law enforcement to put an end to this horrific crime.

I have recently spoken with a human trafficking specialist in the local Sheriff’s Department, and he reiterated the need for assistance due to the enormity of the task. He also confirmed that trafficking within the Asian community here, near Atlanta, is a serious problem. I am still hoping to attend the police academy in January, but God will have to open some pretty big doors to provide the funding for that. The equipment that I needed for my private investigator job swallowed up the funds I had set aside, so I will wait for the Lord’s perfect timing for the Academy.

Since beginning my PI job, I found myself extremely frazzled and having very little time to devote to the ministries I enjoy, such as participating in ESL classes, meeting with my Asian friends, and mentoring youth in aviation. Just recently, knowing that the decision might jeopardize my ability to attend the January class at the police academy, I limited the number of hours I am working my PI job. There is a steep learning curve, and I found myself putting in just as much time working on administrative tasks (unpaid) as I was working in the field (paid). I knew I needed to take a step back to do what God has called me to do here. God will provide all that I need. I am sure of that.

This past weekend, I was extremely blessed to stay at a missionary guesthouse operated by Missionary Care Ministries, here in Georgia. Missionaries are invited to stay free of charge whenever they need a time of refreshment. The rest was greatly needed and I anticipate returning in the future.

As I view the calendar, I realize that the holidays are just around the corner. I love being only 6 hours from my sister and her kids. We are planning to get together for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I am really looking forward to that!

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing love and support. It is incredibly meaningful. Please continue to pray for a permanent housing situation for me, where I can best serve the Lord. Many blessings to you all and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

In 2021, I am thankful that I am in Georgia. I absolutely love it. I love the people, the ministry that I get to be a part of, and the creation all around me.

My Georgia Life in Pictures

Korean Church Family

Japanese Church Family

Aviation Community

I am extremely blessed to be here in Georgia. I am involved in many areas of ministry that are close to my heart. I am thankful for all the opportunities to share the love of Christ with those along my path and look forward to the months ahead.