I have heard
it said, "it's not so much the destination you are to enjoy, but
the journey in getting there." When looking on the past and
anticipating the future, I see how my life is an incredible journey and
my destination is in the arms of my Savior.
This web site is dedicated to the journey that God has set me on. I am
just an ordinary 23 year old from West Virginia with a burden for foreign
missions. More specifically, missionary aviation. While every follower
of Christ is "called" to reach the world for Him, some have
the privilege to make that their life's journey. And what a journey it is! To be
able to reach people who have never heard the name of Jesus and to be
on the front lines of the greatest battle of good vs. evil ever...is a
humbling thought (sorry for the battle illustration, I am a guy
;).
Growing up was what you would (or would not) expect from a pastor's
kid who was home schooled most of his life. I was saved at a young
age, the beginning of 
this
journey, and subsequently saved from many things I could have been
trapped into. One might see an easy life...but I am always reminded
that to whom much has been given, much will be required.
Flying has always been a passion of mine ever since I was little. It
was not until I read a book about the founder of Moody Aviation that
God stirred my heart to missions. God tragically shut the door to this
man's dream of going to the mission field but through him founded the
aviation school that supplied over half of the world's missionary
aviators. My specific journey direction was set...the mission field.
It proved to be a more difficult journey than I thought.
Moody Bible Institute was the logical choice to begin my training; yet
when they chose to scale back and move their aviation program, it was
on to another school. I received my A&P mechanics license and
private pilots license at Piedmont Baptist College before they shut
their program down. (Lest you think missionary aviation is not needed,
see the missionary aviation page). Thankfully Liberty University did not close (*whew*) and I was able to
graduate in May of '08 with a degree in missionary aviation. I have received my instrument rating and
now work towards my commercial rating. It has already been a wild ride, and I
don't expect God to let up.
Perhaps the most exciting thing to happen so far in my life is my marriage to Heather Diana! I met Heather at Liberty University during the fall semester of my last year. We saw each other on facebook, but it wasn't until we had the same missions classes did we really get to know each other. With Heather's passion for missions (and her love for the Cowboys!) I knew she was the girl God had made for me! On October 12, 2008, Heather agreed to become my wife and we were married on June 27, 2009. We now are joined on this journey God has placed us on. Our journeys now joined...and I thank God for giving me such an amazing partner for life!!
Admittedly, I have a long way to go in this journey I have been set on.
I thank all of you who have helped and supported me this far, and ask
all who read this to pray for me as I continue. Jesus said in John
14:6 that He was the "way, the truth, and the life", He is
the only way...it is the only way I want to go.
"I
have a long way to go,
yet this is my
journey...
By the
Way."
