I grew up in Mountain Home, Arkansas. It was a great place to grow up, because I had lots of friends and a great church. In high school, I went on several mission trips that included places such as, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota; Hodgenville, Kentucky; Spring Hill, Florida, and inner city Chicago. Through those trips, and through the youth group, God called me to serve Him as a missionary. I wasn’t sure at first exactly how God was going to use me on the mission field, but I took the first step by going to college at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL.
   Once in Chicago, I began looking at the gifts that God has given me. He has gifted me and given me a joy in working on mechanical things. In high school I worked on a farm, and I loved working with the tractors and equipment. God showed me that missionary aviation is a really good fit between the gifts He has given me, using and fixing machines, and the calling that He has put onto my life.
   After two years in Chicago, I needed to take a year off of school to save up some money for flight school. I got a job in Michigan with a demolition company. That was the perfect job for me. Not only did I get to tear down buildings, but I got my Commercial Driver’s license, drove a semi, ran heavy equipment, and I got to fix all of it. I also worked later that year for Zeeland Frieght Service, driving a semi
   After those two years, I started my time at Moody Aviation in Elizabethton, TN. During the last three years, I received my Airfram and Powerplant certificates (which allow me to fix aircraft), a commercial pilot’s certificate with an instrument rating, and certified flight and instrument instructor certificates.
   It was also during these three years that I met my lovely wife, Laura. We met at a church outing, and eventually started dating. We have been growing closer together ever since, and were married on May 25th.
   I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us during the rest of our lives.