3:00 am September 7th our trip to Russia began as Dwayne, Wesley and I loaded into Dwayne's truck and Amy drove us to the airport for our 7:00 am flight to Seattle. I was looking forward to a new adventure after the last few days had been a dead run of getting things done, prepping for check rides, gathering gifts and other things to prepare for the trip.
2:50 pm we departed from Seattle for Seoul South Korea a 12 hour flight. I got a lot of sleep on that flight and then Dwayne, Wes and I spent 2 hours at the bulkhead window looking out as we flew over the remote parts of Russia Dwayne knew so well and telling us stories about his flights over these parts.
7:00 pm Sept 9th we arrive in Seoul South Korea and crash in rooms in the hotel airport for the night waking up perky at 3:330 am. We checked out at 6 to go and meet up with Tom Regier the fourth member of our team who had gotten in from LA a few hours before. We had a great time catching up and having breakfast at Dunkin Donuts before catching our 10 am flight to Khabaroskv.
1:50 pm Sept 9th we arrive in Khabaroskv. The flight over China was interesting to see the agriculture going on compared with the lack of agriculture in Russia and focus rather on industrialization. We were met at the airport by Kostya Rudoy (our Director of KAC Russia), Ivan (a russian who came to KAC last year to begin flight training after feeling called in go a missionary pilot a few years before and who got his pilots license in Moscow this summer), and Misha ( a Russian American who is working on joining Slavic Gospel Association and KAC as a missionary in Khabaroskv with Kostya in the Aviation ministry). We spent the afternoon and evening with these friends, and stayed at the home of christian friends Kostya & Yulia and their 3 children.
Sept 10 We spent most of the day at the small airport where our KAC Russia 172 is based and stared the annual inspection as well as doing some maintenance. I am not a great mechanic yet but I have learned a lot about how to be helpful with these inspections like getting the right tools, taking on and off inspection panels and on this trip doing fiberglass repair. We also had some tea with some of the local aviation community that Dwayne and Kostya have been building relationships with for years.
Sept 11 We finished up the annual on the plane, changed the tires on the plane to a larger more rough terrain tire and did the return to service flight. We spent more time with friends at the airport and in the evening we went to the Khabaroskv Bible College where Dwayne spoke to a group of young people returning from summer missions trips and met many old friends.
Sept 12 Dwayne and Tom went to the airport while Wesley and I went with Kostya II to the store to get food and airplane supplies. We were preparing for an afternoon cookout at the airport as we knew many friends would be coming for afternoon tea and dinner. It was fun to see more of life in Russia as we went to many stores to find the supplies needed in many stores. We then headed out the airport and spent a great afternoon with aviation friends new and old drinking lots of tea and eating great food, before returning home late for a second dinner with Kostya II, Yulia, and Cassie.
Sept 13 Dwayne, Wesley and I went to Central Church where we met Cassie who translated for Dwayne and he preached and Wes and I for the service. It was a special harvest celebration sunday with lots of singing and special poems. It was enjoyable to join with many brothers and sisters there as they worshiped. We then had lunch out with the Pastor Gnady and his wife. We got to drive and walk around downtown Khabaroskv and see more of the city before returning for a 5 pm harvest celebration service.
Sept 14th We spent part of the day in meetings with the Eric Mock from Slavic Gospel Association working out details of how the partnership with KAC and SGA will work for bringing Misha and his family to Khabaroskv. In the afternoon Dwayne and Kostya flew a pastor out to the village of Pobeda where he pastors a small church when Kostya can fly him out. We also went and checked out the work being done starting the foundation at the housing being built in Vineogradifka. We spent the afternoon with pilot friends and the evening with Kostya II and Yulia.
Sept 15th Another day at the airport looking at planes ours and other peoples. In the afternoon Wes and I went up with Kostya and got to see more of the area from the sky, then Tom and Kostya flew out to Pobeda to pick up Pastor Slava. We spent the evening with 2 couples from Kostyas church as well as Ivan's family. I enjoyed hearing more about ministry in Russia.
Sept 16th We spent the morning with our friends before doing a quick run to the store to pick up some souvenirs and treats to take back then backed up our bags ran by Kostyas house in Vineogradifka to see the work being done on the foundation before heading to the airport to catch our flight. It was the eternal long day of flying we flew out of Russia at 1 pm and flew to Seoul, LAX, Seattle and arrived into Anchorage at 1:40 am to drive back to the ranch and crawl into bed at 4 am.
It was an exciting trip to see the opening up work of missions aviation in Russia and the great draw that aviation has drawing in unbelievers and giving many opportunities for Dwayne and Kostya to share the purpose behind their aviation.
Planning the future of the aviation ministry reaching out to new villages
Kingdom Air Corps Plus: Dwayne, Eric Mock, Kostya R, Wesley, Tom Regier, Cassie, Me, Kostya, Ivan, Marina front Misha, Pavol, Anastysia
