Flight Instructor at Prairie School of Mission. Aviation. August 2009 - December 2009: Travelling along the West Coast f
EnRoute No 17
May 2008
Sign Language for Babies? The fact that we teach Niklas sign lanhe was about thirteen months old, Nikguage has obviously aroused interest las' thirst of knowledge seemed to be in some of our readers. "Why would insatiable. We had to hurry and learn you do that?" we were asked. The folnew signs in order to teach him. Somelowing is a short summary of our contimes however, we were too slow and siderations. he made up his own signs. "Chocolate" According to research, boys tend to was one of them (no respect for Momdevelop their lanmy's profession), guage skills slower "snow plough" and than girls do. If they "head set" were grow up bilingual others. the process may The intriguing even be more dething about sign layed. At the same language is that time it is known from through it I can rechild psychology ally communicate that one reason for with my little man temper tantrums is and we both una child's inability to derstand what we express their feelings are "talking" about. – which can really Most of the time he be frustrating. Thus, starts the "converwhen I heard that sation" and shows babies as young me what is on his as eight months mind. Thus, he "tells" old are capable of me time and again communicating by that he was at the using signs, my cuswimming pool with riosity was sparked. Daddy and this I started to read morning he came books concerning running, wailing Sign for Daddy: Daddy's candies the topic and last that his little playspring Markus and I even had the opmate had pushed him. Sometimes his portunity to attend a workshop. stories are hilarious, at other times, I am Keen to experiment, we started to taken aback by his ability to see how teach Niklas – eight months old at that things are connected. time – some signs from American Sign The experience with sign language did Language. When he was ten months teach me that little children are defiold, he showed his first sign – "light" nitely more intelligent and fascinating – just as we passed a street light. One than I would have given them credit sign after the other followed and when for. mad
Getting Ready I cannot believe that Baby-Bischoff#2's due date is almost here. The weeks of my pregnancy seemed to fly by and about a week ago I finally realized that I should start packing my hospital bag. I know that the baby will be born anyway, even though the place where
"Mummy, I'm pregnant, too"
he/she will sleep for the first couple of weeks has not yet been set up nor have we decided on a name. I have to confess that I would rather be pregnant for a little longer, if I could only leave out the part of giving birth. My doctor's encouragement that it will be quicker and easier this time, is only a cold comfort to me. Except for the initial nausea, fatigue, sporadic insommnia and constipation, I experienced an uncomplicated pregnancy. Up to my 30th week I could maintain my running schedule three times a week. Thereafter, my back pain got too severe and my energy deficiency too big. Thus, I decided to resort to "walking with Niklas". Until now, I am still able to tie my shoes
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (James 2:20) ≥ As mentioned in a former newsletter, in our Bible study we are currently concerned with the Letter of James. Time and again I am fascinated at the timeliness of this letter. Obviously, the addressees ("the twelve tribes scattered among the nations", James 1:1), were battling the same spiritual difficulties as many congregations today. The evangelical church is, from my experience, highly shaped by Martin Luther's theology. Luther stresses particularly Paul's statement in Romans 3:28, according to which we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone. I agree with that statement in principle. However, some Christian circles have adopted the attitude that outwardly our Christian life does not have to be different from a nonbeliever's. My faith is a private matter and as long as I have accepted that God is real and that Jesus died for my sin so that I can actually have a relationship with Holy God, I am accepted by Him. Thus, I live as if I would not know God and treat my spouse, my children, my co-workers as if I had never heard that I am to love my neighbour as myself (Lev 19:18). I know of more than one person who was discouraged from believing in God because they did not want to become like "the Christian". What a sad witnessing! Now, the Letter of James does not contradict Paul's statement as it is sometimes maintained. It rather explores the question of faith from a different point of view (s.a. Romans 2:13;29). It reminds us that our faith cannot be separated from our actions. To believe means to have our attitude converted through the Holy Spirit so that it shows in our whole being. Knowledge alone is not enough – we are to do what we believe. mad myself, carry Niklas around if it has to be and sometimes I even forget that I am pregnant. Two weeks ago, when I was visiting a friend in the basement of the building, I suddenly remembered that I still had bread in the oven. Quickly, I wanted to run up the stairs to my apartment. However, taking two steps at once, I was immediately reminded of my state. Twenty-two extra pounds Continued on page 2
No 17
May 2008
EnRoute Continued from page 1
Five hundred Beginning of April saw me reaching the 500flight-hours mark. Officially I am now able to apply with MAF as a pilot. We will only do this next year, though, since MAF likes their new pilot to have more flight experience and our work permit in Canada is good until August 2009. My personal goal is to reach 1000 hours by that time. Lately, many people have asked us what our future is going to look like. Here a short overview of our plans: • Until August 2009: Continue working as a Flight Instructor at Prairie School of Mission Aviation. • August 2009 - December 2009: Travelling along the West Coast from Vancouver to San Francisco. • December 2009: Returning to Switzerland • January 2010 - ??: Preparation to work for MAF overseas (where is not yet determined).
To finish here some highlights of my instructing: Since March I teach night flying, which will be over approximately end of May due to legal night starting at 10 pm only. Furthermore, my first student passed his Privat Pilot Licence with flying colours and I was able to send another student on his first solo flight. However I still need two more students passing a flight test in order to upgrade my instructor rating. Since two planes of our fleet got new avionics (Garmin GPS GNS430) I was able to develop an introductory course for our students. As I had done when working for Ascom in Switzerland I am now reading through operation manuals, testing functionality (with a GPS-Simulator), and writing PowerPoint presentations. I am looking forward to my first audience. bim
Four hands work twice as fast
Whole
– especially when somewhat unequally distributed – are definitely getting in the way. mad
Pick-nick at the airport
(Part 1 - to be continued in the next EnRoute)
Far north in Kenya's arid semi-desert, in a place dotted with little rises of rock, and speckled with stray camels, is a river and a town called Lokichar. Arriving in our smallest Cessna some weeks ago, I made a swift pass close to the ground, eyeing the ruts on the runway and inadvertently emptying out a nearby schoolhouse of several hundred children who ran out to see the plane up close. I circled around to land. Successfully dodging both rivulets and children, the landing was smoother than expected, and my three passengers and I made a hasty retreat to a waiting truck that would take us across the river and toward the reason we were there. We soon happened upon a new church under construction and then a complex of neat and whitewashed buildings, all fairly new, arranged purposefully, well kept, and out-ofplace for Africa. As we arrived at the compound gate, a boy appeared. He struggled to reach the latch while we waited awkwardly in the back of the
truck. The boy continued to struggle, his motions unnatural. I realized after a moment that he was crippled. A view of the compound revealed children all about – hobbling, wheeling, and shuffling to the car park to greet their visitors. Every disability seemed different, unique. The smiles were all the same however. Bright, and beautiful. Some of the children peered in the open door to the small office where we gathered. Sister Catherine, a gracious Kenyan nun, stood behind her spotless desk, proudly passing out a guest-book to sign. "The John Paul Home for crippled children," she explained, "is named after the late Pope." His picture sat squarely on the wall behind her, looking down with kind approval. "We have forty-four children here currently."
Mike Delorenzo works as a missionary pilot with AIM Air (Africa Inland Mission) in Nairobi, Kenya. His stories are taken from his personal website at www. delorenzoflyer.com
Page 2
Our Current Address: Madeleine & Markus Bischoff PO Box 1382 Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0, Canada Contact in Switzerland: Karin & Daniel Wolf Bantigerweg 8 CH-3033 Jegenstorf Financial Support: Schweizerische Missions-Gemeinschaft CH-8700 Küsnacht Post Account 80-42881-3 Note «For Bischoff»
