Monday, March 23, 2009

Illegal!

Today I found out that I have been flying illegaly in Peru since October!
I was looking into the requirements for renewing my pilot licence in Peru and found out that the Peruvian Aviation Authrities (DGAC) had me down for an expired pilot license due to a Medical certificate that was not filed properly with them. Back in October I recieved a second class medical certificate which I dutifully took to the DGAC. They accepted the medical certificate, making a copy for their records and I went back to Pucallpa task completed.
However, it appears as though the DGAC is putting up a fuss now and are requiring me to ¨validate¨my medical certificate. That means taking it to the U.S. Embassy in Lima, having them stamp it for $40 validity that it is a ¨real¨medical certificate. Then, it has to be translated into spanish, brough to the Ministry of Forgien relations, where they have to stamp is saying that ¨yes, the US Embassy stamp is valid and approved¨. Then I have to take the medical certificate with those two stamps to the DGAC where they in turn will stamp it a third time accepting the validating from the Ministry of Forgien relations which accepted the validity from the US Embassy which accepted the validity that my medical certificate really is real and valid in the first place!
Does anybody else think this is just crazy! Anyways, until that happens I am effectively grounded and can not fly. I am hoping to have this all worked out by the end of this week... I´ll be sure to keep you posted!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Conference

This past week was the South America Mission annual conference. All the SAM missionaries in Peru got together for the week and had a time of prayer, teaching, and fellowship. Yours truly was on the planning committee and oversaw the volleyball tournament, photo scavenger hunt, and was the co-MC for our daily teaching and worship sessions.

It was a great time of fellowship and a chance to redirect our focus on the topic of "Christian Worldview" and how that impacts our actions with the community around us, our ministries, and also, how we in turn, pray. I was personally renewed and very much enjoyed the Bible teaching that was in English for a change!


Here is a picture of all the people who attended. Can you spot me? =)