May 2018

Photo Credit: Judy Bowen

Going about daily routine, there’s something rather thrilling about hearing that distinct buzz of that white and blue bird flying over the house as Ryan orients himself with flying in Togo. The kids and I drop everything and run out to wave at Daddy. Kids around town can be heard calling out “Avion! Avion! Avion!”

Yep, the 206 is flying beautifully (To see videos and pictures of our first flights, see our Facebook profiles.). Ryan is just 1.2 flight hours from reaching his allotted pilot break-in period and should complete it later this week. Permissions have been granted to fly about the country, and contacts are being made in various places to be able to land. Ryan and Jason will soon be venturing out on cross country-flights to survey the landing sights currently available to us. Please pray for us in the coming months, that God would make it clear to us exactly where and how he would like us to use this great tool to bring the Gospel for evangelism, discipleship, and church multiplying churches in Togo.

This past month has been a busy one in our home. Since April 1st, we have hosted an Resurrection Day potluck, ladies' conference, and a Labor Day celebration for our employees at our home. It has been a special blessing for all of us that our home can be a place where people can come to celebrate our Lord Jesus and the blessings his grace brings to our lives. Thanks to our friends at EBC for sending out collapsible tables and chairs on our December container.

We have two matters of fund raising to discuss in this letter, but first, we are thrilled to report that the Lord has provided $13,000 toward our home electrical system!!! The generator is hooked up and functioning wonderfully. The purchase of the generator is working out so nicely for us as well as our teammates, the Lairds. They brought out the generator and system here to Togo, but are selling it to us because they don't currently need it. What they do need, is a car. So by us purchasing this from them, they are able to put those funds to a new car, and two families are being greatly helped. All that to say, there is still $7,000 left to buy the complete automatic switch and battery backup system from them. If you are interested in helping two families at once, you can give to our Outfit & Passage fund at www.abwe.org/give and be sure to put Buczak O&P or 0134441-002 on the giving line.

The second matter of fundraising is concerning our housing. We have been approved to begin fundraising to build a house near the hangar for $80,000. We feel that we need to be closer to the hangar in order to keep a closer watch on the goings on there. Currently, we have guards at the hangar 24/7. Also, though we love our current home, it is rather old for a Togolese house, and it is in need of constant repairs. Rather than putting money toward this house, we feel it would be a wiser use of funds to put them toward something that will be better built to last. To participate in this project, please be careful NOT to give to our Buczak account, but to give to Togo Aviation 0763031 and carefully specify that your gift is for 003 Buczak Housing.

Our God is wonderful and he has done and will do great things! As we all anticipate and work in the hope of his return and restoration, I thought I'd share this beautiful verse I recently found from Isaiah 61:11. "For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations." Whether it be a vegetable garden or a fruit garden, may our Lord bless the fruit of your labors for His glory.