Introduction to God's Leading to Peru / Christmas Letter
O Donesky
Dear Friends and Family, Christmas 2007/June 08
Odil really did write a Christmas letter for you with all of the normal facts, but life is changing so quickly that it never got sent. The facts: Andrew graduated from 8th grade, Christina from 4th, both still home schooled by Mom. Andrew is enjoying piano, Christina violin, both doing great. Kids competed in the Adventist Lego Robotic League and made us proud. Good science project if your kids like Legos. We have still been traveling as a family with Share Him, what a great family experience. Try it and your life will never be the same (or your kid’s lives). As of today, I am still working in Research at McKee Foods, but that is soon to change. Now for the rest of the story.
Ever since I returned from Guyana and my introduction to Mission Aviation seven years ago I have always wondered “God, why do I hold a Commercial Pilot’s License?” God had clearly called us to Guyana. We were excited to follow God’s leading, even though it was tough following in the foot steps of my oldest brother, who had given his life for his love of God and aviation. Now for years, I had sat on the sideline, reading of the needs for mission aviators, always asking the question, “God, are you calling me?”
The question came up again last December. I came home from work that Friday to a quiet house. Odil and the Kids were on a home schooling field trip, so I sat down with a pile of mail. As I looked over the AWA (Adventist World Aviation) newsletter, an article on the back page titled “A Needle in a Hay Stack” caught my attention. It described the challenges of finding people with both the qualifications and a willingness to work in mission aviation. “Lord, are you calling me?” I thought as I read through the article written by the wife of the pilot working with Peru Projects in Pucallpa, Peru.
Eight years ago, I had spent a week at the Peru Projects airbase taking jungle pilot survival training. It had been a tough week. I had spent much of that week struggling with God about His calling for me to fly missions. That training was on the 10th anniversary of my brother’s death in a mission aviation accident in central Mexico. By the end of the week God had made it clear to me that He had called, and I left Peru with the agreement to purchase an airplane from them to be used in our work in Guyana.
When Odil got home that Friday afternoon, I showed her the article. Her reply was short. God knows where we are, they know us. If God wants us in Peru they know how to contact us. I had to agree. Maybe I was just subject to my own desire to fly missions, and this was not God’s calling at all.
Sabbath morning I woke up with Peru still heavy on my heart. As I cleaned up the breakfast dishes, I prayed, “Lord, if you want us in Peru make it clear, if not, let me get this thought out of my mind.” Upon arriving at church I scanned the bulletin looking to see if Peru was on the agenda, it was not. After early church was over, I was standing in the lobby waiting for Odil when Steven Grabiner of OCI walked out of the Sanctuary. When he made eye contact with me across the lobby I thought, “I may be in trouble.” He walked directly over to me. He didn’t waste time with a “good morning” or “happy Sabbath”. His first question was, “Are you a pilot?” I confirmed I was. His second statement was, “Peru needs you to fly for them.” Then he started telling me all about Peru Projects. Little did Steven know of my prayer session that very morning.
When Odil caught me talking to Steven, I was in trouble. She assumed I had approached him but Steven and my son Andrew had to come to my rescue. Steven explained that he had been at an OCI board meeting the previous weekend and had heard of the need in Peru. He showed us where he had written in his day timer, “Orville Donesky, Pilot?” He explained how he had intended to call all week but had not had time. Now on God’s timing here we were talking about the needs of Peru.
Friends, as I look around me, I perceive things on this world are not right. Is the economy as bad as I am told, I do not know. Is the environment as bad off as is reported, I am not sure. Is the threat of terrorism and international conflict as much of a problem as I am being told, I do not know. But I do know that this world is a mess. I hear of third graders trying to kill their teacher. Something is not right. People, kids are choosing to sell out to God, or Satan. The middle ground is evaporating. Where are you?
When God calls, you will know it. He has a personal plan for each of us. Not all of us are called to go overseas. All He wants is for us to follow His leading. I am not inviting you to Peru. That is where God is calling our family. God may have you right where He wants you. Are you actively working for Him in the situation He has put you in? Have you heard Him asking you to do something more for Him? Are you willing to do it, even if it is way outside of your comfort zone?
And so we are preparing for a move to Pucallpa Peru. It is our plan to depart once we get all of the visa paper work done so we can function in Peru. It should be in the next month or so. This week I just finished my Sea Plane rating. What fun. Odil is at home packing/disposing of stuff. We have enclosed a prayer magnet. If you believe in Prayer put it somewhere and send up one for us when you think of it. We have also enclosed a card with our new contact information.
It will be difficult to keep up with each of you by mail, however if you or a friend have a computer and would like to send us your email address we will attempt to keep you posted on what is going on in our lives. Our email address is odon...@gmail.com. Stay tuned for chapter 2 coming to a computer near you.
God Bless,
Orville, Odil, Andrew, and Christina