Survival Training…

We learned this last week what to do if we need to build shelters due to landing a plane off-field. Here are a few pictures of shelters that us students managed to put together and then actually spent the night in.

a nice little shelter...

In addition to the shelter and egress training, we where trained and certified in basic wilderness first aid. It was really good to learn some of the basics of how to keep wounded people alive. I hope I never need to use the skills I learned this last couple of weeks, but I am glad that I have had the training.

Training continues

The Sikkenga Flightplan

By Scott Sikkenga
Spring – 2011
Issue #12

A cross country trip to Seattle, was a great learning experience as well as fun!

The mountains are an amazing sight, as well as an interesting challenge to navigate.
Onward!
Flight training out in the Inland Northwest continues, and it is more awesome than I would have ever guessed it could be! Thank you for all your prayers and support. I have now attained my high performance endorsement as well as my complex endorsement. (That means I can now fly airplanes with more than 200 horsepower, as well as retractable landing gear). J Moody will also have us mission aviation students training in several other areas, like short field landings and takeoffs, soft field landings and takeoffs, commercial maneuvers, and even some not directly avation related training like cpr and wilderness survival. It is wise to be ready for the worst, and hopefully never need to use it. (plus the training is fun) More on this in my next issue. J

The Plan
Moody Aviation has started a program called FLAPS, standing for Forgivable Loan Assistance Program for Students. The basic concept behind the program is that if I go out onto the mission field within two years of graduation, FLAPS will pay off the loan payments. If I do not end up going to one of the ministries listed in the program, I will become responsible to pay off the loans. This program has pretty much made it possible for me to stay in the program, and I am still planning on going to the field. I really like the idea of this program because it places a good deal of responsibility on the student to either go into ministry or to pay back the money to make the funds that where offered to him available to someone else.

A Time To Ponder…
As my graduation date next summer comes up, I am seriously considering where I am going to serve once I graduate. The two biggest possible places I am considering are JAARS or MAF. Please pray for wisdom as I seek God’s will in this matter. I will also have the privilege of teaming up with many people to get a prayer and support base for when I do go overseas. I am excited to see that God is continuing to confirm this path for my life, as I continue to serve Him with the skills he has provided me. Thanks again for your prayers and faithful support.

3614 E. Farwell Rd, Mead, WA, 99021

Im a pilot!

I’m a Pilot! I finished my private pilot training! Whoo hooo! I am now certified to fly people in airplanes. Want to come out to Spokane and go flying? It can be arranged! (Look me up next time, Bill and Vicki ) Anyhow, I am finished with the private pilot course and am moving on to the commercial training. I am on schedule to graduate in the summer of 2012. (Only a year and a half left!) The Plan Right now, I am in the midst of an intensive Romans class, which will be done by mid January, after which I will be starting the commercial part of my training, and another bible class. This next semester flight training consists of what we call ‘transitions’, a fancy word for training in more sophisticated and complex aircraft, as well as getting a well rounded education in the realm of aircraft. All the while, Moody keeps us students up to date on the maintenance of its aircraft, and all students are required to go on a rotation of one week flight, one week maintenance. I enjoy this because it helps me to see what is actually making the airplane that I am flying work, as well as teaches me what it takes to keep the aircraft flying. I find myself pondering quite a bit what I will be doing once I finish my training, and think right now that I will plan on getting my Flight Instructor rating once I graduate, because it is only a few more hours of training, and it can be very helpful for various missions out there to have a flight instructor rating in order to keep the pilots up on recurring training. Pray for God’s continued leading in my life as well as safety, as I train.  Please also pray for financial support, as this semester is going to be the most expensive yet, and be expectant for seeing God work in this realm. It is now officially bigger than something that I can pay for, and I am amazed and humbly grateful at how He provides through different people and circumstances. Other Ministry… I continue to teach 2-5th grade Sunday School at my local church, and have been blessed by it. Pray that I continue to clearly communicate the Gospel to my Sunday School kids. I also am continuing to work at the airport as a passenger assistant, so please pray for opportunities for me to share and touch lives for Jesus as I work in that environment. I will only have a short school break this Spring before the Summer training begins so I won’t be able to visit Michigan anytime soon. Thanks to my parents I was able to spend some quality time with family and friends in December. God bless and have a great new year! Phone: (231)578-2725     Address: 3614 E Farwell Rd.  Mead WA, 99021

Summer 2010

Flying Airplanes  It has finally come! I am now in the left seat with the controls. After about a month of training, I can say that I have finally soloed! Flight school at Moody is not easy, but really good. Several of the instructors here are on loan from actual missions, so we as students receive advice as to what really is necessary for us to learn to become safe, proficient pilots. So, What’s Up?  The program consists of a dual emphasis, half on flight, and half on maintenance. In doing such, we as students have to deal with much that we would have to deal with on the actual mission field. When a mechanical problem arises, we pile in and deal with it in an efficient, airworthy manner. There also is a sense of Christian companionship that I have rarely had the privilege to experience. It is my sincere plant to mimic this when I am deployed wherever God sends me overseas. Above, you may have noticed that I used the word “soloed”. This is a term that refers to when the flight instructor steps out of the airplane and we actually fly the airplane by ourselves. It is a lot more involved than I thought it would be! My first solo flight actually went really good, with no problems to report other than forgetting how many patterns that I did, and requesting from control tower how many I made. It was kind of funny, really. My second solo, I entered the pattern after about an hour of flight and had to go around because of another airplane that I didn’t see, but it all ended up well! Please pray for continued safety as I train, as I would very much appreciate it. Also please pray for support to come in as my current funding will run out by about Christmas. Praise God that I am actually learning these things, and that He is still continuing to affirm my desire to serve in this manner. My Ministry Plan…  The current plan is to finish school, and do what it takes to get involved with a mission organization such as JAARS, MAF, or NTM. I have met with and talked to many of these organizations, and still feel like God is leading me in this direction. Thank-you for your continued prayers and support! Feel free to call me if you want to talk or have any questions. God Bless! (231)578-2725 Scott Sikkenga, 3614 E. Farwell Ave, Mead Wa, 99021.

Proverbs 27…

The Proverbs contain a goldmine of good advice, and I love to read through them. Today I am reading from Proverbs 27, and there are several things that stick out to me…

Pro 27:1  Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

This passage reminds me that I am never knowing what exactly the future may bring. I can, however, boast about the fact that in the end of time I will be with Christ. I sometimes think I have a good idea what will go down next, but it never hurts to be reminded that ultimately I am not in charge of my fate.

Pro 27:2  Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

This excerpt reminds me that I need not ever brag. It would serve me best to shut up sometimes and let other people decide if they ever want to praise me. I sometimes do have a big mouth, and it would be better if I shut up. I should also be more prone to praise other people.

Pro 27:5  Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed

I am not entirely sure what to think about this one… after some research into it, it looks like that it is referring to the fact that a true friend is willing to rebuke another friend. I am not 100% sure on this one though.

Pro 27:10  Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

I guess this means that if I ever have a crisis, I should seek those whom God puts in my life right where I am at, rather than bothering with the traveling and attaining those whom are far away. In my life, this would look like perhaps making sure to connect with my local church and utilize those wise men that God graciously put into my life.

Pro 27:14  He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.

This means that you should just shut up in the morning… I personally agree with this one.

Pro 27:17  Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

This one reminds me that I should be careful to keep other men involved in helping to shape whom I become, as well as helping other men to become what they can become…

Pro 27:19  As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.

This reminds me that I need to keep a clean and pure heart in order to reflect it onto others.

Pro 27:23  Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;

Here I am reminded to make sure and be a good steward of all I have been given, and to plan wisely with what I have, how I have it, and what I am going to need.

Thank-you Lord, for all your wisdom that you convey through your Word. Help me to continue to seek after it, and follow it in accordance to Your Will.

Sikkenga Flightplan Update Issue #7

Airframe Is Done!!!

I am now a FAA certified Airframe Mechanic. The last several months of preparation has finally paid off, with the completion of my airframe Certificate. In order to be eligible to apply at Moody Aviation, it is a prerequisite to have my Airframe and Powerplant ratings, and now I am finished with the Airframe part and starting on the Powerplant section. So far I am completely on schedule to begin my flight training this coming summer.

Powerplant…. What is it?

Powerplant is basically the generic term used for the engine of an aircraft or rotorcraft. It can be a piston engine much like one that is used in your car, or it can be as complicated as a multi-stage turbine powered propeller.

I am currently going to school to get the second part of my rating, the Powerplant section. Once this is finished, I will be reviewed by the Moody Board and it will be decided if I can start my flight training. Please pray for God’s direction in the decision they make, whatever they choose. I plan on going into flight, and I have no reason to think of another path as of yet, but I still would love as much prayer support as I can get. J

I just finished up with a cultural anthropology class, and was able to pull off a B+ in it, as well as my job, and schooling at Spokane Community College. (24 credit hours) Thank you all for your prayers as I went through this.

My Ministry…

I am still attending the same church out here in Spokane, only that we have re-named it Sunrise Bible Church, and it has been a privilege to be able to be a part of that congregation. Please pray for continued unity in this church, as well as continued spiritual growth. Sunrise Bible is about fourteen months old, and it has been an honor to see it progress through from a church plant and well on its way to an established church.

I am blessed to be able to come back to Michigan for a couple of weeks to see my family. I really miss my friends and family back here in Michigan. I am so blessed to have so many loving people behind me. God has shown me over and over His kindness through His people.

Thank you all for being my friends and keeping me in your prayers. I miss you all and look forward to the next time I see you.

Escalator Riding

Riding of the Escalator at the Mall

In my desire to learn a bit about the culture of my own people, I analyzed how people ride escalators in the mall. I noticed many different things when I watched people.

1. The people themselves. They were mainly all under about the age of 60. I very rarely saw an elderly couple in the mall, riding the escalator. I rarely saw a person traveling alone except people employed by the mall like guards and shift change outs. They primarily all were wearing clothes that were of middle class style. Very few people were wearing anything that looked uncomfortable or too classy. There were more females than males at the malls, as well as a lot of adolescents.

2. The attitude of the people. The people seemed to be mostly happy, chattering about this and that, usually small talk about relatives or current events. They seemed to always have a place to go, though I don’t know how they choose where to go. Once in a while they would see another group of people they knew, and would converse with them for a bit, but mainly they kept to their own little groups of people.

3. Arriving on the Escalator. Almost every time that anyone would step on an escalator, they slow way down, look at their feet, reach their arm out to the hand rail, and then time their step to sync with the movement of the stairs. They then would proceed to do one of two things, either step to one side, usually the right side, and wait for the stairs to do all the work, or they would walk up or down the moving stairway to gain some time. Most of the people just rode the escalator. I would guess that about one out of twenty would choose to take the stairs instead, probably to have a bit of exercise.

4. Riding the escalator. Almost immediately after stepping on the unit, most everybody would look up and around just as one would if they were walking, and do everything they could to not look at their feet. They continued to engage in petty talk and have a pretty much good time. While they rode the escalator, if there is a group of unknown people ahead of them, it is against the unwritten rule to pass them. If they absolutely must be passed, then it is almost exclusively done on the left side of the non-stepping riders. (I wasn’t able to observe this actually happen, but can tell by the way that people normally stand on that side that that is what would happen.

5. Exiting the escalator. When most people exit the escalator, most people would continue to not look at their feet. I would say that about 80% of the people getting off the escalator would not bother to look at their feet. Its as if they memorized the exact point on the handrail that they correspond the end of the ride to be at, and then don’t bother to look at their feet. There also is harder step for the first step off the escalator that seems to triumphantly state that the individual has finished his or her ride.