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NTM Aviation Welcomes Brand New Kodiak Today!

Phil Koop accepts the keys to the first Kodiak from former NTM Aviation pilot Todd Harkins
When things seem impossible...God makes them possible!

Today at 3:05 p.m., NTMA’s new Kodiak landed in McNeal, Arizona, at the operations center for NTM Aviation.

Though a Kodiak for Papua New Guinea still seemed an impossible dream last year, it is now a reality!  Just six weeks ago, on April 24th, a couple of ministry partners chose to buy a Kodiak for NTM Aviation’s ministry in Papua New Guinea!

Now missionaries can breathe easier knowing that soon the Kodiak will be in PNG to sustain them as they bring Jesus to difficult remote settings and to provide medevac capabilities for them and their families—even to Australia.

In a ceremony yesterday in Sand Point, ID, the plane officially changed hands.  Quest Aircraft Corporation engineer Todd Harkins, a former NTMA colleague, handed the keys of the new Kodiak to Phil Koop, executive director of NTMA.  Quest Aircraft personnel who have prayed over every part of this plane joined with NTM personnel and local believers to surround the aircraft with prayer.  Nels Pitotti, missions pastor of Valley Fourth Church in Spokane Valley, WA, led the whole group in giving thanks to God.

Today chief pilot Daren Spence and pilot Larry Dye flew it to McNeal.  They landed to a cheering crowd waving colorful balloons and posters bearing messages like “All things are possible with God.”

“It was a beautiful day.  We could not have asked for better,” said Daren.  “The Kodiak is a true joy to fly.  It climbed smoothly to 19,000 feet and we stayed there for most of the 5-hour flight.”  He noted that the Kodiak’s ability to climb well is a great asset for navigating over the mountains of PNG to the most isolated areas.

Once the Kodiak rested safely out of the blistering sun, staff and visitors joined together as veteran pilot Paul Dye led in a prayer of thanks to God for this good gift.  He praised God that missionaries will be sustained in remote settings and tribal people will finally hear of Jesus, the Savior.

IMG_5237Even the lemonade stand set up in the hangar had a message of thanks.  A poster recalled the Kodiak Kids who, in 2005, put their faith to work, set up a lemonade stand, and reached the impossible goal of raising $375,000 for the down payment for NTMA’s first Kodiak, now serving in Asia-Pacific.  The Kodiak Kids started a chain of events that led quite directly to this present Kodiak, delivered today.

Many of you reading this news are part of that chain of events too.   You have prayed.  You have put your faith to work by giving and sharing the need with others.  All the while, God worked quietly behind the scenes preparing this very airplane for His work.

Thank you for your investment to reach the tribes of Papua New Guinea with God’s eternal hope.

Tags: Aviation, Kodiak Aircraft, Papua New Guinea
POSTED ON Jun 04, 2014 by Wonita Werley
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