Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Christmas 2023

 


Holiday greetings from Eastern Washington. I (Paul) just finished up graduate courses and am on Christmas break until mid-January, Moody Aviation is closed, and students have left for home, so Bridget and I will be spending Christmas with our daughter Kelly who lives here in Spokane. 

Paul's birthday dessert!

One aspect that has come to the forefront for the both of us recently is the fact that we will both be 65 and all that brings with it (actually, this month for me, February for Bridget). Some have asked if we will retire but we don’t see that as God’s direction for us. We stay active and have a great time with everyone at Moody. We attended the student and staff Christmas party and thoroughly enjoyed the talk around our table over dinner. There was a competition between the tables to build a gingerbread house, but we made a gingerbread hanger with aircraft instead. We didn’t win but had a lot of fun together. There was another game to make a Christmas tree with plastic cups and ornaments that Bridget lost to the six-year-old son of the dean of students. We ended the evening singing Christmas hymns. We came away with a sense of gratitude regarding our involvement at Moody Aviation and feel privileged to speak into the lives of those preparing for the mission field.



Bruce Dipple, An Australian and leader in the world of missions once said, “You have to experience it [cross cultural contexts] to understand it." He was speaking to the merits of effective pre-field training. The students here, have a calling to reach those in the road-less regions of the world with the gospel which includes training on how to function in a different culture as well as the technical aviation. A very specialized vocation indeed!

Bridget and I are grateful for your partnership that makes it possible for us to be here. During our time in Central America your impact was felt in the interior region of Costa Rica. Now, your impact is broadening out. We look forward to what 2024 brings and what progress we can report.

Blessings,

Paul & Bridget

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Living Water!

Study break at the Spokane Fair.

I (Paul) have just begun the third course in my Master of Arts Care and Counseling program entitled “Mission Care for Career Transitions.” It is a robust curriculum and a lot of work but enjoyable as I have been able to draw upon my past education and experience to assist me in my studies. It is interesting that there are several missionaries, other than myself, who are in my program as well. There is one thing in my studies, that continues to stand out I would like to encourage you with. 

God’s plan A, at this time, is “the church.” There really isn’t a plan B. Bridget and I, responding to His calling, are sent out from you as an extension of your outreach mindset but the bulk of God’s work happens at the local level. So, what I want to encourage you about is hang in there with your involvement at your church. There are more options for service than I have space to list here so whatever is before you and if you have the ability-talk to the Father (pray) and go forth as He prompts. Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest reminds us, in regard to John 7:38, “He who believes in me ... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. ... (emphasis mine), it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts.” 

Please pray with us about: 
  • Our church here and how we get involved! 
  • We aren’t at 100% (financial support wise) of what Proclaim would like us to be at so we continue to welcome opportunities to share our ministry. 
  • Opportunities to connect with more people at Moody Aviation. 
  • We will be welcoming on board here at Moody Aviation our new Associate Dean of Students. Please lift him up in prayer as there is much to learn and many to get to know. Bridget and I will be serving under Him and hope to be able to introduce him to you in a future newsletter. 

Blessings, 

Paul and Bridget

Monday, June 26, 2023

NILD Educational Therapist

Practicing Morse code lesson.

Rhythmic writing lesson.

Wonderful group to learn from!
After my (Bridget’s) five-week Level 1 National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) Educationalist Therapist course I can officially say: I train brains. I exercise people’s memories and pose questions to develop their problem solving and thinking skills. We do math and language activities that make brain connections between seeing, hearing, doing and listening to grow the brain. It is purposeful and intense, just like your physical workout at the gym. As an educational therapist I will be privileged to see God transform learning disabled adults and children into confident learners.
Online courses at the kitchen table

Our 40th Wedding anniversary

Three generations

June 18th was our 40th wedding anniversary and we celebrated that and Father’s Day with our daughter Kelly and granddaughter Irely.




That same weekend we attended the graduation for Moody Bible Institute Aviation's flight and maintenance students. They earned more than 190 credits and their FAA ratings, held jobs, and yet had time to enjoy skiing, hiking and mountain biking. This tight-knit group made it a priority to pray together, disciple other students, and mix in some fun-loving pranks. The Class of 2023 is serious about walking with God and taking the God News of Jesus to all regions of the world. Please be praying for them and their families as God directs their next steps.

Thank you for your prayers and support.It means a lot to us to have you as part of our team.

Blessings,

Paul and Bridget Abbott

Friday, June 2, 2023

IAMA Conference 2023

We are taking a break from our studies to tell you about our recent tip to the International Association of Missionary Aviators (IAMA) conference at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. The first evening we met for dinner with some of the Proclaim Aviation member care team to get to know each other. We had a couple of different meetings as a team and all agreed member care in a nutshell is relationships. Our team purpose: Proclaim member care will be prayer driven and relationship focused. Our objective as a member care team is to build trust with our members through intentional, authentic communication. Our indicator of success will be evident as the lives of our members display a growing love of, and obedience to, Christ. John Armstrong, Director of Operations at Proclaim, reminded us, “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

 

Proclaim Team: John, Paul, Bridget, Joyce, Cecil, Keith

We were all encouraged by the keynote speaker, Dr. Jolene Erlacher, founder of Leading Tomorrow, as she gave us insights into the dynamics of effective inter-generational leadership in an evolving culture. She defined the values and traits of Generation Z (born 1996-2012) and challenged us to make adjustments to our ministry approach and discipleship as we prepare them to step into leadership roles. She reminded us that they are purposefully created and equipped by God to share the Gospel and make disciples among their peers. Through social media they already have friends all over the world!

Thank you for your prayers, phone calls, emails, texts, notes and financial support. We are so grateful for your participation in our ministry during this season of preparation!

Blessings,

Paul and Bridget Abbott

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Spiritual Capacity


It’s spring and sunny! We have our boxes packed and we are heading to Moody Aviation in Spokane, Washington. Proclaim Aviation is sending us there to work with staff members, as well as students.

 A recent devotional we read in Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest is one of my (Paul’s) favorites. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the talents. This parable was a warning that it is possible to misjudge our capacities. It is about God’s promises in relation to our capacity and capability in Spiritual matters and is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect. It is about God, by the Holy Spirit, working in and through us as we participate in the Great Commission. He uses you no matter how many years of education you have. He uses you regardless of your level of intellect. This has been encouraging to me over the years in light of the path I've been on. For example where I spent the last ten years doing ministry in Costa Rica and now heading to Spokane to work with staff and students at Moody Aviation. I hope this principle is encouraging to you as well.

We would like to say that we are grateful for many of you who we've visited and shared with us since our return to the US. Your generosity did not go unnoticed by us or the Lord. Paul wrote to the Philippians, who were ministry partners with him when he first went to Macedonia, and said in Phil. 4:17, “Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.” We are excited to bring you with us and share this adventure as we work to impact the eternity of those in the road-less regions of the world.

Please feel free to share our ministry with anyone who is interested in missionary aviation. We will respond to any questions or interest brought our way.

Praise the Lord with us for a month of Partnership Development meetings to share our new ministry and moving to Spokane.

Please pray for us as we look for individuals and churches to be our prayer and financial partners, and settle in and being graduate courses.

The Focused Packer

The Playful Packer

Travel Schedule:

May 1-7 Move to Spokane

May 8 Graduate courses start

May 17-19 Paul & Bridget International Association of Missionary Aviators (IAMA) Conference

May 22-26 Meetings at Moody Aviation


Blessings,

Paul and Bridget Abbott

Monday, April 3, 2023

Partnership Development

Greetings everyone,

It’s been a busy March as we’ve been sharing in Dallas where spring was in bloom, as well as Southern Oregon where it snowed! We enjoyed sharing with friends, in churches, and with various small groups about our acceptance with Proclaim Aviation who are sending us to Moody Aviation in Spokane, Washington to work with staff members, as well as students. Here are a couple of highlights of what the Lord has been doing in our mist:

A big part of what we have been sharing with people is that ministry partnerships are a two-way relationship. Recently, we spoke at a Medford First Baptist fundraiser for a mission team that will be going to Costa Rica for the second year in a row. It was great to encourage the team and a room of supporters in their respective partnership roles to pray, communicate, and financially participate in the great commission. One of the team members, is returning to Costa Rica for a second time as he was challenged, impacted and encouraged during his first visit. We are amazed by his story! The Lord brought a shy teenager to Costa Rica to serve last year, and now he is on the worship team of his church. 

 

Medford First Baptist Costa Rica Mission Team 2022

We also visited Mountain View Christian Church in Southern Oregon during a snowstorm. We reconnected with a number of wonderful friends, but it was especially good to see Cory. He and Paul were ranch hands the summer before Cory went to college. Now Cory is married to Sarah and father of Hyatt, and lives in a cabin at the base of a mountain. We had a chance to talk over a couple of meals and listen to their plans for building a house in the spring, the struggles in the small community, spiritual questions they are pondering, and their desire to share the Gospel of Jesus with their neighbors. Sarah is a talented singer and piano player and led worship on Sunday morning. Cory has been preaching while their pastor was on vacation. There were a dozen families of various ages at the church that Sunday we shared our ministry with them. We were touched by the praise and prayer time because it exemplified the body of Christ functioning as God intended.

 

Paul shoveling snow.


Driving around Hyatt Lake

Lunch with Cory, Sarah and their baby
Please call 208-685-9544 or email us at paulnbridge@gmail.com so we can set up a time in April or May to share with you about being a partner in our ministry.

Praise the Lord with us for a month of partnership development meetings to share our new ministry and finding a place to rent in Spokane.

Please pray for us as we look for individuals and churches to be our prayer and financial partners.

Travel Schedule:

April 1-30 ?

May 1-7 Move to Spokane

May 8 Graduate courses start

May 17-19 Paul & Bridget IAMA conference

May 22-26 Meetings at Moody Aviation

Blessings,

Paul and Bridget Abbott


 



Monday, March 13, 2023

NEWS FLASH!


We are so happy to tell you – we are missionaries with Proclaim Aviation Ministries! God is opening the door for us to share our wisdom and experience with young adults preparing to be missionary aviators.

Proclaim Aviation was started in 2002 and helps graduates from aviation schools move into full-time ministry.  They do this by getting graduates positions where they can gain hours as flight instructors and mechanics. Proclaim is sending us to  Moody Bible Institute's Aviation Program in Spokane, Washington. Moody has more than 60 years of experience training missionary aviators.  In coordination with Proclaim's home office, Paul will serve in a member care role that includes working with staff members serving in Spokane, as well as encouraging and mentoring students. Bridget will be testing and coaching students struggling with academics.

To support our ministry financially:

Give on the Proclaim Aviation website under our photo.

Donor cards can be printed and mailed with a check or a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).

 

Please pray for us as we:

Ask friends and churches to be our prayer and financial partners. Start master level courses in May to equip us for ministry. Move to Spokane, find a home and a church, and connect with students and staff.

Praise the Lord with us for directing our steps to Proclaim and Moody, these six months of refreshment, and time with family and friends.

 

Travel Schedule:

March 10-15 Dallas/Salem/Corvallis OR

March 16-23 Medford OR

March 24-27 Ashland/Green Springs OR

March 28-31 Medford OR

April 1-30?

May 1-7 Move to Spokane

May 8 Graduate courses start

May 17-19 Paul IAMA conference

May 22-26 Meetings at Moody Aviation

 

Contact us to set a date and hear about how you or your church can partner with us.

208-685-9544

paulnbridge@gmail.com

Hope to see you soon in person or on Zoon!

Blessings,

Paul and Bridget Abbott