April 2023 Update from Roger and Barbara Clark

The last time we talked, Barb and I had hidden away in our cozy Atascadero house several months into a sixmonth sabbatical. We enjoyed Christmas back in Nampa with our three kids and then made one more visit to Atascadero, wrapped up our six months, got some good counsel, and closed up the house. After 23 years with Mission Aviation Fellowship, we were very grateful for the opportunity to take a break, step back, and contemplate our ministry with MAF. I started the sabbatical with three big questions on my plate. I asked God to make it clear what my place in MAF was going forward, and how to deal with two big health issues. Early during our sabbatical, I noticed pain in my left arm and hand. After several months of physical therapy (PT), chiropractic, and doctor visits, an MRI finally revealed herniated disks pinching the nerves down my left arm. Cervical spine surgery followed just before Christmas, and now I’m on the mend and rebuilding my strength. So, really I ended up with one BIG issue and three smaller ones! Through God’s grace, some good counseling, and talks with our pastor, elders, and valued friends, Barb and I were at peace for me to return to my MAF HQ mechanic job. We know that we probably won’t return to full-time overseas MAF work, and that’s a real bummer, but I do look forward to resuming short trips overseas to help with our programs now that COVID is over and my health feels more stable. Thanks for your prayers! February 27th found me back in the MAF HQ Nampa hangar. While I was gone, my position was changed from Cessna 206 training fleet mechanic to general shop mechanic, meaning I do “whatever we need you to do” in the hangar. Presently we are rebuilding a 1979 Cessna 206 “HH-FLY” from the Haiti MAF program. Over the past seven years, I have been involved with three other Haiti aircraft rebuilds. Generally, MAF airplanes don’t return to HQ for maintenance, but due to Haiti’s proximity to the US, it is possible to fly back in about two days. This makes it perfect to tackle heavy jobs like this one in a well-equipped shop.