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Mission ImPossible on wings and prayers
For 5 days in July at ACMA (Australian Centre for Mission Aviation) students and staff had the privilege of being involved in 28 young lives. 25 guys and 3 girls came from as far away as Queensland and Perth to the annual ACMA camp. It was a week of aviation related activities, classes, excursions and devotions based at Coldstream Airport. They came to have fun, fly over the beautiful Yarra Valley, learn about the impact of aviation in a world of need, and hear testimonies from staff and students about what God is doing in their lives. John (General Manager) and Marcus (Chief Flying Instructor) shared about the work of JAARS and MAF and the impact of aviation in a world of need. Tim (Chief Engineer) shared how God first called him to work with MAF in Tanzania as a maintenance engineer, even though he thought he had no skills that God could use in mission. Andy (Flying Instructor) told how God took him from not believing there was a God and never wanting to move from the city, to a growing faith and awareness that God was calling him to work with MAF. Poignantly at the end of that week, Andy, his wife Myf and baby Theo were scheduled to leave Melbourne for the long drive to Arnhem Land to begin their service with MAF. Sarah (wife of flight student Steve) encouraged campers to consider the importance of prayer in their lives. Francis (engineering student from PNG) shared his testimony around the bonfire – a story of tragedy and opportunity. The tears in the eyes of many were not caused by the smoke from the fire alone.
As one camper returned from a Trial Instructional Flight, he commented on FaceBook, “I flew a plane today; it was possibly the most exciting day of my life.”
Other comments by campers say it all:
Overall a brilliant camp.
Good fun!
I loved the actual flying.
Just being able to learn about aviation with others was what I enjoyed.
Overall it was fantastic, I loved it.
The camp was epic.
I enjoyed joking with new friends, and learning about aviation.
I know a lot more about engineering than I did before.
As camp ended on Friday, students and staff prayed one-to-one with each of the campers. Parents arrived and campers got ready to head for home or the airport. Young people who had arrived as strangers on Monday said fond farewells as friends. They also went away more aware of how God is using aviation, encouraged in their walk with God, and some with a clearer idea of God’s direction in their future. Several were challenged not just to be pilots but felt called to fly with mission organisations. A lad expressed a wish to come back for the Engineering Course. Another camper heard the gospel explained for the first time and went away to think seriously about a response.
As one ACMA student put it, ‘There’s no doubt that God has been working in amazing ways in the lives of these young people this week.’
We praise God for this opportunity to meet them all and share in what God is doing in their lives.
read the following daily updates from the camp and check out the videos and photo links for more of an insight to the week...
DAY 1 update...
"Your Mission, should you choose to accept it..."
28 year 10 to 12 students took up the challenge and arrived at ACMA Camp
2011 to take on 'Mission Possible - On Wings and Prayers". Located at
the Australian Centre for Mission Aviation at Coldstream airport, 25
boys and 3 girls came to the first day of our annual Mission Aviation
Camp.
The campers enjoyed a cup of hot soup and some Barbequed sausages in
bread before being welcomed by the studets and staff and joining in some
'Get to Know You' games. The traditional model aeroplane building
contest was next on the program, where 7 model aircraft were constructed
out of Balsa Wood and tested against one another in a distance
competition. Much fun was had by all and some effective and some very
curious aircraft were among those flown.This event was followed by a
briefing on basic flight controls by one of the ACMA Flight Students,
and then the campers bundled themselves and their bags onto the bus and
headed to their accomodation at IBLP - Institute in Basic Life
Principles, where many ACMA students also have their accomodation. All
enjoyed the delicious Spaghetti Bolognese and Garlic Bread for dinner,
then were given a tour of IBLP before engaging in more games and a short
devotion before bed.
DAY 2 Update...
Day 2 began before sunrise with campers rising at 6:30
for breakfast at 7:00. Morning devotions were scheduled at 7:45, and the
campers and leaders alike were treated to morning devotion involving a
short time of praise and then a talk by ACMA Chief Engineer, Tim
Derbyshire. He spoke of his life and upbringing, and how the Lord had
enabled him to overcome his natural shyness and low opinion of his
abilities to bring him to the mission field. Through this he emphasised
that with God, all things are possible.
After devotions were complete, the campers made their way to ACMA for
their first round of classes. The various groups were involved with
classes on Engines, Navigation and Meteorology, Airframe Maintenance,
and a workshop project. Everyone then enjoyed a great morning tea, and
then boarded the bus for Moorabbin Airport. There they visited a
component overhaul workshop where various parts of landing gear and
propellers are inspected and repaired. They were shown much of the test
equipment that was used to check commponents, as well as fluorescent
inspection techniques and balancing equipment. This excursion was
followed by a visit to the Melbourne School of Theology (formerly BCV)
at Wantirna South. MST provides the Bible College portion of the Mission
Aviation Course, and the campers visit here involved a one hour lecture
by Neil Amery an afternoon tea and also given a tour of the facility.
Once their visit was completed, everyone returned to IBLP and enjoyed a
roast chicken dinner, before attending evening devotions and Mission
Aviation talks. John Willetts, the general manager of ACMA spoke to the
campers about the work of JAARS and then MAF's Chief Flight Instructor
at ACMA, Marcus Grey, spoke about Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and
described some of his experiences on the mission field.
DAY 3 Update...
Another day dawned on ACMA Camp '11, and the campers
again rose early for a cooked pancake breakfast, before joining in a
devotion where ACMA Flight instructor and soon-to-be MAF Pilot Andrew
Little spoke of his journey into mission and of God's provision for his
training. After hearing Andrew's story, the campers again split into
their groups for discussion. The day was full of learning, with each
group attending 3 classes over the couorse of the day, with the first
half of the afternoon being devoted to games and free time for the
campers to bond and have some fun between classes. After a delicious
dinner, the campers were then treated to a screening of the movie 'End
of the Spear', the story of the first MAF missionaries to the Waodani
tribe in Ecuador, before heading off to bed.
DAY 4 Update...
It was an early start again and after a filling
breakfast everybody bundled into devotions to hear a talk on Prayer by
Sarah Menadue, the wife of one of ACMA's current flight students. She
spoke of the curtain of the Temple being torn in two at Christ's death,
and how this symbolizes our free access to the presence of God through
His blood. She also put on 'My Father's Chair', by David Meece, and
afterwards the discussion groups were blessed by quietly discussing
their Heavenly Father.
After devotions everybody got onto the bus for a trip to the RAAF Museum
at Point Cook Air Force Base. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed browsing the
history of flight in Australia, as well as seeing some replica's of
famous machines from RAAF History, including the V-12 Merlin engine used
in Australia's P-51D Mustang fighters during World War 2. They were
then treated to a flight display by an Australian-built trainer, the
Winjeel, before returning to Coldstream where the campers engaged in
several quiet games and eagerly anticipated the delicious Pizza dinner
that was promised. A bonfire was then lit, and campers and leaders alike
enjoyed roasted marshmallows for dessert. Francis Wayambo, an ACMA
student from Papua New Guinea, then shared some stories by the fire of
God's provision for him over his years working in Jaars as an avionics
technician. The campers sang Amazing Grace, and then returned to their
accomodation at IBLP to pack their bags and rest up for the final day.
DAY 5 Update...
Today the campers packed their bags and headed to Coldstream for the final day of camp. The weather today was favourable for flying and so this was the day to try and fit in the many 'Trial Instructional Flights' that had been postponed over the week due to bad weather. Following lunch the campers were prayed for and goodbyes and contact details shared as it was then time for them to make their way home. We hope to see them all again some day soon - Thank you campers for a great ACMA Camp 2011 from the staff and camp leaders.
We are sorry that you are too late to book for the 2011 Camp but here is the Camp 2011 Booking Information for your reference...
Camp dates - 4th July to 8th July.
The basic Camp Fee is $390.00. This includes: All Meals (Monday Morning-tea to Friday lunch inclusive) Motel-style Accommodation, Familiarisation Flight, Materials for Projects, Theory Classes, Excursions, Local Transport
An additional cost of $15.00 is required for an airport pick up/drop off (see below for details)
Optional Extras: A Trial Instructional Flight is available. (This can be recorded as a flight aptitude test for the purposes of applying to the ACMA Flight Training course). Costs: 20-minute Trial Instructional Flight @ $95.00
Deposit: To secure your place on the camp, a deposit of $100.00 is required to be forwarded with this completed application. (NB: the deposit will be non-refundable after 6 June 2011).
Transport: We are able to offer a pick up and drop off service for Tullamarine Airport at an additional cost of $15.00 per person – Spaces will be limited so book early to avoid disappointment. For campers arriving on a flight into Tullamarine we will have a pick-up at Tullamarine between 9.00am and 10.00am on the Monday. We are sorry but we cannot offer a pick up from Avalon. On Friday we will do our best to get campers to the airport by 4.15pm, please take this into consideration when booking return flights. There will also be transport available from and to Lilydale Railway Station.