09 Mar 2025 4 min read Training

JAARS Training Has Started!

We've (mostly) moved to JAARS headquarters in Waxhaw, NC and Brad and Cambria have starting Pre-Field Orientation training. We'll have about 6 months of training here. After that, we are aiming to move to Papua New Guinea in the fall of 2025!

First off, we are so grateful for a smooth moving experience up to Waxhaw in North Carolina. We were also blessed and encouraged by so many people praying for us and helping us get the move done. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all the ways you made our move as painless as possible. Cambria created a note for us to write down and remember all the ways we're blessed. And nearly all our entries are of your generosity, selflessness, and encouragement. So thank you!

We moved out of our Florida home of 5+ years in the middle of February and began the move to JAARS headquarters in North Carolina. We took about a week to get there, visiting family and friends along the way. Here in Waxhaw, we’re moved into one of the JAARS apartments where we’ll be for the next 6 months or so.

Training has started

We started our JAARS training last week. The first, and longest, training course is called Pre-Field Orientation (PFO). We have 9 other students and their families in training as well. PFO lasts 4 months and is mostly flight training for Brad. There will be some maintenance training for him as well. Most of the other students are both pilot and mechanic trained. So, Brad is careful to remind the instructors that in the Air Force, he was barely allowed to look at a wrench! Cambria also has weekly meetings with spouses and training staff during PFO. Additionally, she will be welcome to attend any aviation class she wants and can get a start on her own flight training.

Following PFO we will complete a 4-week Inter-Cultural Communications (ICC) course. The ICC is an immersive introduction to cross-cultural communications and living. This class will be for both Brad and Cambria.

After ICC there will be a few short classes we will take such as dirt-biking and 4-wheel, off-road driving. All these classes will take us into the late summer. Once training is completed, we are hoping to depart for Papua New Guinea in the fall. The process of getting visas and work permits can be very long, and often is the step that delays members from getting to their location. So please pray that the process will be smooth and quick for us.

Apartment Living

Even though the apartment is a little cozier than we’re used to, the kids are adjusting well to our new home. One of the greatest parts of training here is the number of other families with similar-aged kids. In our little apartment area, there are lots of other children, and our kids enjoy being able to just step outside to the playground and find a friend to play with.

New Giving Instructions!

We have now moved over completely as JAARS members, including our support raising and processing.

We were previously with Proclaim Aviation for this part of our ministry, and they were so wonderful and helpful. But moving over fully to JAARS will be more streamlined for us in the future.

If you have been giving to our ministry through Proclaim, please update your giving to do so through our JAARS donor page linked below.

If you are called to partner financially with us, please click HERE or scan the code below to be re-directed to the our JAARS support page.