Our Story

Conrad grew up in Delaware/Canada (mission field) and Heidi grew up in Iowa. We meet in Ohio at a a small Bible College.  From there, Heidi headed to Wisconsin to get her degree in Elementary Education and Conrad headed to Illinois to get his degree in Mission Aviation.  Over time, a friendship formed over email.  After a visiting Chicago, where Conrad showed Heidi and two friends around the city.  It was clear that we wanted to invest more in each other and this friendship.  2 1/2 years later,  we were married.  Conrad still had to finish his degree, which lead us to Tennessee.  After he finished, we spent some time in Ohio, paying off loans and seeking God's will for our next step.

We felt God leading us to serve with MAF and in the summer of 2007, we joined MAF. For 9 years we served with MAF in Mozambique, Africa.  Even thought we aren't there, the work continues.  While some of the things they do have changed, these are the areas of ministry we were involved in while in Mozambique.

We firmly believe that God called us for a season to serve Him through the use of the airplane.  Because the roads in Northern Mozambique leave a lot to be desired, the plane could save people many hours/days of hard travel.  We flew a variety of people from missionaries, doctors, development workers, tourists, national pastors/church workers, investors, etc.  Yet, in all we did we strive to share the love of Jesus Christ with whomever we come in contact with.

Missionary Support

One of the runways we go to from time to time to support a missionary who is doing Bible translation.

Loading the Plane

Getting ready for take off once the people move

Moz Med

We helped start a medical program.  Every other week, we took two doctors (on right) to a remote area. They spend the week traveling from clinic to clinic.  For the people they treat, this is the medical care available.  If a patient really needs to come to the main hospital here in town for treatment, we then bring them out on the plane.

 Some weeks a dentist and a mid-wife go along and a nurse has recently joined the team. We are also excited about the possibility of a local evangelist going along to talk with the people waiting to see the doctor.  From time to time, we are also working on coupling the doctor visits with the showing of the JESUS film.

There are more areas of people who need medical care, if we only had the doctors.  We are praying the God will bring more medical personal to join the team.

One of the clinics the doctors and dentist set up at to see patients.  Their supplies are carried in plastic totes in the back of a land rover from clinic to clinic.  For one clinic that can only be reached by water, the supplies are loaded into a small wooden boat.  

Development/Tourists/Investors

The coastline of Mozambique is very beautiful.  There are a number of resorts that have been/are being developed along the coastline.

This is inside one of the villas of an Eco-friendly lodge that we did a lot of flying for during the tourist season.

There was a lot of investing into minerals, oil, and agriculture currently in Mozambique. We helped provide transportation for people to get to different areas.  We have also been involved with helping an animal reserve farther north do air surveys so they can better know how to care for their animals and if the animal population is growing.  Due to hunger during the 20 year civil war, the wildlife was depleted.  It's exciting to see the wildlife starting to grow and become a part of this country again.

Fueling the plane after a long day of survey.

My Role

While Conrad was off flying, I was at home with our three kids trying to keep things somewhat in order.  There are times when I flight follow using a HF radio as there were no radars for airplanes in our area of Mozambique. Flight following gave us an idea of where the plane is currently as a precaution should anything goes wrong.  

Due to health needs of our son, we have decided to home school the children.  Although my training is as an elementary teacher, I never imagined that I would home school my children.  Yet, God has made it clear this is the path He has for our family for a season.

I also provide many meals/baked goods for other missionaries who are need of encouragement and/or sick.  The door of my house was always open to others.  Our city has a way of wearing missionaries wives out, so my desire was to use my home to provide a safe haven for woman and children to rest, find encouragement, and fellowship.  

While the challenges of operating a small airplane in a remote area and living in a developing country are many, we believe that God called us to live and work in Mozambique for a season.  So in all we did we strived to share the love of our Lord Jesus to all those who God put in our path. 

Psalms 139: 9, 10

  If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.

These verses had special comfort and support to us as we lived and worked in Mozambique.

Through a process we weren't planning on but direct leading for our Heavenly Father, we returned to the United States.  Conrad is now the Senior Pastor at our sending church.  If you would like to read the whole story, here is the link.  Here Am I Lord

So in 2016, we packed our bags and boarded the plan for the last time as we headed back to the United States for our next assignment from God.  We continued homeschooling to help with transitional grief for our children.  We found ourselves in our "home culture" but it didn't feel like it anymore.  We had changed in our time overseas as had the culture we left.  Transition has been very challenging at times, with lots of tears and hours of prayers.  Yet, the God who calls, always gives strength for the day.

Conrad is full time with the church.  I, Heidi, wear many different hats.  I agreed to work for our home school coop teaching Math classes and elementary classes as well as supervising field trips and helping support families in curriculum choices.  I also am very active in helping with the children's ministry and women's ministry at church.  I have enjoyed being part of the writing team for a facebook page for women in ministry for our church conference.  In our spare time,  I enjoy photography and Conrad enjoys woodworking.  As our children age, it's been fun to also start singing together as a family.

So our location has changed

but our heart to equip the church has stayed the same.  Our desire is that in whatever location we are, that we will serve the Lord with our whole heart, soul, and mind.  Equipping, challenging, and encouraging those God brings into our path.