Our Testimonies

Conrad

     I was blessed to be born into a Christian home in the small town of Greenwood, Delaware.  When I was six, my life changed drastically as my parents accepted an assignment with a mission organization in northwestern Ontario, Canada.  So, in August of 1978, we loaded up our VW Squareback with a motorcycle trailer and moved to a remote setting in Ontario about 75 miles from the nearest town.

     Before we moved to Canada, I had very little exposure to aviation.  After moving to Canada, however, my little eyes were opened to the world of bush flying and missionary aviation.  Because of the lack of adequate roads in the north, our mission operated several airplanes.  I would run down to the dock whenever I heard an airplane approaching or when one was taking off.  I remember my first airplane ride at the age of 7, sandwiched in the back seat of a small Cessna, flying high over the woodlands and lakes of northern Ontario, thinking all those huge pine trees looked like grass and being amazed at how the whole world seemed to tilt when the airplane turned.  That ride ignited the passion for aviation in my heart.

   When I was 9, my father took me to a father/son retreat.  It was there that I first realized that I could not make it to heaven just because my parents were Christians.  I needed to make my own decision to follow the Lord.  So, on September 9, 1981, I gave my heart to the Lord. 

   As a junior in high school, I had a couple of experiences which helped me realize that God was calling me to serve Him full time.  First of all, I went on a mission trip to Haiti.  While there, I saw tremendous needs, both physical and spiritual and my heart was touched.  Later that same year, I attended some youth meetings where I made the commitment to dedicate my life to full-time Christian service.  Through the following years, the Lord continued to bring that commitment I had made back into my mind as if to say, “Keep walking with Me.  I have something special in store for you”. 

   After high school, I eventually returned to the states where I began flight training.  However, the Lord had other plans for me and I was not able to finish.  He spent 6 years refining me spiritually and cleaning up some rough edges before leading me to Moody Bible Institute's aviation program.  It was there that I received my maintenance license as well as my commercial pilot’s license.  Heidi and I also got married during those years of schooling.

    After I graduated, the Lord blessed me with a great job, allowing us to pay off some school loans.  He also provided an opportunity for us to return to Canada for two summers where I was able to do some flying for the same mission I had grown up with, helping to confirm that He was calling us to serve Him full time using mission aviation.

  A passage that has become very precious to me is found in

Lamentations 3:22-24. 

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him”. 

   As we have spent time waiting on the Lord, He has opened the door for us to join Mission Aviation Fellowship. We were drawn to MAF by their desire to reach the nations for Christ as well as the concern they show for their own staff.    In July 2007, we joined the organization and agreed to move to Mozambique.

Heidi

   I was born in Iowa into a strong Christian family.  My earliest memories include playing with my brothers and sister on the family farm.  At the age of 8, while my family was camping, I attended a Kids Ministry Program.  It was during the program that I became aware of my need for Jesus to be my Savior.   Oh the peace that passes understanding, when Jesus controls your heart. 

   As I grew in my Christian faith, I was privileged to have a number of mentors in teachers, family and friends. I also came to cling to the Word of God for hope and strength.   Isaiah 41:10 became real to me. It says,

“Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

       From a very young age I dreamed of being a public school elementary teacher.  I spent the first year of college at a small bible school in Ohio in order to save money, I thought;  but God had  someone there I needed to meet.  I was totally focused on my dreams.  I didn't think that I needed a guy in my life.  Needless to say when I meet Conrad, it wasn't love at first sight.  But God has a sense of humor and during the next year, we started to build a friendship that eventually led to marriage after my graduation in 2001 with my teaching degree.  While this may not have been the plan I had for my life, I wouldn't change the wonderful blessing the Lord gave to me in Conrad. 

    While in college, I heard about career missions for the first time. I had heard about going for a short time but to dedicate my life to a specific work was a new concept for me.  I felt that Lord asking me to give up my dreams of teaching and allow him to start to writing on blank page the story he wanted for my life.  I surrendered, wondering how the story would unfold.  We truly serve an amazing God because while Conrad finished his education, God allowed me to fulfill my dream of teaching in a public school.

   After Conrad graduated, we started to seek which organization God would have us partner with.  During this time, God gave us a wonderful church that we could plug into and serve with our talents while we waited on his directions and time.  Through a series of event we started a relationship with MAF.  Their desire to serve missionaries from many different organizations and the emphasis they place on family drew us. In July 2007, we joined the organization. 


    In 2014, God clearly spoke and asked us to be willing to be available to return to help with leadership in our sending church.  After 5 months of prayer (spring of 2015), we made a call to the committee in charge of the search.  In December 2015, the church after a time of prayer, confirmed that they also believed God was calling us back to step into leadership.  So in the spring of 2016, we returned to the states.  We had a short furlough where we were able to wrap up our responsibilities with MAF.  In September 2016, Conrad stepped into the Senior Pastor Role at our sending church.

   I have written a more detailed blog about the process. You can find it in the archives under 2016, March or follow this link.  http://chhertzler.blogspot.com/2016/03/here-am-i-lord-send-me.html

   We are thankful for God's continue working in our lives and that the location of our service isn't important.  What God desires for us in our obedience and honor no matter where we are living.