CANDIDACY Details

Jennifer and I would like to thank each of you for supporting us through prayer during 2010 as we have explored God's call for our family to serve Him in Alaska.

We wish you and your families a very Merry Jesus filled Christmas!

We have not updated our blog since we added our full testimony a few weeks ago.  The blog and this prayer team were not our ideas - they were the input of some people we love and respect dearly.  It has been a joy to communicate through the blog and know that many of you are continually taking us to the throne of our heavenly Father through prayer.  We are grateful to be among a body of believers in Christ that take prayer this seriously and see it as the awesome privilege it is. 

Candidacy will be the final period of evaluation for Jennifer and I and our family.  We will all fly to Alaska on March 16 and we will be there for 3 weeks.  During these three weeks we will be evaluated as a family and I will be evaluated as a pilot.  It will be an exciting time of relying on God in an Abrahamic way.

Some of you have asked how you might help with Candidacy.  Some have offered financial support and some have offered physical support as we prepare our home for the market.

If God is leading you to partner with us in Candidacy through finances here is the information you will need.  Our budget is $11,040.41 and it breaks down as follows:
Airline ...................................   $5444.01
Flight Insurance .....................     $330.00
Van Rental (15 pass) ..............  $1817.20
Gas .......................................     $421.20
Lodging Anchorage (2 nights) ..     $78.00
Lodging Soldotna (3 weeks) ...   $1000.00
Food ....................................     $1050.00
Flight Evaluation ....................     $900.00

We have asked the church to receive and distribute the funds to provide accountability.  Checks can be sent to the church office at the following address:
     Taylors First Baptist Church
     200 West Main Street
     Taylors, SC 29687-2342

PLEASE MARK THE Memo Section with the following:
     BODOLOSKY M.A.R.C. CANDIDACY

If God is leading you to partner with us in Candidacy through physical support here is our plan.  Jennifer and I had a dear friend come and look at our home to give us advice on how best to prepare for the market.  We are executing step one of her advice - declutter our home.  We are also preparing a list of critical projects based on her input and will have that ready by Jan 1st.  We will post the list on the blog.  Anyone interested in helping can contact us and we will coordinate individually.

We cannot emphasize enough what you have meant to us.  You have been partnering with us from day one through your prayer and we ask that you continue this as your primary support.  If God is leading you to partner in these other ways we are humbled and appreciate it. 

It is our prayer that even through this process God will be glorified and His amazing name will be exalted!

In Christ

James & Jennifer Bodolosky

TESTIMONY OF GOD'S DIRECTION

God continues to reveal Himself in amazing ways!!!

This blog is now public and Jennifer and I realize that we are not going to have the opportunity to sit face to face with each person that reads this blog and share the testimony of God's direction in our lives.  It is our desire that God receives the praise and glory for this journey!  Therefore, we have written out our testimony and posted it below.

After reading this you may want to follow the journey from the beginning.  To do so, go to the bottom of this blog and choose OLDER POSTS.  You may have to do this more than once to get to the very bottom.  Now read your way up and you will see where God has taken us on this journey.

OUR TESTIMONY
Our family has been called by God to serve as missionaries in Alaska with Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC) - an aviation organization that works in close cooperation with Samaritan's Purse to bring the Hope of Jesus Christ to lost people in villages all over Alaska that are not able to be reached by road.

Jennifer was saved as a teenager when a friend invited her to church and she met Jesus for the first time.  I was saved 8 years ago when God got my attention by performing a miracle in our family.  Our first born son was two years old and suffering from untreatable epilepsy.  During a moment in time - after much prayer from Jennifer

James Jr and Jacob in dad's lap

the weekend God healed James Jr

and others - God reached down from heaven and did what the doctors said was “impossible” - He healed our son.  During this time, God put a desire in our hearts to serve Him and spread the Gospel.  We wanted to be obedient and began to pray for God to show us where He might use us to spread the Good News that there is Hope in Christ Jesus.  We have continued to grow, draw closer to the Lord, serve in various ministries and become bolder in sharing our faith.  For 8 years we have been praying and asking God for guidance for our family.  We pray at night, in the morning, at the kitchen table, in our bedroom and at the altar.  Along this journey God has blessed Jennifer and I with 8 beautiful children so we now have 8 little ones that we are training up in the ways of the Lord and they share this journey with us.  This past May (2010) God revealed very clearly to me that we are going to serve Him in Alaska.  I rebelled - of all of the possible ways we had considered serving God - Alaska was not one of them.  In my mind Alaska was a cold barren wasteland and I did not want to go there.  For the next few days I prayed about this and eventually my heart humbled and I told God that we would go anywhere if He led us.  I told Him that I would not search out Alaska but if He brings it we will be obedient.  I also did not share this with Jennifer at this time.  I decided that because she was pregnant and had a lot on her mind, that I would pray and wait for God’s direction.

I have a skill set that I never considered would be useful to God - I am an Air Force pilot.  When I was 10 years old God put a desire in my heart to fly airplanes.  For the next 8 years of my life He fanned the flames of this desire in many ways.  When I graduated from High School I enlisted in the Air National Guard as a sheet metal mechanic and at the same time I began to work on my Mechanical Engineering degree at NC State.  My plan was to apply for pilot training once I completed my degree.  In 1993 I did complete my degree and was given a slot to attend U.S. Air Force undergraduate pilot training.  During pilot training God brought Jennifer into my life.  After we married I returned to my civilian employment and continued to fly C-130s part-time in the Air Guard.  I have flown C130s for the last 15 years and I am continually humbled that God granted me the desires of my boyhood heart - to fly airplanes.  I did not realize, however, that God was preparing me for a role in which I would be able to reach those He loves in the most unreachable places of Alaska - the bush country. 

There is an amazing sequence of God's events that brought us to MARC in September 2010.  It started with God's call in May.  Then in September, at the last minute, I was asked to fly a mission to Alaska for the Air Guard because the pilots originally scheduled on the flight had to come off of the trip.  I was overwhelmed at my civilian job and really did not have time to do this but I could not resist the opportunity to see what it was that God wanted us to see.  Flying to Alaska in the C130 with a crew of 6 people and 8 passengers we had an engine problem over Canada and had to shutdown our #3 engine.  As a crew we made the decision to continue on to Anchorage and we were assured that the mechanics at the Air National Guard base in Anchorage would be able to fix the engine the following day so that we could fly our mission over the weekend.  We continued to Anchorage, landed uneventfully, coordinated the maintenance of our engine for the following day and went to our rooms at Elmendorf Air Force Base.  The next day there was an unforecast wind storm with gusts up to 45 mph and the mechanics could not climb on the big engine stands required to fix the airplane.  This meant that our airplane would not be fixed until Monday and we would be “stuck” in Anchorage for the weekend.  Because we were in Alaska and now had nothing to do for the weekend, the crew decided we needed to go fishing.  They planned the trip and I said I would go.  Now I had some unusual free time on my hands and I decided to do some research about ministry in Alaska - this is when I discovered MARC.  Initially, I did not realize this is where God wanted us to be, but He continued to put MARC in front me.  On Sunday morning I was watching our churches’ worship service on the internet and our pastor was preaching on using the skills and talents that God has created us with.  At that moment the connection was made between our desire to serve God, the piloting skills He had given me and why He had called us to Alaska.  Finally God's plan for our family was being revealed.  I decided I could not go on the fishing trip with the crew because I had to find out where MARC was, rent a car and do a little investigating so I would be prepared when I went home to tell my pregnant wife that God was calling us to frigid ice cold Alaska.  I looked on the internet to find the location of MARC and found it was 2 1/2 hours away from Anchorage.  The awesome thing is that the town MARC is located in is exactly the town where my crew planned for us to go on the fishing trip.  God had a plan and I was only starting to realize that as He opens each door we have to step through before He opens the next door.  God is amazing!

When I returned home from the trip I shared all of this with Jennifer.  With tears in her eyes she said, "I knew God would call us to something I just did not know where."  We decided to pray and wait for God to direct our steps.  About a week and half later we were both impressed by the Holy Spirit to call MARC – to call THAT DAY, October 1^st, 2010.  I did not feel prepared but since we both knew God was directing us separately to do the same thing we obeyed and called.  I contacted the Director of MARC and after a phone interview he asked us to submit our testimonies,  applications and referrals.  In addition, he encouraged Jennifer and I to plan a visit to MARC as soon as possible, so that we could get a good feel for the environment and the ministry.  In November, Jennifer and I visited MARC in Soldotna.  We had the opportunity to meet with the director, tour the facilities, share meals we many of the staff families and explore Soldotna.  In addition I had the opportunity to go on a mission with one of the crews to a village where Samaritan’s Purse is rebuilding a fishing camp for the village kids and “Wounded Warriors” returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  It was a very short trip (out and back) but it was well worth it to see some of the people “in the field”.  During our time in Soldotna, Jennifer and I fell in love with the ministry, the people and the environment. 

We left Soldotna and waited for word from MARC to see if they would invite us to move from the Application Phase to what the call the Candidacy Phase.  We did not have to wait long.  They did invite us back for a three week Candidacy and this time they would like for the entire family to come.  During this phase they are going to evaluate us as a family, Jennifer and I as a couple and me as a pilot.  Their objective is to bring in missionaries that have a vibrant Christian testimony and a strong desire to reach lost people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jennifer and I and our kids love the ministry at MARC.  They are reaching out to people living in the most pitiful and inhumane conditions in some of these villages.  Depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual abuse and even incest are prevalent in these environments.  All people have NO HOPE without JESUS!!!!  The people in these villages are not an exception. We get this and are very passionate to be part of reaching them.  We know that God is calling our family to Alaska.  We are planning to return to Soldotna as a family during the second half of March and remain there until the beginning of April.  We continue to pray for God’s direction and have asked everyone with whom we have had the opportunity to share our testimony to pray for us. 

Now we have shared our testimony with you here today and ask that you join us in this ministry by joining our prayer team …

CANDIDACY!!!!!

ONE QUICK POST BEFORE PASSING OUT AND GOING TO BED.

JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM DREW.  THEY WANT US TO COME BACK FOR CANDIDACY.

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!

Home

We are home...  yeah!

We had a wonderful reunion with our kids. 

We are very very thankful for our church family.  Thanks to the Barnes, Alexanders and Weavers for taking such great care of the kids.  Thanks Belinda and Laura for the meal.  The kids said it was very very good.

Please pray for MARC.  The mission is challenging in ways you cannot imagine.  We pray God will allow us to be part of it.  We are waiting for MARC to tell us if we are going to be offered Candidacy.

Off to bed - I think we are going to have a bed full of kids tonight.  The older kids are still awake and we are going to watch a movie with them.

RETURN

Our time here in Soldotna is quickly coming to a close.  We have seen a lot and met some wonderful people.  In less than one week we have had meals with 9 families, visited 2 churches and 2 schools, met a realtor. took one flight with Samaritan's Purse to Port Allsworth and spent hours and hours at MARC asking questions and getting to know the ministry.

Jennifer and I know that God has called us to Alaska.  We were invited here by MARC for us to explore and make sure this is where God has called us before we take the next step - Candidacy.  We have been praying for eight years for God to show us where He would use us.  Obeying God is enough for us regardless of the location - Greenville, Europe, South America or yes even Alaska.  We believe that God has shown us this week exactly where He has prepared a place at MARC for the Bodoloksy family to serve.  After being here and exploring we are in love with the mission, the location and most of all the people.  The people serving God here at MARC are already family.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a flight in the Samaritan's Purse Casa

It was an awesome experience.  I was not supposed to get to fly this week and at the last minute they had this run from Soldotna to Port Allsworth to take some building supplies to a camp that Samaritan's Purse is rebuilding for the local kids and

"Wounded Warriors" from Afghanistan and Iraq.  We flew right over Mount Redout (picture to left).  The pilot told me that the last time Redout blew in 2009 it created the saddle you see at the top between the 2 peaks.  Even now the volcano has been smoking and steaming quite a bit but there have not been any eruptions in 2010.

We arrived at the camp and landed on a snow packed gravel runway.  With the

windchill It was somewhere around -2 degrees F.  It was cold crisp and beautiful.  Tim Amundsen was on the flight with us and he had his little dog with him.  During the flight the dog wondered around the cockpit and just pretty much went where he wanted.  The load we took there was drywall, insullation and a snowmobile.  Without these flights these towns would have no contact with the outside world during the winter.

We are excited to come home and share with everyone our experiences.  One of the biggest questions is "What's next?"  The next step in the process is Candidacy and if we are invited back for Candidacy it will be in the Spring.  Candidacy is a 2-3 week period of time during which we live and work here in order for them to evaluate us as a family and me as a pilot.  We will need much prayer and support during the next few months as God prepares the way for this.  After Candidacy the team decides if we are to be invited to serve with MARC.  At that point they send us home to raise support.  MARC missionaries are Independant Missionaries and must raise their own support.  The MARC staff works with you to develop a budget for living in Alaska because the cost of living here is so high.  After this it is up to you to gain support from churches and individuals.

Please pray for us as we begin our travel back to Greenville.  Please pray for the amazing families that have cared for our kids.  Please pray for our baby that Jennifer is carrying and that he will be peaceful during the flights.  Please pray for MARC and the mission here in Alaska.

James & Jen

GOD's Fingerprint

MOUNT REDOUT

God's fingerprint - the beauty of His creation

Mount Redout is an active volcano that is visible from many places in Soldotna.  The last major eruption of Mount Redout was in 2009.  It is an amazing sight to come around a corner and see the volcano towering above the horizon.

THE MOOSE IS ON THE LOOSE

My kids are really love the moose stories because of the all of the roadkill we have eaten since we arrived.

Here is a moose Jennifer and I saw in someone's front yard.  It was funny because we had to stop and take video / pictures and the locals were frustrated with us for blocking traffic.  The moose had been eating something from the front yard but at this moment he is staring down the neighbor's cat.  We thought for sure we were about to see a moose go toe to toe with a cat.  The cat however was smart and made a dash for the back yard.  I'm sure the moose was thinking "hmmm...  that kitty looks tasty.  Here kitty kitty..."

Jen and I spent all day yesterday at MARC.  We met more of the staff and got a tour of all of the facilities.  There are 2 hangers together at Soldotna airport - one belongs to Samaritan's Purse and one belongs to MARC.  The 2 organizations work hand in hand to serve Alaska and one scheduler handles all flight schedules.  Most of the flying I would do in the first years would most likely be in the Piper Navajos:

 or the King Air A-90s

We had the opportunity during our time at MARC to sit down with the Director of MARC - Drew Baker.  We talked about vision and missions.  Drew was an Air Force pilot before he went to a very Muslin nation to serve as a ministry pilot there.  He has a clear vision where he believes the Lord is directing MARC to reach more people and provide more resources to bring the Gospel to lost people in bush Alaska.

Before Jennifer and I left the airport we had the privilege of meeting 2 guys that were hanging out at the airport - Tim Amundsen and David Cochran.  Tim is the son of Roald and Harriett Amundsen who were the founders of MARC in 1964 and David is a pilot/commercial contractor.  The two of them are buddies and have stories about their service around the globe with Samaritan's Purse.  We really did not know who they were and almost walked right past them.  I was worn out from talking to people all day and hungry because we had skipped lunch.  It was Jennifer who decided to introduce herself and this great conversation followed.  David has worked to bring resources to many African villages and Alaskan villages.  He has used his contracting skills to build youth centers, worship centers and homes.  What a blessing to get their perspective.

Last night Jennifer and I had dinner with another couple from MARC.  To me it was an honor to meet this gentleman and his wife.  He has been flying here since 1982 and has logged over 14,000 hours serving God and reaching people.  The stories they had to tell were rich.  They have 4 children that all love the Lord and even one of their kids is serving in China at this time.  They had a gentle spirit and it was obvious they were fulfilled by their years of service here at MARC.

Please continue to pray for God to give us clarity.  We will come to a time of decision here quickly if they offer us Candidacy.  That will mean we will have to come back for at least 2-3 weeks and Jennifer will have to be with me.  They would even prefer the whole family come because it is a time of evaluation for everyone.  Please pray for God to bless our resources.  As we progress in this process we will have to sell our home, our land in Northern Greenville county and many of our possessions.  We will have to trust in God in a way we have not done before.  Please pray for the families that have so willingly and lovingly supported us during this week by caring for our kids.  It is huge that someone can love a brother enough to not just watch our kids but to love them as if they were their own.  Our friends and our church family are cherished.

James & Jen

Sunrise in Alaska

We learned on the morning of day 1 that the sun does rise in Alaska.  This is the view out of our back window across the Kenai River at 9:00 in the morning.

On the evening we arrived Jennifer and I met a couple named Greg and Melanie.  They spent hours with us answering question after question about MARC.  Greg is a Pilot / Mechanic and they have been here for 7 years.  He and his wife gave us insight into the ministry, schools, houses, support, environment ...  We really learned a lot from them.  The next day - day 1 - Melanie invited Jen to meet all of the wives.  They get together to encourage and pray for each other and the ministries that each participates in.  Jennifer enjoyed getting to know a little about each one of them and seeing the variety of families that are here.  There are families here from all over the U.S., with various Christian backgrounds, some with kids and some without, some in their early 20's and some in their late 40's, some trained by the military and some trained privately ...  but the one thing that binds them together is they love Jesus Christ and they have all been called here by God.

For the evening of day 2 we had dinner with two families.  Our main course was roadkill moose chili.  It was really really good.  One of the families had 4 little kids and it made us really miss our kids.  We are so thankful for the Barnes and the Alexanders and their patient loving hearts with our kids.  We also thank God for our loving church family at Taylors.  We have been blessed by the families that have provided meals to those that are providing care for our precious little ones.  We have received Bodo sighting reports from several folks that have seen our kids in stores, choir practice and at the altar.  When John Doar texted us that James was at the altar with Joshua we cried.  You all - our prayer partners - are keeping us up.  Thank you for loving us and our kids.  Thank you for how your relationship with Jesus has encouraged us.

We have just finished day 2.  Today was Sunday and we visited a local church for worship and Sunday School.  The name of the church is College Heights Baptist Church and we loved the worship.  Afterward we visited a Sunday School class and engaged in a study of what is enough and when we are to be content - very appropriate.  The body of believers there is sweet.  The variety of people was really interesting - we met a game warden, as state trooper and a kindergarten teacher.  After church we had lunch with two MARC families.  Both of these families were from Georgia and one of the guys was actually born in S.C.  We should have brought them some Chik-Fil-A to go with the sweet tea - it was like being at home.  We were enthralled at hearing the stories of ministering to kids in bush Alaska.  It is amazing how little the people in the bush have - it is like third world conditions.  MARC travels to these villages and brings resources to the missionaries to deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The needs are urgent and time is critical.  People in the bush are looking for joy and peace and often turn to drugs and alcohol and become empty shells.  In all too many instances this search ultimately turns to suicide.  If only we could introduce them to the author of life before they begin this desperate journey.  Just to open the pages of a Bible with them and introduce them to the peace that passes understanding that can only come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  They would never again need their drugs and alcohol and they would choose life and not death.  There is a great need for ministry here.

Tonight we visited another church with Greg and Melanie (the couple from the first night).  Their church was having a Thanksgiving feast.  It was awesome!  We ate too much and now we have the turkey sleepies (if that is a word).

We love you guys.  Thank you for your prayers.

James & Jen

ARRIVAL

Our journey to Alaska started on Thursday evening when we dropped our children at our friend's homes.  It is so comforting to be a part of the church family at Taylors.  So many have offered prayer, love and support during this journey.  There are not words in our language to describe our love for you.

We are here in Kenai, Alaska.  Everything is snow covered and it was around 34 degrees Fahrenheit when we landed.  Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

We left Greenville-Spartanburg yesterday morning at 6:25 a.m. (which was 2:25 a.m. in Alaska).  We had connections in Atlanta, Seattle and Anchorage.  All went perfectly and our bags even made it to Kenai with us.

Different families within the organization have invited us to dinner each night to get to know them and discuss our questions.  Last night however was left open because of all the travel.  There was a staff member from M.A.R.C. at the airport to pick us up and he invited us to dinner at his family's home if we were up to it. We were so excited to be here and actually meet some of the families we forgot we were tired.  We drove on snow covered roads and up a steep driveway to a real log cabin nestled in the woods. Another family was invited as well and they had been here for the past 3 weeks doing Candidacy.  They had just learned this week that they have been accepted as members of M.A.R.C.  It was fun to talk to the two families and get to know a lot more about how the organization functions and what God is doing here in Alaska.  It was also really cool to talk about daily life in Alaska - like how they get a call from the Sheriff at 2:00 a.m. to let them know a moose has been hit on the highway and they are welcome to come get it.  And you thought we only ate roadkill in South Carolina.  It's not as disgusting as it sounds.  Apparently the moose are so huge that most of the body is undamaged and can generally provide up to 400 pounds of meat.

GOD IS AWESOME!!!

Jennifer and I are preparing to visit M.A.R.C.  We are leaving Friday November 12th.  We truly do not know what to expect.  We know there is a ministry there in which we believe God is calling us to serve.  We know it's really cold and snowing a lot.  We know we are leaving our kids 3500 miles away and seeking God's will.  We know God is awesome and powerful !!!

Please pray for our family while we are separated.  Please pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit will guide our steps and reveal to us what the Creator wants us to see.  Please pray we have the courage to be obedient no matter the call.

We are so thankful to be in the church body of Taylors.  As Jennifer and I have begun to answer this call we have reflected on the last 4 years   We are in awe that God has allowed us to be loved, mentored and encouraged by the family of Christ followers at Taylors. 

We are waiting…

On the way to church yesterday we heard While I’m Waiting by John Waller.  What an awesome song!

I’m waiting…  I’m waiting on you Lord and I am hopeful…  I’m waiting on you Lord though it is painful…   but patiently I will wait ... 

I will move ahead bold and confident…  taking every step in obedience… while I’m waiting.  I will serve you while I’m waiting.  I will worship while I’m waiting.  I will not fail.  I’ll be running the race even while I wait.

I’m waiting…  I’m waiting on you Lord and I am peaceful...  I’m waiting on you Lord though it’s not easy.. but faithfully I will wait.  Yes I will wait.

Our references, applications and testimonies are in and we are waiting…  waiting and praying.

Our airline reservations have been made and we have arranged homes for our kids while we are travelling to Soldotna 12-19 Nov and we are waiting…  waiting and asking for wisdom.

Please pray for our references, applications and travel.  Please begin to pray for our finances – we are asking God to guide us on preparing our home to sell when we are given the green light.  We have land in northern Greenville county that must sell – please pray. 

Please pray for our patience while we are waiting.

Application and Trip to Soldotna

Tomorrow it is going to be sunny and 46 in Soldotna (we won't talk about today's weather).

We are finishing our application today.  AMEN!  Please pray that God will bless this process.  We plan to send them off by the end of the weekend.

We talked to the director of M.A.R.C on Thursday about us making a trip to Soldotna to meet some of the staff, explore the M.A.R.C operations and learn more about the surrounding area.  Jennifer and I are going to fly out to Soldotna for one week (Nov 12-19).  We are in the process of working out childcare and with the size of our family this is going to be a huge undertaking.  Please keep us in prayer.

God's Call to Alaska

As our Christian faith has grown and our relationship with Jesus Christ has developed we have desired to serve God as missionaries. 

God has been opening doors for us to serve as part of an exciting ministry in Soldotna, Alaska.  Yes Alaska.  When the doors started opening and we started walking through them I was sure God could not possibly be calling us to Alaska.  In my mind Alaska was a cold desolate place and we had never desired to go there.  It turns out the need in Alaska to minister to the remote villages is great.  There are several hundred villages in Alaska that are reachable only by air and there are missionaries that are dedicated to bringing the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to these locations.  God is opening doors for our family to serve in this ministry as part of M.A.R.C (Missionary Aviation Repair Center).  
http://www.marcalaska.org/

M.A.R.C. (in cooperation with Samaritan's Purse) flies several different aircraft around bush Alaska to bring the Gospel to the villages that are unreachable by any other means of transportation.  Where do we fit in this organization?  I have served in the United States Air Force since I was 18 and have been given the awesome privilege of being trained to fly the C-130 Hercules.

God is opening doors for our family to move to Soldotna, Alaska and use the skills he has given me as a pilot to serve in M.A.R.C.

There are 4 phases of the Application Process:

1. APPLICATION - Completion of formal application and references
2. CANDIDACY- Once our application is approved James will be invited to Alaska for Technical evaluation.
3. DEPUTATION - If accepted, new members will enter deputation. Deputation is the time period where your support (prayer and financial) team is assembled. Staff are required to fully raise support to cover their living and ministry expenses before entering the last phase.
4. FIELD ORIENTATION/TRAINING - Once you have completed deputation and relocated to the Soldotna area, you begin orientation/training for field service.