This month’s newsletter includes an update from Billy, a reminder of how important it is to take notice, updates on Guatemala & Chad, Africa, a reflection on Hurricane Ian, one year later, and much more. We hope you enjoy it, and share it with your family.
Billy Blurb
Things Rust.
That’s why we put an emphasis on our value to Invest In The Eternal, because things that are eternal don’t rust. The definition of “invest” is “to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.” Money is more than cash, as it can also mean our time, talents, and/or treasures. What we give our lives over to should have a return, an impact, and make a difference.
A statement Jesus made has had a grip on me for many years – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” When I first became the owner of Tri County Air, this saying from Jesus helped me realize my position at this company was more about a stewardship than ownership. I knew it was an opportunity to use the profits from the temporal things (air conditioners) to be used for furthering the eternal things (God, His Word, and people’s souls).
It’s why we take a significant portion of our profits and support a number of people and causes that do just that. To see the list of organizations and find out more about them, click here. That’s why I get so excited when I read updates like the ones below about NeverThirst and Puerta de Esperanza, because we can see in a practical, measurable way how we, collectively, are making a difference in the eternal things, even if it’s using the temporal things to make it happen. I know that many of you are involved with people and projects on your own that are doing this same thing on a regular basis, and this group effort with everyone contributing through your unique role in the company is letting us go above and beyond those individual efforts. As an owner, or better yet, lead steward, I thank you for taking this value seriously, and investing in the eternal.
BIRTHDAYS
Mike Little 10/1
Brady Comer 10/4
Bill Rousseau 10/4
Corey Martin 10/5
Geoff Struble 10/9
Todd Bauwin 10/15
Angel Steele 10/22
Genci Mihali 10/24
Pedro Menendez 10/26
David Winkler 10/29
Jim Entsminger 10/31
Matt Koehl 10/31
ANNIVERSARIES
Tiffany Ziegler – 1
Nick Grausgruber – 2
Jonathan Sloan – 2
Dan Ferraro – 2
Danielle Bush – 3
Pedro Menendez – 3
Brian Clair – 6
Coni Mccloughen – 7
Susan Harvey – 12
Geoff Struble – 13
Jerzy Zukowski – 21
Take Notice!
At the World Championships in Budapest, USA’s Anita Alvarez sank to the bottom of the pool.
Looking across the deck, and noticing she was under way too long, her coach, Andrea Fuentes, immediately dove in after her, fully clothed, pulling her to safety. Anita was unconscious and didn’t have the capacity to kick, paddle, or help herself in any way. If Andrea would not have noticed, she would have drowned.
But she knew Anita. She looked for her, quickly noticed she was under too long, then dove in without thinking twice. When you are under, who are the people that will look for you, notice, and dive in to pull you to the surface when you lose your strength to swim? Who are the people that come to mind that would do that for you? Call them. At least text them, and thank them for being that kind of person in your life.
And can someone count on you to be that person that would go looking and notice when they are under too long, diving in to support them when they are all out of fight and fuel to swim in these turbulent waters we call life? Who comes to mind? Take notice. Reach out to them, and be ready to jump in. It might just make a huge difference.
Puerta de Esperanza Reminder
Work is underway to cover the entrance and the side corridor of the facilities at Puerta de Esperanza, a Care Point sponsored by Tri County Air in Guatemala. This will prevent flooding of the property during the rainy season, and help keep the children dry as they move around the property. This makes for a much more conducive environment for the teaching and mentoring that happens on a daily basis.
As a reminder, those of you that have committed to write letters to the children, please keep doing this on a regular basis through the process that has been set up. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Rich Hart to see if we can get it addressed.
NeverThirst Update
We are at 82% of our goal in funding a water project in Chad, Africa, and the work you do in the office, on the phone, in the field, and in the attic, all work together to make us reach our goal. We are contributing $1 from every service job, and $10 from every install job every month to keep the project moving forward. If you want to track the progress, or if you want to personally contribute more to help us reach our goal faster, click on this link to get to our campaign page. Again, it takes ALL of us doing our part in the company to keep this moving forward, so thank you for your participation!
Corey & Kasandra
Corey Martin is marrying Kas this month on October 13th, and we wish them the best as they start this new chapter of their relationship as husband and wife! If you would like to bless them through a gift on their wedding registry, click on this link to reach that page, and share in the joy and celebration!
What Our Customers Are Saying
Mr. V.
“I have called personally to tell you the guy was, unbelievably courteous, knows what he’s doing, got the job done. Just wanted to tell you I’m very, very, very impressed with Mikelson.”
Kathy S.
“The install team of Pedro and Jerzy did a wonderful job, and I deeply appreciate how hard they were working in the heat, and they were very nice gentlemen! I also love my new unit!”
Debbie S.
“Tri County is simply the best in every way! Todd and Sheila who answered the call, and the technician Matthew, a very polite, helpful, knowledgeable young man.”
Just For Laughs
Together We Can
Together We Can is a Tri County Air initiated effort to connect those in need with over 300 local churches, nonprofits, clubs, groups, and government agencies.
By signing up to serve, you can be part of the solution to needs being met in our community as they are shared, using your unique gifts, experience, and availability to “Leave No One In Need”! You will get connected with local like-minded nonprofits as needs arise, and have the opportunity to be part of the solution.
Click on this link, and fill out the registration form to join a team of other like-minded servants like yourself. Jim & Chris Foubister lead this effort through exceptional modeling, and effective management, and they will be happy to enable you to serve in a way that fits you, and meets the needs in the community.
Pics From Around
Ian, One Year Later
It’s been a year since Hurricane Ian blew ashore, and really made a mess of things. Homes, comfort, safety, finances, relationships, rhythms of life, (the list goes on and on), were forever changed for so many in our family. And even a year later, many are still trying to put the pieces back together. It hasn’t been easy, for sure.
When hurricanes hit our lives, whether literal or metaphorical, like accidents, sickness, loss, betrayal, divorce, (and this list goes on and on as well), a common response is to wonder where God’s at in it all. And that’s a great question to ask, for it reveals that when we are embattled by things that are “not right”, that there is One who makes all things right, even if not yet. There’s a tension in between the brokenness and the wholeness, and quite frankly, it’s where we live most of life.
So, should we give up hope and faith because of the constant presence of pain in our lives? Hardly. If anything, we lean in that much more towards what brings stability, even if we’re left trying to make sense of it all. The writer of Psalm 73 records that he had been stricken, rebuked, and embittered, among other things. And yet his response is “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.” Then he asks this question: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Even if he loses it all, he still has God, and for him, that is enough. He finishes the psalm declaring “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”
I love that thought, that it is good to be near God. In the middle of the storm, and its after effects, it might be even a better thought that God is near you, and those you love, and is a refuge wherever you are, whatever you’re facing. There is a song sung by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton, and the chorus says “In the waiting, in the searching, in the healing and the hurting, like a blessing buried in the broken pieces, every minute, every moment, where I’ve been and where I’m going, even when I didn’t know it, or couldn’t see it, there was Jesus.” Or in the words of the psalmist, God was near, through it all.
Consider listening to the song There Was Jesus wherever you stream music, and consider it an invitation to draw near to the One who has drawn near to you, and has been there all along. If you want someone to process through the storm you may be facing right now in your life, reach out to Rich or Barbie Hart. We’d be honored to weather the storm with you, or connect you with resources and those who can help in greater ways.
Thanks For Reading
Keep being great out there, and remember to comfort people in such a way that it compels them to tell others about their experience, and it honors the Great Comforter, Jesus Christ! You were made for this!!
Tri County Air Employee Newsletter 