Billy Blurb

In the most recent newsletter, I talked about investing in our own personal development, relationships, and finances. But there is one more area I wanted to explore, and that is in one of our values here, Investing In The Eternal.

There are three things that are eternal: God, His Word, and the Souls of men and women. If I am going to invest in my relationship with God, it takes time to get to know Him, to discover His character, and to draw near to Him in my everyday life. His Word is a vital way I do that, because it is there that He reveals Himself, His character, His will, His heart! So being intentional of spending time in His Word creates the path for me to invest in my relationship with Him.

If I am going to have any role in affecting eternity in the lives of others, it has to start with me first. The more I am growing in my own relationship with God and understanding more of His Word, that has a direct impact on me contributing to that growth in the lives of others I encounter in my life. I want to be someone that, after others spend any time with me, that they are considering their eternal destiny, and hopefully have a greater confidence that we will be spending that eternity together, and with God. In fact, I receive more joy from this investment than I do out of the others I mentioned last time, because the return on investment is experienced and enjoyed forever.

So, my encouragement to you is to invest in the eternal, in your own life, and in the lives of those around you. And if you want to dig deeper into any part of this, reach out to me. I would be honored to spend some time with you trying to make sense of it all. It would be time well spent on a subject I’m passionate about, because I’ve been a recipient of others taking their time with me, and its made all the difference in my life.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Invest In The Eternal

“Keep Our People Warm” is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are struggling in our communities. Please donate new or gently used jackets, sweaters, and blankets and deposit them into the collection bin in the Kitchen next to the water cooler. These will be distributed through street ministries serving those in need throughout Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. The goal is to help keep more than 2000 people warm this winter, including children. We will be collecting these item until Friday, November 20th. This outreach is about so much more than providing warm clothing. It is about showing people that they are seen, valued, and loved by God.

Anniversary Spotlight

Jerzy celebrated 24 years of service at Tri County Air last month, so we wanted to put the spotlight on him. Seth shared some thoughts on him recently and I thought I would share them here.

“For 24 years, Jerzy has been master craft! Dedicated to improving every single day. Jerzy has witnessed more industry changes than us, up until this point. Continually handling each change with excellence, making sure to ask the correct questions at the appropriate times to make sure the job was done correctly. Jerzy has been the constant, someone that we could look up to, to complete his job with excellence every single time. Please give a huge congratulations to the man who has done this work at the highest level for 24 years! A huge accomplishment many of whom wish to achieve but never accomplish.”

Jerzy Zukowski: Here since October 22, 2002!

Family: Wife Irene, and granddaughter, Scarlett

Share a few reasons why you love working here at Tri County Air: I didn’t realize that this much time went by. It seems like just about 2 weeks ago I was interviewed by Ron and Dewayne for my job.

Is there anyone you’d like to give a “shout-out” to , your team or others? I guess time is flying by really quickly if you are surrounded by very dedicated people that you know you can always count on and be certain that they got your back. That’s why its very hard to single out just one person to shout-out about.

Any words to encourage others who work here? I’m really proud and happy to be part of this team. I always follow my rule: “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you; it’s what you leave behind you when you go.” I’m still committed to this rule. It took twenty some years for me to help build this company’s reputation and I’ve got no regrets or intentions to stop now!

Any funny stories or favorite memories you’d like to share? I was underneath a mobile home and got into a very tight spot, so I started using bad language, but I was careful to do it in Polish. When I finally got out from underneath the house, the customer said, “So, I hear you are Polish!?!” My jaw dropped down to my belly button.

Pics From Around

From The Hart

Children’s Hope Chest recently updated us on the number of children that had died while part of the CarePoints they oversee around the world over the past two years. And while there were many, the number that stood out to me was the number “3”. Moises, Yeimy, and Jonatan were all part of Puerta de Esperanza in Guatemala, and all passed away in spite of the incredible help they received from being part of the program. While they were not at liberty to share the cause of death, the silent answer echoes the hardships, the depression, the poverty, and the hopelessness that is inherently part of their everyday lives outside the center. And sometimes, they give in to the weight of it all, and make a decision that seems to promise a way out, but it demands everything. My heart broke when I heard this.

And yet . . . .

There is a “Door of Hope” (translated literally “Puerta de Esperanza”) that hundreds of kids walk through every week. It is a huge, blue metal door, and while three of those kids succumbed to the hopelessness outside of that door, there are many more who won’t. They show up and are given a hug. A meal. Clothing. Medical treatment. Educational tutoring. Vocational skill development. Hygiene necessities. And they are given an invitation to learn more about and trust in the One who is their ultimate hope, Jesus. While all these things are helpful in breaking out of the cycle of poverty, it is Jesus that gives the promise of new life, both in this life, and the life to come.

Hearing about Moises, Yeimy, and Jonatan was discouraging. But I am encouraged by the ongoing work of the CarePoint. And I am thankful for the many kids that are being given a chance to write a different story, to walk a different path, and walk through a door of hope and experience it in a tangible, life-changing way. And we get to play a part in it by our contributions every month, and the letters we write, and helping Puerta de Esperanza do what it does best. Offer hope.

Upcoming Events

Pancake Breakfast – Tuesday, 11/10 – Bring your appetite!!

Office Thanksgiving Lunch – Wednesday, 11/18 – Sign up for the sides & desserts at the Brag Board.

All Company Family Christmas Party – Saturday, 12/12 – more info coming next month, but save the date!!