The other day a friend asked me, “What does ITEC do, other than the flying car?”

It is certainly a legitimate question, as the Maverick has gained a lot of media coverage over the years. But ITEC is so much more than a group of engineers that developed a flying car.

ITEC exists to train and equip Christ-followers around the world to meet the physical needs of their own people as a door opener for the Gospel.

Each week our growing and diverse team gathers at our facility in Central Florida to continue this endeavor, finding creative ways to make a long-term impact on a short-term trip. At the same time, our extended team at the edge of the Amazon Jungles in Ecuador is operating through the same vision. Over the past few years we have traveled to over 30 countries training Christ-followers in dentistry (I-DENT), medicine (I-MED), sight enhancement (I-SEE), video production (I-FILM), and mechanics (I-FIX). Our team is continuing the development into agriculture (I-FARM), aviation (UAV), trauma counseling for refugees and many other potential programs.

So to answer my friend, I explained how most short-term mission trips involve going and doing, while ITEC strives to go and train. Our goal is to develop tools and training for the local church to continue meeting the needs of people in their community and surrounding communities, long after we have returned home. This mission requires a very creative and outside the box thinking team; the kind of team that might develop a flying car, like the Maverick.

Every time I share where the Lord has brought us, and the work He has allowed us to be a part of, all of the credit can only go to Him. It is beyond any of us. I am amazed at the developments happening within our team, and I can’t wait to share more as the year goes on. But, we give God all the credit.

Thank you for being a part of the extended ITEC Team. You are just as much a part of this journey as you join with us in prayer and support. You encourage us to continue the work. We ask for your prayers in 2019 that we will have wisdom to know the places He would have us to go, the partners He would have us to work with, and the tools He would want us to develop.

Growing Team, Unchanging Mission

I T E C N E W S L E T T E R J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9

by Jaime Saint

I-FIX Graduates in Southeast Africa Last Year

Students at Graduation in East Africa

ITEC can only achieve its goals of helping those in the hardest to reach areas through the generosity of individuals like you. Please consider making a donation. All gifts are tax deductible, and can be sent to the address above. To give online, please visit our website at itecusa.org. Thank you!

10575 SW 147TH CIRCLE

DUNNELLON, FL 34432

352.465.4545

INFO@ITECUSA.ORG

UPCOMING TRIPS

Trip List:itecusa.org/trips

PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR THESE TRIPS, THE ITEC TEAM, AND THE CHRIST-FOLLOWERS THAT WILL BE TRAINED.

MARCH• Southern Africa - Date TBD Site Visit & Conference

APRIL• East Africa- Apr 23-27 I-DENT

MAY• Central Africa- May 17-27 I-DENT, I-FIX

SUMMER• West Africa - Date TBD I-FIX, I-FILM, I-MED, I-SEE • West Africa- Date TBD I-DENT, I-SEE, I-FIX • Brazil- Date TBD I-FIX

JULY• Southern Africa- Date TBD I-DENT, I-SEE • Ecuador- Date TBD Wao Vision Trip

SEPTEMBER• East Africa- Date TBD Training TBD

OCTOBER• Southeast Africa- Date TBD I-MED, I-SEE, I-FIX

DATE TBD• West Africa- Date TBD I-DENT • Southeast Asia- Date TBD I-FILM • Europe- Date TBD Trauma Counseling • East Africa- Date TBD Training TBD • Middle East - Date TBD I-DENT

CONTINUED UAV TESTING

ITEC Engineers Troy and Aaron have continued to move forward in the testing and development of our UAV program. Our current flying wing airframe will still remain as we explore a higher payload airframe with a longer range. As battery technology continues to improve, a multi-engine UAV is being tested to hold up to a 1kg payload.

ITEC’s involvement in engineering, research, and development is both challenging and rewarding. This multi-engine UAV airframe represents both an exciting opportunity, and a lot of hard work and testing.

As the team went out to test the new airframe in mid-January, there was both excitement and apprehension in the air. This airframe would be hand launched where the other airframe was launched from a bungee. The size and flying characteristics will be different than our other flying wing style UAV. The guys were preparing themselves for challenges, but were ultimately relieved and thrilled that the testing thus far progressed well with no crashes!

The increased weight carrying capacity of this UAV could allow an object the size and weight of a liter bag of saline to be delivered into difficult-to-reach areas beyond roads.

Please continue to pray for the development and engineering side of ITEC as we continue to forge new paths.

Watch the test flight video of this new UAV airframe here http://bit.ly/uavtwin or scan the codes with your phone to watch.

It might be hard to believe that ITEC does not recruit. We don’t post on job boards or put out ‘help wanted’ messages to bring people to Florida.

God has been and continues to be faithful in bringing the right people to the team at the right time. The people God is leading to ITEC are talented and gifted professionals, passionate about their faith, aligned with the mission and vision of ITEC, and willing to chip in wherever there is the most need.

We are happy to welcome the following new team members to ITEC:

• Dave Kosanke - I-FARM, Process Improvements and Development • Jeff Thomas - Information Technology • Joy Thomas - Social Media and Photography • Matt Redinger - Engineering, I-FARM, and Maintenance

Please be in prayer for the growing ITEC team and for these new staff members and their families as they settle in.

NEW ITEC TEAM MEMBERS!