Pre-Field Staff

Current Opportunities

Mickey was born and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina. He is the younger of two sons born to Eugene and Joyce Duyck. Mickey was saved at age 11 in the Missionary Baptist Church that his family attended.

Ellen was born in Orlando, Florida and is the older of two daughters. Ellen was saved at age seven and was baptized soon after. She lived in Florida until age 13, when her family moved to Asheville, North Carolina.

Mickey & Ellen met in their junior year of High School and started dating during 12th grade. After graduation in 1992 they married and Mickey joined the United States Army. During the five and one- half years of active duty service they lived in Colorado, South Korea, and Georgia. While at their last duty station, Ft. Benning, Mickey took an introductory flight and became "hooked" on aviation.

After leaving the military, Mickey completed his aircraft maintenance training at Guilford Technical Community College. He graduated from the two-year program with his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification. He has been employed with Cessna Aircraft Company for 12 years at their Greensboro Citation Service Center. Currently he is a Scheduled Maintenance Crew Chief. He is factory trained on every model of Citation airframe and their associated engines/Auxiliary Power Units. Mickey holds an Inspection Authorization certificate, and private pilot's license with Single Engine Land, Single Engle Sea, and Glider ratings. He is also certified in multiple Non-Destructive Testing areas. He enjoys working on and flying antique, classic, and home-built aircraft.

Ellen earned her Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Computer Science from Columbus State University while they lived in Georgia. Upon leaving the military she earned her AAS in Nursing and Registered Nurse from Davidson County Community College. Afterward, she completed her Bachelor of Science and Nursing from Winston-Salem State University. Recently, Ellen finished her Masters of Science and Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner at East Carolina University. She is currently employed by Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital, a level 1 trauma facility, in the emergency department.

Post military, Mickey and Ellen found and joined a good, Bible-believing church. During this time of stable home life and regular attendance, they started to really grow in their faith. It was also during this period, that God brought traditional missions into their lives. This was done by their church hosting various missionaries during furlough or deputation periods. Exposure to these individuals started to soften their hearts to missions, though the call was years away.

During a trip to the Oshkosh Airshow in 2006 Mickey visited the missions area and met Chuck Daly, then the Director of Aviation for JAARS (formerly known as Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), the flying and radio arm of Wycliffe Bible Translators. That short conversation had a huge impact on Mickey's life, especially regarding technical missions. By January 2008, God had worked things out so that Mickey and Ellen were able to volunteer about three days every three weeks at JAARS in Waxhaw, North Carolina. Ellen assisted at their medical clinic and Mickey helped in the hangar. God used these volunteer days to turn their hearts toward career missions. It was also a wonderful time of instruction and mentoring by Career missionaries.

By June of 2008, Mickey had surrendered to the call of full-time missions. God had presented a path where a technical minded person could serve in a full-time ministry capacity! After hearing of Mission Aviation Repair Center (MARC) from a JAARS pilot, he visited in February of 2010 for a short work session in the hangar. After going home and praying for a week or so, he knew Alaska was where God wanted them. Their whole family attended Candidacy in September 2010.

Currently, Mickey and Ellen are enrolled locally in distance education Bible courses. They feel strongly that this Bible study will complement their technical training while serving in Alaska.

They have two boys, Logan (6-9-05) and Sebastian (10-28-09). Logan flies with Mickey on a weekly basis and is his constant companion while working on their small tailwheel Piper or kit-plane.

Harlan grew up in a Christian home and asked Jesus to be his Savior as a young boy. He was born to Dave and Sue Lloyd and has two younger sisters. He first remembers being introduced to Mission Aviation as a child when missionaries from a tribal area came to share at his church. These missionaries described how missionary pilots were their lifeline. Harlan felt very interested in mission aviation from that point on. Growing up Harlan was involved in his youth group, played soccer, and enjoyed the outdoors.

During high school Harlan had the opportunity to go on several short-term mission trips. He felt that God wanted him to serve by being a support missionary. After high school he went to Crown College for some Bible classes before earning his private pilot certificate. He then concurrently pursued his mechanic certificates and wife-to-be.

Josie was the fourth out of five daughters born to Rich and Deb Bisset. She also became a believer at a young age and was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. While growing up, Josie spent a lot of time with family, was involved with her youth group, and babysat during her teen years. It wasn't until high school that she felt a call to be involved in missions. She was able to attend several short-term mission trips with her church, as well as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Annual Conference, Urbana.

During these experiences she became certain that she needed to obey the Lord by getting more involved, but as a young single woman she wasn't sure what that would look like. Josie started a Registered Nursing (RN) Program at the Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, MN. Soon after she was introduced to her future husband!

Harlan and Josie met at a church ice-skating event in 2005. At the start of their relationship, Harlan and Josie both shared a similar call to missions. It became clear that the Lord was leading them towards marriage and a pursuit of a future in Mission Aviation. On July 22, 2006 the two lovebirds were married. Less than a year after their wedding, Harlan had earned his Airframe & Powerplant certificates and Josie became an RN.

After much prayer they felt led to move to Arlington, Washington so Harlan could attend Mission Aviation Training Academy (MATA). Harlan worked as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Josie found a job as an RN. Harlan completed his Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot certificate through MATA.

As they continued to seek God's plan, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Ava Grace, born in October 2009. She has been an enjoyable addition to the family.

In May of 2010, they visited Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC), in Soldotna, Alaska. As they prayed about their future they believed that the Lord was leading them to apply. Harlan and Josie were invited to come to Alaska for a three week Candidacy visit. During this time they learned of the incredible work that God is doing through MARC. Harlan worked in the hangar and most evening meals were shared with families from MARC. It was an encouraging time of fellowship as they got to know the MARC staff and heard stories of God working in Western Alaska. Near the end of the visit Harlan and Josie were invited to join the MARC family!

The Lloyd family feels so blessed to join such a special team of believers in order to help bring the hope and love of Jesus Christ to Alaska!

Daniel & Kayla were raised in the foothills of North Carolina. Both were raised in Christian homes, and active members in their home churches. Kayla accepted Christ at a young age, Daniel however grew up thinking he was a Christian, and it wasn't until age 18 that he came to the realization that he couldn't remember a time where he personally asked Christ to be his Savior. He attended a summer Bible camp with Kayla in 2005 where he realized this and asked Christ into his life!

The Mahrs met at a church bonfire in Mt. Airy, NC; and they were together for three and a half years before getting married in May of 2008. Once married, they moved to Lynchburg, VA to continue their education at Liberty University. Daniel went through Liberty's School of Aeronautics obtaining his private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine and certified flight instructor certificates. He graduated in May, 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics. Kayla began her degree in Kinesiology but took a year off of school to work and got a job at Bath & Body Works in Lynchburg. Within four months she was promoted to a management position. Daniel obtained his CFI certificate and got hired on as a flight instructor for Liberty.

Before marriage they both felt God calling them each individually into the mission field. Once they realized that they were both being called to be missionaries, they agreed that wherever and whenever God wanted them, they would go. Daniel knew that God had blessed him with natural piloting skills and wanted to use those skills for the glory of God. After two years of marriage God placed Daniel and Kayla at a crossroads, a life altering opportunity was now at their doorstep.

The couple had researched many missionary organizations over the past two years; however many of these organizations had requirements that were beyond the reach of a young couple barely out of college. Through a friend, however, Daniel and Kayla discovered Missionary Aviation Repair Center and realized that they met the requirements to serve with them. Daniel visited MARC's website and requested more information about the organization. Shortly after that, Daniel and Kayla prayed together and surrendered to go wherever God wanted to use them. In that prayer they said that if God wanted them in Lynchburg for however long that was fine, but if God opened the door to the mission field they would willingly go. The very next day the Director of MARC called Daniel.

That phone call led to a four-week trip to Soldotna, Alaska to personally witness the ministry of MARC. This included working around the hangar, office work, and even a mission flight to the villages of Western Alaska. Daniel and Kayla soon realized that they had been brought 3,400 miles from their home for a specific reason, and that was to glorify God by serving the people of Western Alaska.

Daniel and Kayla recently moved from Lynchburg, Virginia back to their home town in North Carolina where they can raise support full-time and get back to Alaska to serve their calling.

Bob & Donna were born and raised in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although their families were church-going, both Bob & Donna didn't become believers until after they were married.

They met in the University of Minnesota Marching Band in 1981 where they both played trumpet. Donna graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy, while Bob completed a portion of a Computer Science degree, and obtained a Computer Programming Certificate through Control Data Institute.

They married in 1985. Shortly thereafter, Bob met a Christian missionary from the Navigators named Mark Coyne. Through weekly Bible studies, scripture memory, and discipleship, Bob developed a relationship with God. It was during this time that Donna also became a believer, and spent time in a discipleship relationship with Mark's wife, Mary Jean.

With the joy of their newfound freedom in Christ, they had to reach out to others with the hope they had found. The question became: How?

The answer eluded them for nearly 25 years. They served in every church ministry to some degree or other, served the community publicly and privately on a volunteer basis for many years. It was all very enjoyable, but nothing felt like "just their thing.”

Back in his boyhood days, Bob had taken great interest in building model airplanes. His love of aviation continued into college, where he took ground school and flying lessons to become a private pilot. Donna had taken a tour of South-Central Alaska as a young adult in which she became aware of the shortage of bush pilots. On learning of each other's background, a dream was born: to operate a bush plane service in Alaska; delivering mail, people, and emergency medicine to remote areas. At the birth of each of their four sons, they would comment to each other, "Well, there's another pilot for our bush plane service!" It seemed a wild and fabulous dream.

Sadly, a medical condition prevented Bob from obtaining his pilot's license. As the years went by, the dream faded in the light of utility bills, dirty dishes, and full-time jobs.

Bob was proficient in the computer field, but by 2010 he was considering a career change. With his interest in aviation and years of home auto mechanics, he considered becoming an airplane mechanic.

God's Plan for Bob & Donna was revealed in March 2010 with the words, "Watch this!" In the most recent attempt to share the hope they had found in Christ, Donna became involved in running the church office. Their pastor had a DVD he wanted Donna to see. Before her eyes was Alaska, aviation, delivering people and supplies, changed lives, and—best of all—serving Jesus! It was a video showing the ministry of Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC). She was to coordinate an event with a missionary family from MARC for the following Sunday. Here was the bush pilot service in Alaska they had dreamed of, plus it was for the glory of God.

That Sunday's event ultimately led to a three-week trip to Alaska to see in person the ministry of MARC. This included meeting with the staff, touring the facilities, interviews, mission flights into remote Alaska, and an opportunity to discuss how Bob & Donna's skills could be put to use. The director of MARC and his wife said they have been praying for a family like the Thoes to join the team since 2008. While there, Bob & Donna were able to confirm that God was indeed doing a mighty work in Alaska and that their family was to be a part of it.

James & Jennifer Bodolosky

Mark was born in Taipei, Taiwan where his parents were missionaries. In 1991 Mark's family moved back to the States, living in South Carolina until settling in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1994 where his father began working with international students at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. It was during Mark's time in South Carolina that He accepted Christ as his personal savior.

While in Charlotte, Mark accompanied his father on some of his ministry trips with college students. Several of those trips were to the JAARS (formerly known as Jungle Aviation and Radio Service) campus in Waxhaw, North Carolina. It was during that time that Mark felt a call and knew what he wanted to do: be a missionary pilot.

He began doing what he could to get close to airplanes and was able to get a job at a local airport helping with a banner-towing operation. He also began asking questions to determine the options for the proper training. While speaking with missionaries at JAARS, he learned of LeTourneau University. He researched the school, spoke with an admissions counselor, and applied. In the fall of 2002, Mark went to LeTourneau to receive training in both flight and maintenance and graduated in May 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Flight Science, holding his commercial, multi-engine pilot certificate, and airframe and powerplant mechanic's certificate.

During his senior year at LeTourneau Mark met Dwayne King, head of Kingdom Air Corps, an organization designed to train future missionary pilot-mechanics in Chikaloon, Alaska. Mark decided to join Dwayne at Kingdom Air Corps for the summer of 2006 and was able to help in establishing the Brooks Range Bible camp in Northern Alaska. By the end of the summer Mark knew he was called to stay in Alaska, so he moved into Anchorage that September and began working at Dan's Aircraft Repair, a repair and maintenance facility for Piper PA-18 Supercubs.

Mark continued to pursue missions while at Dan's Aircraft and as part of that pursuit, God allowed him to begin helping at Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth, Alaska in 2008. In 2009 Mark joined the Christian Pilots Association of Alaska.

At a Christian Pilots Association meeting in July of 2010, God impressed upon Mark's heart the great need for missionary pilots in Alaska, and he realized it was time to pursue full-time ministry. He began making phone calls and praying for direction about where God would have him serve. After speaking with the Director at Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC), Mark visited and decided to pursue the opportunity to join the ministry. In November of 2010 he went to MARC for two weeks of evaluation and was accepted that December. After careful prayer and consideration, Mark committed to MARC in February 2011.

Mark is looking forward to serving with MARC and utilizing his skills as a pilot and mechanic to help spread the Gospel to village Alaska.

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The Bodolosky's journey began when James and Jennifer met while James was attending U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. The next year they were married and began to raise a family in South Carolina. During the 16 years they have been married, God has blessed them with eight amazing children whose ages range from 14-years-old to 2-months-old. Also during these 16 years, James has continued to serve as a C-130 Hercules pilot for the North Carolina Air National Guard.

James and Jennifer were adults when they became Christians. Jennifer's family did not attend church; however, by the grace of God, a friend invited her to church and through her involvement in the youth group Jennifer came to know Jesus. James did not grow up as a Christian, but nine years ago when James and Jennifer's oldest son was very ill, God called, and James began to turn to the Lord. Shortly after this James accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, was baptized, and began to grow in his faith. Most importantly, James and Jennifer began to teach their children what it means to be a Christian family.

James and Jennifer knew that God was calling them to serve as missionaries nine years ago when they responded to an invitation at an "old-fashioned" tent revival at North Greenville University in Greenville, South Carolina. They did not know where or how God would use them; they just knew they were in love with Jesus for what He had done in their lives and wanted to share that with others. For nine years they have continued to ask God to use them as a family to further the kingdom.

James and Jennifer planned to serve in international missions. However, God revealed to James in May 2010 that He did not want them to pursue international missions but instead He was calling them to serve in Alaska. This was a shock to James and Jennifer as they had never considered living or serving in Alaska, and it seemed to be an unappealing assignment due to the cold temperatures and long, dark winters.

During the next four months God began to open doors, one at a time. James and Jennifer got to know the MARC staff family, learned about the impact MARC is having on the Alaskan villages, and learned that Alaska is quite beautiful in spite of the cold and dark winters.

James and Jennifer went to MARC as staff candidates with their eight children in March 2011. During their three-week candidacy, they got to know many of the staff families very well. James had the opportunity to fly in the King Air and the Cessna, while Jennifer and the kids plugged into a local church and found local schools.

What began with the stirring of the Holy Spirit at an old-fashioned tent revival has developed into an exciting calling of God on this family to serve Him in Alaska!

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