It's official! After almost 10 years of flying Matt is with a major airline as of October 11th, 2010! Through all of those long nights of flying cargo, to the bitter days at Great Lakes flying in the mountains, and then trying to get on Southwest, I truly believe God has guided Matt and our family this entire process.
Matt's longtime dream was to be a Southwest pilot based in Dallas. Unfortunately, without a rock solid connection, it usually takes more than one interview to get hired. They say it shows them how bad you want to be a member of their team. Well, he did not get hired as should be expected. He thought he nailed the interview, so it hurt. Since then, Southwest has not hired a single pilot. The aviation industry as we all know hasn’t been the best since September 11th. It has been a long road, yet worth it!
One day in 2007, Matt heard about a new company, Compass Airlines, that was hiring Captains to get the airline off its feet. Matt didn't even want to go to the interview that day. Reluctantly he left me for the interview in Minneapolis. The interview was basically a Northwest Airlines interview where they have four Northwest pilots sit on the opposite side of a table and ask question, etc. Matt was hired with the promise of after three years of service, he would be a First Officer at Northwest Airlines. Little did we know, that small decision was one of the best decisions he's ever made!
Two years later, Delta purchased Northwest. That meant Delta now owns Compass Airlines. We kept our fingers crossed and hoped this was a good thing. Does this mean Matt’s job at Northwest was in jeopardy?
A few months ago, we found out that Compass was then sold to a different company. Matt and I were devastated. Does this mean they will still honor his job at Northwest/Delta? Matt's goal has just always been to be with a major airline. Better pay, benefits, schedules, non-rev flying privileges, etc. One night, Matt opened up his Gideon Bible at the hotel, and the page he randomly opened to was Matthew 6:25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Crazy, that was the same scripture I wanted him to pray about that very day! God is great! After weeks of praying, waiting, and hoping we found out that the Compass union and Delta union decided to officially abide by the old agreement. Delta started hiring pilots in August.
Matt got the letter yesterday from Delta Airlines that he is officially employed by them and his training class will start in January. We are so thrilled! Matt is now a pilot for the largest airline in the world. God is so good! He works in mysterious ways!!
And some great poolside beverages
