When the call came in from Extreme Makeover,
the initial question was: “Would you be interested
in donationing an airplane for a skydiving theme room
on an upcoming episode?” We, of course, agreed and
after a few phone calls and e-mails between Margaret Burris
(Associate Design Producer) and me, a plan began to develop.
We worked tirelessly cutting down a small Cessna airplane
(Jump Plane) to fit 14 year old Rebekah’s room.
At the time, we did not know any details of the family
or of their circumstances.
Once the project was well underway, a call came in one
evening from Margaret in which she told me the entire
story about the Whites, and what kind of family they were,
and how they had lost John. My heart was deeply touched
and it was at that point that everything changed for me.
The project then took on a life of its own. We were no
longer simply cutting down an airplane for a bedroom;
we were putting everything we had into giving this girl
the most elaborate, fully customized mechanism imaginable.
Now it had changed from just another airplane project
into an opportunity to join in on a God-sized project.
As a fellow believer, I saw right away how the Lord was
caring for His children (The White Family). This story
is a testimony of hope, “God can do more
in 5 minutes than we can do in fifty years”.
I love how God chooses to use real people, talents and
God-given abilities to accomplish His mission: loving
and caring for people.
Upon arriving in Dewey OK., the atmosphere was incredible.
So many people were working together with one heart for
one family. I really began to feel the heartbeat of ‘Extreme’
and how executive producer Tom Forman and the design team
were a lot more than just a cool TV show production. It
was about enabling people to help other people in a very
organized and precise fashion; giving businesses, organizations,
teenagers as well as professionals the chance to give.
It felt great to work on a project with eternal value
and not just another temporal, passing task.
The whole experience is one that will be remembered by
all of us at Dawson Aircraft. We would like to thank everyone
involved in this Extreme event for giving of their time,
skills and abilities to meet a real need to a real family.
Thanks Extreme Makeover for giving us the chance
to be a small part in a wonderful God-sized project.
