This is a story about a young man, a helicopter and the young man's desire with aviation.
In previous post: Colors, lights and shadows - reflection from the last three weeks, I told you about that I waited for a call from the helicopter company. Well, here is the story.
Before the week of photojournalism with Bill Bangham, we got to know that we had to find a person, a company or an interesting case to do a photo story about. Our teacher mentioned that someone in the previous photo schools had contacted a helicopter company, and that they even got a free ride. As an aviation enthusiast I kicked on this idea instantly. And to my fortune, Bob, one of our staff who also works at the airport, knew the boss of one of the helicopter companies. He contacted the guy he knew, and put me in touch with him. We had the whole week of doing this photo story, so I told him that I was available from monday and until sunday. I was so excited about this opportunity!!
Days went by, and I didn't hear anything from the company. Now it was thursday, and I began to fear that nothing would happen. But then, on friday morning, I got good news. I got a text message that if I could come down to the airport they would have one free space in the helicopter ride that afternoon. Unfortunately my cell phone was in the classroom, so I didn't discover that message before 40 minutes after it was sent. I tried to get in touch with the boss, but he didn't reply. So I got Thema to drive me there, but when I came it was too late. The space was taken. Oh men, I felt so bad! And I got this feeling that the helicopter ride would never happen. I met the boss, and he told me to come back the next day, on saturday, but I needed to contact him in the morning to check it out.
On saturday morning I was so excited, I sent a text message to him and waited for a reply. It was some really long minutes, and then I got the reply that I feared - ''I am sorry, we are fully booked this morning, maybe we have something in the afternoon - please call back at noon..'' No my fears was confirmed! There wouldn't be a helicopter ride! Then, a couple of minutes later I got a new text ''.. you may reserve a seat for $200, the half of the price, if you want to..'' I wanted to do this so badly, and it was so tempting to just go with this offer, but in the same time it didn't feel right to pay that much money to get a photo story. I discussed it with Bill, and we decided that I should not pay for it. I wanted to trust the Lord in this, and not just go on and pay for it myself. Bill also told me that I should start to consider other options in addition to the helicopter company for the photo story. I went to the prayer room and told God that if this was going to happen, he had to do it. I spent some time there, and when I got out I got a text message again, ''.. you're in!'' You have no idea how happy I was. So, Laura, Felipe's wife drove me to the airport and dropped me of outside of the helicopter company. I went inside, registered and waited together with the other people. The joy I felt inside was overwhelming!! But, the roller coaster of emotions continued. The pilots came out and spoke with us. ''Unfortunately we cannot fly in this weather, it is too rough.. So we need to cancel today's flights..''
I knew it, I was so close but yet so far from flying. I thought with myself, should I go back home or should I stay on? I asked the crew if I could take some pictures with the pilot and the helicopter, and he said yes. So I stayed on, helped the pilot out with cleaning the engine and shutting down the helicopter for the day.
Then he got a message on his phone; ''there is a helicopter arriving in 30 minutes, and they are doing the last flight around the island today..'' .. He told me about this, and yet again my hope rose. Is it possible? Do they have an available seat? A couple of minutes later he got it confirmed, they had an available seat and it was okay for the pilot that I came along on the last flight around the island. Oh boy how glad I was. I was now about to get a ride around one of the most amazing islands on earth, for FREE! The ride costs about $479, but I got it for free.
I was so happy, and gave thanks to the Lord imediately. Together with me on this ride was an English-Indian family and an American couple. I thought I had to sit in the only seat that did not have window space, the seat in the middle of the helicopter, but because of weight differences and the stability of the helicopter, I got to sit by the window, while the wife of the american had to sit in the middle. Believe me, she was not happy!! She was ''sour'' the whole trip, and her husband was so embarrased by the whole situation, because he clearly wanted to enjoy the ride. Anyway, the flight itself was so good.
God gave me almost everything I appreciate in the nature; transparent blue water, rainbows, fascinating and dramatic clouds, Godlight (sunbeams that shines through the clouds), mountains, valleys, waterfalls, ocean, volcanoes with lava flowing into ocean.. It was just one of those unforgettable moments in life. And the whole trip just entered a huge climax when we came to the Kohala mountains and flew into the valleys. The pilot started to play the jurassic park soundtrack in our headphones, and instantly all the hairs on my body raised. What a moment! :D
I was so thankful to Jesus for what I experienced this day that I spend the whole evening in the prayer room just giving thanks! And in the end I got a great photo story out of it as well! :D I have to quote Bill Bangham from the feedback he gave me;
''I sweated through the helicopter assignment with you, Gjermund. I didn’t know what you were going to do if it didn’t happen. But it did! Your persistence paid off.''
On saturday morning I was so excited, I sent a text message to him and waited for a reply. It was some really long minutes, and then I got the reply that I feared - ''I am sorry, we are fully booked this morning, maybe we have something in the afternoon - please call back at noon..'' No my fears was confirmed! There wouldn't be a helicopter ride! Then, a couple of minutes later I got a new text ''.. you may reserve a seat for $200, the half of the price, if you want to..'' I wanted to do this so badly, and it was so tempting to just go with this offer, but in the same time it didn't feel right to pay that much money to get a photo story. I discussed it with Bill, and we decided that I should not pay for it. I wanted to trust the Lord in this, and not just go on and pay for it myself. Bill also told me that I should start to consider other options in addition to the helicopter company for the photo story. I went to the prayer room and told God that if this was going to happen, he had to do it. I spent some time there, and when I got out I got a text message again, ''.. you're in!'' You have no idea how happy I was. So, Laura, Felipe's wife drove me to the airport and dropped me of outside of the helicopter company. I went inside, registered and waited together with the other people. The joy I felt inside was overwhelming!! But, the roller coaster of emotions continued. The pilots came out and spoke with us. ''Unfortunately we cannot fly in this weather, it is too rough.. So we need to cancel today's flights..'' I knew it, I was so close but yet so far from flying. I thought with myself, should I go back home or should I stay on? I asked the crew if I could take some pictures with the pilot and the helicopter, and he said yes. So I stayed on, helped the pilot out with cleaning the engine and shutting down the helicopter for the day.
Then he got a message on his phone; ''there is a helicopter arriving in 30 minutes, and they are doing the last flight around the island today..'' .. He told me about this, and yet again my hope rose. Is it possible? Do they have an available seat? A couple of minutes later he got it confirmed, they had an available seat and it was okay for the pilot that I came along on the last flight around the island. Oh boy how glad I was. I was now about to get a ride around one of the most amazing islands on earth, for FREE! The ride costs about $479, but I got it for free. 
I was so happy, and gave thanks to the Lord imediately. Together with me on this ride was an English-Indian family and an American couple. I thought I had to sit in the only seat that did not have window space, the seat in the middle of the helicopter, but because of weight differences and the stability of the helicopter, I got to sit by the window, while the wife of the american had to sit in the middle. Believe me, she was not happy!! She was ''sour'' the whole trip, and her husband was so embarrased by the whole situation, because he clearly wanted to enjoy the ride. Anyway, the flight itself was so good.
God gave me almost everything I appreciate in the nature; transparent blue water, rainbows, fascinating and dramatic clouds, Godlight (sunbeams that shines through the clouds), mountains, valleys, waterfalls, ocean, volcanoes with lava flowing into ocean.. It was just one of those unforgettable moments in life. And the whole trip just entered a huge climax when we came to the Kohala mountains and flew into the valleys. The pilot started to play the jurassic park soundtrack in our headphones, and instantly all the hairs on my body raised. What a moment! :D
I was so thankful to Jesus for what I experienced this day that I spend the whole evening in the prayer room just giving thanks! And in the end I got a great photo story out of it as well! :D I have to quote Bill Bangham from the feedback he gave me;
''I sweated through the helicopter assignment with you, Gjermund. I didn’t know what you were going to do if it didn’t happen. But it did! Your persistence paid off.''
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