Sweet Fellowship: Duggars and Friends (aka the Bates Family and Other Featured Families Thread)

[DragonFaerie]

6 hours ago, ginger90 said:

 

SAD, yet HAPPY News about Timothy Rodrigues. (June 2018)

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Rodrigues Family

This post is to update you on the “happenings” of our precious oldest son – Timothy – from oldest to newest news!  Please keep him in your prayers as he follows the Lord’s calling in his life.  Thank you!         -David and Jill Rodrigues

Big brother / little sister cuddle time.

My heart is HEAVY because this probably is Timothy’s last singing trip with us. He has been such a HUGE asset to our ministry! He does our entire sound system; helps set up and tear down our equipment at every church we are at; and adds IMMENSELY to our music! He will be SORELY missed, but we are excited to let him go and watch him “SOAR” for Jesus!  He graduates soon and then will start a full time job and college in August! Yikes! Where did time go?

 

Yes, Timmy it's your "graduation" but Mommy needs to be in front for the photo.  Rolls eyes.  And poor baby Janessa looks like Jill's holding a sack of potatoes.

And I think we've discovered the real reason Jill is so upset about Timothy leaving home.  Who will run the sound system and set up and take down all of the equipment? Because you know Jill's not going to do it.

I am glad the school is making him take the extra math classes out there.  I was worried that after staying at home and doing his first year which is all Bible study online, Jill would find a reason for him not to go.  With that being said, I see no reason to drag the entire family across the country in a damn RV.

[louannems]

18 minutes ago, OpieTaylor said:

Wow, guess what, I live in Spokane. I think I know where some Moody buildings are, so that may be the campus. Now I've got to figure out what church has been chosen for David to attend. I don't know if I'd actually go attend a service, but perhaps. If so, I should go in mid-July when the whole family is in town! I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for a big bus full of Rodrigui; Spokane is not that big of a city, so it's possible I could stumble across them. Fingers crossed! 

There can't be that many IFB churches, though.  That should narrow down your searches!  You've GOT to go see the Rodrigui!

 

I'd cross the mountains (I'm in Seattle suberbia) to attend church with them myself, but that is a really long drive through the desert!

Edited June 27, 2018 by louannems

[Churchhoney]

1 hour ago, Heathen said:

It probably doesn't make much difference. He'll refuse to work for an ungodly company or be supervised by a woman, then he'll end up defaulting on those loans, and he'll spend his adult life grifting like his loser parents. 

If he did want to be an aviation mechanic, missionary or otherwise, he'd be best off opting for the military. But he won't do that because it would expose him to heathens and gays and liberals! (OH MY) 

I think the idea is to train an all-godly-all-the-time group of aviation guys (I assume it's all guys, but I'd love to be wrong) to pilot and work on and with planes.... To form a pipeline for missionary-related flying. I assume some flying involving aid programs, but I've also read about some groups that mainly just fly to convert -- such as by taking missionaries to remote locations and such.   Here's the description of the whole program, and, as Jeeves just mentioned, I think I remember Timothy being bound for the mechanic part of it, but I'm not sure when I saw that.... 

Flying and maintaining planes is REGULATED, so they obviously have to keep up some standards or they'd be banned from doing it. 

PROGRAMS

With Moody Aviation, you can train to be a missionary pilot mechanic or maintenance specialist and develop technical and spiritual skills to equip you for the rigors of mission work. Experience comprehensive training that will prepare you to meet the challenges presented by missions flying and maintenance in diverse environments. 

When you major in Missionary Aviation Technology, you decide a speciality focus—Flight or Maintenance—and train using a wide variety of mission-specific equipment, including tailwheel and high performance aircraft.

Missionary Aviation Technology - Flight

Missionary Aviation Technology - Maintenance

Flight Major

Building on over 65 years of experience in missionary aviation training, the Bachelor of Science in Missionary Aviation Technology degree program provides you with:

49 semester hours of Biblical Studies coursework

18 hours of General Education coursework 

and the technical training required to prepare you for the vital role in serving the world’s “flying missions.”

The Flight major coursework trains you to qualify for FAA Private, Instrument and Commercial certifications. Experience with high performance aircraft exposes you to the challenges associated with mission-field flying and seeks to develop the judgment, skill and overall airmanship required to fly successfully in a wide variety of contexts.

Program distinctions include an unparalleled cross-country flight project, as well as training in a wide variety of aircraft used currently on the mission field.

Learn More

Tuition and Fees

https://www.moody.edu/missionary-aviation-technology-spokane/

[kokapetl]

8 hours ago, ginger90 said:

From Jill:

 

Many of you may remember that when we sent out his graduation announcements, we mentioned that he would be doing his FIRST year of Bible College ONLINE. We were THRILLED that God was giving us another year with all 13 of our children here. 

However, it was about 3 weeks ago, the college called and told us there were some math courses that were NOT allowed to be done online.  We were frustrated that these details had not been carefully explained to us….especially because we had asked lots of questions. 

So, we claimed the verse that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, and trusted that this was God’s perfect timing for Timothy to fly the nest for good.

It is a 5 year program Timothy will be doing. We are SO pleased with his determination to accomplish this feat and follow God’s calling in his life. However, we have already shed MANY tears as he will be SORELY missed as he will be SO far away! 

Upon many people’s recommendations that we know, we found a GREAT church for Timothy to attend in Washington State. The Pastor is like minded and thrilled to have Timothy a part of their church family for the next 5 years.  The Pastor greatly encouraged our hearts (over the phone) also!

We are thankful for God’s faithfulness and goodness to us, even when we sometimes don’t understand His purpose. To trust Him wholly, is a joyful and peaceful place to be! 

So, we will be (as a family) taking a trip out West the middle of July to drop Timothy off; meet his college mates and new church family; make sure Timothy is comfortably settled; and SAVOR each last COMPLETE family moments! 

We are nervous yet excited about this extended trip.  Please be in prayer. We have a FULLY booked schedule in various, new churches as we travel. We look forward to serving Jesus one last time- ALL together. 

Serving Jesus With Joy,  The Rodrigues Family

 

P.S. Nurie and Kaylee are doing very well since the accident!  It was a HARD time to get through, but we have SO much to be grateful for!!

God has allowed us to recover ALL losses since the accident and the girls stitches and staples have now since been removed.  They are WELL on their way to recovery and YES – Nurie has already driven since the accident (after David gave her a driving lesson in the NEW car)!  LOL.

Our precious daughters alive and well!  Thank you JESUS!

I CANNOT believe my 2nd born child Timothy, is graduating from Rodrigues Homeschool already!  Time Flies.

It was a PACKED crowd today at the graduation!  We rang cowbells when they called Timothy’s name.  LOL. 

SAD, yet HAPPY News about Timothy Rodrigues. (June 2018)

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Rodrigues Family

This post is to update you on the “happenings” of our precious oldest son – Timothy – from oldest to newest news!  Please keep him in your prayers as he follows the Lord’s calling in his life.  Thank you!         -David and Jill Rodrigues

Big brother / little sister cuddle time.

My heart is HEAVY because this probably is Timothy’s last singing trip with us. He has been such a HUGE asset to our ministry! He does our entire sound system; helps set up and tear down our equipment at every church we are at; and adds IMMENSELY to our music! He will be SORELY missed, but we are excited to let him go and watch him “SOAR” for Jesus!  He graduates soon and then will start a full time job and college in August! Yikes! Where did time go?

Does she bleach his hair? It’s so unnaturally yellow. 

[lookeyloo]

Does anyone think Timothy will break from the fold once he is away and even though in a suitable for them school and church, could branch out in his thinking?  Who will be his accountability partner?

[Lunera]

Do fundie girls really swoon over this? If my headship mailed me a love letter to our own home I'd be like WTF. It seems a bit cringey and middle schoolish to me. Chad even has the handwriting of a 12 year old kid. 

[doodlebug]

19 minutes ago, Kokapetl said:

Does she bleach his hair? It’s so unnaturally yellow. 

It sure does look bleached.  But, if Jill wanted to bleach a kid's hair (because we all know that this is not something Timothy would be able to decide for himself), you'd think she'd want to dye Nurie's or some of the other girls', too.  Jill does have that cosmetology training from back in the 70's so we know she's capable of it.  Tim seems to have the lightest eyes of the older kids, the girls all look to have brown eyes; maybe Jill thinks brown eyed people shouldn't go blonde?  She's pretty dumb and very weird, after all.

If that is his natural shade, it looks terrible with his darker brows and olive complexion; he looks jaundiced to me.  I will say that, if it is dyed, she must touch up the roots regularly, you never see them.

13 minutes ago, Lunera said:

Do fundie girls really swoon over this? If my headship mailed me a love letter to our own home I'd be like WTF. It seems a bit cringey and middle schoolish to me. Chad even has the handwriting of a 12 year old kid. 

"Pretty handwriting is a gift-if you're a man"?  WTF?  Is it a curse if you're a woman?  Who talks like this?  Who thinks like this?  Isn't Erin the one who took all kinds of fully made-up including false eyelashes selfies while her kid was hospitalized?  She is truly a ninny!

Edited June 27, 2018 by doodlebug

[Churchhoney]

10 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

Does anyone think Timothy will break from the fold once he is away and even though in a suitable for them school and church, could branch out in his thinking?  Who will be his accountability partner?

We can hope! ..... Does anybody know very much about this kid? He did get quite the rap from Jill for a while on being a bad seed, kinda..... Maybe he still has some of that spark in there. .... I think it's pretty hard to tell who's going to break out until they actually break out. I know I was very good at hiding my long-held intent, and others do the same .... Meanwhile,  some who look feisty on the outside end up being totally tied to the fam. .... 

Run, Timothy, run. 

[kokapetl]

18 minutes ago, Lunera said:

Do fundie girls really swoon over this? If my headship mailed me a love letter to our own home I'd be like WTF. It seems a bit cringey and middle schoolish to me. Chad even has the handwriting of a 12 year old kid. 

“I’m simply a mess. Your beauty ... beyond the physical and shines so bright ... the whole world to see - and trust me, they see it!” 

Also not written in cursive. 

He needs to focus more on her big, expensive hair. 

[BitterApple]

Normally I'd think sending a love letter is nice, but everything with these guys is so canned. It's like they google "Sappy Love Phrases" and just write down whatever comes up. To me, something truly from the heart reads the way that person would talk. I know Erin loves that kind of stuff and that's great for her, but if you're still communicating in polite Gothard-speak five years into marriage I question how authentic your relationship really is. 

[DragonFaerie]

7 minutes ago, Kokapetl said:

“I’m simply a mess. Your beauty ... beyond the physical and shines so bright ... the whole world to see - and trust me, they see it!” 

Also not written in cursive. 

He needs to focus more on her big, expensive hair. 

I see a 0.50 postage stamp - how much money has he blown on mailing her love letters.  Tuck them on her pillow or hide them around the house. I mean come on.  Not to mention, yes, his handwriting looks like a 12 year old and it's not in cursive.  What does she think - that men don't need to work on handwriting and it's a woman thing????  I just don't get her.

[xwordfanatik]

7 hours ago, toodles said:

More math classes that can't be done online?  I guess they mean math beyond ten fingers and ten toes.

At the risk of sounding crass, men can count to 21, if they take off their pants!

Sorry, couldn't resist.  

This poor kid's home-fooling was obviously very lacking.  This pair of "parents" are, it seems, even more nuts than the Duggars.

[farmgal4]

On 6/26/2018 at 2:28 PM, Mollie said:

Here is an article that describes some of the things that he did.  

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/actions/2011/fr1117_5.htm

I can’t believe he wasn’t ordered to go to an inpatient rehab.

[Heathen]

You've LITERALLY saved boxes full, Holy Princess Erin? Maybe someday in one of those boxes, you'll find a brain and an inkling that you're really not all that. 

[Fuzzysox]

Hmm couldn't ole Timmy go into the Air Force and learn everything he wants to learn for free? Just a thought but he would be with un-Godly heathens so it would never be an option.

[kalamac]

1 minute ago, Fuzzysox said:

Hmm couldn't ole Timmy go into the Air Force and learn everything he wants to learn for free? Just a thought but he would be with un-Godly heathens so it would never be an option.

I could be wrong, but doesn’t the Air Force have harder testing to get accepted than the army? If Tim has to do remedial math for college, he probably couldn’t get into the Air Force.

[DragonFaerie]

Of course I think all the branches of the Armed Service now require a GED to get in - at least that happened to my friend's ex-husband when he tried to join the Navy and he didn't have his.  I wonder if Timothy could pass a GED.  I certainly don't think most of the Duggars could.

[lookeyloo]

Mr. lookeyloo has sent me love letters over the years.  Sadly I can't read his handwriting so he has to read them to me.  But, they are between us and I never post them anywhere or tell anyone.  Except y'all my snark buddies!!  Neither one of us wants to go public with them.

[louannems]

55 minutes ago, Heathen said:

You've LITERALLY saved boxes full, Holy Princess Erin? Maybe someday in one of those boxes, you'll find a brain and an inkling that you're really not all that. 

I've watched lots of their show, and Chad really does not talk at all!  Erin speaks while Chad fondly looks on.  It's so weird.  Sometimes he shrugs a shoulder when Erin brags about him but I don't think I've ever heard him speak!

[louannems]

20 minutes ago, DragonFaerie said:

Of course I think all the branches of the Armed Service now require a GED to get in - at least that happened to my friend's ex-husband when he tried to join the Navy and he didn't have his.  I wonder if Timothy could pass a GED.  I certainly don't think most of the Duggars could.

Back in the 70's, when I was 19, I took the Army test and got high marks.  I switched my mind and decided to join the Air Force instead.  My Army grades were converted to Air Force grades and went down to about a B equivalent.

By the way, the Army has more boats than the Navy.  And the Navy has more planes than the Air Force, at least in 1979!

 

Timothy definitely should have gotten his aviation skills, at least a mechanic, through the Army or Air Force.  That's what kids do all the time to get out of small towns and poverty.

[queenanne]

57 minutes ago, louannems said:

Timothy definitely should have gotten his aviation skills, at least a mechanic, through the Army or Air Force.  That's what kids do all the time to get out of small towns and poverty.

Somehow or another I think the language used in the armed forces would blister Timmy's ears!

[McManda]

4 hours ago, Mollie said:

What Tim is doing is just crazy.

Or insanely smart, if he thought it was his only chance to escape his crazy parents and have his own life yet still operate under the "still under Daddy's headship" guise.

Oh, who am I kidding? Jill probably set up a deal with the Seattle pastor to keep an eye on Tim and report back to her on the daily. Tim will never be free.

[DragonFaerie]

1 minute ago, McManda said:

Or insanely smart, if he thought it was his only chance to escape his crazy parents and have his own life yet still operate under the "still under Daddy's headship" guise.

Oh, who am I kidding? Jill probably set up a deal with the Seattle pastor to keep an eye on Tim and report back to her on the daily. Tim will never be free.

Yup, I was thinking that his new Pastor is going to be getting calls and texts from Jill every day.  Hopefully he won't be living in the pastor's house as well and will have a space with just a roommate or two.  

[GeeGolly]

I think we need a new rule. Only one picture of the JillR family per thread page. My eyeballs and brain can't handle it. ;)

[sixlets]

Ugh.  I used to like Erin.  Now, she's just as whack-a-doodle as Jilly Muffin.  I have letters/notes that Mr. Six wrote, but they are from when we first started dating in high school.  Now I just get a random text asking me to pick up some chunky applesauce (which our closest Walmart did not have.  Seriously?).  

Mr. Six went to Penn State.  In 5 years, he got 2 associate degrees AND a bachelors.  He's a Professional Engineer licensed in two states and has 3 other certifications after his name.  Just call me a proud wifey.  Even though I've read the description of Timothy's edumacation plans, I can honestly say I still don't understand it.  Are there any schools that offer a missionary plumber degree?  After all, people with broken pipes and leaky toilets deserve to know Jesus too.  

[lianau]

5 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

At the risk of sounding crass, men can count to 21, if they take off their pants!

 

That doesn't help Timothy , he's not allowed to take off his pants without first asking his parents .

[awaken]

Tim’s hair is bright yellow, nearly green, on my phone. 

And I thought student loans were sinful so I’m guessing they’re paying some other way...grifting or partially comped. 

I knew several missionary aviators growing up and they are truly the rockstars of the fundie world. The equivalent of a secular kid wanting to be a pro sports star when they grow up. 

[queenanne]

Well, if he got in, he must have a lot of natural talent in spite of the math, so hope springs eternal!

[Mollie]

1 hour ago, queenanne said:

Well, if he got in, he must have a lot of natural talent in spite of the math, so hope springs eternal!

I think that printing a homeschool graduation certificate on a computer printer and paying $150,000 is enough to get anyone admitted to that program.

[MargeGunderson]

14 hours ago, Churchhoney said:

We can hope! ..... Does anybody know very much about this kid? He did get quite the rap from Jill for a while on being a bad seed, kinda..... Maybe he still has some of that spark in there. .... I think it's pretty hard to tell who's going to break out until they actually break out. I know I was very good at hiding my long-held intent, and others do the same .... Meanwhile,  some who look feisty on the outside end up being totally tied to the fam. .... 

Run, Timothy, run. 

I'm hoping Timothy has been playing the long con all these years and will immediately drop out of school, move to Portland, and renounce his family. 

[Albanyguy]

1 hour ago, Mollie said:

I think that printing a homeschool graduation certificate on a computer printer and paying $150,000 is enough to get anyone admitted to that program.

I'm astonished that they haven't set up the GoFundMe for Timothy's tuition yet. I can't believe that Jill and David either can or will simply pay for it out of their own pocket. They must be counting on their mad grifting skillz to see them through. They've probably already worked out an arrangement with some Fundie family for Tim to work for them in exchange for free room and board. As for his tuition, they probably don't have to actually cut a check to the school for a month or so yet (assuming his first semester starts in September) and they're telling themselves "The Lord will provide". Maybe they have a donor in mind that they're working on to underwrite at least the first semester. Or maybe they're planning that when they get out there, they'll make an impassioned pitch to the school to waive the tuition in exchange for the invaluable free publicity that Jill will give them on her website (after all, who could turn a deal like that down?). My guess is that they'll string the school along with a lot of Jesus-y promises and sneak Tim through at least part of the first semester before he's kicked out for non-payment. Then they'll bring him back home and come up with some bullshit story to explain what happened. Or, who knows, they just might be able to get some suckers to actually donate enough to keep him there, although the poor response to Nurie's recent plea could suggest that they're losing their touch.

[Libby96]

I think part of the reason they are hauling their entire family across the country to take Timothy to Washington is that the "engagements" at churches that Jill mentions will be opportunities to solicit "love offerings" to help cover Timothy's tuition.

[Churchhoney]

2 hours ago, Mollie said:

I think that printing a homeschool graduation certificate on a computer printer and paying $150,000 is enough to get anyone admitted to that program.

There has to be a bit more than that, though.

Aviation IS a heavily regulated industry. And if they really let in just anyone, they wouldn't be able to educate them to standard and eventually would get banned from doing any of it.

The school would have to be registered with the FAA, and all the instructors have to be FAA-approved. And I think in most states you have to get state approval as well.

Plus, this is a school that is not training amateur pilots but officially declaring that they're not just training professional pilots but training professional aviation mechanics and maintenance people as well. That requires a fairly high level of FAA scrutiny, which is repeated and constant, and is a lot stricter than if they were just setting up a school to train, say, weekend hobby pilots and nothing else.

And it all has to be kept updated. Everything they offer has to meet the most recent FAA standards when it comes to the trainers, what they're teaching, etc. FAA scrutiny and rules are no joke. They're the reason that there are so few accidents and casualties involving professionally-maintained and piloted aircraft, not just here but around the world. Since the FAA pioneered a rigorous system and much of the world has followed it. In addition, there's a lot of expensive insurance involved in this enterprise, and the school can't skip over that either. It's a pricey, demanding, and regulated business they're in. 

They clearly must have a long tradition of not just letting anyone in the door or there's no way they would still be doing it. I'm convinced that that's the math issue. They have to get those kids there so they can actually teach them all the math that their moms skipped over in the dining room-- and be sure that the kids don't just take an online test where they can cheat. The school has to make very major investments in what they're doing, and they wouldn't risk losing it over kids who'd heard from mommy that math didn't matter and therefore cheated on their online test. 

And they've apparently been offering this stuff for 50 years, so this is a going operation that clearly understands all those requirements and has abided by them. It's not a fly-by-night operation that admits anyone who can scare up the cash. Can't be. 

Edited June 28, 2018 by Churchhoney

[Jynnan tonnix]

19 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

There has to be a bit more than that, though.

Aviation IS a heavily regulated industry. And if they really let in just anyone, they wouldn't be able to educate them to standard and eventually would get banned from doing any of it.

The school would have to be registered with the FAA, and all the instructors have to be FAA-approved. And I think in most states you have to get state approval as well.

Plus, this is a school that is not training amateur pilots but officially declaring that they're not just training professional pilots but training professional aviation mechanics and maintenance people as well. That requires a fairly high level of FAA scrutiny, which is repeated and constant, and is a lot stricter than if they were just setting up a school to train, say, weekend hobby pilots and nothing else.

And it all has to be kept updated. Everything they offer has to meet the most recent FAA standards when it comes to the trainers, what they're teaching, etc. FAA scrutiny and rules are no joke. They're the reason that there are so few accidents and casualties involving professionally-maintained and piloted aircraft, not just here but around the world. Since the FAA pioneered a rigorous system and much of the world has followed it. In addition, there's a lot of expensive insurance involved in this enterprise, and the school can't skip over that either. It's a pricey, demanding, and regulated business they're in. 

They clearly must have a long tradition of not just letting anyone in the door or there's no way they would still be doing it. I'm convinced that that's the math issue. They have to get those kids there so they can actually teach them all the math that their moms skipped over in the dining room-- and be sure that the kids don't just take an online test where they can cheat. The school has to make very major investments in what they're doing, and they wouldn't risk losing it over kids who'd heard from mommy that math didn't matter and therefore cheated on their online test. 

And they've apparently been offering this stuff for 50 years, so this is a going operation that clearly understands all those requirements and has abided by them. It's not a fly-by-night operation that admits anyone who can scare up the cash. Can't be. 

Maybe a lot of people who begin the program don't graduate? And in the meantime the school gets a few semesters' worth of tuition out of them?

I have no idea whether a school could survive long on a strategy of accepting anyone who pays, then flunking out all but the top tier before they actually get any credentials, but it does sound like a move Jill would be on board with if she could figure out a way to work it herself.

[Churchhoney]

Just now, Jynnan tonnix said:

Maybe a lot of people who begin the program don't graduate? And in the meantime the school gets a few semesters' worth of tuition out of them?

I have no idea whether a school could survive long on a strategy of accepting anyone who pays, then flunking out all but the top tier before they actually get any credentials, but it does sound like a move Jill would be on board with if she could figure out a way to work it herself.

Sure does! ... lol

[Mollie]

50 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

There has to be a bit more than that, though.

Aviation IS a heavily regulated industry. And if they really let in just anyone, they wouldn't be able to educate them to standard and eventually would get banned from doing any of it. . .

 

We're talking about two different things.  The school is legitimate, no question.  But FAA doesn't regulate the standards for admission to any flight or plane maintenance program.  That's left strictly up to the school.  Actually doing well in the courses and passing the required exams is the student's responsibility.

A good school isn't judged on its pass/fail ratio.  One of the best air force pilot training courses is given by the Israel Air Force, one of the best air forces in the world.  It has the most stringent requirements for admission to the pilot course than any other air force in the world.  It has the first pick of all 18-year-olds who must report for mandatory military service every year.  (In America military service is voluntary, so the U.S. doesn't have the best of the best high school students in the country to choose from.) On average, only one out of nine students completes the Israeli course successfully. There was one year, early on in its history, when only one pilot was graduated. 

[Ohiopirate02]

1 hour ago, Churchhoney said:

There has to be a bit more than that, though.

Aviation IS a heavily regulated industry. And if they really let in just anyone, they wouldn't be able to educate them to standard and eventually would get banned from doing any of it.

The school would have to be registered with the FAA, and all the instructors have to be FAA-approved. And I think in most states you have to get state approval as well.

Plus, this is a school that is not training amateur pilots but officially declaring that they're not just training professional pilots but training professional aviation mechanics and maintenance people as well. That requires a fairly high level of FAA scrutiny, which is repeated and constant, and is a lot stricter than if they were just setting up a school to train, say, weekend hobby pilots and nothing else.

And it all has to be kept updated. Everything they offer has to meet the most recent FAA standards when it comes to the trainers, what they're teaching, etc. FAA scrutiny and rules are no joke. They're the reason that there are so few accidents and casualties involving professionally-maintained and piloted aircraft, not just here but around the world. Since the FAA pioneered a rigorous system and much of the world has followed it. In addition, there's a lot of expensive insurance involved in this enterprise, and the school can't skip over that either. It's a pricey, demanding, and regulated business they're in. 

They clearly must have a long tradition of not just letting anyone in the door or there's no way they would still be doing it. I'm convinced that that's the math issue. They have to get those kids there so they can actually teach them all the math that their moms skipped over in the dining room-- and be sure that the kids don't just take an online test where they can cheat. The school has to make very major investments in what they're doing, and they wouldn't risk losing it over kids who'd heard from mommy that math didn't matter and therefore cheated on their online test. 

And they've apparently been offering this stuff for 50 years, so this is a going operation that clearly understands all those requirements and has abided by them. It's not a fly-by-night operation that admits anyone who can scare up the cash. Can't be. 

While the math courses are important, distance learning has improved enough that Timothy does not have to be on campus.  He should be able to take the basic math courses at a local community college or online.  The tests can then be proctored locally to ensure there is no cheating.  My library does proctoring for anyone who asks for a small fee.  Most colleges and universities that have online classes have developed a system for proctoring.  The university in my town even requires students to take proctored exams for in-person classes.  There are now online, accredited programs for many masters programs.  I think that Moody could develop an online math course or two. 

[Churchhoney]

46 minutes ago, Mollie said:

We're talking about two different things.  The school is legitimate, no question.  But FAA doesn't regulate the standards for admission to any flight or plane maintenance program.  That's left strictly up to the school.  Actually doing well in the courses and passing the required exams is the student's responsibility.

A good school isn't judged on its pass/fail ratio.  One of the best air force pilot training courses is given by the Israel Air Force, one of the best air forces in the world.  It has the most stringent requirements for admission to the pilot course than any other air force in the world.  It has the first pick of all 18-year-olds who must report for mandatory military service every year.  (In America military service is voluntary, so the U.S. doesn't have the best of the best high school students in the country to choose from.) On average, only one out of nine students completes the Israeli course successfully. There was one year, early on in its history, when only one pilot was graduated. 

So I guess there's a scenario where they collect 25 to 60-thousand dollars from a lot of kids who flunk out after a year or two? .... I can see that might happen, but I still don't see how it would help the school at all to get that money--

It's not that much money, so wouldn't you use most of it up trying and failing to train those kids? So why would a very high dropout rate help them? ...

Yes, this happens in the armed forces. Because that's government money and the idea is to spend as much as it takes to get the best force that it takes .....

But I'm really struggling to understand why a private institution would do that.... What they'd have to gain.....I don't see how they could gain money for it. And it seems to me it'd just hurt their reputation, hurt their ability to train the actual qualified people, and maybe even hurt their reputation in their own Christian community. 

Anyway, maybe I just completely misread you. I thought you were saying that the school would take anybody because they could make an easy $150,000 off of it. But maybe you weren't saying that at all? 

Edited June 28, 2018 by Churchhoney

[galaxychaser]

I still can’t believe that someone married David R. 

And had kids with him.

he sure looks like he has never missed a meal.

timothy is a cute kid except the bleached hair. 

[galaxychaser]

1 hour ago, Albanyguy said:

I'm astonished that they haven't set up the GoFundMe for Timothy's tuition yet. I can't believe that Jill and David either can or will simply pay for it out of their own pocket. They must be counting on their mad grifting skillz to see them through. They've probably already worked out an arrangement with some Fundie family for Tim to work for them in exchange for free room and board. As for his tuition, they probably don't have to actually cut a check to the school for a month or so yet (assuming his first semester starts in September) and they're telling themselves "The Lord will provide". Maybe they have a donor in mind that they're working on to underwrite at least the first semester. Or maybe they're planning that when they get out there, they'll make an impassioned pitch to the school to waive the tuition in exchange for the invaluable free publicity that Jill will give them on her website (after all, who could turn a deal like that down?). My guess is that they'll string the school along with a lot of Jesus-y promises and sneak Tim through at least part of the first semester before he's kicked out for non-payment. Then they'll bring him back home and come up with some bullshit story to explain what happened. Or, who knows, they just might be able to get some suckers to actually donate enough to keep him there, although the poor response to Nurie's recent plea could suggest that they're losing their touch.

Mad gifting skillz should be the title for their own thread!

[Churchhoney]

32 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

While the math courses are important, distance learning has improved enough that Timothy does not have to be on campus.  He should be able to take the basic math courses at a local community college or online.  The tests can then be proctored locally to ensure there is no cheating.  My library does proctoring for anyone who asks for a small fee.  Most colleges and universities that have online classes have developed a system for proctoring.  The university in my town even requires students to take proctored exams for in-person classes.  There are now online, accredited programs for many masters programs.  I think that Moody could develop an online math course or two. 

Yeah, you're certainly right that they could do this ....

But I expect that vast majority of their students are kids who were either homeschooled or went to very conservative Christian schools. And I think most of those parents absolutely would not want their new graduates to go hanging around at a public (or any non-conservative-Christian) college. I'd think that the parents would see two choices they'd actually find acceptable -- Either the kid gets to take the classes at home online or via the same Christian school he attended for high school OR he gets to take them at a very conservative Christian post-secondary institution.... and most people won't have much access to the latter. So why not just have them come to Moody -- a very conservative-Christian post-secondary institution? 

Plus, I'll bet a LOT of these kids (practically all, would be my guess) have already taken online math courses and now know nothing.

Maybe the school has realized that people can somehow pass YEARS of online math courses without learning anything and they feel more confident having the kids take a math course with an instructor? --maybe in many cases for the first time in their lives? That the kids may be so bored and turned off by all those years of online math that they never learned that just the sight of an online course further handicaps them? Maybe this is their way to help kids actually LEARN some math who've failed to learn it from those online courses they've been taking all their lives? And maybe they DON"T want a really high dropout rate? Maybe they'd rather produce nice full classes of aviation mechanics with the right Christian training? 

I've gotten the sense that a lot of the comments here are sneers at the school -- first that it's got to be crap. And second that they're just accepting a whole bunch of kids who clearly aren't capable so they can steal their cash and let them drop out with no training that's worth anything.....

And what I've been trying to say is that I really doubt that that's the case. I mean, maybe it is, of course. ... .But I sort of think they may well be quite sincere in wanting to have a LARGE well-trained pipeline of very Christian aviation people (pilots AND mechanics and so on). And that they're doing that the best way they can figure out. MMV, of course. 

Edited June 28, 2018 by Churchhoney

[Ohiopirate02]

28 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

Yeah, you're certainly right that they could do this ....

But I expect that vast majority of their students are kids who were either homeschooled or went to very conservative Christian schools. And I think most of those parents absolutely would not want their new graduates to go hanging around at a public (or any non-conservative-Christian) college. I'd think that the parents would see two choices they'd actually find acceptable -- Either the kid gets to take the classes at home online or via the same Christian school he attended for high school OR he gets to take them at a very conservative Christian post-secondary institution.... and most people won't have much access to the latter. So why not just have them come to Moody -- a very conservative-Christian post-secondary institution? 

Plus, I'll bet a LOT of these kids (practically all, would be my guess) have already taken online math courses and now know nothing.

Maybe the school has realized that people can somehow pass YEARS of online math courses without learning anything and they feel more confident having the kids take a math course with an instructor? --maybe in many cases for the first time in their lives? That the kids may be so bored and turned off by all those years of online math that they never learned that just the sight of an online course further handicaps them? Maybe this is their way to help kids actually LEARN some math who've failed to learn it from those online courses they've been taking all their lives? And maybe they DON"T want a really high dropout rate? Maybe they'd rather produce nice full classes of aviation mechanics with the right Christian training? 

I've gotten the sense that a lot of the comments here are sneers at the school -- first that it's got to be crap. And second that they're just accepting a whole bunch of kids who clearly aren't capable so they can steal their cash and let them drop out with no training that's worth anything.....

And what I've been trying to say is that I really doubt that that's the case. I mean, maybe it is, of course. ... .But I sort of think they may well be quite sincere in wanting to have a LARGE well-trained pipeline of very Christian aviation people (pilots AND mechanics and so on). And that they're doing that the best way they can figure out. MMV, of course. 

Yes, I could see them wanting to make sure the boys in their program understand the material they are learning.  I'm sure the necessary math is more advanced than what most homeschooling mothers can actually teach.  I really cannot see Jill teaching anyone calculus.  Also, by having them take the classes in Washington, they can start to evaluate the students.  They can see who has the ability to master the material and weed out those who cannot.   I'm sure the school has other programs that the boys can then transfer into so that they retain the students for Jesus.  In a way, it is a kindness to give the boys all the opportunity to learn the material knowing how much their previous education might have been lacking. 

[Jeeves]

6 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

 In a way, it is a kindness to give the boys all the opportunity to learn the material knowing how much their previous education might have been lacking. 

Yes. The boys. Because it would offend Jesus if women flew planes or fixed engines. I'm going to hell anyway and I hope I see those misogynist arseholes there. I am only sort of joking. 

[Ohiopirate02]

7 minutes ago, Jeeves said:

Yes. The boys. Because it would offend Jesus if women flew planes or fixed engines. I'm going to hell anyway and I hope I see those misogynist arseholes there. I am only sort of joking. 

I should have said students, but who am I kidding?  Their rigid gender roles made it pretty obvious to me that there were no females in the program. 

[lilwhitelion]

22 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I should have said students, but who am I kidding?  Their rigid gender roles made it pretty obvious to me that there were no females in the program. 

So out of curiosity, I looked up the Moody Bible Institute (Aviation) website. Home page photo shows a woman - back to us, but still, that’s good. Watched the embedded video. A woman is in a scene showing students from years 2 and 3 (maintenance) sitting at work benches. Then, most surprisingly, when showing students from years 4 and 5 (specialty), they interview Eleanor Hanson, who is a pilot specialist. They also show a couple women instructors and/or administrators. 

They explained that the two years of mechanics are necessary for all students as missionary pilots are going into remote places and will need to do their own basic maintenance on their planes. Makes sense but I hadn’t thought of that need. 

Does Jill realize Tim might be alongside female students?  

[Normades]

Well, girls can't fly, you'd be able to see up their denim skirts!!  I'd like to think that Moody College is trying to ensure students get the best education possible and are working to fill any deficit from SODRT education leaves (no I don't mean all homeschoolers), but so many of these people in the fundie lifestyle seem to gravitate toward shady enterprise (Plexus, Essential Oils, Grifting) that I can't help but feel really cynical about it.  If they can bring in students at that exorbitant rate (another reason for side eye) and get paid for a couple of years, why not rake in the money??  I sincerely hope Timothy does well and learns a lot.  I would love to see a Rod kid live a better life, but I'm pretty worried about the whole thing.  Even if this school completely on the level, I'm not sure he will be able to hang in there -- socially or educationally.  Guys at that age can be brutal.  They really tend to rib each other and even haze from time to time.  I worry that Timothy will not be able to handle it.

[Jeeves]

2 minutes ago, lilwhitelion said:

So out of curiosity, I looked up the Moody Bible Institute (Aviation) website. Home page photo shows a woman - back to us, but still, that’s good. Watched the embedded video. A woman is in a scene showing students from years 2 and 3 (maintenance) sitting at work benches. Then, most surprisingly, when showing students from years 4 and 5 (specialty), they interview Eleanor Hanson, who is a pilot specialist. They also show a couple women instructors and/or administrators. 

They explained that the two years of mechanics are necessary for all students as missionary pilots are going into remote places and will need to do their own basic maintenance on their planes. Makes sense but I hadn’t thought of that need. 

Does Jill realize Tim might be alongside female students?  

Wow. They have women in the program? I may have to eat my words. 

[Normades]

3 minutes ago, lilwhitelion said:

They also show a couple women instructors and/or administrators. 

But, but women CAN'T instruct men!!!!!  Oh my, I need my fainting couch!!  First the wrong bible and now this!!  I may have to retire to my bed for the rest of the day!!

[Absolom]

The "higher level math" that Tim needs to master to complete his coursework is geometry and that is offered as part of the curriculum.  By next spring he needs to be able to tackle college algebra I.  This tells me that Timothy's math "education" has been dreadfully neglected.  I'm going to be surprised if he actually passes the first year.

[doodlebug]

2 hours ago, Absolom said:

The "higher level math" that Tim needs to master to complete his coursework is geometry and that is offered as part of the curriculum.  By next spring he needs to be able to tackle college algebra I.  This tells me that Timothy's math "education" has been dreadfully neglected.  I'm going to be surprised if he actually passes the first year.

As I recall, Geometry is a subject tackled by most kids as high school sophomores at the latest and, most college bound kids, even those not planning on a STEM career would take it.  I'd say it doesn't bode well for any kid hoping for a career in the scientific field to start college essentially 3 years behind in math.  Also,  from what I recall of college classes, he'll be expected to progress through the work at a much faster pace than in high school and will need to complete 3 years of high school math (and understand it pretty well) in the next two semesters to even be ready to start college level work.  I think any kid would be challenged to do this, but a kid who was homeschooled in the rather laissez faire way the Rodriguii seem to have been is probably lacking the self discipline and study skills needed to not only do this, but do it well.

Edited June 28, 2018 by doodlebug