Medivac 18 June

At Bongolo, a patient arrived, unconscious, 
with head injuries, after being hit with a car.
The Bongolo team relieved the pressure on his
brain, but a scanner and neuro-surgeon would 
be needed to continue care.  PIC: The Bongolo 
team makes arrangements for care to continue, 
after the medivac flight, in the capital city, Libreville.

Bongolo is currently without proper ground ambulance
transport, so a pickup truck was the best we could do.

Our Cessna 206 was prepped and ready to receive 
the patient.

One of our lead nurses, mister Bruno, provided care 
for the patient during the flight.

After an hour and 40 minutes, we were in Libreville where
an ambulance arrived and took the injured man to get a
head scan under the care of a neuro-surgeon.

It was late in the day, so Bruno and I spent the evening
in Libreville and then returned to Bongolo the next
morning.

Thanks to your teamwork, the aviation service exists 
to bless the people of this region of central Africa 
in the name of Jesus!  Please consider an investment
to keep this critical work moving forward.

Please consider partnering with us in this important work to SHOW and TELL about God's Love.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

TIRED 'OL PICKUP TRUCK

For many years we've enjoyed our Isuzu D-Max
Pickup, but now it's showing its age.
(pic: Alace snapshot of Megan circa 2010)

 

We rely HEAVILY on this pickup to transport
many items for the hospital and aircraft- especially 
when we refuel- we put a drum of fuel in the bed
and pull under the wing to make 1-person fueling possible.
(pic: Alace and Steve loaded for mobile medical clinic circa 2010)

We're seeking to replace this truck and add one 
like it for our Bongolo base of operations- a big
"ask"!  But, our Lord is able.  If you would like
to join us and invest in one of these pickups, 
please email us of your interest- gabon.pilot@gmail.com
(pic: circa 2019- pickup still working strong; loading meds and equipment for Bongolo)
 

Without the truck, we struggle to move the fuel drums in 
place on the ground, and it becomes a 2-person operation.
Thank you for considering joining us in this CRITICAL
investment.  We've identified 4-door, 4x4 pickups available
NOW in the capital city of Libreville
(new Toyota Hilux approx. $41,000 USD).
(pic: our friend, Gustave, who assists in this work in many ways) 

Please consider partnering with us in this important work to SHOW and TELL about God's Love.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Featured On Bongolo Website!

(HERE's THE LINK: CLICK HERE)

 

Easter Medevac

 

Easter, 6am, at the Lebamba / Bongolo airport.
By God's grace, great weather.

Koulamoutou airport, a 40 minute flight East

With the help of the family and the doctor (seated behind me)
we quickly loaded and made our way to one of the few CT scanners
in the country, in the capital city. Two brothers were in a horrible 
car accident- one with a broken arm in the co-pilot seat, the other with 
a neck injury in the stretcher.

After an hour and thirty minutes, we were Libreville.
It turns out that this family was related to the minister of health
and church leaders have shared that this medevac has touched
many lives and helped them to understand the reach of God's Love!

We can only do this work with your help!  Thanks for being part of our team.

Please consider partnering with us in this important work to SHOW and TELL about God's Love.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH the ALLIANCE (click)

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Loaner Aircraft

 

While we wait on our Cessna 207 being prepped in Kenya, 
we're borrowing a Cessna 206 that our friends in Cameroon
made available to us!

In 2016, this is the very same aircraft that saved our son, Sam's, life!
When we were on assignment in Cameroon, Sam was a senior in high school
and became severely ill with aggressive malaria and was medevac'd to
Mbingo Hospital in "three-tango-mike" just in time.

Three-Tango-Mike has been serving in Central Africa for decades!  
We are so thankful to put it to good use- as you can see, it's a work horse!
It's a six seater or, with seats removed, a rather large cargo-hauler.

Here we are making use of ALL SIX SEATS!
It's small, but strong.  It turns an 8 to 10 hour drive into 
one hour and 40 minutes... with about 20 to 30 traffic stops
and some REALLY bad roads avoided!

Please consider partnering with us in this important work to SHOW and TELL about God's Love.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH the ALLIANCE (click)

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Nairobi- Aircraft Engine Work

 

Slowly, it's all coming together!  The logo, the tail numbers... the end is in sight!

The engine was lifted to prep for our NEW "Knisely" exhaust. (our friend Caleb in the background)

Did I mention it was "new"?!?  ...and SHINY TOO!!! Thank you financial supporters!!!

Emmanuel, our friend from Cameroon, putting the exhaust in place.

Daniel, an AIM AIR teammate, assisting with the Emergency Locator Transmitter installation as well as the Transponder and Pitot-Static system checks.  It takes a village!

One modification will be getting rid of ductwork for air vents and adding "Kool Scoops" for passenger air flow...

Next post teaser.... 

What to do when one your airplane is away for maintenance in Kenya?!?

Please consider partnering with us in this important work to SHOW and TELL about God's Love.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH the ALLIANCE (click)

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Story- Born With Cataracts

Story from our Ophthalmologist, Dr. Wendy H.

Meet Maman Mossinga and her grandson Gabriel, 4 years old. 

Maman Mossinga says that every day Gabriel would eat with his food about 3 inches from his eyes- he couldn’t see due to the cataracts he was born with.  

Her husband is handicapped and not working, and maman Mossinga spends her days cultivating crops. She worried that at her age she would not be able to raise a blind child.  

Through donations that Bongolo Hospital received, we were able to remove Gabriel’s cataracts. Mossinga says, “The words escape me.  I danced, I praised the Lord!” 

What’s really fun, though, is to watch Gabriel. While speaking with his grandmother for about 10 minutes, he never stopped looking all over the place, fascinated by everything there was to see.

SUPPORT THE BONGOLO HOSPITAL:  CLICK HERE to see all the projects you can select from, including our Aviation Program.

OR:

SUPPORT AVIATION through the Things Above Project (Elevation Squad) PayPal method:

2022 Family Update

Happy New Year everyone, from our side of the Atlantic.

Our participation in the important work, here in Gabon, only happens because you are standing with us with encouragement, friendships, prayers, visits, financial support, and more.  We are grateful for this privilege to join with you and our international teammates, here, to bless others with the love of God!  We hope you are all doing well and experiencing God's presence in your lives through such a challenging time worldwide.

A short family update:

Gram, Laura, Joe

Our first born, Joe, and Laura, his wife, are living in Chicago where they both work full time with Moody Bible Institute and are in leadership roles at their church in Chinatown- the neighborhood next to where they live. They were able to spend some extended time in Ohio with Alace's mom for the holidays (see photo).  In their home we have two grand-kitties, Berlioz and Toulouse.

Our middle kiddo, Megan and hubby John, live just a 10 minute walk from Joe and Laura!  Megan is finishing up her university degree as full time student while holding down a barista job, while John is full time at an international marketing company.  They have also been active in a church in their neighborhood and Megan just started an internship at World Relief, serving the growing refugee population in the Chicago area.  We also have a grand-kitty in their house, Xavi.

Sam's roommate, Hyato, on the left and friend, Jessica on the right.

Our youngest, Sam, is in Taiwan teaching English.  He is active in his church and making new friends. Travel restrictions had put this chapter of life on hold for quite awhile, but he was persistent and it paid off! He enjoys international life and is growing through all the challenges of "adulting"!

Being so far apart as a family is easily the most challenging part of life, but we are so thankful for technology so that we can video call regularly.  

We are so proud of our children and very very blessed!!!

We pray that the new year finds you all well and sensing God's presence along the journey.  We look forward to hearing your updates and we are praying for you.  Love, Steve and Alace