It's A Miracle! I CAN READ!

 A story from my colleague, pilot Rob Peterson:

We climbed up through the clouds and set course for Libreville.  As we flew, Ron (one of the Bible Translators) shared the following story with me.  

Taking off from Mouila

In 2017 we started work on the Gisir Bible translation with 4 Gisir translators.  Two of those have gone to be with the Lord since this project started. Théo is the only one of the original four.  Some months ago he told the regional coordinator that they should find a replacement for him as he was ready to resign.

Théo had cataracts and they had progressed to the point that he could no longer read.  When I (Ron)  heard that he wanted to resign, I asked the regional coordinator to encourage him to stay with us until we finish the book of Acts. If he couldn’t read, he could still bring his ears and evaluate the translation that way. So he came to this workshop.

As soon as we projected the Gisir text onto the wall with a projector, he looked at it and said, “C’est un miracle! Je peux lire.”  (It is a miracle! I can read!)   While waiting for the second cataract surgery, and then glasses, he could not yet read very well close up.  However with the text projected on the wall, he discovered he could read and fully participate. 

As a result, and with optimism that his vision will be even better following the second surgery and glasses, he expressed that he is ready to keep working as part of the team!

As the only original team member still with us, and as a good translator, I’m very glad about that. I appreciate the Bongolo Eye Clinic and what they are doing.

Ron, a 35-year Bible Translation Veteran

Now, what Rob and Ron did not know, is through an interesting work of circumstances, Dr. Bintou, Rob's wife, was the one who did 90% of Theo’s cataract surgery! Isn’t it wonderful? Bintou says, "I might be biased but I believe that aviation is the perfect intersection of ophthalmology and Bible translation."

Please continue to pray for Bible translation work in Gabon. 

Theo

Not long ago, Rob led the annual inspection on the airplane. We are thankful for an aviation-specific visitor, an airline pilot from the US that helped Rob and a local Gabonese apprentice. Please pray for diligence and that they finish the inspection so the airplane can be operational on schedule for all the upcoming flights. 

Rob & our local apprentice

Aviation Visitors!
Come visit us and lend a hand!!!

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Gassy Issues?!? CURED!!!

 Not me, of course... my stomach issues are all fine and dandy...  😎😎😎

It was our aviation operation that had "Gas Issues"... we're down to less than 8 drums of the specific "100 Low-Lead Av-Gas" that we have to important every 18 months or so. Our last import was April of 2023.

We had about 2/3rds of the cost of the purchase in our project account- some of that generated by contributions of our passengers. But, with fuel levels low and a big price tag ($28K), we reached out to supporters to pray with us and consider pitching in... AND OUR GASSY ISSUES WERE CURED!!!

The bill has been paid and the 80 drums, in a 20' shipping container, are on their way from Poland, of all places! Praise God! 

ETA TO GABON : 07 January!!! JUST IN TIME!

THANK YOU DEAR SUPPORTERS!!!

If you would like to follow along the progress of this shipment, 

HERE IS A LINK!

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

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ARRIVAL IN THE US!!! CLASSES BEGIN!!!

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SO QUICKLY!!!

Henrica arrived at Charlotte Int'l airport- Alace and I happened 
to be in the US doing some aviation training and Alace training
new missionaries.

 

Her classes were starting in under two weeks!
With so much to do, it just seemed right to
introduce her to some American cuisine!
#priorities

We only had one more night at the training site (JAARS), 
but we made the most of it. Here is Henrica standing
underneath the Gabonese flag!

She got to sit in the cockpit of a Cessna Caravan (C208)
- one series higher than what we fly in Gabon, the Cessna 
Stationair (C207).

Henrica was asked to meet with L.I.M.A -
Ladies In Mission Aviation!

From JAARS (North Carolina), it was a road trip North
to Virginia to her host family's home and, before you
knew it, she was in class at Blue Ridge Community College!

Is that culture shock in her eyes?!? So much has happened 
in just a small amount of time for Henrica. Please continue 
to pray for learning, adaptation, good friends, and a solid
faith community she can merge into.

Two weeks into classes and Henrica got a visit of encouragement
by some of the LIMA ladies!!!

WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER BEING 

PART OF HENRICA's SUPPORT TEAM?

1. REGIONAL SUPPORT TEAM- We have created 

a WhatsApp text group for those that are in and around

the Harrisonburg/Staunton Virginia area to get updates

about practical needs that Henrica will have. 

E-mail Gabon.Pilot@gmail.com to join

2. FINANCIAL SUPPORT- We are praying for those

that would support Henrica for her time in the U.S.- 

the next 10 months. We encourage you to give both

one-time and/or monthly. Share your desire to do this 

through an e-mail to Gabon.Pilot@gmail.com, and then

select a giving option below.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

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

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

ANSWERED PRAYER!!!

 

HENRICA GOT HER 

U.S. STUDENT VISA!!!

There was a bit of drama last Monday as she got 

to the embassy and was initially told that she was 

not on the list of those that had appointments. However, she persevered and got in where she was interviewed and APPROVED!!!

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!!

She has said sad "au revoirs" to family and friends.

Here she is with her dear grandmother.

Thanks to our dear Libreville friends, 

she made it through the challenging traffic 

in Libreville to the international airport for her 

departure today! She has two transfers on her way 

to the destination. Please Pray for a Bon Voyage!

WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER BEING 

PART OF HENRICA's SUPPORT TEAM?

1. REGIONAL SUPPORT TEAM- We have created 

a WhatsApp text group for those that are in and around

the Harrisonburg/Staunton Virginia area to get updates

about practical needs that Henrica will have. 

E-mail Gabon.Pilot@gmail.com to join

2. FINANCIAL SUPPORT- We are praying for those

that would support Henrica for her time in the U.S.- 

the next 10 months. We encourage you to give both

one-time and/or monthly. Share your desire to do this 

through an e-mail to Gabon.Pilot@gmail.com, and then

select a giving option below.

THANK YOU!!!

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

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

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

URGENT PRAYER NEED

CELEBRATE! Henrica has successfully completed her first year of online studies to become an FAA certificated mechanic through Blue Ridge Community College!!!

PRAY! For Henrica to complete the program with a second year of in-person classes (Virginia, USA), she needs a visa! We've been trying for months to secure an appointment, but have hit a wall.

Henrica's First flight with us in 2012

Background: Many of you are familiar with the story of Henrica- a young Gabonese woman who we are encouraging on her calling to be a pilot/mechanic to serve in Gabon with our organization. She was raised by Gabonese Alliance pastors in the "Hope House" home for at-risk children where my family met her as a 12 year-old who approached me and shared her aviation dream. 

Hericka, right, at Bongolo hangar, 2012

Her first touch of the controls in our Cessna 207

Fast forward to 2024...

Henricka has learned English- her 3rd language!

She has earned her driver's license and is part of the
Logistics support team in Libreville, the capital city.

Her aviation dreams are still alive! (here with her
mom, en route to Bongolo for medical care.

Please pray that a visa appointment will be given soon!

>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)

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Trouble On Final Approach!

 What do you do when a palm tree is in the way of

the final approach to your runway in the rainforest?

The closer we got, the larger we understood 
the tree to be!!!

Solution?!? Call your friends! 
Aviation is blessed to be just one of the departments 
of the Bongolo Hospital. One of the other, most active
departments, is the maintenance department! 
They were so helpful to help us clear Final Approach
to the runway.

It truly takes a large team to show God's love at work. Our international team of Jesus Followers connect as parts of a body... and we thank you for playing your part as well! As we say in Gabon, "On est ensemble"- "We are together!"

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)

The Beat of a Different Drum!!!

As you may know, we have to import ALL of our Aviation fuel (known as "Av Gas"). It either comes from Poland or South Africa in a 20 foot shipping container which holds 80 drums- each 200 liters (53 gallons).

Look closely... a departing airplane appears to be striking me in the forehead!!! Yes, that is Henricka, our aviation intern, assisting me, fueling from one of our DRUMS.

 From time to time, we recoup some costs by selling the empty DRUMS. However, with much of the population suffering from lack of water service, we supply the empty drums, free of charge, to needy communities for rain water collection.

The Alliance church in the Libreville suburb of "Avorbam"
is one such church that suffers from water supply. Alace and I 
were able to worship there recently.

Our dear friend, Pastor Sangoye, leads this congregation, and 

told us that our empty drums would really bless the community

there, by collecting rain water to be used for their bathrooms.

Thank you for your teamwork! It's not about aviation... 

It's about being part of a family of believers that blesses others

in an effort to share the Love of God!!!

Did you know...
Pilot Steve used to play in a Christian rock band 
in the '80's called "The Bananaheads"?!? True story.
"DRUMS" continue to be a big part of my life!!!

Please consider partnering with us in this important work to SHOW and TELL about God's Love. If you would like to specifically assist with one of the above needs, please let me know with an email to "Gabon.Pilot@gmail" and follow the giving instructions below. Merci Beaucoup!

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH the ALLIANCE (click)

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

UPDATE: N207FD Refurbishment Journey!

Last June, in Africa, we loaded up N207FD, our very first airplane (Cessna 207) serving in this work in Gabon- for the start of it's journey back to the US for refurbishment. Here is the link to that story: CLICK HERE

From arrival in the US to now, we had friends in Virginia
make a T-Hangar available for storage. Now we have a
plan for the next step! 

We're blessed by two board members and some friends from 
York Alliance Church who traveled to get it loaded up
and moved.

After prayer and reflection, we've decided to fully refurbish

"Seven-Foxtrot-Delta" at MMS Aviation in Ohio!

We are so blessed that, as a small organization, with no 
"headquarters" or full time team of employees in the US,
we have a STRONG team of churches and friends, all 
volunteering to be people of blessing!

Refurbishment will be several months long and
include avionics upgrades, interior updates, paint, 
and engine work. More details to come!

Last item in is our engine!
Thank you to the team that made this all possible!

Please consider partnering with us in this important work to SHOW and TELL about God's Love. If you would like to specifically assist with one of the above needs, please let me know with an email to "Gabon.Pilot@gmail" and follow the giving instructions below. Merci Beaucoup!

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH the ALLIANCE (click)

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)