Rus Rus Hospital Take-Off in SLO-MO

Central America Consult Trip - Part II

As advertised, here is Part II of our Central America trip recap.  If you missed Part I, CLICK HERE.

As you recall, the purpose of our visit was to meet our Missionary Air Group colleagues in Guatemala and Honduras, and to learn about the work they are pouring themselves into.  With this experience Alace and I can serve them better- Alace as member care and myself as the chief pilot.

As you know, Alace and I have been so privileged to be part of mission aviation work in Central Africa, having spent the better part of the last decade based there.  It's such an honor to get to expand our work and serve other mission aviation bases with the MAG team.

Leaving Guatemala in our Cessna 206, we overflew Belize and the
Carribean Sea before arriving at the La Ceiba international airport
on the North coast of Honduras, where we did our immigration formalities.

After adding on fuel (yes! they had AvGas at the airport!!!), we blasted off, headed for the
very remote "La Mosquitia"- the largest wilderness area of Central America and
home to the Moskito people who face many obstacles in receiving medical care
and educational opportunities.  The MAG program provides a lifeline for this region.
There is no other program like MAG currently providing services like this.  Due to
drug trafficking, the Telegraph called Honduras the most dangerous country on the planet
in 2013.   

The MAG base is called "Rus Rus".  The "L" shaped building is a hospital that
MAG is temporarily operating (anyone want to run a hospital?!?), the runway
is a grass strip, and the MAG staff is living in the two larger structures to the
left of the runway.

Our MAG team (Wes & Denise and Hannah & David) were there to give us a warm welcome.

We were also greeted by some local authorities who registered our visit.
Rus Rus is very close to the Nicaragua border and there is illegal activity
that these soldiers help to mitigate.  They were very kind and helpful.

David (right) is a new teammate at Rus Rus and spent some time
with our veteran Guatemala pilot, Paul, as part of his field orientation.
They spent some time doing ground training as well as 4 hours of
flight time which included familiarization to other area runways.

All our meals were taken care of at Wes & Denise's home while our lodging needs
were taken care of by David & Hannah at their duplex house.  As we visited, it
became clear that our teammates have a passion to see the people of this region
have access to health care that is brought to them with the message of the Gospel.
The Wiles have been serving this part of the world for almost 2 decades!

Here is the Mora family- David, Hannah, and baby Nicholas, who was born
in Honduras earlier this year!  The Mora's are ready for the next phase of
flight training and cross-cultural training in the US.  We had good times
chatting about these transitions and how we can work together.

The weather was great for most all of our time in Central America.  It was great to
see both of our programs and learn what God is doing through the local believers and
how our MAG teammates are joining in.  Here are some scenes from
the Rus Rus village...

Wes gave us a tour of the hospital- an out-patient clinic that does
its best work when visiting, short term teams (mainly from the US)
come to staff the facility.  

(a photo on the wall of the hospital)
Back in the 1980's, the hospital had a lot of activity.
This region of the world was going through a time of
turmoil and the need for medical care was much higher.

Wes pointed out that, with the airplane and the new 4x4 Kia truck,
there is great potential for Rus Rus to impact the villages of the region.
When there is enough staff and teammates, they are able to conduct
mobile medical clinics.  Please pray for more staff!
If you or anyone you know are interested, please have them contact
MAG at info@missionaryairgroup.org

(Paul, left, pilots us out of the jungle back toward Guatemala with CEO Sean as co-pilot)
Please pray for the MAG activities in Central America.  Just like the work in Gabon,
the team senses a strong desire to see people meet Jesus as they bring medical care
and other community transformation activities through the use of aircraft.

Stay tuned for Part III of our Central American trip!

Central America Consult Visit- Part I

In October, Alace and I traveled, along with Missionary Air Group President and CEO, Sean Donnelly, to visit and consult our MAG colleagues in Guatemala and Honduras.  We started in the North of Guatemala (this blog- Part I), then to the remote East of Honduras (Part II), then back to Guatemala for meetings in the capital city (Part III).

Paul, left, is MAG's only staff in Guatemala. MAG's aircraft supports medical work and
pastoral training in the remote North of the country.  Paul met us at the international
airport in the capital city and quickly loaded us in his aircraft.

Alace and Sean in the back seat on the flight from Guatemala City to the
remote North airport- Maya Mundo Int'l airport, in the Cessna 206.

Typical house construction of the Kekchi people of Northern Guatemala.

The Kekchi Bible Institute is partnering with MAG to create a runway and
aviation base on their campus!

The Dinsmore family had a vision for KBI and have lived
nearby ever since they graduated college!

KBI graduates return to their village ready to be spiritual leaders.  In addition,
students have training in a wide variety of skills, like raising animals, small engine
repair, and first responder medical care.

Paul has been doing SO much work coordinating this effort.
MAG envisions a robust base here, with KBI students trained
as our flight nurses as well as learning management skills to
staff the needs of this airport.

Sunday worship service at the KBI chapel.  Preaching was in Spanish
with Kekchi translation from a student pastor.

We visited Evideo (brown shirt) who is the director of the "Paths of Hope"
Vo-Tech school in San Bonita as well as a board member of MAG-Guatemala.
His heart to reach the young men of his community for Jesus is so evident.

Wasting no time, it was on to the next meeting...
On the left is doctor Ricardo, who practices locally and joins Paul as his
medical flight crew on some evacuation flights. Ricardo is consulting MAG
on the next phase of equipping their aircraft to enhance patient care.
Stephen, next to Ricardo, is another MAG-Guatemala board member as
well as director of the Jungle Breezes Youth Ministry.  They are a
valuable partner in the region and are featured in this video:  CLICK HERE

(panoramic photo of Lake Petén Itzá from the balcony of our restaurant)
We concluded our meetings and got ready for the flight to Honduras for phase II of our Central
America consultation trip!  That will be the next blog...  stay tuned!

CLICK HERE for PART II of our trip.

Meaningful Transformation

from a Scottish Liturgy Worship and praise belong to you, God our maker. Where nothing was you wove the web of being, and still you draw the universe to its fulfillment. Dawn and evening celebrate your glory till time shall be no more. In Christ your Son, the life of heaven and earth were joined, sealing the promise of a new creation, given, yet still to come. Taught by your Spirit, we who bear your threefold likeness look for the City of Peace in whose light we are transfigured and the earth transformed. Amen.

Bongolo Eye Clinic News

Here is an update from Dr. Wendy, director of the Bongolo Eye Clinic:

Here is a picture of Noeli and her husband.  She and her husband have been married for 38 years, and they have 10 children and 8 grandchildren.  Every time Noeli sees her grandchildren, they ask her, ”Grandma, can you see yet?”.  She has always had to say no before.  But now we have operated on both of her cataracts, and the next time she sees her grandchildren, she will be able to tell them, “Yes, I can see!”  She told Wendy, “And I mean I see really clearly, like a newborn baby!”  They already know Jesus, and are so thankful to Him for answering their prayers.  The whole family will be blessed by a grandma who can see.

Sam Starts San Diego Life

Sam is starting a new life!  From the jungles of Central Africa to the beautiful beaches of Southern California.

The view from Encinitas beach.

We're blessed for the generosity of the Schmidt family- Assembly of God missionaries serving in Cameroon... and, our VERY good friends!  Sam graduated RFIS high school with their son, Nathan, and, both not knowing exactly what they'd like to go study at college, decided to live in one of their family-managed apartments (at a killer rate!)

It's official!  A Mesa College student!

Nathan and Sam check out the apartment.

If you'd like to contact Sam, feel free!  1518 Oliver Ave. Apt. C, San Diego, CA 92109. 

Gabon Plus...

Plus what?!?

Along the journey, Alace and I have seen doors open, allowing us to serve in ways that compliment or expand the work we're doing.  Case in point, with your help, we started up the aviation work in Gabon (our primary work), but along the way, other tasks and opportunities ("Pluses") came along- field leadership team, national church liaison, guest house management, dorm house parenting, national aviation club, shipping container logistics, and more. We are in just such a "Plus" season:

23rd Anniversary on 31 July!

Plus... Recruitment Component!
Our work in Gabon will grind to a halt unless we lay the ground work for additional teammates to join the work.  We now have the opportunity to join the Missionary Air Group (MAG) effort to recruit and train up mission aviators with a new, apprenticeship model- the first of its kind!  MAG is staffing the program to have primary training at the North Carolina base, and components of the advanced training on site at the international bases of operation (Gabon, Guatemala, and Honduras).

Plus... Equipping Nationals!
On top of the apprenticeship model that we will look for transferability to developing countries, we have been asked by the national church leaders (C&MA) in Gabon to provide first responder and flight nurse training.  Since MAG has similar training already in Spanish, our main work will be translating it and then implementing it.  We are so excited about this and can't wait to see it all come together!  The training will most likely take place at a new base near the capital city, speaking of which....

July work at PK-27, in Gabon, ramps up!

Plus... New Capital City Landing Strip!
For the first 5 years in Gabon, our work was based out of the international airport in Libreville.  There was only one runway for a relatively busy airport and, although there were many hangars, we couldn't find a home and had to park the aircraft on the ramp, exposed to the punishing elements.  Now, with the progress that the national Alliance church is making at their PK-27 social works campus, just outside of Libreville, they are ready to move forward with the planned airstrip on the property.  Our Gabonese church family has many participants in the building activity at the site and are ready to receive a team to assist in the development of the airport in the summer of 2017.  We are excited to hear that a team leader has already stepped up to the plate!  Once this landing strip is in place, we will no longer have to deal with the headaches of landing at the international airport!  Would you like to participate?  Email me at Gabon.Pilot@gmail.com

Plus... Guatemala and Honduras!

MAG President, Sean Donnelly (L), and I meet with
C&MA church leaders about future training plans.

MAG has other bases in Central America where they are developing teams to continue their programs that have been operating there for years.  They have asked Alace and I to provide leadership in skills development for teamwork and aviation- things where Alace and I are able to share our experience and expertise.  We will start making regular visits to those sites, on top of Gabon, to serve those teams and help them thrive.

Plus... Training & Recurrency!
I, Steve, have added some great experience in the last couple years in the area of leadership, management, and administration.  However, it has kept me out of the cockpit, so it is time for recurrency and upgrading my flight instructor ratings.  MAG has training aircraft at the base in Burlington, NC, so we'll settle in for this phase, as we continue to stay on top of Gabon and the other bases.  Our address there is:  3209 Stonypointe Dr., Greensboro, NC 27406.

As we make the transition into these expanded roles, there is a blend of emotions- excitement and some trepidation.  We ask for your prayers as we continue with your support and teamwork, to be good stewards of the work that we are doing.  Thank you for joining us on this "plus-sized" journey!

Please consider joining our prayer and funding team!

CLICK HERE for more info.

Bongolo Hangar Fuel Storage

In December of 2005, when Alace and I visited Bongolo for the first time, we toured the airport near the hospital.  It was a 5-year-old grass/gravel/dirt runway with a 4 year old hangar that had all been prepared, in faith, that an aviation program would one day be based there.

It was impressive to think of the faith that the Bongolo Hospital team had at that time, led by Dr. David Thompson.  He was our tour guide that day and told us that, actually, the team had put out calls for aviation support since the mid-1980's!  Talk about perseverance!!!

Today, thanks to the many that have supported this work and those on the front line, the hangar still stands, better than ever!  In the summer of 2013, with the arrival of our second pilot/mechanic (Rob Peterson), we decided to move the program to be based in Bongolo.

We had worked hard, since 2007, to get the program up and running- based out of the capital city of Libreville, where there was no hangar for our hard-working Cessna 207.  It was important that we had this time, as I spent much time in and out of the offices of the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Civil Aviation, and praying with the national church leaders of the C&MA.

Better than ever?!?

In the summer of 2013, with Rob lending a hand, we replaced the hangar door support structure with a new span of wood, cut at a local lumber yard.  This was no simple task!

Other updates and organization have happened under Rob's excellent care- the latest of which is a new home for our fuel drums in a shipping container we purchased and set beside the hangar.  Enjoy the photos:

Thanks to the Bongolo Hospital maintenance crew for their great help on this project!  More pictures to follow when the container is moved onto the forms and the fuel drums are in their home.
Thank you for your teamwork!