Monday, May 26, 2014

Snapshots Away From Ministry

Sometimes you need to go for a walk and just sit and enjoy being who God created you to be.

 Sometimes you need to harvest food. Tucker helps with the leaf lettuce.

Radishes to go with the lettuce!

 Sometimes you need to go to the beach...

 ...and bask in being alone.

Or enjoy the weather with friends of a feather.

Sometimes you just need to fish. It doesn't matter whether you catch.

And sometimes we just need to disconnect from what we're doing in order to reconnect with WHOM we're serving. Thank you for giving us the freedom to rest in order to give God our best.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Three Medical Flights, A Construction Team, Evangelism, And A Wildfire

There's a lot happening at our air/medical base down in Rus Rus, Honduras. Special thanks to Westley and Denise Wiles, our missionaries in the village who do a wonderful job of loving and serving people in a remote and challenging location.

Three Medical Flights
Wes recently made three medical flights in our 206.

The first flight was to transport a set of twin infants.The babies were brought to our clinic in a malnourished condition and weren't doing well at all. Geraldina Coleman, our indigenous Head Nurse was able to start an IV in one of the babies but was unable to locate a vein in the other. Wes flew them to Puerto Lempira to be cared for at House of Hope which is a ministry which specializes in treating malnourished children.

Malnourished twin infants at our clinic prior to being airlifted to House of Hope.

The second flight was to transport a man from Rus Rus up to the mission hospital in the village of Ahuas to provide blood for a transfusion for a patient with a rare blood type.

Blood transfusion in Ahuas

The third flight was the next day as Wes flew back to Ahaus in order to to airlift the sick man from there to the hospital in Puerto Lempira.

Transporting the sick patient from Ahaus to Puerto Lempira.

MAG/Common Ground Construction Team
We currently have a construction team on the ground in Rus Rus. Their main tasks are to build the garage for the 4 wheel-drive truck we're trusting the Lord to provide and to re-roof the guesthouse.

Starting construction of the garage adjacent to our hangar

New roof on the guesthouse.

Evangelism and Bible Teaching: A Report By Carlos Paz
"The (construction) materials arrived just as we needed them and we are making good progress. We are well cared for, making good progress in our projects, and beginning to establish a good plan with the locals for Bible study and in preparation for a Sunday service together. Tomorrow night we will gather as a group at the community center to begin a study of First John with all adults who committed to attend, 8 or so new soldiers in the village, and with several youth. Pray that as we study that the Spirit of God will bless our time in the Word together. I have the necessary literature in Spanish for those attending."

 Pastor Carlos Paz, MAG's Director of Evangelism in Rus Rus.

"I met the officer in charge of the soldiers presently in the village. They are very open to studying with us. We have plans to attend a neighboring village on Sunday named Mahbita to enjoy worship, testimony and biblical preaching with them. Most of the residents of Rus Rus will make the one hour walk with us so that we can encourage the brothers and sisters in Mahbita. We then plan to have lunch with them and then enter into a time of volleyball with them and against them. It should be great fun. But at the same time, pray that God's word will be received as God's word, with open, humble, and repentant hearts."

Oh Yes, And A Wildfire
In the midst of the medical flights, construction projects, and evangelism, a brush fire broke out after dinner one evening. It was a blessing the construction crew was there as all the men needed to go cut a fire break to save one of the village homes as well as prevent the fire from crossing the grass air strip and into our compound. The fire hit the fire break and eventually burned itself out. Everyone was okay and the house wasn't damaged.

Fire lights up the night sky in Rus Rus.

Thank You
Karen and I thank you so much for making this mission possible through your gifts, your encouragement, your love for the Miskito people of Honduras, and of course your prayers. There are many exciting things happening right now so be watching our blog for updates! And don't forget to visit and like/follow MAG's Facebook page to keep up with breaking news: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Missionary-Air-Group/122539857765655

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Action Shots of Stateside Mission Administration & Future Salsa!

Almost any missionary in the field with a camera and an internet connection can post inspirational photos...but it takes a special breed to capture the breathtaking excitement, thrills and spills, of Stateside mission administration in action. "Hold onto your hats, boys..."

Here I am in the midst of a scanning project related to fund raising, non-profit management, and board governance. (MAG's Pepperstone Annex)

Here we are preparing our reports summarizing the contacts we made, opportunities we pursued, and resources we discovered at last month's TECH Conference. Tucker and Tanner are making sure we remain undisturbed. (MAG's Pepperstone Annex)

Sean and Karen take a break from outlining dates, tasks, and roles for a medical team being organized from a local church here in Burlington. Tentative dates for the trip to Rus Rus, Honduras are September 25-October 4. Lord willing, Karen and I will both be part of that team. (MAG Headquarters)

Sean and I discuss a communications project for digital and print distribution. (MAG Headquarters)

Here we are with Sean at a recent Pastor's luncheon hosted by a local church. We're scheduled to take part in another luncheon next week.

 Karen prepares the MAG conference room for our monthly staff and volunteers meeting.

And if that's not enough action-packed adventure to rock your socks...the bonus photo is...

OF OUR FIRST SOUTHERN SALSA GARDEN!!!! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, the tomatoes, jalapenos, banana peppers, and green peppers are in the ground and sprouting up. Stay tuned for the Southern Salsa Saga!

Southern Salsa on the South Side of Pepperstone Annex.

Stay tuned for reports from Honduras, Guatemala, Burlington, NC and Coshocton, OH!

If you're looking for administrative excitement, you've come to the right place. Tell your friends, share our link...there's more missionary drama here than in Downton Abbey and NCIS combined...remember to breathe...