We're Home

We had a great flight home and arrived in Salem at 5:00 p.m.

     Thank you so much for praying for us. It was very evident to us that we were lifted up in prayer. We had an incredible experience and thank God for giving us the opportunity to be a small part of the work at Camp Maranatha and with the Cora. It's amazing to see how the Lord uses our gifts.

     La Paz is in the path of Hurricane Rick (no kidding!). It's currently a category 5 and is expected to lose some strength before hitting land. Please pray for them.

Preparing for the Flight Home

Rick, Randy, Brad and I are flying home tomorrow in a Beechcraft Baron.
Brad and I went to the airport this morning and seviced the plane so we'll be ready to leave as soon as the airport opens tomorrow morning.  I'm working on the flight plan and paperwork for border crossing.  Luke, we can't bring the souvenir you wanted or we'd be stuck in customs!

This is the Baron, taken as we were flying back from Santiago.

The Hotel

The Mexican government built this hotel to promote tourism. The tourism industry didn't take off, but it sure makes a great place for missionaries to stay!

This is the water system for the hotel and it was my job to keep the tank full. The hardest part about that job was keeping kids from following me up the tower.  I took this little guy down and he followed me back up.

Photographer

The Cora often have their pictures taken, but seldom get to see them so my first job was as photographer. We brought a printer and photo paper, and soon I was in business. Shortly after I began taking pictures, I was surrounded by a crowd of people wanting to be photographed. During the times when we had power, I was busy printing photographs and the kids, in particular, enjoyed receiving their pictures.

The printer was originally brought along just for the pictures, but we also used it to make copies of flyers for the meetings, immunization records, song sheets for the services and children’s books that were written in Cora. It was amazing to see how God used this printer for so many different purposes.

Having the Time of My Life!

Originally, my dad was invited to go on this trip but couldn't because he had to work. So, I got to take his place. Dad, I hope you're working hard and getting a lot done! Before this trip to the mountains, I wondered if there would be enough work to keep me busy since I didn't have a specific job like the missionaries and pilots. I thought the only jobs I could do were construction and first aid.

I really enjoyed being able to assist the pilots, missionaries and Bible translator.  Some of my jobs included filtering the fuel and refueling the plane, helping with the children's class, filling our water tank, cooking, and going to the store to buy supplies. I've been busy working most of the time but it feels like I'm on vacation. I'm having the time of my life!

When we had free time, we were able to attend the meetings. I especially enjoyed hearing the Cora believers singing songs I know in their own language.

The Proclaimer

Through the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Gospel can now be read in Cora. The Cora language has only recently become a written language, and there is a very low literacy rate among the people. Although the gospel is translated into their native tongue, it can only be read by a few. This is a problem that exists for many people groups worldwide.

Faith Comes by Hearing is a ministry that is working to overcome this barrier to spreading the Gospel. The Proclaimer is a device which plays an audio recording of scripture. It is designed to be operated in areas without access to electricity. The batteries can be charged by either the built in solar panel or by a built-in generator.

Faith Comes by Hearing and Maranatha Ministries are working to get a Proclaimer to each of the Cora villages. We were privileged to deliver the first one to the pastor in the village of Gavillanes.

 Revealing the new Proclaimer before the start of the meetings.

 Before returning, the Proclaimer was given to the pastor of Gavillanes

Our Fuel Transfer and Filtration System

While in the mountains, the nearest airport where we can buy fuel is Tepic, and we needed a closer place to get it. Since this plane is certified to run on auto gas, we were able to buy fuel right there in Santa Teresa. The problem was that fuel came to town in 55 gallon drums which was siphoned into 20-liter jugs as it was needed. Fuel in the mountains is known to be of questionable purity and often contains a small amount of water. Rick came up with a system that would filter fuel and pump it to the airplane. This would ensure that we always had clean fuel and wouldn’t require siphoning.

Rick put Brad and me in charge of gathering all the parts and putting it together. We started with a 12-volt water pump off of an old travel trailer. The next step was to stop by a marine dealer in La Paz and purchase a high capacity fuel filter/water separator. We then went to a plumbing supply store to get the hose and fittings required to connect everything.  Back at camp, we wired the pump so it could be powered by a car. We worked to make good connections that wouldn't be exposed to fumes. We enjoyed putting it together and were anxious to see it work (or explode). The system worked well and we drained a fair bit of water from the bottom of the filter.

Pouring fuel into jugs as we bought it

Our completed system

Miguel's pick-up was used as a ladder as well as to power the pump

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As you can see, technology has come a long way since last year.

Medical Flight

Santa Teresa has a small medical clinic. Friday evening they had a lady who was in labor but having complications. The electricity which is supplied to only part of the village was out and the doctor needed us to fly her out. Rick and I flew her and her husband 12 minutes away to Jesus Maria where we were to meet an ambulance. It was getting late, and we were in a hurry to get back before sunset because once the sun goes down, it gets dark quickly in the mountains. If it did get too late, we could have flown 90 miles to Mazatlan, but we weren’t feeling the need for a vacation. When we landed at Jesus Maria, the ambulance wasn’t there, so we took off and started looking for it. I felt sorry for this lady being in labor and having us maneuver around, looking for the ambulance.  We spotted it several miles away, slowly coming up the dirt road, so we went back and landed. After dropping the couple off, we circled once more to make sure that the ambulance was still coming. We were in a hurry to get back but were also concerned about her so we watched and as soon as the ambulance turned in, we headed back to Santa Teresa, landing just before sunset.

Rick and I became friends with the doctor after returning.

Meals in Santa Teresa

I wasn't sure how I'd like the food in Santa Teresa and was concerned about getting sick and that it would interfere with flying.  So, I took power bars along and thought I could at least live off them.  However, I loved the meals, no one in our group got sick, and the powerbars are still in my bag!

Maria was in charge of the meals during the meetings. She worked hard with limited resources to feed everybody, with the majority of cooking done over open fires.  She is a great cook!

On the first day, they butchered a steer.

Brad and I making salsa after the power went out.

Mountain Flying

The main purpose of flying during this trip was to transport Cora believers from the remote village of Gavilanes to their annual meeting which they named, "The Cora Celebrate Jesus," in Santa Teresa. Even today, there are no roads into Gavilanes due to the extremely rugged terrain. The two villages are separated by 28 miles of mountans. However, the Cessna 182 allowed us to reduce that distance to little more than a 15 minute flight. It was amazing to see the great lengths that many went to in order to attend the meetings. Some rode for several hours in the back of a pick-up, and others walked for four hours in order to meet the plane.

Rick is a great pilot and instructor; I have learned so much from him about mountain flying and the procedures for operating in Mexico's airspace.  Flying to these mountain airstrips gave me several new challenges. It took some time to get past trying to land the way I'm used to on paved, level runways. We teach to approach the runway a little high and slightly fast, and most instructors get nervous when students come in low and slow. On rough, short runways in the mountains, it is crucial that the plane touches down at as low of a speed as possible. With short, narrow runways, precision is equally important. The only way to accomplish both of these is to bring the airplane in low and slow with the use of power. After touching down, it's important to stop as quickly as possible because something is bound to run across the runway. We've had dogs, donkeys, goats, pigs, and chickens on the runways numerous times over the past week. Operating at high elevations was another challenge. The flight from Gavilanes started at 2,800 feet and ended at Santa Teresa at 7,000 feet.

I really enjoyed flying with these people and watching them as they looked at their villages from the air.   While flight instructing, I'm often asked about my age (usually by the wife of those I fly with). When I saw people looking at me and using the word “joven” (young), I thought, "I just can't get away from it!"  I enjoy flying and am amazed that God is allowing me to use it to make an impact for eternity.

The group from Gavilanes waiting to return home

Mountains between the two villages

Airstrip at Santa Teresa

 

We always had plenty of help to push the airplane back.

Here is a video taken last year

Jacket Project

The Jacket Project was a big hit. Maria was excited when she saw the pile of sixty-five jackets. It was cold the first night so Maria, Kathy, Brad and I began handing them out to the children. We took our time and worked to make sure that the coats fit the children, and I was pleased with how well they were fitting each child. The next day we noticed that the jackets didn’t fit as well as we had thought the night before, and I was surprised to see that some sleeves were way too short. It didn’t take long to figure out that the children were having a wonderful time trading jackets! We got some great pictures and I’m looking forward for the children at church to be able to see their generosity in action.
Click here to read my previous post about the jackets.

Girls from Gavillanes with their new jackets

Kathy making sure that the jackets fit properly

The Cora Celebrate Jesus

The meetings went very well this year. In attendance were Cora from the villages of Gavilanes, Santa Teresa, Jesus Maria, La Mesa, Caniaveral, El Monguito, and Cofradias. These villages are quite isolated and many of the people have very little contact with other villages. Annual meetings allow the churches from each village to come together for a time of teaching and worship. It also gives them the opportunity to see and spend time with others who are living for the same purpose. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 In addition to the many villages coming together, there are also many people that have come together in ministry with the Cora people. Flying from La Paz to Santiago in two planes were Rick and his wife Kathy (a nurse); Gwen (Mom's cousin) and Ramon (a pastor); Randy (a missionary whose parents and grandparents worked with Faye and Cecil); Brad and I. Don Roth, a Wycliffe Bible translator who has overseen the translating of the New Testament into Cora, and Jay, another missionary who works with the Cora on the edge of the mountains, flew with us from Santiago. Miguel, a pastor from Sentispac near Santiago and his wife Maria, who work thruoghout the year in Santa Teresa were there as well. Cora pastors from several villages were also involved. The annual meetings require the whole body working together. It was encouraging to serve alongside so many people with different languages, skills, and abilities who have been working in many different ways to fulfill the Great Commission. 

Worship at the church in Santa Teresa

Don sharing a recording of the Bible in Cora with the children

Gwen just finished sharing the Gospel with these boys.

For several of them, it was the first time they had ever heard.

Waterfall at Santa Teresa

Several boys found part of an old tape measure and were having a hard time attempting to measuring themselves.  So, Brad came to the rescue.

  

Randy Preaching Sunday morning

 Passing out communion

 

The meetings ended with the baptism of new believers.

Camp, Sweet Camp

After spending a day in Santiago Ixcuintla, we received a break in the weather. Although the tropical storm was nearly 200 miles south of La Paz, bands of weather extended even to the mainland. These bands contain wind, rain, and reduced visibility. The band that was over La Paz yesterday has moved on and we were able to return. Due to the counter clockwise rotation of the storm, we were able to ride a 20 knot tailwind most of the way back. Initially, the storm wasn't forecast to start heading west until Saturday. I know that many were praying that it would turn west and head back to the ocean. Last night, the new model showed the storm turning out to sea today, and already beginning to break up.  It's so good to be back at camp. Thank you so much for praying for us!

The edge of one of the bands

Arriving in La Paz

The storm as it turns out to sea

Tropical Storm Patricia

The meetings ended yesterday, and we were planning to arrive at La Paz by this afternoon. We left the mountains at sunrise this morning and flew 30 minutes to Santiago, Nayarit. Once in Santiago, we were able to get some weather information, and found out that tropical storm Patricia is approaching the Baja. While the storm is still miles off the coast, the bands of weather ahead of it are producing heavy rain and low visibility in La Paz. The decision was made to spend the day here in Santiago and try again tomorrow.  We now plan to leave tomorrow morning at sunrise and fly north to Culiacan where we'll refuel, then head towards La Paz. If the weather doesn't allow us to land there, the plan is to fly north to Loreto and wait there. Either way, the fuel stop at Culiacan will give us plenty of fuel which will give us more options.

The Cora gatherings went very well. We hope to be in La Paz sometime tomorrow and I'll write about the gathering as well as post pictures.

Flying to the Mainland

In October 2005, one hundred fifty Cora from several mountain villages met for the first time to sing, pray, and share their testimonies.  They named this annual meeting, "The Cora Celebrate Jesus." 

We're leaving for the annual celebration this morning after breakfast and prayer.   Seven of us will fly in two planes across the Sea of Cortez to Santiago Ixcuintla where we'll leave the Beechcraft Baron.  We'll use the Cessna 182 to transport believers from the remote village of Gavilanes.  This celebration, where they will worship and receive teaching is a great encouragement to the Cora because for many, it is the only Christian fellowship they have outside their own village.

Once in the mountains, Rick will fly with me until we both feel comfortable with me flying there alone.  Last year I was privileged to fly to a few villages to help prepare for the gathering, but was unable to stay for the meetings.  These pictures were taken last year.  As you can see, the runways are short and we never know what we'll find on them!  Thank you for praying for our safety.  Also, please be praying for the Cora, that this celebration will be a great encouragement to them and that God will be glorified.

We won't have any way to communicate while in Santa Teresa, but hope to get an email or two out through Rick's phone.  The plan is to return to La Paz Monday.

There’s been some confusion about my flying posts and some of you have asked if Brad’s a pilot. No, Brad’s a tightwad. He likes to fly but doesn’t want to pay for instruction. I’m a flight instructor so whenever we get the chance, I give him a lesson. He’s slowly building his hours and this trip has been a great opportunity for both of us to log cross-country hours, he as a student, and me as an instructor.

The runway at Gavilanes (taken last year)

Burro on the runway at Santa Teresa (last year)