“And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.”
I Thessalonians 3:12
Dear Partners in Ministry,
We continue to be so blessed by your faithful prayers and giving that sustains our work with the Lord. Here are some updates since we last wrote….
Checkrides
Our apprentices have been making great progress and we have a number of successful check rides to report. Steven Brumfield completed his commercial check ride. Steven came to us as our youngest apprentice yet, completing his maintenance certificate at a community college during high school. We want him to have all the maintenance experience he will need for the field, so he is spending a season at MMS Aviation in OH before he returns to us for his advanced training. Bryan had a busy summer. He officially graduated from the program and completed 2 additional ratings- his CFI and CFII (Certified Flight Instructor and Instrument Instructor). We will continue to track with Bryan and his family as they finalize their plans for field service.
Mobilization
The summer MAG had a record number of short-term helpers visiting the field. It is Carmen’s job walk them through the application process and to help them get ready to go to Honduras. This summer MAG sent our first nursing student intern to the field. It was a joy to see God at work in her and through her. We also had teams doing construction, a sports camp, potential staff taking vision trips, and a medical team who is seeking to improve the situation of teen pregnancy and abuse. MAG is hoping to grow our staff significantly in the coming year. Please pray God would send more workers into the harvest and guide Carmen’s work of shepherding them through the long process of joining in MAG’s ministry.
Hospital Stories
Our field staff continues the work of providing life changing medical care to La Mosquitia so that the people there can encounter Jesus’ compassion and healing hand in a profound way. Here are a few stories:
God healed me!
Our team had to give a 6 year old boy anti-venom following a snake bite. They prayed over him and asked that the boy would be healed and that he would live to declare the works of the Lord. A few days later, after he had healed up and was running with no pain, he proclaimed to his mother, “Look, mom, God healed me!” He surely did declare the works of the Lord!
Doris
One recent Sunday evening, our team received a call from a health worker at a farm several miles from our village. She reported that Doris, who was 5 months pregnant, had slipped in a puddle of mud and had begun hemorrhaging. Stephen took the truck to meet them in the path where some men had started transporting her by hammock. Upon arrival and through ultrasound assessment, we realized she had placenta previa and with her fall, an abruption. Her placenta had nearly completely detached from the uterine wall. We called ahead to the nearest hospital, which is 5 hours away by road. Then, since it was already late in the evening and not possible to fly, Stephen started the long, rigorous ground transport to Puerto Lempira. While we knew that the baby could not survive being born so early, we, along with many others cried out to God to preserve Doris’ life. They arrived at the hospital with Doris in grave condition, but medical personnel worked quickly – she immediately received blood and was taken to surgery promptly. While the baby did not make it, we are rejoicing in the fact that Doris is alive to mother her four other children. We mourn with her the loss of her child and ask that you pray for her as she walks through this grieving season.
Lesly
Our staff nurse Candace has been able to provide some physical therapy sessions with 3 year old Lesly, who has cerebral palsy. Over the last year, we have seen much improvement and are hoping to see her walk one day. Please pray for her healing and restoration.
Hurricane Helene Relief Flights
Where we live in central North Carolina, Hurricane Helene was no worse than a long thunder storm that rolls through. So we were shocked to learn of the devastation that was wrought on communities that are quite familiar too us. As an organization we have helped with hurricane relief in other countries but we never expected conditions to be so bad in our own state. We had the opportunity to partner with other local organizations who had received supplies and needed help getting them distributed. Sean focused on bringing aid to communities where his missionary flying skills were particularly useful. We were thankful to be able to serve communities that have been a blessing to our apprentices as Sean does MAG’s mountain and advanced training in that area of the NC mountains.
Final approach into Elk River Airport. The runway doesn’t come into view until approx a mile out on a 3 mile final.
Twin’s First Flight
We were finally able to take the babies on their first flight to enjoy Daddy’s piloting skills. The hum of the engine put them to sleep even though it wasn’t nap time. It was a beautiful day for fall foliage.
Thank you for your part in helping with “go” of the Great Commission!
In Christ’ Love,
Sean & Carmen