“…they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.”
Nehemiah 6:16b
Dear Partners in Ministry,
10 years in Burlington! It has been fun to reminisce this month how 10 years ago we arrived to Burlington in the heat of summer with Nathan ready to enter 1st grade and Lilly ready to start preschool for the first time. After 10 years of ministry here it is wonderful to see God’s faithfulness.
Ben is working on his instrument rating. This means he can use the instruments to fly in the clouds or other situations of low visibility. Ben is a quick learner and has been making great progress. If all goes according to plan he will have his instrument check-ride in October.
In Carmen’s mobilization role of walking with new staff from the moment the express their interest until they are fully supported and ready to start in the hangar is a long and exciting journey. Zac and Irene Adams have been such a joy to work with and it has been a delight to see God at work getting them here. After meeting with 150 families and 9 churches over 8 months they are fully funded and have made it to Burlington! They are headed to security training for a week and then Sean will start ramping up with Zac’s flight instruction.
A broken fuel pump on our field airplane in Honduras needed to be swapped. It is sensitive and expensive so it was an item better hand carried and Carmen was the gal for the job. After swapping parts with our coworker Stephen, Carmen spent 2 days catching up with friends and ministry partners in Siguatepeque. This where we lived during our time in language school and it has a super special place in our hearts!
We just finished having Brittany Umphress with us for her 2nd consult visit. She is two-thirds of the way from completing her A&P maintenance certificate at MMS aviation. This was a chance for her to better understand our flight training program, get to know our Burlington staff, have 2 consult flights and have a taste of what life in Burlington will be like. We look forward to her time flight training with us!
The Lord has provided away for us to have more office space as we grow! Many companies and individuals have donated time, materials and labor to build a mezzanine level in the back of the hangar. There have been a few hiccups but we are thrilled to have this project underway. Please pray for its steady completion.
Among other activities, one of the doctors who comes to Rus Rus regularly made another visit this summer. Our team was able to do several medical outreaches in other villages and also had an art night as a way to speak to the local ladies about trauma and healing from abuse. Construction missionary Daniel has been helping out in Rus Rus while the Hoblits are on Furlough. We have been so grateful for the fellowship he has shared and all he has been able to accomplish.
Our coworkers who live on the field in Honduras were in Burlington for meetings toward the end of their furlough. We were blessed to have them stay in our home and we were grateful for the time of fruitful meetings, re-currency flights, and planning while they were in town.
In the spring MAG received a $175,000 matching grant to help us raise the needed funds to refurbish 4MG as a second field airplane. We are so grateful to God for all the hearts he touched to provide the needed funds. The matching grant has been met! MAG is now raising the funds needed to get the airplane deployed to Honduras once it is finished.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry!
Blessings in Christ,
Sean and Carmen Garrigan