SUBJECT: Plane Dedication and Departure for Guyana

AUTHOR: David Gates, his wife Becky, and four of their five children - Lina, Trina, Carlos, and Kristopher, work together with Becky's parents, sister and family, in a medical aviation program in the jungles of Guyana, South America.

DATE: June 22, 1997

After many nearly eight months of preparation and reconditioning up in Andrews University Airpark in Berrien Springs, Michigan, the Mission Plane is finally finished. No short note of thanks can satisfactorily express our gratefulness to the Andrews Airpark maintenance crew for all the many long hours they put in to get this plane finished. Special mention goes to

Leif ready for flight to Marion for the dedication

Brooks Payne, the Director of Maintenance, for making this possible. Thank you so much Brooks for your zeal and sacrifice for mission aviation!

On Friday, I flew the plane down to our farm in southern Illinois to pick up a fellow mechanic, Leif Aaen. From there we flew over to Elizabethtown, KY to have some radio work done and get the plane Instrument Certified. Many thanks to Roger and staff (and family) at Elizabethtown Flying Service for their part in getting this bird finished and ready for the flight.

Just before sundown on Friday, we landed back on our farm in Illinois in time to receive the Sabbath together, and to thank the Lord for his gracious kindness in providing the resources to get this far. Every step has been one of faith, and God has not

Sister Devard - our Seventh-day Baptist Sister (right)

failed. We will continue to trust in his care for each step of the future. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." Prov 3:5,6. How true that promise is.

Early Sabbath morning, Leif and I flew the plane up to Williamson County Airport located near the Marion SDA church. After a wonderful sermon by Pastor Fred Hernandez (Tio Fred) from Puerto Rico, and after a wonderful potluck, our Marion church family all went to the airport for a dedication service. There all the children got their picture taken inside the cockpit. One of our older and regular attendees to church is sister Bea Devard (98 years old) who as a Seventh-day Baptist has been worshiping with us for years. She insisted on having her picture taken next to the plane.

Marion SDA Church Dedicates Plane to Mission Service

Our family farm is surrounded by wonderful neighbors, most of which are Mennonites. At their invitation, we have on ocasion, joined them for prayer meetings in their church nearby, and have enjoyed it very much. Sabbath afternoon, a van pulled up to our farm house with four kids belonging to one of those families. They had hear the airplane land, and wanted to come over to see it. Their older brother, who had ridden with me several times in the plane, and enthused them with his stories. Now here they were

Our Mennonite neighbors come to see plane off

wanting to see the mission plane off to the missionfield. Since the hours of Sabbath were nearing a close at sundown, we invited to join us around the plane for a bible reading, and prayer. We thank God for the privilege of friendship with such good, solid kids.

Our travel plans include departure for Miami on Sunday morning, June 22. On to Grand Turk on Monday. Reaching Trinidad by Tuesday, and Guyana by Wednesday. Please remember to hold this program up before the Lord in your prayers each day, praying that we might carefully carry out Gods will and recieve His continued protection and resources.

In about 10 days, I am expecting a group of college students from Caribbean Union College. I will further update you once the plane arrives and things begin to move forward with this team of young people.

Yours in Christ,

David Gates

You may write to David at: gates@andrews.edu

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Last Updated: June 22, 1997