SUBJECT: Guyana Conference Dedicates Aircraft

AUTHOR: David Gates, his wife Becky, and three of their five children - Katie, 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: July 12, 1997

Soon after the arrival of our new mission plane in Guyana, Pastor Lindon Gudge, President of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists requested that a special day of dedication be set aside for the dedication of the plane. The day selected was Sabbath,

Some of my Paruima Helpers

July 12. Invitations were sent out to all churches, and friends of the medical aviation program.

The week previous to the dedication was a very busy week for the aircraft, which made 1 or 2 flights daily into Kamarang, Paruima, and Kaikan with supplies and family of our new pastor, Pastor Bacchus. In addition to a cost savings of nearly 50% over that of a commercial flight, the Conference was able to move the family directly into Paruima, thus avoiding the tiresome and somewhat hazardous canoe trip over the water falls between Kamarang and Paruima.

On Friday afternoon, the day before the dedication, the rainfall at Paruima was so heavy that I found a safe takeoff to be impossible. In an attempt to get the plane back to Georgetown before nightfall for the dedication the following day, men, women, and children

Brethren Gathering for the Dedication

came over to the runway bringing buckets, shovels, and picks. Together we all worked for nearly 3 hours, but finally the runway was free of standing water. Suddenly the wind changed to a tailwind, continuing to prevent our departure. We gathered together around the plane and asked God to intervene with the wind if the plane was going to return to Georgetown in time for the dedication service the next day. Peace filled my heart as I realize that this was God's plane, and the weather was in His hands. Whatever was to happen would be solely under His control. When I had just about made up my mind that the time was too late, the wind suddenly stopped, and the plane made a nice departure out of Paruima in time to return to Ogle field in Georgetown before nightfall.

At 2:30 pm on Sabbath afternoon, church members started gathering at Ogle Field for the dedication service as the rain began to fall. By 3:00 pm, the rain had stopped and Pastor Lindon Gudge opened the service with prayer and an Introduction. Following, I had a brief "History of the Aviation Program" in which God's leading hand was clearly detailed. A very special vocal solo, "Thank You for Giving to the Lord" was sung by one of our local church musicians, and I played a short trumpet solo, "Oh Lord Our God". Elder Winston James, Director of Education &

Pastor Gudge Opening the Service of Dedication

Stewardship, had the Special Feature and vote of thanks to the Department of Civil Aviation and to the Ogle Airport administration and Fixed Base Operators who allow us to use the airport and installations during our trips into town. Pastor Ivor Kaizer, Conference Secretary led the way in a responsive prayer of thanks and dedication. In all, the program was very inspirational and a sacred experience.

Pilots and aircraft mechanics who stood by to watch came to me later to comment on who impressed they had been with the short service. Also present was a reporter for the Guyana Chronicle who put the picture and write-up on Sunday's front page. Additionally, a reporter and cameraman for TV Channel 11 were present. The video report was aired by Channel 11 on Monday night.

We thank the Lord once again for his great kindness in allowing this program to begin operation. We pray for wisdom to always operate safely and make decisions that will always honor and glorify God's name, and that will prove a great blessing to our Amerindian countrymen who have little access to health education and emergency medical care.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's...
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy...
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us...
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,
and his righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them." - Ps 103:1-18

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

[Home Page] [Children's Corner] [Life on the Frontlines] [How to become an adventurer]
[Others who did it] [About Us] [Caribbean Links]

---

Last Updated: June 22, 1997