Service Opportunities
OUR BASIC PHILOSOPHY: "To serve as volunteers, trusting God to provide needed resources and personnel."

Can a person truly depend solely on God to provide? God's Word clearly says yes.
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'...your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."Matt. 6:31,33 (NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God...And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6,19. (NIV)

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." 1 Thes. 5:24 (KJV).

But how will God provide for my needs?
"Our Heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet." Ellen G. White -- Desire of Ages, p. 330.

As was the experience of George Muller and Hudson Taylor, we have discovered that God is fully able to provide for that which he calls us to do. As we move forward in obedience to his will, God brings together the necessary resources to do the job, be it human or monetary. It is not necessary to do fund raising. Learning to exercise full dependence on God can be a bit stressful at first, as is any type of exercise. However, as we have seen God's hand move day-by-day, month-by-month to provide, our faith has been strengthened. "Risking all" by giving ourselves full-time to God in the service of others has actually been the most joyful experience of our lives. We invite others to share in this joy by developing a similar relationship with God; one of total depenedence. To get the most out of life, I encourage you to dedicate yourself, your energy, your education, your resources to God. He will use them and multiply them, resulting in an eternal blessing to yourself, your family, and to others. As you spend time each day with Him, God will show you just where and how to move, be it at home or abroad.

AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES IN GUYANA
This list is not intended to be comprehensive, but a summary only. There is room for almost every type of skill. Volunteers are not required to belong to any specific religious denomination, but it must be remembered that this work is spiritual in nature; designed to lead people to know and love God, and to prepare for Jesus' soon return. Service opportunities exist in the following general areas: Medical, Education, Construction/Engineering, and Aviation.
MEDICAL: Though we focus on disease prevention through education, we see just about every type of medical need. Some can be treated on site, others are transported to a small clinic for observation and treatment, while some must be flown 200 miles to Georgetown for major hospital care. Licensure for healthcare professionals is coordinated with the Ministry of Health through Davis Memorial Hospital.

Professions and skills currently needed include:
Physicians, Nurses, Emergency Technicians, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Health Educators, Dieticians/Nutritionists, Physical Therapists, etc

EDUCATION: Education is one of the vital tools used to improve livestyle and create permanent change in society. Christian Education provides for the additional dimension of the spiritual. In response to an obvious and expressed need of the Amerindian community in Western Guyana, a Primary School is being built in the village of Arau and an industrial secondary boarding school is being built in the village of Paruima - the "Davis Indian Industrial College." The local villagers are providing most of the manpower while coordination and resources are being channeled through our organization. As with the aviation program, this project is a faith project. No fundraising has been done, yet the first 2-story, 8-classroom building is in place. Two new building projects are being started right away - an Industrial Arts complex and a library/classroom. Two dormitories and a cafeteria will soon follow. The first four teachers (two French couples from Guadaloupe) begin classes in early 1998. Two additional teachers (a couple from Trinidad & Tobago) arrive in a few months. All teachers will work on a voluntary basis. The villagers are providing for the food needs of the teaches until the school farm begins to produce.

Enthusiasm is running high among the villagers. Young people have already begun to apply for school. This is the first secondary school of any kind in the whole region. The goals of the school are to provide basic academic education as well as practical training in industrial arts, home economics, nutrition, agriculture, health, etc. All education will be Christ-centered and service-oriented. All students will be on a daily work program. Some classes will be available to the older community as things develop.

Professions and skills currently needed include:
Primary school teachers (anyone with secondary school education or higher), Secondary school teachers for English, Math, Science, Religion, etc. (Anyone with post-secondary education or higher), Industrial Arts (areas such wood working, welding, electical repair, general maintenance), Home Economics, Nutrition/Dieticians/Cooks, Health Educators, Agriculture/farming/cattle/poultry, Small business development/economics/industries.

CONSTRUCTION/ENGINEERING: Construction of school buildings are continually underway. These include an industrial arts center, library, cafeteria, dormitories, churches, and primary school, etc. All wood is cut with chainsaws, while other materials are flown in from Georgetown. Construction is done by local villagers who work in shifts, donating their time while keeping up their own farms. There is plenty of available work in carpentry, construction, roofing, cement work, and other related jobs.

ADRA/Guyana is working on the funding of two projects involving the construction of two hydro-electric plants. An initial engineering study has identified two villages as having appropriate locations for putting in hydroelectric plants. ADRA is also developing some well-drilling projects in several villages.

Professions and skills currently needed include:
Civil engineers to complete the evaluation of materials and design of hydroelectric plants.
Persons with well drilling experience or interest.

AVIATION: With the exception of a few villages located near each other on the same river, there are no roads or navigable rivers in Guyana's interior. This leaves aviation as the only viable means of transportation. The Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Program opened its services in June of 1997 with This leaves aviation as the only viable means of transportation. The Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Program opened its services in June of 1997 with a small, but highly modified aircraft, specifically designed for this bush flying - a Cessna 150 having a large 150 Hp engine, tailwheel conversion, Horton STOL kit for short takoff and landing, a gross-weight increase, and large tires. Being safe and relatively inexpensive to operate, this is an ideal aircraft for opening new aviation programs. However, as a 2-seater aircraft, it is too small to use permanently for medical operations.

All aviation operations, including pilot qualifications, proficiency checkouts, aircraft insurance, operating policies, etc., are handled through Adventist World Aviation.

Aviation Personnel Aviation personnel needs fall into two categories, pilots and mechanics. Pilots are stongly encouraged to have some kind of health related training (RN, LPN, Paramedic, EMT, Nutrition, Public Health, etc)

PILOTS are expected to have at least a Commercial license, Instrument rating, and a minimum of 500-1200 hours of flight experience (depending on the type of flying to be done). The Department of Civil Aviation requires new pilots to acquire 300 hours of copilot time in Guyana before acting as PIC to interior destinations. Pilots having less than the above requirements are still welcome to participate in any of the projects. When possible, they may accompany the pilot and build bush flying experience. Pilot responsibilities include general coordination with all community projects, evaluation and transportation of patients, HF radio communications with medical and project support staff, and coordination the Department of Civil Aviation, and local police and military personnel.

MECHANICS need to be licensed Airframe & Powerplant mechanics, or be licensed as Aviation Maintenance Engineers under the British system. Inspector Authorizations would be highly appreciated. Responsibilities for mechanics include progressive maintenance schedules, aircraft inspections, and repairs. Additional skills in other areas are encouraged.

You may E-mail us at: gates@andrews.edu or GAMAS@solutions2000.net
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