ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND HIS FAMILY

FAMILY MEMBERS

A BIT OF HISTORY

God brought us both together to study at Southern Missionary College where we immediately developed a close relationship. Our long-range goals being the same, that of returning to mission field, we both enrolled in the Nursing program, and I pursued my flying career in the evenings. With the encouragement of both sets of parents, we were married in June of 1979. Immediately after graduation our lifelong ambition was realized when we left for Peru to work in 1980 as self- supporting nurses , returning only for our state board exams and to raise sufficient funds to purchase and fly down a small aircraft which we used over a period of 4 years to open new work in the interior of the Amazon basin.

Since those early self-supporting years, we have worked under differing salary arrangements such as National Salary, Adventist Volunteer Service, and Inter-division. In each case, God has provided sufficient means to cover our necessities. Over time He has also given us opportunities to further our education while living abroad as well as in the US. Difficult experiences such as a myself being hijacked, handcuffed, blindfolded, and imprisoned have proved to be character builders for all our family members, and has served as a testimony to thousands of others.

My current responsibilities as Director of Computer Services for Caribbean Union College and Union allowed me to become well acquainted with each of our fields, including the Guyana Conference. Over the last three years we have been working together on a plan to penetrate the jungles of Guyana with the use of an aircraft. Though we have had support at all levels, the primary problem is to actually get the program going. How does one locate a pilot/mechanic willing to work for nothing except what God provides. And how does one raise funds for a project that does not yet exist? After working hard for two years on these two issues, we have come to the conclusion that the best method is to say "Here we are Lord, send us". After much prayer together, accompanied by discussion with parents and local administrators, we made a commitment to resign and move to Guyana this Summer only IF GOD PROVIDED THE AIRPLANE.

As Elder of the College church during the last 3 years, I have many opportunities to preach in smaller churches. During one of these visits, only 10 days after we had made our commitment to work in Guyana, a recently baptized member approached me during the potluck dinner. Specifically, he wanted to know about our plans for Guyana and how I was planning to buy the airplane. I confessed that I didn t know how, but that was God s problem, not mine. After discussing the matter with his wife, he approached me 15 minutes later and told me of their decision to sell their sports car and commit the full funds to the purchase of the airplane. Such a clear response from God, coming so soon after our decision, brought tears to my eyes. That commitment (amounting to $7,000) together with the funds from the sale of our car ($5,000) is all we have to date. There is no doubt in our minds that God intends to provide complete funds for this project. The amount of funds acquired will determine the size of aircraft purchased. God has given me many years of bush flying experience as well as training and experience in the maintenance of aircraft. Both my wife and I are Registered Nurses with experience in Emergency Room and Home Health Care, respectively. Our children too stand to benefit from being exposed to this type of service before it is time to continue their college education in the US. If this is where God wants us, we make ourselves available, and know that He will open the way as we step forward.

HOBBIES

EDUCATION

AVIATION QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE