Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Black Gold for Bolivia

Bolivia Mission Aviation Newsletter - Black Gold
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Black Gold
These past few weeks have been very busy, as I find myself catching a break between flights to fill you in on what has been happening. The number of mission projects needing aviation support have risen, and as a result airplane maintenance, flight planning, and flying has all increased. All very positive news as we use the airplanes in the Lord's work more and more.
As the airplanes fly mission after mission, it takes more money to keep them in the air. One of the things they use a lot of besides fuel, is engine oil. Airplane oil goes by very quickly and is not cheap to buy. An airplane needs an oil change every fifty hours of operation, and lately fifty hours have been coming and going in less than one month’s time.  We have two airplanes operating, that means oil changes on a frequent basis.  Add to that the airplanes use of oil per flight hour and the money spent on oil starts to add up.
One way to reduce oil costs is to buy the oil in bulk. Buying a barrel of oil here costs $1500 dollars, saving us $600 dollars as compared to buying it a little at a time. We don’t have the funds to buy the whole barrel in one shot, but maybe that can change. Wouldn’t it be great if we could save $600 dollars on oil and use that money for more missions flying?
As you read and see the pictures of the various mission trips, please keep oil for the airplanes in your thoughts. If you find it worthwhile to help fund this aviation ministry with oil to help keep the airplanes flying, please click on the link to be directed to our donation site. All those connected with the airplanes, in giving or receiving the service the airplanes provide, thank you for your support. And remember, giving though Gospel Ministries International for this specific need is tax deductible.
Donate Airplane Oil
On the Rio Mamore
Runways flown to: San Joaquin-Guyaramerien-Riberalta-Trinidad-Santa Cruz

A few months ago the TV station missionaries made a mission trip to the Rio Mamore and surrounding town and communities. The experience was so positive that a new group formed to go back and continue helping the people along the Rio (river) Beni. The group was headed my Mirta who is from Argentina, who is also a physical therapist. Helping her was Emily (dentist) from Bolivia, Igor (nurse), and his wife from Portugal, and Katherine from Venezuela. Since not all could fit in the airplane in one trip, we made two trips, one from Santa Cruz, and another from Trinidad. I dropped off the team in San Joaquin, as they would go in by land to catch a boat, and I would return in a few days to pick them up.
When I returned on the day agreed upon for the pick up, I saw some very tired and hungry missionaries waiting for me. Much work had been done in very difficult conditions. Some of them had not even had time to shower. They were very exhausted and dirty, and where so happy to be going home by airplane instead of many hours by land. The stories of their work along the river were full of excitement and amazement! I could not help but imagine what they had experienced working for the Lord with the people they met along the river.
I had been having trouble starting the airplane a few flights back. Sometimes it would start, and other times it would take several minutes of waiting to get it to start. I had mentioned my problems to the mechanic, and even spent several hours in the baking sun trying to figure out what the problem was, but to no avail. So this time in San Joaquin when my first load was ready to go, the airplane refused to start. We prayed and waited as I assured them that it would eventually start. By the time it did, we were running out of daylight and I would not be back for the second trip until the next day.
Adding to the complications was a medivac call that had come in as I was flying in for the pickup. The second group decided to go by land to the nearest town where they could catch a bus to Santa Cruz. I was now free to fly the medical evacuation, so I dropped the first load in Guyaramerin and spent the night there. The next day I flew to the nearby town of Riberlata to pick up my Medicac and fly it to Trinidad. Everything was going well. I supposed the second group had already made it home to Santa Cruz.
I received word that the second group had missed their bus from Trinidad and that they were hoping I would land there and take them to Santa Cruz. So if they were tired and exhausted the day before, now they were really tired and exhausted, yet thankful that the airplane could take them at least half way home. Things were looking up for the group and I was glad to be able to help again.
When I dropped off the patient in Trinidad, the second group was all to thankful to see me again. We all piled in the airplane, and just like the previous day, the airplane would not start! Not again! It seemed to happen with the people that wanted to fly the most. We prayed, waited, tried again, and nothing. It would not start. I told them that given enough time, it would eventually start. Every time the airplane would try and start, it would run for a few seconds, and then it would die. Hopes would go up as the engine fired, as you could almost hear the shouts of joy coming, when quickly the engine would die, and bring everybody back down emotionally. This happened many times. Never was patience tried more than on that hot afternoon.
Eventually the airplane started! It was a great relief as the engine continued to run. Everybody knew they were going home this time. Mission flying is not for the weak, many unpredictable’s can and do happen as we fly our missions. You learn to adapt and keep going. A few weeks later the mechanic had an issue starting the airplane. Thankfully he found the problem and was able to fix it. We have not had the problem since. Only new ones to keep us faithfully are seeking the Lord in all our problems.
Flying for the TV station (ADVENIR)
Runways flown to: San Borja-Reyes-San Ramon-Guayaramerin-Santa Cruz


I received an urgent call from our President David Gates one day. He explained to me how the TV station license was in danger of being lost. Apparently, time had gone by and the license now needed renewing, and with that came obtaining support of communities that benefited from having a repeater station in their town. We also needed the support of other communities that would benefit from the signal in the future and the various programs offered by GMI in Bolivia.
The task was simple enough, collect signatures of support from key people connected to government at these different towns. With a tight deadline to meet, we had no time to waste. We hit the skies as soon as we could. Federico (Argentina), and Sarai (Puerto Rico), a newlywed couple, would accompany me in finding the right people at the different towns. We had no idea where to start when we landed at our first town. We sought the Lord’s direction and began asking the locals at the airport questions.
When we asked an airport worker where we could find these important people we were seeking, she said she knew and she would call for them to come right to the airport. We were amazed at how things were working out. Soon we had four key people who had the authority we needed. We began to talk to them about what we did and presented to them what we did in Bolivia. We talked about the schools, aviation program, health clinic, prison ministry, health fairs and TV station.
The group was very enthusiastic and really wanted our presence. One lady said that our airplane was needed as they had people coming to the airport looking for airplanes when emergencies occurred. I left them my contact information and told them I’d be happy to fly any emergency.  We soon had our signatures and promised them that we would come back and provide health talks at their schools. Praise the Lord, in less than three hours we had found what we needed and were off to the next town.
Arriving close to sundown at our next stop, we headed into town and found a place for the night. None of us had been to this town before. It was decided to investigate a little before heading to bed. We found out where the mayor lived and secured an audience with him first thing in the morning. The next day we showed up bright and early at the town hall and waited for him to arrive. In the meeting we also had a few men who lead in the town. As they listened to our short presentation, we explained to them the many ways they could benefit from the work we did.
Soon enough, we began to realize that this meeting was going to be a disappointment. As we ended the mayor told us he needed more time to think it over. Our spirits were low as we left the meeting. We could not understand how these people did not cooperate as did the people from the other town. Time was running out and we had just wasted a couple precious hours as we needed to fly to a second town later in the day. We prayed to the Lord that He would show us the way. As we talked, it occurred to one of us to get a listing of all the phone numbers of all the people that worked for the town.
We secured the phone list from the town hall secretary and picked the person on the list that lived the closest. The man answered his phone and told us to meet him at his house a few blocks away. We arrived at his humble home and sat around his front door. His wife offered us cold citrus juice as we presented to him our mission work. He liked everything we had to say and wanted us to come back soon. Praise the Lord! We got our signature of approval and now needed two more to be able to leave for our next town.
We dropped by a school and talked to the principle. He too liked our ideas of helping the school. Things were looking up. So we headed to another local school and again they liked our ideas. Three signatures in less than three hours, without knowing anyone, the Lord guided us to just the right people. We quickly grabbed our things and headed for the little airport. As we climbed up to altitude it was early after noon and we were all hungry, but thankful of the Lord’s blessings.
After a yogurt lunch I landed at our next stop. I did not have time to go with Federico and Sarai as I needed to head north to pick up passengers from the school. I told them I would be back in three hours. We prayed and parted ways, they looking for the signatures while I flew off to the north. I landed and fuelled up, loaded the airplane, and turned around and headed back south. Touching down,I pulled up the tower. I did not know what to expect. Had we found the signatures we needed to head home? It was about an hour before sundown, and I needed to get in the air if we were all going to make it home.
The call soon came in, the Lord had done it again! The signatures were found in a couple hours and the people of the town really wanted our help. Our mission was a complete success. We all crammed inside the plane and took off into the sunset. As darkness enshrouded us, we were happy that once again the Lord had provided what we needed. This mission work was not ours, but His. We were doing His work, reaching those who need to hear about Him, and we were all witnesses of what the Holy Spirit can do if we are willing to work for Jesus.
Later that night we landed at the international airport, the only airport you can land at after sunset in this part of the country. We pilled in the car of the TV station director and related to him how the Lord had worked it all out. We were tired, but satisfied with the outcome of our trip. We plan to go back next month and start the mission work they asked for. Please keep this project of reaching more people in Bolivia in your prayers. The door has been cracked open to spread the gospels to these towns.
Familia Feliz Mission Trip
Runways  flown: Rurrenabaque-Reyes-Trinidad-Santa Cruz


This month of April has been one busiest flying months in Bolivia that I can remember. With our Mooney down for maintenance, the Cessna 182 Turbo has been the only workhorse, and boy has it worked hard! At the beginning of the month it had an oil change, and now as I write this its almost due for a second oil change.
A missionary group from Argentina came to help the children of Familia Feliz, the orphanage at Rurrenabaque, Boliva. They asked me to fly them to the school, the only problem being there were over 15 of them and we had only one airplane flying. I worked out shuttle runs in order to move so many people. Some of them I could take all the way, others would need to catch up with me at a closer by airport.
On my first trip, I dropped off my load with no issues, but as I got in the plane and tried to crank the engine, I heard a grinding noise. Not now! I still needed to run a shuttle and come back before heading home before sunset. Not only that, but as I looked over the engine to see what the matter was, I was informed the airport would close at sunset, and not reopen until a few days! Get out! I had to figure out the problem and make it out before I got stuck! If I could only get to a nearby airport that was 5 minutes away I could continue to move people, if not, the whole mission trip would be in jeopardy.
As I tried to figure out what the problem was in the sweltering sun, I decided to take a break and have some lunch. It was near four in the afternoon and I had not eaten all day. Maybe if I ate it would help me think better. But I could not eat comfortably knowing I needed to leave. All kinds of thoughts raced though my head. If I got stuck here, when could I get this airplane fixed? I prayed. A pilot came by and offered help, but what he told me was not any help. The situation looked grim.
I fiddled around, tried this and that, trying to see what I could do to solve my crisis. Then a light bulb came on. I believe the Lord put the idea in my head, as I tried it, the engine came to life! Praise the Lord! Again He had solved my problems in the nick of time. It was now close to sunset. I had no time to make any more flights but the one out to the nearest airport. I put the cowling back on the airplane as quickly as I could, filed a flight plan and took off for the nearest airport. I was relieved when the airplane left the runway into the air.
The next day I was able to move the rest of the first group. And a few days later the rest of the group made it to the school with very little problems. A couple weeks went by, and I was back moving the same volunteers out a plane load at a time. Much needed dental work was done at Familia Feliz while the missionary dentists and helpers where there. I spent a night while the group was working and I got to see firsthand the help the children and surrounding community received. There were dental seminars for the kids to learn how to have healthy teeth. Many benefited from the dental work performed.
Some of the volunteers also helped put new roofs on the classrooms. Others helped in the kitchen. In the evenings there were special prayer meetings and in the early mornings prayer vigils. The group left a big impact on the children’s lives. I hope to fly more of these groups in the near future. There are plans for next month to reach more people though health seminars and bible work. We don’t have the funds in place, but by faith we will move forward. We have the airplane flying to move people, and by the Lord’s grace he will put in people’s hearts to give so that the boots on the ground here can carry the work forward.
If you like what you see and would like to see the airplane expand its work in the lowlands of Bolivia and beyond, please pray for us. We need your support to keep operating the airplanes. If you remember at the beginning of the blog I wrote that we are looking to buy a barrel of oil?  This oil will go towards keeping the airplanes flying in the same kind of mission work you just read about. To donate for oil, click on the "Donate Airplane Oil" button below. I look forward to writing more stories soon.

God Bless,

Herman Gonzalez
Chief Pilot
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
gonzh@hotmail.com
011-591-7-738-6139
http://hermanbolivia.blogspot.com

Herman Gonzalez
Gospel Ministries International
Project Name: Bolivia Mission Aviation
874 South McDonald, TN 37353
1 (423) 473-1841 or 1 (423) 473-1842
Donate Airplane Oil

Friday, December 25, 2015

Mission Trip and the Drug Police

Bolivia Mission Aviation Newsletter 
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In mid-October, some of the missionaries who live here on the property, went by land two days travel to do mission work along the river Mamore, in the northern floodplains of Bolivia. Some of us also went by airplane to meet up with these missionaries, where we did health work alongside them. I took a dentist, and doctor, along with Saray and Miah, and flew to the small town of San Joaquin. We then traveled by pickup truck to the even smaller town of Puerto Siles, situated along the river, where the rest of the missionaries were traveling back to from doing work along the river. That same Friday afternoon a health fair was held at the town medical building.

Dozens of towns people showed up to receive medical attention, and hear about nutrition, exercise, good hygiene, and most importantly the gospel.  A lot of them were there for the dentist alone. One man told me that they had no dentist around these parts. Many received free literature, including bibles. The children received tooth brushes. A few wondered when we would be back as there was not simply enough time to fit everybody in to see the dentist. Currently there are plans to return in January if funds are available to bring in the dentist again.
 
We spent Sabbath in the town of San Joaquin with the group, and on Sunday put on a health fair at the town plaza. Many people came out to hear what the missionaries had to say. Again the doctor, dentist, nurses, and physical therapist were on hand to give treatment and advice.  It was a very satisfying experience to see so many receive the health message alongside the gospel. We hope to make these trips more often in the near future.
Shortly after our mission trip, I woke up one morning to armed men walking around our property. They were dressed in military outfits and had automatic weapons. As I looked out my bedroom window, I was motioned to come outside. Leaving the house, I saw that one of the men was already talking to Steve. I joined the conversation and asked what they were doing here. They told me that they were investigation a report of armed men not allowing people to cross a property. I was suspicious of his answer as I knew right away that they were the drug police by the FELCN logo on their fatigues.

We were asked all kinds of questions like, “who do these airplanes belong to?”, “is this a legal runway?”, “what do you guys do with these airplanes?”  They began looking though our airplanes, taking pictures and calling people to verify our answers. We were all a bit nervous, as you can never trust the drug police. We had all heard the stories of people having drugs planted on them, or being falsely accused of transporting drugs, and in a country like Bolivia, being an outsider, things tend to go against you much easier. Never the less we were kind to them; we showed them around and talked to them about our project. They spent much of the morning asking questions until they got hungry and broke for lunch.

A little later they were back, this time with a trail of reporters and cameramen that wanted to get the scoop on the presumed drug bust, happening in their very own back yard! We live not too far from the the large city of Santa Cruz, a place infamous for drug trafficking.  Just a few days earlier the drug police had busted a drug lab down the road from where we live. Now they had stumbled upon our newly opened runway, airplanes, and our hanger that was hidden from view of the neighbors, in order to provide extra security. These things only added to the intrigue of what was going on at our air base.

The lead officer said our runway and airplanes were clear, but with the exception of our one airplane that had not been flying due to maintenance reasons, it would need to undergo additional testing in order for them to be sure it was not involved in any illegal activity. So they taped the doors shut, and ordered a micro-aspirasion test of the airplane. The test consists of vacuuming to collect dust particles and testing them in a lab to see if the airplane ever had any drugs on board. To get the test done and the results back took several weeks.

 
The Drug Police surrounded the airplanes and began asking questions.
Young mother with back problems flown to Santa Cruz for treatment.
The following is a short list of what our main goals are for the upcoming year.  Please add them to your prayer list when you have a chance. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

Bolivia Mission Aviation Goals
  1. January 2016-Funds to fly a team to San Joaquin for more work along the river Mamore-$800
  2. February 2016-Paperwork to nationalize the Cessna 182 Turbo and have unrestricted access to all airports in Bolivia-$1500
  3. March 2016-Obtain my Bolivian pilots license in order to fly our Bolivian registered airplane-$4000

If you feel impressed to help with any of these needs, please contact me directly. Donations are tax deductible. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

 
If you would like to be a part of something like this, either personally involved, or a financial contributor, please contact me.
The negative news hit the TV airwaves that evening. It was reported that a secret runway had been discovered and the police were investigating. Thankfully, since we did not talk to the reporters, they did not know who we were, so they could not link us to the drug investigation. I hoped that things would calm down, and once the results came back as negative, it would all be forgotten. Even so, I prayed that the police would not try and taint the results to get things to swing their way and possibly confiscate our airplane. It’s the Lord airplane I prayed, He will protect it.

Things did calm down. I heard nothing from the drug police or the investigation. We began to seek answers from our test on the airplane. I called the investigator and he assured me that things would turn out alright. Around this time, one of our airplanes needed a renewal of permission to operate in Bolivia. When we asked civil aviation for it, we were flatly denied. They told us that it came to their attention that we were operating one of our airplanes illegally, and thus they could do nothing until the problem was resolved.

We sent our people to inquire from within. They told us that civil aviation had told the drug police that we had an unregistered airplane in the system. After they investigated the matter further themselves, they realized they had made a mistake. But that now they could not retract their mistake because it would make them look bad. Unbelievable!  Long story short, our people were able to get the results on our micro-aspiracion and submit the results claiming our innocence. A few days later we were out of the muck, and breathing a sigh of relief that the Lord helped us though yet another day in Bolivia, that if Satan had his way, could have brought us down.
Flying an unconscious patient on oxygen and artificial respiration for the length of the flight.
Even with all that commotion, we still needed to make our flights. One of those flights involved a man who had suffered a stoke and needed to be transported to be near his family. Two medics were needed, as well as oxygen and artificial breathing be performed for the entire trip. I was able to squeeze the two medics into our Mooney with the patient laying on his back, plus the oxygen tank underneath them. It was quite the flight as we bounced around bad weather for a couple hours. Landing at our destination in Cobija, I was grateful to see help on the ramp to get the patient out. As he was unconscious, it took several men to get him into the airplane and situated, and it would take just as many to get him back out!

Later I received a call to pick up a patient that was bedridden due to a damaged back after a cesarean delivery. She was in great pain and needed specialized attention in Santa Cruz. Steve pulled the seat out of our Cessna 182, and I was able to lay her down in the back of the airplane on a stretcher. This time we had plenty on room, as our Cessna has a much larger cabin than the Mooney.

As the calls come in, and the flights are made, I can’t help but wonder how good God has been to us. To have two airplanes operating, and soon a third one, is a great blessing indeed. I can’t stop thinking in amazement what great things the Lord has in store for Bolivia Mission Aviation this next year. Already we are looking forward to having Steve Wilson and family based with as airplane near the school in Guayaramerin, early next year. I am also looking forward to begin flying in the altiplano, and help the ongoing work already established there.
 
Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
Herman Gonzalez
Chief Pilot
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
gonzh@hotmail.com
011-591-7-738-6139
http://hermanbolivia.blogspot.com

Herman Gonzalez
Gospel Ministries International
Project Name: Bolivia Mission Aviation
874 South McDonald, TN 37353
1 (423) 473-1841 or 1 (423) 473-1842


 







Bolivia Mission Aviation · Km.14 Carretera a Camiri · Santa Cruz · Bolivia

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Sunday, September 6, 2015

Back to Bolivia-September Update

It has been several months since I last updated; here is what has been happening with Bolivia Mission Aviation since then.

Trip to the States

My family and I travelled to the U.S. for a two month visit in June. We left Santa Cruz in the early morning hours headed for Miami. It would be Saray’s and Miah’s first time in the states. Miah was born abroad as a U.S citizen, but my wife went through a long process to get a U.S. residency visa. Upon arrival in Miami, we had to clear immigration for her final approval into the states. After a short wait, and some questioning, she got the green light. We praise the Lord for blessing us during this lengthy process and the funding required for the various steps.

We then headed for Berrien Springs, Michigan, where my parents reside. I had fun showing my wife and baby the many differences of how I had grown up. Up until then they had only heard the stories, and everyday there where new experiences to be had. One example of our new found problems were with car seats. Miah growing up in Bolivia was not required to be in a car seat. Being eight months old and starting to move around, the idea of being stuck in car seat sent spasms of rebellion! Miah also breast feeds, making matters worse on the long road trips we took. Eventually she would win out, as we kept an eye out for the police and anyone that might want to report us to child services.


A couple weeks later, we drove out to Wisconsin for my little sisters wedding. We had timed our trip just right for this special event, and special it was! Saray and the baby got to meet all of my immediate family all in one spot! You can only imagine my joy to be there after so long and seeing everyone welcome Saray and baby Miah into the family. The wedding was truly blessed, as my sister married a dairy farmer on his farm on a beautiful June evening. The wedding was held in a wooded area of their farm with hay bales for pews! Afterwards the wedding party rode out on ATV’S to where the reception was held.


We returned home and prepared for our next trip! A week later we were on the road headed for San Antonio, Texas and the General Conference session. We made a short stop at headquarters in Collegedale TN and then continued on. Once at the GC, we helped man the booth for Papua New Guinea Adventist Aviation. I also got to share with people what I did in Bolivia as a pilot and my wife shared what she did as director of the health clinic. The place was so full of people that it was hard seeing someone more than once!



 We visited Sea World, the Alamo, and other sites around San Antonio before leaving the GC. Our next stop was the Gospel Ministries International missionary retreat held right after the GC near Keene, TX. It was a break to catch up, relax, and spend time with family. We heard lectures, testimonies, and shared what we were doing in the mission field during this week long retreat. David Gates dedicated baby Miah to the Lord on Sabbath morning for church. We were truly blessed that my mother who has given so much for us to be missionaries, was present to witness the event.


We drove back home and had 3 days to prepare for our next trip, this time flying out to California to see my oldest sisters’s family. We spent time in the hills of Loma Linda, at the San Diego Zoo, Water Park and beach. Visited relatives and celebrated my niece’s birthday. All of this was great family bonding time as our trip back to Bolivia was now fast approaching. We flew back to Michigan for a few more days. Before we left my wife wanted to see the Historic Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Michigan.  My little sister joined as we toured the first Adventist church, Ellen White’s Home; where she wrote the Great Controversy, and her and family’s burial site. It was encouraging to see where our founders had come from and what they believed in is still burning in our hearts, to carry on and finish the work.




Back in Bolivia

Returning to Bolivia we were ready to begin our work again. It was refreshing to be in the states, but at the same time we got to see why we needed to keep pressing forward with the work here. I had not even arrived in Bolivia yet, and I already had flights to make. Praise the Lord!

Since mid April, we have begun to use our hanger and runway full time. All of our airplanes are now under one roof right in front of my house in the hanger we built over a year ago. Steve flew in the Mooney that was in Guyana for several months a few days after my arrival. What a blessing it is to operate from our own runway! This is a huge step forward in the growth of the program, while allowing for more efficient maintenance and flight operations.

I also made an ambulance flight for a child that was severely burned when a hot water pot spilled on him. I was thankful to have the airplanes flying to do this, as our main reason for being here is to do these types of flights. He and his family are now in the children’s hospital in Santa Cruz, as he is undergoing skin grafts.



A few days later Steve and I got to do something we had never done before in Bolivia. Fly our airplanes in formation. The opportunity arose when two airplanes were needed to move missionaries to the same place on the same day. We flew out of our runway one after the other and met up in route. Flying side by side we were able to hone in our formations skills and take pictures and video. We had the opportunity to fly the same passengers a couple days later and again we flew formation. After dropping them off, Steve flew to Cochabamba to pick up DJ Knott, while I flew back to Santa Cruz.



Steve and DJ did some survey flights of high elevation regions where both DJ and us want to expand the medical aviation work. They brought back word and pictures of what they had seen. Very much like the two spies sent out by Joshua. We need to do more of these flights as we prepare to someday soon meet the demands of this high altitude environment. The first airport we want to land in is 13,000 feet high, higher than most small airplanes like to fly. Our small airplane is turbocharged, allowing it to take-off from high altitude airports and climb much higher than normal.


DJ also came to Santa Cruz to help get our third airplane going, our normally aspirated Cessna 182. This is our low land jungle airplane, and it needed bigger tires to operate safely. DJ and Steve put in time installing these tires. The end result is a much more capable airplane. We would also like to do the same to the turbocharged airplane. Flying our airplanes from our runway with bigger tires will make takeoffs and landing much smoother and increase the life of instruments in the airplane while providing the capability to land in the roughest of strips be it in the jungle or in the mountains.

The next step

I am working on paperwork to get our first nationalized airplane, and we are close to having everything in order. We will also need funding to put a new engine and propeller on the airplane. It has been a long process to get everything to this point, but it is all in the Lord’s timing. Nationalizing the airplane also means the pilot would need to convalidate his U.S license and maintenance be done by certified repair station. All of which have their own challenges.

Before the end of the year, we would like to base one of our airplanes in the north of the country. We have new pilots who are ready to be trained in. As operations increase, we also see the need for more volunteers. If you would like to know how you can help, please send me an email to see where you can help us out, whether it is financially or being part of the team on the ground or in the air.

Above all, please continue to pray for Bolivia Mission Aviation, the pilots and donors who keep us going. We have gotten this far only though much prayer. We need it every day, to make the right decisions to carry the project forward to its full potential and keep the focus of reaching others though aviation. We need prayer while flying and witnessing to those who come in contact with us. Like David Gates likes to say, the important thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing!

From Bolivia,

Herman Gonzalez
Chief Pilot-Bolivian Lowlands
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
011-591-7-738-6139

Herman Gonzalez
Gospel Ministries International
Project Name: Bolivia Mission Aviation
874 South McDonald, TN 37353
1 (423) 473-1841 or 1 (423) 473-1842