March-ING Forward

It’s been a busy flying month complemented with plenty of side projects. It’s also rainy season which made for some interesting  flying, especially getting to the airport on a motorcycle.

Before I could get any flying done though, I needed a medical exam and bi-annual flight review. David

Gates, Steve Wilson and I traveled to Lima Peru to get our medicals. Upon return, Steve gave me a flight review which included low level passes over the runway.

 You can see our wives were very excited to see their husbands up in the air.

Later in the month it was time to repaint the runway tires that serve as landing visual aids.

After the painting was done, Saray worked on her motorcycle ridding. Even though she cannot reach the ground, she can manage to get it going while I balance things out on the back. Once up to speed I jump off and she rides no problem. Getting the motorcycle to a complete stop is another story!

We did a lot of flying the past month, with Steve helping me on several of those flights. Trips were made to Rurre and Guayarra, moving volunteers and supplies. We flew over 4,300nm in less than 10 days, which quickly led to a 50hr oil change.

Here is an ariel view of the school in Guayarra.

 

One of the other projects was moving the Cessna 172 from the TV studio to our storage container on the runway. The airplane is under repairs and in pieces. We carefully put the wingless body of the airplane on the back of a small trailer for transport, Bolivian missionary style!

The Lord has blessed the aviation program this past month in so many ways. He allowed for us to make all the necessary flights, pay for the oil change, and make hanger rent. We are very thankful for his goodness to us.  

The program is also blessed to now have a printer that also scans and copies. It has external ink tanks in order to use ink that sells for a much more affordable Bolivian price. This is a huge step forward in making flight duties much more efficient.  A generous couple from Argentina donated this much needed piece of equipment. May the Lord bless your generosity!

 As the Lord continues to bless the program here in Bolivia, we see so much need all around us. While we invest our time and energy in helping those who need it, we continue to pray for support from those who cannot invest time but have the resources to help.  Reflecting upon a time when I had the resources, sometimes it was hard to know who to give my offering to. I would sometimes mark my offering envelope with not much thought. There are so many projects around the world and so many worthy causes. I would like to direct your attention to a new blog I have helped my wife create. It points out the more personal needs of the Bolivian people. www.saraybolivia.blogspot.com If you are interested, please take a few moments to read it. Though not aviation related, it is very much part of the life we live here and part of why we are missionaries in the first place.

The Lord bless,

Herman Gonzalez

Chief Pilot-Bolivian Low lands

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

Two years. Yes, two years ago I decided to fly for Gospel Ministries International in Bolivia. It’s been an experience like no other and I’ve never looked back. In fact, this year I believe even more so of my responsibility to give of myself in the Lord’s work. Time is very short my friends. We have witnessed so much misery on this planet, and I’m sure many of you can agree with me on that. I’d like to extend an invitation to you in joining the aviation work here in Bolivia. The Lord has always taken care of our needs, but lately I’ve been impressed by the Lord in an act to get others involved in what needs Bolivia Mission Aviation has. This impression from the Lord has been confirmed by friends and just the other night, by my wife. 

With the aforementioned, I have decided to make my blog a channel for others to see firsthand what our work here in Bolivia is and what the real needs are. I have tried to break cost down in a way that will allow money donated to go specifically to that area of aviation. I’d like to assure you that all donations specifically marked will go towards the support of that need. In addition I will do my best to update you as soon as possible when those needs are met or need your continual support.

If you ever wanted to support a mission aviation project directly, here is your chance. I also ask for your continued prayers. Some of us would not be here today if it were not for the prayers that you untiringly make to keep us safe. May the Lord Bless your offerings and multiply them greatly.

Herman Gonzalez

Chief Pilot-Bolivian Low lands

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 needs you......

What can one do with one airplane? If you ask the missionary, “you can get to UTIREG in three hours instead of three days! If you ask the medical evacuee, “you can get to the hospital in three hours instead of three days! If you ask me, “I can get help to you in three hours instead of three days!”

You get the point. The airplane is a huge part of the ministry here. It’s what connects the projects together and keeps the big wheel going. With it you have instant access to open skies and unlimited possibilities in carrying the Lords work forward.

What makes an airplane tick? Wings, fuel, a pilot? Yes, but really what makes an airplane tick is money. We currently fly a single engine, low-wing, four seat airplane. It’s a 1977 Mooney, a “J” model to be exact. The airplane was donated by retired doctor in the US to do just the work it does. N43CA is an

 amazing machine that has the ability to cross hundreds of miles of impassible jungle while economically sipping fuel with its 200hp engine.

N43CA is the work horse the Lord has provided for now. The fuel cost to operate this airplane in Bolivia is quite affordable as a gallon of aviation fuel costs around $2.50 US. With $160 dollars you can make a round trip to the school from Santa Cruz, taking 3 missionaries and 200 pounds of gear. One hundred sixty dollars covers the travel expense of 3 passengers who will either teach or attend secondary school in Bolivia. They do have the 3 day bus option, if the road is dry.

The airplane also flies missions of mercy to bring back the injured or sick. With a few hours notice we can get patients to where they can receive adequate medical attention. These flights are also covered by donations.

Any amount will help defray fuel costs. It could be missionaries one day or supplies the next. If it is your desire to help with this need, please mark “FUEL” on your donation.

The airplane needs oil. It burns about a quart every 8 hours. It needs an oil change every 50 hours. Oil here is more expensive than in the US. We buy it in bulk straight out of a 50 gallon drum for extra savings. Even then an oil change cost about $10 dollars a quart. The airplane needs 8 quarts.  

Oil change plus oil for 50 hours of flying, $140 dollars.

Any amount will help defray oil costs. If it is your desire to help with this need, please mark “OIL” on your donation.

The airplane needs a home. We currently rent a hanger in town for $150 dollars a month. It’s a place to store the plane, do maintenance, and keep the thieves away.

The hanger is a vital part of our operation. Any amount will help defray hanger rental costs. If it is your desire to help with this need, please mark “HANGER” on your donation.

The airplane needs TLC. Even though inspections and major repairs are done in the US, we do occasionally need to fix things here in Bolivia. Our full time mechanic has the knowhow to fix just about anything. Maintenance cost for the airplane ranges depending on what breaks or what supplies are needed.

Any amount will help defray maintenance costs. If it is your desire to help with this need, please mark “Maintenance” on your donation.

The aforementioned needs are directly related to the airplane and its operation. If you would like to donate towards the airplane and all of its needs just mark “AIRPLANE” and I will make sure the money goes towards the airplanes operating costs.

There is also a separate need for the runway project located here in Santa Cruz. As of August 2012, the runway has been approved by the Bolivian Government for use by Bolivian registered aircraft. Please email me if you would like to know more about this project.

Finally we are in need of a Printer/Copy machines for the aviation department.  The pilots are always in need of printing and copying passenger manifests, flight permissions, and other documents. It would be a huge help to have such a machine available to make operations more efficient. If you would like to donate such a machine or help in purchasing one please mark “PRINTER”.

Thank you again for taking the time to read this blog. Please continue to pray for the aviation program in Bolivia. May the Lord continue to bless each of you!

What a year 2012 has been thus far!

What a year 2012 has been thus far! I have been flying airplanes as usual, making the long flights from North America to South America and back up again. In between I’ve had a few experiences along the way and I’d like to share them with you. The Lord has surely been with me these past few months since I last updated my blog. The following are three short stories of the Lord’s ever watchful eye over me and those around me.

Story #1

In July I left Bolivia in the Twin Comanche. The plan was to bring the airplane up to David in the states while he flew it back to Bolivia and I would then continue on to Venezuela to meet Saray’s parents. I picked up Saray in Guyana after dropping off the airplane and together we continued our travels by land through the Guyanese jungles. We boarded a minivan headed for the border with Brazil. It was a typical hot and humid ride as we bounced in and out of pot holes on a dirt road in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere.

At around mid-night the mini-van ran into deep water, the driver tried to forge across the flooded road.  We quickly got stuck, the engine quit and the lights went out, plunging us into darkness. The cabin quickly started to fill up as water rose around us. Adrenaline kicked in and I quickly climbed out a window. The current was very strong as I managed to tie a rope from the van to a tree alongside the road. Holding a small flashlight between my teeth I was able to pull Saray out and get her to solid ground.

The other passengers in the van were able to get out but they opted to stay on the roof. Against my advice they stayed up there all night. In the morning another van that was passing by pulled our van out of the water. Thankfully no one was hurt as the van was able to stay upright all night long.

Story #2

A few weeks went by and now I was back in the states preparing to bring a single engine airplane to Bolivia. The airplane is greatly needed in Bolivia, and after much deliberation the plane was ready to head south. My time in the states had been longer than planned, and I had now a fiancee waiting to be picked up in Guyana on my way to Bolivia.

Bad things seem to always happen at night. I had decided not to fly a single engine over open water at night,  but I figured that my first leg of the journey from Collegedale to Miami would be alright. So I took off around 11ish on a Saturday night together with Gabriel Jones, a new GMI pilot that will be based in Bolivia.

The plane was loaded with supplies headed for the various projects down south. Weight was near the airplanes maximum allowed with plenty of fuel. The airplane had recently come out of maintenance and I had previously tested the aircraft before its maiden voyage. Everything was normal on the run-up. I lined up on the runway, advance the throttle and started rolling. Acceleration was a bit sluggish but none the less acceptable I figured as I was fully loaded. About half way down the runway I pulled the airplane into ground effect a few feet off the runway as I was now eating up way too much runway and the airplane was yet still not air borne. Now the runway I was taking off from at Collegedale slopes downhill and has a drop off at the end with small hills on both sides. It’s a nasty little runway and it’s had its fair bit of accidents in the past. All I could think of was that drop off and the trees down below.

I didn’t have the room to stop so I coaxed the plane out of ground effect as the stall horn blared in our ears. Gently I eased the nose up as we flew over the drop off. The plane tried to climb but there just wasn’t enough power. Somehow we managed to gradually climb, getting just a few feet per minute rate of climb as the stall horn continued to sound. We reached an altitude where I could turn over the hills and just like that full power came back! The airplane catapulted forward with its new found power and we quickly climbed to safety. The airplane has never had the same problem again and we still don’t know why it did that in the first place.

Story #3

I’m finally back in Guyana five weeks later than I had anticipated. Happy to be reunited again, we decide to go for an evening walk. Walking hand in hand between two street lights we start to feel uncomfortable with our surroundings. I glance back behind me and I see someone coming up behind me on a bicycle. He gets closer and it seems as if he will run me over so I turn around to get out of the way. He stops and raises something over his head, I yell at him and back away, Saray screams as the machete hits me on the neck. Another hard blow as the blade bounces off my chest with a pinging sound. I’m stunned at what’s happening. In seconds he’s gone having taken Saray’s cell phone.

We get to a lighted area, fearing the worst I ask Saray if she is ok, not a scratch on her. She looks at my neck where I know I’ve been badly wounded. But miraculously I only have a small cut and a bit of blood. Unbelievable! I could have died had he hit my main blood supply! The Lord preserved my life yet again. Without a doubt I know the angel of the Lord was between me and my assailant. The sound the machete made was like metal hitting metal. There is no other explanation.

The Lord has shown me again and again that I am not alone. Satan is furious, trying all that he can to take me out, but the Lord has a work that needs to be completed. Until the Lord decides, I will continue to work for him faithfully. I pray that this is also your desire.

“Ye, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4