M e x i c o M e d i c a l M i s s i o n s • 4 0 0 1 C R 1 1 4 • G l e n w o o d S p r i n g s , c o • 9 1 5 . 4 4 9 . 2 1 8 9

MEXICOMEDICALM ISSIONS

A v i a t i o n

MARCH, 2012

2011 was a good year for the aviation ministry. It has continued to grow due to greater need of support for ministries in this region of Mexico. The primary goal of MMM Aviation is to glorify God and see His kingdom grow among the Tarahumara people. Our main objective is to support the ministries of Mexico Medical Mission, but there are other missions in northern Mexico dedicated to the expansion of the kingdom of God who are also benefitting from our services. Consequently, we continue exploring how to best meet more of the local and regional missionary needs. For a while now, we’ve recognized that our growth has reached a point of needing another pilot to help provide consistent and effective service. Whenever our pilot is unavailable, all flights are on hold. Aside from needing a pilot, it is necessary to have ground support for flight following and communications. The time seems right to start looking for that third member (missionary pilot/mechanic) who can fill in the gaps. Another pilot is obviously necessary just for flight availability seven days a week. But with t h e i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r o f g r o u n d t a s k s required to run an av i a t i o n operation, a n o t h e r m e m b e r w i l l be t ter he lp us to efficiently and safely accomplish the overall mission. A cord of three strands is needed here at MMM Aviation.

As an understaffed program, in the midst of rebuilding an aircraft for ten months of 2011, we managed a little more than 200 flights last year. Flights which consisted of airdrops and transportation of medicines, supplies, and passengers. These passengers included patients, missionaries, doctors, local authorities, and pastors from three different cultures. Operations weren’t restricted to our state of Chihuahua, but also included flights from northern Baja and Puerto Peñasco, to Tampico on the eastern coast and to Morelia in the center of the country. 2012 is already proving to be just as busy. In fact we’ve had more flights this quarter than any other quarter since the inception of the ministry. In part this has been due to an increase of violence in the country and a surge of bandits on the roads in our area. Short term mission groups are now utilizing flights we provide from the border to our hospital, bypassing Juarez city and many dangerous roads. The aviation ministry has grown both due to the current situation in Mexico and also for the original reasons it was founded - poor infrastructure and

d i f fi c u l t t e r r a i n , s u p p o r t o f missionaries living in remote

sites and expediting the e m e r g e n c y c a r e

p r o v i d e d b y o u r hospital. Missionaries rea l i ze that l ong drives over rough

terrain are often a waste of time, energy,

and money. In most cases it is more cost effective to fly than

drive. More so, the multiple benefits of flying are becoming more obvious and even necessary for the missionaries that we serve.

We have been thankful for the opportunity to use aviation in the service of the Lord. Consequently, an area of concern is that this ministry will be an effective instrument for the spread of the gospel. As a result, we strive to ensure that the focus always remains on promoting growth of the kingdom of God through who we serve and in all that we do. As well, we try to serve and have a good testimony among our Tarahumara neighbors and others who come in contact with the work. Glory to God, over the years we’ve seen it be a blessing, both to those flown and those supported, as they know we serve the Lord and care for them.

M e x i c o M e d i c a l M i s s i o n s • 4 0 0 1 C R 1 1 4 • G l e n w o o d S p r i n g s , c o • 9 1 5 . 4 4 9 . 2 1 8 9

As already touched upon, the aviation ministry grew in several ways during 2011. In addition to the rebirth of the SuperCub, which is now filling many areas of need, the shop was finished and two new runways were constructed to support remote clinics. The Hardin and Egolf families grew in leaps and bounds as the apartments were privy again to the sounds of crying babies – and exhausted parents who haven’t slept since…not good for flight safety! On March 5th, 2011 Carmen (Mark’s wife) gave birth three weeks early to a 5.8 lb healthy little girl. Exactly one month later, Delia (Dave’s wife) gave birth to an 8.8 lb healthy little boy.

In the remote village of Nararachi Pioneer missionaries are operating a small Christian medical clinic. When a patient has needs that can’t be met in their clinic, they contact us to see if our hospital can provide the treatment required. If so, a medical evacuation flight is initiated. 15 minutes in the air replaces eleven hours of difficult driving to reach our hospital, and prevents the alternative of eight hours over rough roads to a city hospital. Since one goal at both their clinic and ours is to keep patients out of the government hospitals, the preference is for a flight to our hospital. In our clinics they are exposed to the gospel of Christ and can receive better care. Keeping them closer to home also makes visitation easier for family members and gives them an opportunity to hear the gospel as well. Going to the city can be very intimidating to people in this culture. In one case, a Tarahumara lady sat in the waiting room of a Government hospital in the city for three days because she didn’t speak Spanish and was afraid to do anything. Situations like these are helping to define the role aviation plays in the spread of the Gospel and in promoting unity among the different ministries in our region. * In an effort to encourage and support local missionaries with food, medicine, and supplies on a more regular basis we are planning the establishment of a weekly or bi-weekly flight circuit. This route will serve different agencies in our region. Lord willing, it will be operational within the next few months as we learn how to best serve those missionaries. * We want to thank you for supporting the aviation ministry through prayer, financial support and encouragement. By the Lords grace, we received sufficient funding for all of our flights to date. If we continue operating at the same rate as the first quarter of this year, we will, however, need more than received in 2011 in order to keep serving. We anticipate the number of flights to actually triple for the year. As previously mentioned, the danger of traveling the roads has continued to worsen, cementing the need to avoid them whenever possible. The hospital no longer dispatches its ambulance after dark, even though day or night doesn’t seem to make a difference anymore. It appears that more robberies are occurring during the day now, but this is probably due to the fact that people don’t drive at night. Consequently, we are striving to transport our missionaries by air whenever possible. God is faithful to His purpose for His great name’s sake and will continue to provide for growth of this ministry. Please pray with us to stay focused on Him and keep seeking His will for the expansion of the kingdom through the aviation. It has proven to be an invaluable tool for service here in the Sierra Tarahumara.

M e x i c o M e d i c a l M i s s i o n s • 4 0 0 1 C R 1 1 4 • G l e n w o o d S p r i n g s , c o • 9 1 5 . 4 4 9 . 2 1 8 9

MMM AVIATION

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Mexico Medical Missions4001 County Road 114

Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

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