I was a nurse before I was
a pilot. And I love nursing!
00:00:50.96\00:00:53.93
But I also love flying. And
so to keep up some of my nursing
00:00:53.96\00:00:58.77
skills, and also to reach out to
the community and just get more
00:00:58.80\00:01:02.21
involved with the people,
I like going out to different
00:01:02.24\00:01:04.59
homes and taking blood
sugars and blood pressures.
00:01:04.62\00:01:07.88
And just making
sure that everyone's ok.
00:01:07.91\00:01:09.67
It's just a good way to
get to know the people better.
00:01:09.70\00:01:12.29
In order for Laura to reach
these villagers, she must travel
00:01:12.32\00:01:15.78
a minimum of thirty-five minutes
by the only transportation
00:01:15.81\00:01:19.34
she has available to her,
their families' dirt bike.
00:01:19.37\00:01:22.65
Today she is going to
the village of Tobago.
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The clay roads she must travel
are not maintained and create
00:01:25.57\00:01:29.01
a tricky commute. They are
riddled with pot holes, washouts
00:01:29.04\00:01:32.51
and many hidden dangers.
00:01:32.54\00:01:34.22
Laura is determined
to reach these villagers.
00:01:34.25\00:01:37.20
She has many excuses that could
hold her back from making this
00:01:37.23\00:01:40.64
journey; yet, she dismisses
them all and drives on.
00:01:40.67\00:01:44.04
Tobago is a small village and
they all hear her approaching
00:01:45.22\00:01:48.72
motorcycle and start gathering
to see who their visitor is.
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Laura has been to this village
multiple times so she is no
00:01:52.25\00:01:56.29
stranger to them. She knows
many of the village members and
00:01:56.32\00:01:59.95
as soon as they see
her, they invite her
00:01:59.98\00:02:02.31
into their humble homes.
00:02:02.34\00:02:03.80
Good afternoon Auntie!
John you're here! How are you?
00:02:04.36\00:02:10.10
I am here. We are at the
village of Tobago and I am going
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to be checking some sugars
and pressures. It's hard for
00:02:18.98\00:02:21.63
them to get to the hospital
because most of them can only
00:02:21.66\00:02:24.10
walk and it's about a half an
hour motorcycle ride so to walk,
00:02:24.13\00:02:27.03
it takes a long time and
they can't afford a bus fair
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I come out here to do
this every now and then.
00:02:29.27\00:02:31.62
Immediately, the villagers start
appearing. Since she visits
00:02:32.41\00:02:36.42
regularly, the people of Tobago
know that she is here to check
00:02:36.45\00:02:40.09
on their health, an
offer them free blood pressure
00:02:40.12\00:02:43.14
and blood sugar screenings.
00:02:43.17\00:02:45.04
The villagers aren't shy
about getting their checkups.
00:02:45.75\00:02:48.50
They quickly pile in
to visit with Nurse Laura.
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Like does it hurt
here? Or over here? No
00:02:52.06\00:02:55.11
More that side? Yah...
00:02:55.72\00:02:57.46
Anything else wrong? Or
just head ache? Head ache.
00:02:58.98\00:03:01.82
Do you own any shades?
00:03:01.85\00:03:03.77
Huh? Do you have shades
upon your eyes? No. Eyeshade.
00:03:03.80\00:03:09.39
Eyeshades? You got eyeshades?
She said if you got them.
00:03:09.42\00:03:12.38
Yah me get one. You should wear
them anytime you're outside.
00:03:12.41\00:03:16.11
Sometimes you get head ache
because the sun is so bright
00:03:17.14\00:03:19.96
upon your eyes. YES! YES! Yah so
you need to wear your eyeshades.
00:03:19.99\00:03:24.03
The next thing is, do you read?
Do you read books? Do you read?
00:03:24.99\00:03:31.79
No? Yes read. You read? Yes.
Sometimes if your eyes are gone
00:03:31.82\00:03:39.10
bad like when you're
reading or something,
00:03:39.13\00:03:41.74
maybe you need glasses to wear.
00:03:41.77\00:03:43.80
Yes. But you'd have to check
with an eye doctor for that.
00:03:43.83\00:03:47.16
There is one next thing that
causes your head to hurt and
00:03:48.18\00:03:51.42
that is not enough water.
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How many glasses of water do you
drink every day? Yes. How many?
00:03:54.30\00:03:59.71
How many you drink every day?
00:04:00.44\00:04:02.25
Like how many
glasses of water a day?
00:04:06.54\00:04:08.63
Two
00:04:08.66\00:04:10.03
Oh two! How many
should you drink?
00:04:10.06\00:04:13.77
I've told you right?
How many glasses of water
00:04:13.80\00:04:17.18
should you drink every day?
00:04:17.21\00:04:18.67
Eight. Eight! Yay! She's right
Eight cups of water every day.
00:04:22.32\00:04:28.86
Now do you
drink eight cups? Yes.
00:04:29.72\00:04:32.85
Are you lying?
NO You drink eight?
00:04:32.88\00:04:35.30
You drink eight?
Yes. Good for you!
00:04:35.33\00:04:37.83
Do you get head ache?
Yes. You get it still?
00:04:37.86\00:04:42.77
You should drink more water.
Because your blood inside is
00:04:42.80\00:04:49.58
like water right? If
you don't drink water,
00:04:49.61\00:04:53.36
your blood gets
thick - thick like mud.
00:04:53.39\00:04:55.94
If you take a straw, and stick
it in some mud, can you suck?
00:04:55.97\00:05:00.74
If you take a straw and
you stick it in a glass of mud.
00:05:01.74\00:05:06.12
You know what mud is?
What's mud? Water and dirt.
00:05:06.15\00:05:09.88
Can you suck? No. So when
your blood gets thick - thick,
00:05:09.91\00:05:15.55
its hard on your heart. You
have to drink more water. Okay?
00:05:15.58\00:05:21.04
So like tomorrow or today, I
want you to drink three glasses.
00:05:21.07\00:05:27.53
The next day I
want you to drink four.
00:05:28.97\00:05:31.71
The next day, five.
Every day add one more glass.
00:05:31.74\00:05:36.13
Or like this is what I do. Take
a bottle, fill it up and every
00:05:36.16\00:05:44.44
day, drink the whole thing.
Alright? So then you'll know
00:05:44.47\00:05:49.42
how much you drank. And
then you'll feel better.
00:05:49.45\00:05:52.16
It's good for your
pressure it's good for headache.
00:05:52.19\00:05:55.70
Good if your bones are
aching sometimes. Okay?
00:05:55.73\00:05:59.61
Alright, your pressure's
good. Your pressure's good.
00:05:59.64\00:06:03.00
By the time she is finished with
her first patient, Laura already
00:06:04.41\00:06:08.08
has a very curious audience.
Because Tobago is so remote,
00:06:08.11\00:06:12.77
it doesn't often get
visitors. So when it does,
00:06:12.80\00:06:16.27
they become quite the spectacle.
00:06:16.30\00:06:18.25
I don't find a
whole lot of hyper-tension
00:06:18.28\00:06:21.09
out in these areas.
00:06:21.12\00:06:22.58
Certainly not as much as in the
States. And you actually find
00:06:22.61\00:06:26.06
more, interestingly enough,
with the town people who have
00:06:26.09\00:06:28.58
more access to fattening foods.
00:06:28.61\00:06:30.04
102 over 58. That's low.
how low? Not too low. It's ok!
00:06:40.97\00:06:46.64
Does your head swing?
No. Okay. You're doing good.
00:06:46.67\00:06:50.03
Are you drinking lots of water?
Yes. How many glasses a day?
00:06:51.04\00:06:54.89
One cup. That's not plenty!
You need to be drinking eight
00:06:54.92\00:07:03.89
or ten a day. A day? But
don't start with ten in one day
00:07:03.92\00:07:09.34
cause you're going to drown. But
if you start today, drink two.
00:07:09.37\00:07:12.98
If you usually drink
one, today drink two.
00:07:13.01\00:07:15.24
Tomorrow drink
three. The next day, four.
00:07:15.27\00:07:18.97
Everyday just add
a little bit more.
00:07:19.00\00:07:20.41
Not drinking enough water is one
of the main problems that I've
00:07:21.11\00:07:24.81
seen here. And that just
inter relates with so many other
00:07:24.84\00:07:27.24
medical problems here.
00:07:27.27\00:07:28.66
I'll ask someone "how
much water do you drink?"
00:07:28.69\00:07:31.47
And they will say "Oh
I drink plenty plenty!"
00:07:31.50\00:07:33.91
But then when I... How many
glasses, when I ask them exactly
00:07:33.94\00:07:37.24
how many glasses do you drink.
They will say "mmm... one or
00:07:37.27\00:07:40.22
two" and these are moms who
are pregnant and they are only
00:07:40.25\00:07:43.73
drinking one or two glasses a
day. So, I've been doing a lot
00:07:43.76\00:07:46.36
of education to drink more
water It's hot. It's humid here.
00:07:46.39\00:07:49.90
And I think there is a lot
of problems that could be solved
00:07:49.93\00:07:52.99
if they just drink a little more
water. So I've been trying to do
00:07:53.02\00:07:56.02
a lot of education with
that. Along with education about
00:07:56.05\00:07:59.74
diabetes,
hypertension and eating.
00:07:59.77\00:08:03.51
Because the main diet here
is white rice. And so we've been
00:08:03.54\00:08:07.93
trying to implement ideas
so they can eat more fiber
00:08:07.96\00:08:12.61
and more fruits
and more vegetables.
00:08:12.64\00:08:14.01
Everyone from young children,
to the elderly, come and
00:08:14.04\00:08:18.13
investigate all the commotion.
00:08:18.16\00:08:20.46
Laura spends a few hours seeing
patients. She doesn't turn
00:08:20.49\00:08:24.59
anyone away and
checks blood pressures
00:08:24.62\00:08:27.01
on every outstretched arm.
00:08:27.04\00:08:28.99
Thankfully, everyone seems
to be in good health today.
00:08:29.02\00:08:33.09
Before she leaves, Laura has
one more task for this morning.
00:08:33.12\00:08:37.98
She has goodies for the young
children. Donors from North
00:08:38.01\00:08:42.25
America often ship down barrels
of supplies for the missionaries
00:08:42.28\00:08:46.73
This often includes
clothing, small stuffed toys,
00:08:46.76\00:08:50.24
shoes and books.
00:08:50.27\00:08:52.09
Laura likes to document all the
gifts that she hands out so she
00:08:53.09\00:08:56.66
can send pictures back to
the donors and they can see what
00:08:56.69\00:09:00.09
an impact they have made. She
also sends her images back to
00:09:00.12\00:09:03.94
AWA headquarters in
Wisconsin to include
00:09:03.97\00:09:07.74
in their quarterly magazine.
00:09:07.77\00:09:09.14
Despite their typical stoic
nature, the children can't help
00:09:09.57\00:09:13.36
but crack a smile as
they hold their new gifts.
00:09:13.39\00:09:16.25
They don't often have
opportunities to get toys.
00:09:16.28\00:09:19.40
Most of them only play with
things they create themselves
00:09:19.43\00:09:22.76
from rags and twigs. So a new
stuffed toy is quite a treat.
00:09:22.79\00:09:27.46
Even the adolescent boys
can't mask their excitement
00:09:30.17\00:09:33.27
over their new book. They crow
together and immediately begin
00:09:33.30\00:09:37.76
scanning the pages. Since most
of them do not attend school,
00:09:37.79\00:09:41.85
they aren't able to read well
at all. But they don't let that
00:09:41.88\00:09:45.55
stop them from trying. They
all crowd together to sound the
00:09:45.58\00:09:49.83
words out and begin to decipher
the story within the book.
00:09:49.86\00:09:53.83
Laura finishes her
tasks for this morning.
00:10:09.37\00:10:11.54
Her backpack is empty and
the townspeople have smiles
00:10:11.57\00:10:15.09
on their faces. But they
aren't just smiling because of
00:10:15.12\00:10:18.07
the gifts that
the children receive.
00:10:18.10\00:10:19.87
The people of Tobago
are very fond of Laura.
00:10:19.90\00:10:23.08
She has built relationships and
friendship with these people.
00:10:23.11\00:10:26.76
Before she leaves, she
encourages a group of boys
00:10:26.79\00:10:30.09
that she gave a book to.
00:10:30.12\00:10:31.52
A cassava farmer? What you wanna
be? Well you can't be pilot or
00:10:31.55\00:10:38.55
doctor or pastor, none of those
things if don't study your math
00:10:38.58\00:10:41.93
and English. Right? You got
to be in school, study hard.
00:10:41.96\00:10:46.93
Cause you guys look like
you're smart. You look smart.
00:10:46.96\00:10:50.86
Let me see... Actually you look
really smart. What about you?
00:10:50.89\00:10:54.26
Let me see. Wow you look really
smart! And you're not even
00:10:54.29\00:10:57.78
in school? I know! You
can grow up to be a teacher.
00:10:57.81\00:11:01.68
You can come back and teach
everyone. Wouldn't that be cool?
00:11:01.71\00:11:04.43
But you can't do that if
you don't go to school right?
00:11:04.46\00:11:06.53
Alright.
00:11:08.51\00:11:09.88
It's been a
productive visit here in Tobago.
00:11:09.94\00:11:12.28
She has checked
many blood pressures
00:11:12.31\00:11:14.32
and tested for diabetes.
But there is still much to do
00:11:14.35\00:11:17.71
today so Laura climbs back on
her bike and begins her journey
00:11:17.74\00:11:21.67
back to Mabaruma to see what
00:11:21.70\00:11:23.61
the rest of the
missionaries are doing today.
00:11:23.64\00:11:25.80
Guyana is a third world country.
00:11:35.88\00:11:37.94
a lot of them, how
they survive around here
00:11:37.97\00:11:40.82
is by sustenance
living. So they plant cassava
00:11:40.85\00:11:43.65
and maybe a little bora,
which is this long green bean.
00:11:43.68\00:11:47.20
They have little gardens, they
do fishing. And then they try
00:11:47.23\00:11:50.81
to sell whatever
they can in the market.
00:11:50.84\00:11:52.50
And that's pretty much
how they survive out here.
00:11:52.53\00:11:55.33
The villagers come together
on Tuesday and Saturdays to sell
00:11:55.36\00:11:58.29
produce from their
gardens as a source of income.
00:11:58.32\00:12:01.20
The missionaries come to
the market almost every Tuesday
00:12:01.23\00:12:04.12
to buy goods for their families,
but also to interact with the
00:12:04.15\00:12:07.73
neighbors and village
members. They like to use every
00:12:07.76\00:12:10.89
opportunity possible to interact
with the Guyanese and these
00:12:10.92\00:12:14.97
weekly markets are
just one of the many
00:12:15.00\00:12:17.14
opportunities they have.
00:12:17.17\00:12:18.54
The fruits and vegetables here
in Guyana are very different
00:12:18.57\00:12:21.87
from those found in the local
grocery stores in North America.
00:12:21.90\00:12:25.23
Bora are green
beans. Long green beans.
00:12:25.26\00:12:29.48
It took a while for
the missionaries to become
00:12:29.62\00:12:31.89
acquainted with them and
familiar with how to eat them.
00:12:31.92\00:12:34.77
Even after being here for some
time, they still very often see
00:12:34.80\00:12:39.68
new produce in the market that
they have never seen before.
00:12:39.71\00:12:42.93
And so they ask
the vendors about them.
00:12:42.96\00:12:45.62
This is edoe right?
This, you have to cook a lot
00:12:45.65\00:12:50.08
or it makes your throat itchy.
00:12:50.11\00:12:52.35
Is this tina? Yes. See, this is
tina. This is a great big leaf
00:12:56.39\00:13:01.53
like that, and
they cook it like that.
00:13:01.56\00:13:05.64
They skin the... they
take the great big vein out.
00:13:05.67\00:13:09.44
And then chop it up and cook it.
And it's one of their greens.
00:13:09.47\00:13:13.09
Does it grow in the
river? Yah, it grows a lot of.
00:13:13.12\00:13:16.38
It's by my house. So it
grows in, just grows everywhere.
00:13:16.41\00:13:21.43
This often makes the local
Guyanese laugh when they have to
00:13:22.19\00:13:25.45
teach the white ladies how to
eat and cook their local foods.
00:13:25.48\00:13:29.21
But the missionaries don't mind.
It's a way for them to bond
00:13:29.81\00:13:33.41
and connect to each other.
They get instructions on how to
00:13:33.44\00:13:36.64
prepare the produce, recipes and
they even let Karen and Chrystal
00:13:36.67\00:13:41.68
sample the fruits,
they are not familiar with.
00:13:41.71\00:13:44.57
Okay, I haven't seen this one
then. Is this like kuru? No no.
00:13:45.71\00:13:49.64
We just eat that? Yes, the
same except the skin. Nice.
00:13:53.87\00:13:58.11
Do I shallow the seeds?
Yah yah... I like it. Sour.
00:14:03.00\00:14:10.67
Sour and sweet at the same
time. The seeds are crunchy.
00:14:11.83\00:14:16.06
And it's all slimy.
Summatu. Right? Summatu.
00:14:16.09\00:14:21.72
Yes, did you like it? Yah, I do.
I think my kids will like it.
00:14:21.75\00:14:27.15
Ok akuru, you are familiar with
akuru, ok my son burst it open
00:14:28.35\00:14:35.14
the other day and it's like
a coconut, it has a nut inside,
00:14:35.17\00:14:38.67
but the nut is no the nut
is no good. You can't eat it?
00:14:38.70\00:14:40.42
No, it's too hard. We were
like... I was like I want to
00:14:40.45\00:14:44.88
taste it but it
was... It is very hard.
00:14:44.91\00:14:46.28
So it's not related to coconut
or anything that you know.
00:14:46.31\00:14:50.03
Because I'm thinking,
because I don't like akuru,
00:14:50.06\00:14:52.87
I don't like eating it, I'm
thinking maybe, it's the nut
00:14:52.90\00:14:56.14
we are supposed to be
eating and not the outside.
00:14:56.17\00:14:58.68
This is karila. Which is
very very very very very very,
00:14:59.11\00:15:03.04
I can't go on enough with
verys bitter. How do you eat it?
00:15:03.07\00:15:08.14
You burst it, scrape it
out, and you chip it small.
00:15:09.22\00:15:12.83
And you need to soak it
in vinegar, a little salt,
00:15:12.86\00:15:15.30
and you mash it. And
then you squeeze it out dry.
00:15:15.33\00:15:18.93
You eat that? Like once a week?
Yes, some people eat it green
00:15:21.07\00:15:25.46
just like this.
00:15:25.49\00:15:26.86
They say if it doesn't kill
you it makes you stronger right?
00:15:26.89\00:15:28.93
Yes, it does, It does. Alight.
00:15:28.96\00:15:31.75
That's akuru. Yah.
This is yellow inside.
00:15:31.78\00:15:35.90
And they spread it on cassava
bread. Like butter. Right? Yes.
00:15:36.84\00:15:41.27
There's not a lot of flavor,
like butter doesn't have a lot
00:15:41.30\00:15:44.70
of particular
flavor. This doesn't either.
00:15:44.73\00:15:47.11
But some of them
are sweeter than others.
00:15:47.14\00:15:49.93
But you can't just bite into
all the fruits here in Guyana.
00:15:55.03\00:15:58.32
See it's got a nut
right in the middle. A pit.
00:15:58.35\00:16:02.31
And just eat it off of that.
00:16:02.34\00:16:04.18
Many of them have thick hard
shells or large seeds in the
00:16:04.38\00:16:07.92
middle, some of the foods in
the market are even poisonous
00:16:07.95\00:16:11.47
unless they are properly cooked.
00:16:11.50\00:16:13.26
Oh I see, I didn't do it right.
So she is going to show us
00:16:13.46\00:16:15.69
how to do it right. Oh Akuru?
00:16:15.72\00:16:17.50
So Karen and Chrystal
ask plenty of questions
00:16:17.70\00:16:20.83
to make sure that they are going
to safely feed their families.
00:16:20.86\00:16:25.01
The pilots usually do all
the shopping when they have
00:16:29.57\00:16:32.22
a layover in Georgetown, but if
there aren't any med-evac's or
00:16:32.25\00:16:36.25
layovers for a while, the wives
have to stock up an make do
00:16:36.28\00:16:40.67
with what they can
get at this local shop.
00:16:40.70\00:16:43.38
Every trip to the market is
an adventure for these ladies,
00:16:43.41\00:16:46.82
and their families never know
just what kind of treats or new
00:16:46.85\00:16:50.86
foods they are going
to bring home for supper.
00:16:50.89\00:16:53.30
Produce isn't the only
thing for sale on market days.
00:16:54.37\00:16:57.25
There are also small
shanties filled with clothing,
00:16:57.65\00:17:00.66
house wares and even a mini
grocery store. The market is
00:17:00.69\00:17:05.59
flooded with unique
items for sale today.
00:17:05.62\00:17:08.03
The missionaries don't have the
option of going to a large super
00:17:08.06\00:17:11.46
market and buying food so
instead, they must shop around
00:17:11.49\00:17:15.74
from vendor to vendor
finding the items they need.
00:17:15.77\00:17:19.17
I'm going to make
pepper pot tonight for Ray.
00:17:21.57\00:17:23.45
Actually I'm not
going to make it.
00:17:23.49\00:17:24.87
I'm going to have my neighbor
come up and help me with it.
00:17:24.90\00:17:27.52
Cassava water has cyanide
in it. And so they'll boil it,
00:17:29.44\00:17:35.87
and they'll skim off the foam.
And they will keep doing it
00:17:35.90\00:17:40.21
till it doesn't foam up anymore,
and then it's safe to eat.
00:17:40.24\00:17:43.21
So they tell me.
00:17:45.08\00:17:46.45
But you never know just what
you will find on market days.
00:17:47.74\00:17:50.81
The ladies explore
around town this morning.
00:17:51.28\00:17:54.15
Today is also fish market. All
these fish however are unclean
00:17:54.18\00:17:59.27
and unsafe to eat.
00:17:59.30\00:18:00.75
There are many gold mines in
Guyana which are unregulated.
00:18:01.05\00:18:04.99
These mines use mercury
in their refining process
00:18:05.19\00:18:08.40
and then just dump the mercury
right back into the river.
00:18:08.43\00:18:11.88
The fish are then
poisoned with the mercury
00:18:12.28\00:18:14.69
and make it unsafe to eat.
00:18:14.72\00:18:16.45
The Guyanese however continue
to eat them and do not know
00:18:16.75\00:18:20.77
how much they are
hurting themselves by
00:18:20.80\00:18:22.91
consuming these fish.
00:18:22.94\00:18:24.33
Karen talks to local
fishermen, but their warnings
00:18:25.56\00:18:28.75
often go un-heeded.
00:18:28.78\00:18:30.38
The last stop of the
morning is the grocery store.
00:18:30.41\00:18:32.98
Here they can buy any dried
foods, pastas and packaged foods
00:18:33.01\00:18:37.82
With their arms and bags
loaded with food, the ladies are
00:18:37.85\00:18:41.68
finally finished
grocery shopping.
00:18:41.71\00:18:43.99
As you can see, it takes much
more work and it is much longer
00:18:44.39\00:18:48.14
then just stopping
at a local supermarket
00:18:48.17\00:18:50.13
to feed their families.
00:18:50.16\00:18:51.53
While the ladies are
in town grocery shopping,
00:18:53.84\00:18:56.23
Jud Wickwire is
also picking up supplies.
00:18:56.63\00:18:59.58
However they are not
for him or his family.
00:18:59.61\00:19:02.61
One of the services the
AWA team frequently helps with
00:19:02.64\00:19:07.05
is delivering supplies to
the remote regional hospitals.
00:19:07.08\00:19:10.71
Jud is in Georgetown, the
capital, where they distribute
00:19:11.44\00:19:14.63
supplies to smaller hospitals
in the remote jungle facilities.
00:19:14.66\00:19:18.99
Jud will be delivering
supplies to the hospital
00:19:19.02\00:19:21.85
in region one today.
00:19:21.88\00:19:23.33
Delivering these supplies is
a huge blessing to the medical
00:19:23.36\00:19:27.11
facility in Mabaruma.
00:19:27.14\00:19:28.90
These hospitals are
stocked with supplies to handle
00:19:28.93\00:19:32.20
and treat minor injuries.
00:19:32.23\00:19:33.97
More critical emergencies
require patients to be
00:19:34.00\00:19:37.31
medi-vaced out to
Georgetown hospital.
00:19:37.34\00:19:39.82
So this time we have a load of
supplies for the regional office
00:19:42.81\00:19:47.48
Some medications
for the hospital,
00:19:48.06\00:19:49.93
a few things for our own team.
00:19:51.42\00:19:53.97
And a staff member for
the regional administration.
00:19:59.78\00:20:02.75
As always, Jud prays for
protection on this flight.
00:20:02.78\00:20:06.33
We ask for protection as we fly.
We ask that You bless the cargo
00:20:06.36\00:20:10.49
as it gets to the intended
use. We just pray in Jesus name,
00:20:10.52\00:20:13.02
Amen, Amen
00:20:13.05\00:20:14.53
With their plane fat with
supplies, Jud turns the plane
00:20:14.56\00:20:19.43
towards the runway.
He is in a hurry today.
00:20:19.46\00:20:22.51
In Guyana, you
cannot fly after dark.
00:20:22.91\00:20:25.16
So he must be quick so that he
is able to reach his destination
00:20:25.36\00:20:28.85
before sundown.
00:20:28.88\00:20:30.66
It takes roughly 2 hours to
fly from Georgetown to Mabaruma,
00:20:30.69\00:20:35.27
if all goes as planned.
00:20:35.30\00:20:37.05
Well the main issue with not
flying at night, is that there
00:20:37.08\00:20:39.00
only one airport in
the country, that's lit.
00:20:39.03\00:20:43.16
That has lights
for night operations.
00:20:43.19\00:20:44.81
That's the international
airport in Georgetown.
00:20:44.84\00:20:46.59
So well in theory, you know
we could, we could, take off
00:20:46.62\00:20:50.77
and fly in dark, you know with
just the lights on the runway
00:20:50.80\00:20:53.01
runway to take off and fly into
that airport, your still looking
00:20:53.04\00:20:56.84
at flying that entire
length of distance over terrain
00:20:56.87\00:21:01.73
that has no
lighting what so ever.
00:21:01.76\00:21:03.13
There's no navigation aid, no
emergency help, and in a single
00:21:03.16\00:21:08.01
engine at night, it's
just, it's not good practice.
00:21:08.04\00:21:11.30
The two hour flight
goes by quickly and soon Jud
00:21:11.33\00:21:15.46
is circling the
Mabaruma air strip.
00:21:15.49\00:21:17.66
The run way is clear and he
is ready to make his approach.
00:21:17.69\00:21:21.11
He coasts towards the pavement,
with all the much needed
00:21:21.14\00:21:24.98
supplies and at last
his tires touch the runway.
00:21:25.01\00:21:28.41
Now it's time to
unload. Unfortunately,
00:21:28.44\00:21:32.57
there is a serious
theft problem here in Guyana.
00:21:32.60\00:21:35.21
To insure that the
supplies make it from the plane
00:21:36.23\00:21:38.69
to the hospital,
armed personnel are assigned
00:21:38.72\00:21:41.94
to travel with the supplies.
00:21:41.97\00:21:43.82
Jud and the men
begin to unload the plane.
00:21:43.85\00:21:46.34
Bags and boxes of supplies
are loaded into the back
00:21:46.84\00:21:49.92
of a pickup truck under
the watchful eye of the guard.
00:21:49.95\00:21:53.28
But one by one the
boxes are unloaded.
00:21:54.17\00:21:56.54
Even Jud is amazed at
how much he is able to
00:21:57.04\00:21:59.79
squeeze into the plane.
00:21:59.89\00:22:01.39
Although it seems like a long
day for the AWA missionaries,
00:22:06.44\00:22:09.81
it still is not over.
00:22:09.84\00:22:11.37
To finish off the day, Greg
and Chrystal VanFasson open up
00:22:11.97\00:22:15.95
their home for Bible
studies with the local Guyanese.
00:22:15.98\00:22:19.19
The VanFossons have
multiple Bible studies
00:22:19.90\00:22:22.23
throughout each week.
Sometimes in their homes,
00:22:22.26\00:22:25.14
other times they travel
to the villager's homes.
00:22:25.18\00:22:28.43
For them this is one of the most
important mission opportunities
00:22:28.46\00:22:33.40
that they have, to be able
to read and teach the scriptures
00:22:33.43\00:22:37.66
with people they have
move to Guyana to minister to.
00:22:37.69\00:22:40.72
My husband and I came to
Guyana because we felt like
00:22:42.06\00:22:44.08
God was asking us to be here.
00:22:44.11\00:22:45.77
My parents are missionaries
because they are helping
00:22:45.80\00:22:49.59
the community and stuff.
00:22:49.62\00:22:50.99
I think my mom and
dad enjoy being here
00:22:51.02\00:22:53.85
because they're helping people.
00:22:53.88\00:22:58.90
Well while we're down here
in Guyana we live on people
00:22:59.10\00:23:02.19
hiring us, essentially, to
do things that they can't do.
00:23:02.22\00:23:05.91
So when someone sends monthly
support down here, to help us,
00:23:05.94\00:23:10.07
it's like hiring a
missionary to go and do
00:23:10.10\00:23:12.80
what they cannot do themselves.
00:23:12.83\00:23:15.30
The transition from Greg having
a consistent income and we
00:23:15.80\00:23:22.81
knowing what we were getting
every month, to coming to Guyana
00:23:22.84\00:23:26.37
and being faith based is
definitely faith building.
00:23:26.40\00:23:32.38
It's not necessarily easy,
but God has never failed us.
00:23:32.41\00:23:36.87
The pay. The pay is not great
when it comes to monetary goods.
00:23:37.17\00:23:42.23
But the pay is VERY good when
it comes to spiritual goods.
00:23:43.77\00:23:48.05
There are two and three quarter
billion people in the world,
00:23:48.20\00:23:51.38
according to the Joshua Project,
that have never heard the gospel
00:23:51.41\00:23:54.05
of Jesus Christ. Eight hundred
million of those can be reached
00:23:54.08\00:23:58.07
only by airplane. AWA is
about bringing the gospel
00:23:58.10\00:24:03.20
of Jesus Christ, into the
interior of Guyana to people
00:24:03.23\00:24:06.84
who are difficult to reach.
We use airplanes as a tool
00:24:06.87\00:24:10.32
to do that.
00:24:10.35\00:24:11.72
Airplanes are a
tool that we use;
00:24:12.09\00:24:14.66
they are not the
primary activity.
00:24:14.70\00:24:17.24
One of the most important
things to understand is that,
00:24:18.36\00:24:20.27
even though Adventist World
Aviation is about aviation,
00:24:20.30\00:24:24.05
aviation is only a
background item, honestly.
00:24:24.08\00:24:26.52
The whole idea, is
leading souls to Jesus Christ.
00:24:26.55\00:24:30.11
And the airplane opens the door,
but in order to be able to share
00:24:30.14\00:24:34.81
the message, we need
people and we need materials.
00:24:34.84\00:24:38.55
We need books and Bibles
and these types of things
00:24:38.58\00:24:40.91
to hand out. Tracks, any of
those items that we could use.
00:24:40.94\00:24:44.61
Although the team is limited
to materials and supplies,
00:24:44.82\00:24:47.69
they do not let that
stop them from being generous
00:24:47.72\00:24:50.77
and sharing
everything they have.
00:24:50.80\00:24:52.62
They fully believe that God
will provide them with more,
00:24:52.65\00:24:56.12
and faithfully bless others
with any materials they receive.
00:24:56.15\00:25:00.71
As a Seventh-Day Adventist
Christian, we all understand
00:25:02.70\00:25:04.78
that time is very short.
00:25:04.81\00:25:06.18
We understand the
prophecies; we get all of that,
00:25:06.21\00:25:08.35
that we are very close to
the second coming of Christ.
00:25:08.38\00:25:10.64
Yet, when we read publications
that are put out missiologist,
00:25:10.67\00:25:15.32
or those that study missions,
we get this conflicting number
00:25:15.35\00:25:18.00
that even though we're living
in the last days, forty percent
00:25:18.03\00:25:20.82
of the world, thirty-five
to forty percent of the world,
00:25:20.85\00:25:22.87
is still considered unreached
with the gospel message.
00:25:22.90\00:25:25.81
Of that forty percent, we're
told that eight hundred million
00:25:25.84\00:25:29.76
people live beyond geographic
barriers, where the only way
00:25:29.79\00:25:34.18
that they' re ever going to
hear about the gospel message
00:25:34.21\00:25:36.26
is if somebody actually goes
there to share it with them.
00:25:36.29\00:25:38.71
They may not have access to
electricity, they don't have
00:25:38.74\00:25:41.10
internet, they don't have
phones, they don't have TV.
00:25:41.13\00:25:43.49
And in some cases they're
so difficult to get to that the
00:25:43.52\00:25:45.94
only way to get there, is
by aircraft. And that's why
00:25:45.97\00:25:48.92
aviation is going to play a very
important role in reaching the
00:25:48.95\00:25:52.03
unreached in the last
days just before Jesus comes.
00:25:52.06\00:25:54.53
I'm a seed planter. I don't know
what the effects are exactly,
00:25:54.56\00:25:59.94
what the impact. I see
evidence when I ask questions
00:25:59.97\00:26:03.19
for examples of the individuals
I'm doing Bible studies with.
00:26:03.22\00:26:08.51
I see very, I get
very positive responses.
00:26:08.54\00:26:13.06
It's a little bit humbling when
somebody tells you that God has
00:26:13.09\00:26:19.37
sent you to give
them Bible studies.
00:26:19.40\00:26:21.89
It is undeniable that the entire
team is making a profound impact
00:26:21.92\00:26:26.09
in region one in Guyana.
00:26:26.12\00:26:28.35
Almost every direction they turn
there are people whose lives
00:26:28.85\00:26:32.73
they have touched, be it with
the airplane and medi-vac's,
00:26:32.76\00:26:36.20
or medical services or
simple day to day ministry.
00:26:36.23\00:26:40.11
They have
transformed this region
00:26:40.14\00:26:42.06
by showing the love of
God. And they feel blessed to be
00:26:42.09\00:26:45.85
called to this opportunity.
00:26:45.88\00:26:47.88
One of the things that, I really
had my eyes opened to when
00:26:47.91\00:26:51.32
I first came to Guyana. I
always thought of missionaries
00:26:51.35\00:26:53.87
as being people that are
out there, pounding on doors
00:26:53.90\00:26:56.20
and just shoving Bibles down
people's throats. And you know,
00:26:56.23\00:26:59.09
trying to get their message
and their agenda across to them.
00:26:59.12\00:27:02.27
And after I got down here,
I really realized that really
00:27:02.30\00:27:04.73
isn't necessarily what
mission work is all about.
00:27:04.76\00:27:06.75
It is about sharing the gospel
message. But a lot of times
00:27:06.78\00:27:10.32
a sermon lived, is worth much
more than a sermon preached.
00:27:10.35\00:27:14.73
And when you go down, and
you live among a people, and you
00:27:14.76\00:27:16.90
show them love, you
will show them Jesus Christ.
00:27:16.93\00:27:20.60
By living among them, helping
them with their difficulties
00:27:20.63\00:27:23.02
and their problems,
they will want to know more
00:27:23.05\00:27:25.35
about what you know.
00:27:25.38\00:27:26.75
What makes you this way? Why do
you come here and do these types
00:27:26.78\00:27:28.66
of things for us? And it gives
you a chance to tell them about
00:27:28.69\00:27:31.53
the love of God, and then Bible
studies just follow naturally
00:27:31.56\00:27:34.16
because they want to understand
more about what you believe.
00:27:34.19\00:27:37.01
It's the greatest joy on earth,
and I can't imagine why we
00:27:37.04\00:27:41.26
as human beings don't do more
of it. But I can guarantee you,
00:27:41.29\00:27:44.73
coming to the mission field and
working in an area like this,
00:27:44.76\00:27:47.02
you get opportunities
to do it every single day.
00:27:47.05\00:27:49.90
Your happiness batteries get
recharged each day you're here.
00:27:49.93\00:27:52.74
You know, sharing your
faith like that, strengthens
00:27:53.84\00:27:56.11
your own faith. And each
day you discover more victory,
00:27:56.14\00:27:59.58
and more, more success
in your Christian walk.
00:27:59.61\00:28:02.30
Jesus said in the great Gospel
Commission in Matthew 28:19-20
00:28:03.34\00:28:07.38
that we are to go
into all the world!
00:28:07.41\00:28:09.38
Well, Adventist World Aviation
is dedicated to doing just that!
00:28:09.41\00:28:13.37
There are between six and a
half and seven billion people
00:28:13.40\00:28:16.61
now living on planet earth.
And two billion of them have
00:28:16.64\00:28:19.95
never heard of Jesus.
00:28:19.98\00:28:21.81
Of the two billion,
eight hundred million
00:28:21.95\00:28:24.67
of them can only be reached
like means like aircraft.
00:28:24.70\00:28:27.65
or through aviation support.
00:28:27.68\00:28:29.81
We go into the
un-reached areas of the world.
00:28:29.84\00:28:33.24
What we find when we go in there
00:28:33.54\00:28:35.16
we find death and
disease and despair.
00:28:35.19\00:28:37.85
What we bring them is
hope, health and life.
00:28:39.18\00:28:42.35
And a great Gospel
message that Jesus loves them.
00:28:42.38\00:28:45.21
That there is somebody
out there, who does care.
00:28:45.24\00:28:47.53
They often ask,
why do you do this?
00:28:48.54\00:28:50.55
We say, because Jesus loves you!
00:28:51.31\00:28:52.83
And so the message that we
bring them is absolute hope.
00:28:53.47\00:28:56.97
Since it's inception, 1995,
AWA, or Adventist World Aviation
00:28:57.00\00:29:02.12
has been able to relieve
over thirty five epidemics.
00:29:02.15\00:29:04.66
We've literally flown
millions of missionary miles.
00:29:04.69\00:29:08.63
We are relieving the pain
and suffering of those who live
00:29:08.66\00:29:11.14
in these remote parts
of the world. Helping them.
00:29:11.17\00:29:13.26
Will you pray for us! We need
prayer more than anything else!
00:29:14.06\00:29:17.03
If you like more information
please contact this station
00:29:17.53\00:29:20.65
3 Angels Broadcasting Network,
or call the number on the screen
00:29:20.68\00:29:24.63
Thanks for watching!
00:29:24.66\00:29:26.03