Adventist World Aviation
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has a mission outpost
in Guyana, South America,
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servicing the
northwestern part of the country
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with Aviation
Services, such as medivacs,
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delivering supplies,
and spreading the gospel.
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This mission outpost
has been in existence
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for well over 10
years now and just thriving.
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They use
airplanes as a vital tool
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to serve the
local Guyanese people
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and share the love
of Jesus with them.
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There is such a great
need for emergency flights
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from deep in the jungle
that they need two aircrafts
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to keep up with the
flight request demands.
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The LaBore family
lives in a very remote area
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in the
northwestern part of Guyana.
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This region is
completely isolated
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from the rest of Guyana
by lush jungles and rivers.
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There are no road systems
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from where they
live to Georgetown,
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the capital of Guyana.
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Everything they need
to maintain their project
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must be flown in,
including parts to repair
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their motor vehicles.
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Although their land travel
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is limited to short
distances near their outpost,
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having ground transportation
for their ministry is vital.
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Living in Mabaruma,
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you pretty much
live a reactive life
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where you have a
plan for the day.
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Let's say you get out
of bed, you say, okay,
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I'm going to do
this, this and this today.
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Part of that day might
involve a vehicle, you know,
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like your truck or
whatever the case may be
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and you go out in the
truck and start to drive
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and all sudden
something happens and it breaks
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and now everything
is turned upside down.
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Or the motorcycle won't start.
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And so what do you do with that?
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Or you go to run the generator
so you can work at your desk,
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do computer work and
generator won't start,
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you know, there's...
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You're out of
fuel, you got to go down
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to the market to buy fuel,
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which takes about an
hour of your day to go get
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a five gallon fuel tank filled.
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Adventist World
Aviation projects
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are very
important, but their ministry
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is not solely
concentrated on medivac flights.
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Spreading the
good news of God's love
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is the most important.
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A large part of
the Guyana project
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involves
conducting Bible studies
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and church services
in outlying villages.
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AWA must have
dependable vehicles
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to transport the missionaries.
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However, this
is easier said than
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done in this road
terrain of Guyana.
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The road conditions
are tough on vehicles,
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and they need
frequent maintenance
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to keep them rolling.
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A broken-down
vehicle can really upset
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the missionary's
plans for the day or week.
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Last week, Bill LaBore noticed
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the fault
before truck was making
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some unusual sounds.
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After a quick assessment,
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he determined that they needed
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to change the
shocks on the truck.
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Laura flew the needed
parts back from Georgetown
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and today Bill is taking
the truck in for repairs.
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Well, when we
first moved out here,
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we didn't really have
any transportation at all,
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we used public
transportation and buses.
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At that time,
there's only about four
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or five vehicles
in all of Mabaruma.
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And, but after about six months
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or so maybe a year we got
when the Wickwires over here,
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we acquired an Arctic Prowler,
which is a little ATV vehicle.
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And we work that
thing to the max.
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And sometimes we carry as much
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as 12 to 13
people on that thing,
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that's only built for four.
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Just so we can get around
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and we have to
do Sabbath school,
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great Sabbath
school programs near or so.
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Now also hauling cargo back
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and forth to the
airstrip have it loaded up,
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we have some two or three trips
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sometimes to get
everything back to the house.
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And then it
became readily apparent
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that we had to get a
real vehicle, you know,
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like a 4x4 because
this just wasn't happening.
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The project was getting busier,
doing a lot more flights.
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So we just had to do it,
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so we put out the
feeler out there for people
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that might be interested
in supporting such project
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and the Lord
moved people's hearts
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and we receive some
pretty major donations
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for the vehicle.
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And then we purchased this one,
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has been a
tremendous blessing to us.
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In fact, it's
become irreplaceable.
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I don't know how we'd
survive without it anymore.
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It would be very difficult.
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The roads in this
village are horribly neglected.
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The potholes are so
terrible that it's impossible
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to drive more
than 20 miles an hour.
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The abuse that the
road places on vehicles
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is very destructive.
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However, the
missionaries have no choice
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and they must
travel on these roads
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and continue to spread
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the message of
Jesus Christ's love.
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Back in colonial days,
back in prior to the 60s,
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and they put
asphalt roads in here and,
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but they have
not maintained them
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so what they do
during the rainy season,
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potholes develop everywhere.
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And they're deep, and
they're very, very hard
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on all the vehicles here.
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Now when the rainy season ends
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and they put in with actually
this rock that they dig up,
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that's only lasts
for a month or two
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and then it goes right
back to the way it was.
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Which is why the springs
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of our vehicle
are currently broke
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because, you know,
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driving on this, this terrain
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is very, very
punishing for suspension systems
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on automobiles.
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So it's a very rough terrain.
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This is nothing, I
mean, you go out to like Wona,
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one of the villages we work
in, that road is just, well,
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it's better than it used to be,
but it's still horrible road.
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And anywhere else we
drive out this community is,
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it's much worse.
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So, yeah, vehicle
doesn't last too long
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without maintenance.
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Bill arrives at the
local mechanics home
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and asked him to take
a look at the AWA truck.
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Bill shows him the parts
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that he's
acquired from Georgetown,
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so they take a look
at the undercarriage
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of the vehicle to
get a better assessment.
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Doesn't look.
Doesn't look good but...
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The mechanic is surprised
by what he sees and gives Bill,
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the bad news.
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Brother Bill,
this is not spring.
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It's not spring.
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What is it? Chassis damaged.
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The noise Bill had been hearing
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is not due to
bad shock absorbers,
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rather the problem
is with the chassis.
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Now the chassis
is the basic frame
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of a motor vehicle, the
outer structural framework.
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Look here.
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This big piece break right here.
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Oh, yes.
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Brother, this whole
thing breaks off here.
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You see it? Yeah, I do.
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Yeah, I see the
break right there.
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This whole thing
here, break off from here.
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Traveling over these rough roads
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has caused the chassis to crack.
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This is not a simple repair,
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nor can they
just swap out a part.
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This is a major
repair on the vehicle.
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The terrible
condition of these roads
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can literally
destroy a motor vehicle.
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Bill and the
mechanic talk over the options
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they have to take
care of this problem.
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We got to lift this whole cab.
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Okay, lift it up all the way.
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And then what do you do?
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Weld it over here. Weld it?
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Yeah. Do you
think you can fix it?
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Yes. Now we got
to strengthen it.
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Yeah. But why it break?
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Oh, why did it break?
That's the big question.
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Well, I can tell you,
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I might have an
idea why it broke...
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Weight? Maybe.
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Weight. Too much of weight.
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I have been carrying like
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20 some kids in to
the Sabbath school.
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Wow.
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They are little kids, but there,
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yeah, it's too much weight.
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A part of this vehicle's problem
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has to do with Sabbath services
in the outlying churches.
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Each week, the LaBores
pack as many young people
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as they can into this 4x4
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and take them to Sabbath school.
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They often have more than
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20 people packed into the truck.
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The young children
are eager to go to church,
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and this truck
is their only hope
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of reaching church.
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The LaBores do
not have the heart
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to turn any of them away.
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So they load them up
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as many people as
possible and travel to church.
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Basically, the frame
of our vehicle has broken
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in the back, is cracked.
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And so that's what's been
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bouncing up and
down as we drive.
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So you know, what do you do?
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You're out here, you
can't go buy parts in Mabaruma.
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You've got to bring
everything in from Georgetown
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and this is actually more
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of a welding thing
that needs to be done.
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Luckily, there's a
mechanic here that has a welder.
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Bill and the mechanic talk
over the details of the repair.
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It's a disappointing
shock to Bill to find that
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this repair is
much more extensive
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than he had previously thought.
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The repair will take
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the truck out of
service for several days.
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So Bill must
adapt, revise his plans
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as he often must do
in this environment.
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As the mechanic
examines the undercarriage,
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he explains to Bill
how this damage was caused.
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So you think pulling the trailer
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actually could have done that?
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Yeah.
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You know like, plenty of weight.
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The work being done
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at the project
frequently requires
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that they tow a tool trailer
with the 4x4 to the airstrip,
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where they do maintenance
and repairs on the aircraft.
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The extra weight
combined with bouncing on a road
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riddled with
potholes has over time
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put too much strain on
the frame of the vehicle.
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As it is now, the truck
is not in usable condition.
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Bill discusses the plan
further with the mechanic.
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For now they'll
take the vehicle home,
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bring it back on Sunday,
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when the mechanic
can start repairs.
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The vehicle will be out
of service for several days.
00:11:33.49\00:11:37.43
But these seasoned missionaries
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have learned how to adapt
to these unexpected events
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and will continue their ministry
00:11:43.73\00:11:45.43
for the Lord in spite
of the problems and delays.
00:11:45.47\00:11:50.87
So we just
brought the vehicle over.
00:11:50.91\00:11:52.67
I thought it
was a broken spring.
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I was originally told
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and I got the
parts in from Georgetown
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which we have
to fly in basically
00:11:58.11\00:12:00.22
and just discovered
after he took a closer look
00:12:00.25\00:12:02.22
at the actual chassis
00:12:02.25\00:12:03.59
in the back is
cracked and broken.
00:12:03.62\00:12:07.16
It's a major job
and we have to lift
00:12:07.19\00:12:09.26
the vehicle up to weld the spot,
00:12:09.29\00:12:11.69
weld and reinforce the chassis,
hopefully it's going to work.
00:12:11.73\00:12:16.33
It comes down to it, we're just,
00:12:16.36\00:12:18.37
we're doing too much with it,
00:12:18.40\00:12:19.73
we have so much work to do here.
00:12:19.77\00:12:21.10
And honestly,
with carrying things
00:12:21.14\00:12:22.47
and people and
dealing with a very rough road
00:12:22.50\00:12:25.07
that is very hard on vehicles.
00:12:25.11\00:12:26.94
And plus, we use this
vehicle to haul our trailer out
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to the airport for maintenance,
00:12:29.74\00:12:31.91
which we have to
do every month or so.
00:12:31.95\00:12:34.02
And basically that
trailer is loaded with tools
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and a compressor
and all those things.
00:12:37.09\00:12:38.62
We had to haul all
that out to the airstrip
00:12:38.65\00:12:40.16
because we
haven't got a hangar yet.
00:12:40.19\00:12:42.12
And that also is
hard on the vehicle
00:12:42.16\00:12:43.96
because this particular vehicle
I just discovered is not built
00:12:43.99\00:12:46.80
for necessarily
carrying heavy trailers.
00:12:46.83\00:12:49.50
Even though we have a hitch
that we welded on the back.
00:12:49.53\00:12:52.07
So that's all not good news.
00:12:52.10\00:12:54.60
But mechanic
was just telling me,
00:12:54.64\00:12:56.71
you can fix it one day
on Sunday doing some welding
00:12:56.74\00:12:59.11
and maybe we'll be
back on line by Monday.
00:12:59.14\00:13:02.41
But we're
waiting to get approval.
00:13:02.44\00:13:04.45
We have approval,
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a verbal approval for the hangar
00:13:05.85\00:13:07.18
at the airstrip
here in Mabaruma.
00:13:07.22\00:13:08.55
So we're just waiting to
get documents for the land
00:13:08.58\00:13:11.45
and make the application
00:13:11.49\00:13:12.82
so we can get approval to build.
00:13:12.85\00:13:14.92
And then Lord willing,
we'll get a hangar built
00:13:14.96\00:13:17.16
and we don't have to
haul the trailer anymore.
00:13:17.19\00:13:19.16
Logistics and
transportation are vital
00:13:19.19\00:13:21.43
when working in
this region in Guyana.
00:13:21.46\00:13:24.33
Having reliable
transportation is key.
00:13:24.37\00:13:28.14
Without it, the
missionaries' ministry
00:13:28.17\00:13:30.11
would be severely handicapped.
00:13:30.14\00:13:32.27
Adventist World Aviation
00:13:32.31\00:13:33.78
does so much more
than fly airplanes.
00:13:33.81\00:13:37.38
In Guyana, the AWA
project is constantly busy
00:13:37.41\00:13:40.85
with ongoing
ministry to villages
00:13:40.88\00:13:43.25
that can be reached
00:13:43.28\00:13:44.62
within the area of
ground transportation.
00:13:44.65\00:13:48.39
These outreach efforts
are effective ways to connect
00:13:48.42\00:13:51.76
with the local
Guyanese to develop friendships,
00:13:51.79\00:13:55.93
and ultimately share
the love of Jesus with them.
00:13:55.96\00:13:59.63
As the project is
growing which it has been,
00:13:59.67\00:14:02.27
the demand for
vehicles is getting greater.
00:14:02.30\00:14:04.07
Our ministry is expanding
out to areas that are now
00:14:04.11\00:14:06.84
just not in Mabaruma.
00:14:06.88\00:14:08.21
But like I give Bible studies
at a place called Barberry Hill
00:14:08.24\00:14:11.78
which is about a
20-minute drive from here,
00:14:11.81\00:14:14.25
up through a rugged
hill to get up to the area
00:14:14.28\00:14:16.22
where these people are at.
00:14:16.25\00:14:17.79
And, you know,
00:14:17.82\00:14:20.02
it just really
abuses the vehicle
00:14:20.06\00:14:22.99
to do that kind of
driving all the time.
00:14:23.02\00:14:24.59
And, so we have downtime,
and then what do we do?
00:14:24.63\00:14:30.20
Well, I've always said
that you can fly all day,
00:14:42.01\00:14:44.85
but if you don't
win anybody to Christ,
00:14:44.88\00:14:47.05
what are we doing here?
00:14:47.08\00:14:48.45
And in the beginning
00:14:48.48\00:14:50.19
we were set up to be the helpers
00:14:50.22\00:14:52.95
or the
providers for missionaries
00:14:52.99\00:14:55.19
that were here working.
00:14:55.22\00:14:56.62
We don't have anybody here
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.03
that's here just
working as a missionary.
00:14:58.06\00:15:00.46
And so, we found
ourselves doing double duty.
00:15:00.50\00:15:02.96
We see such a
need, everywhere we look,
00:15:03.00\00:15:05.33
there's, it's
almost overwhelming.
00:15:05.37\00:15:07.60
With all the needs
and all the opportunities,
00:15:07.64\00:15:10.07
things are just ripe here.
00:15:10.11\00:15:11.87
Since the main mode
of ground transportation,
00:15:11.91\00:15:15.28
the AWA 4x4 truck
is out of commission,
00:15:15.31\00:15:19.08
the missionaries are
limited to the work they can do.
00:15:19.11\00:15:23.12
Rather than sit idly by
00:15:23.15\00:15:24.89
and wait for the
repairs to the finished,
00:15:24.92\00:15:27.82
Bill and Laura use
their creative skills
00:15:27.86\00:15:31.46
and devise a plan.
00:15:31.49\00:15:34.06
You see a few miles
away there's a small village
00:15:34.10\00:15:36.90
called Cober Emo.
00:15:36.93\00:15:40.17
There are no
roads leading to it.
00:15:40.20\00:15:43.27
It is situated on top of a hill
00:15:43.30\00:15:45.97
that is completely
surrounded by water.
00:15:46.01\00:15:49.21
The only access
to this village is
00:15:49.24\00:15:51.08
by traveling the
muddy water canals
00:15:51.11\00:15:53.21
and dugout canoes,
00:15:53.25\00:15:55.82
and that's just what
Bill and Laura plan to do.
00:15:55.85\00:15:59.55
They packed up
some medical supplies
00:15:59.59\00:16:02.06
and clothing to give away
00:16:02.09\00:16:04.29
and loaded into
the wobbly canoes.
00:16:04.33\00:16:07.96
It's been pouring rain all day.
00:16:08.00\00:16:10.90
But that doesn't slow
the missionaries down.
00:16:10.93\00:16:13.94
Today's ministry
is a new adventure
00:16:13.97\00:16:16.91
and they're excited to
see what lies ahead of them.
00:16:16.94\00:16:20.84
Bill and Laura will need
00:16:20.88\00:16:22.21
to practice their
balancing skills today.
00:16:22.24\00:16:25.55
These canoes can be
tipped over very easily.
00:16:25.58\00:16:29.08
Thankfully, they
have two experienced
00:16:29.12\00:16:31.25
helpers with them
00:16:31.29\00:16:33.12
that will guide the
boats down the river.
00:16:33.15\00:16:36.42
The native boy paddling Laura
down the river is excited to be
00:16:36.46\00:16:40.46
bringing aid to his village.
00:16:40.50\00:16:43.70
According to him,
00:16:43.73\00:16:45.23
no visitors have ever
come to this village before.
00:16:45.27\00:16:49.50
The team continues downriver,
00:16:49.54\00:16:52.27
building
anticipation what awaits them.
00:16:52.31\00:16:56.68
Guyana is nicknamed
the land of many waters.
00:16:56.71\00:17:01.18
And it is rightfully labeled so.
00:17:01.22\00:17:04.05
Much of the area here in
northwest Guyana is riddled
00:17:04.09\00:17:07.72
with waterways
and swampy jungle.
00:17:07.76\00:17:11.46
Traveling down the
river reminds the LaBores
00:17:11.49\00:17:14.26
just how
important airplane travel
00:17:14.30\00:17:17.40
is here in Guyana.
00:17:17.43\00:17:19.80
Thousands of villagers live
00:17:19.83\00:17:21.40
in remote
communities just like this.
00:17:21.44\00:17:24.81
And because the
swampy dense landscape,
00:17:24.84\00:17:28.28
they have no way to reach them
other than by air or by water.
00:17:28.31\00:17:34.05
This trip reaffirms
00:17:34.08\00:17:35.42
the great blessing
of Mission Aviation
00:17:35.45\00:17:37.95
to help spread the
gospel here in Guyana.
00:17:37.99\00:17:43.22
As they come
around the last bend,
00:17:43.26\00:17:44.96
they see the
first sign of community.
00:17:44.99\00:17:48.33
On the banks of the
waterway is a simple port,
00:17:48.36\00:17:51.47
where they will
dock their canoes.
00:17:51.50\00:17:53.40
After disembarking,
00:18:00.64\00:18:01.98
the missionaries must make
00:18:02.01\00:18:03.38
the rest of
their journey on foot.
00:18:03.41\00:18:06.41
Their first stop is to find
the home of the village leader
00:18:06.45\00:18:10.45
and ask for
permission to visit his village.
00:18:10.49\00:18:14.02
It doesn't take long to
track down the village elder
00:18:14.06\00:18:17.19
and she invites the
missionaries into her home.
00:18:17.23\00:18:21.90
They first
explained to her who they are,
00:18:21.93\00:18:24.73
and that they want nothing
00:18:24.77\00:18:26.10
more than to help
the local villagers.
00:18:26.13\00:18:29.17
She graciously agrees
00:18:29.20\00:18:30.91
and excitedly asks to
be Laura's first patient.
00:18:30.94\00:18:35.44
Laura is blessed to
be a pilot and a nurse.
00:18:35.48\00:18:40.98
Getting to the
local medical clinic
00:18:41.02\00:18:42.85
in town is not an option
for many of these villagers.
00:18:42.88\00:18:46.12
The journey is
too difficult to make.
00:18:46.15\00:18:48.82
Doctors do not make
house calls in Guyana.
00:18:48.86\00:18:52.53
So most of these remote villages
00:18:52.56\00:18:54.33
simply go without medical care.
00:18:54.36\00:18:58.07
Having someone
traveled to their village
00:18:58.10\00:19:00.30
and offer simple medical
exams as they are doing today
00:19:00.34\00:19:04.87
is very
meaningful to these villages.
00:19:04.91\00:19:08.08
Laura does a simple
physical examination,
00:19:08.11\00:19:12.41
beginning with
taking blood pressures
00:19:12.45\00:19:14.55
and blood sugars.
00:19:14.58\00:19:17.05
She talks to them
about ways to remain healthy,
00:19:17.09\00:19:20.56
and the need to drink
plenty of clean water.
00:19:20.59\00:19:25.76
After she examines
everyone in the house,
00:19:25.79\00:19:28.66
Laura opens a bag
of donated clothing,
00:19:28.70\00:19:31.90
and distributes dresses
and skirts to all the ladies.
00:19:31.93\00:19:36.91
Before they
continue to the next home,
00:19:36.94\00:19:39.61
Bill cannot pass
up the opportunity
00:19:39.64\00:19:42.14
to have prayer
with this household.
00:19:42.18\00:19:44.91
Lord, thank You for this family.
00:19:44.95\00:19:46.75
Thank You for the
opportunity for me today
00:19:46.78\00:19:48.72
and so that their
health is really good,
00:19:48.75\00:19:50.92
Lord, thank You for that.
00:19:50.95\00:19:53.25
And now that they finished
their contact in this home,
00:19:53.29\00:19:56.26
they pack up their supplies
and head toward the next house.
00:19:56.29\00:19:59.79
Since it's
raining, they cannot invite
00:19:59.83\00:20:01.90
all the villagers to come
out to them in an open field.
00:20:01.93\00:20:06.03
So Bill Laura and Arnold
00:20:06.07\00:20:07.74
must travel by foot in the rain
00:20:07.77\00:20:10.27
through the muddy swamp
trails as they visit each house.
00:20:10.31\00:20:15.64
A short distance down the
trail they come to an open hut.
00:20:15.68\00:20:20.32
This simple
structure is all that
00:20:20.35\00:20:22.02
this elderly man
can claim as his home.
00:20:22.05\00:20:25.25
Laura, undeterred,
kindly asks if she can come in
00:20:25.29\00:20:30.23
and do a simple
medical examination.
00:20:30.26\00:20:33.60
She tries together a
brief medical history.
00:20:33.63\00:20:36.43
However, his
answers are quite vague.
00:20:36.46\00:20:40.57
She soon discovers that
00:20:40.60\00:20:41.94
this man has never
been to a clinic before
00:20:41.97\00:20:45.37
and has clinically
high blood pressure.
00:20:45.41\00:20:49.71
But sadly, he ran
out of his medication
00:20:49.74\00:20:52.81
and doesn't have a way to
get into town to get more.
00:20:52.85\00:20:56.99
He's too old and weak
00:20:57.02\00:20:58.35
to make the
journey on a regular basis.
00:20:58.39\00:21:01.29
So he frequently goes
without any type of medications.
00:21:01.32\00:21:06.90
Laura finishes her
exam and verifies that
00:21:06.93\00:21:10.07
he does indeed have
high blood pressure.
00:21:10.10\00:21:14.60
By looking at his home,
00:21:14.64\00:21:15.97
it's easier to see
that this man doesn't have
00:21:16.00\00:21:18.24
very much money and
his health is failing.
00:21:18.27\00:21:22.54
He lives alone here in his hut.
00:21:22.58\00:21:25.41
It's clear that he needs help.
00:21:25.45\00:21:28.85
So they talk
amongst themselves to try
00:21:28.88\00:21:31.35
and find a way
to get medications
00:21:31.39\00:21:34.36
to this man more consistently.
00:21:34.39\00:21:37.89
Before they leave,
00:21:37.93\00:21:39.26
Bill praised
blessing over this man
00:21:39.29\00:21:43.13
and asks God for
healing and strength.
00:21:43.16\00:21:49.14
They have a busy
afternoon ahead of them
00:21:49.17\00:21:51.67
and still quite a
few more stops to make.
00:21:51.71\00:21:54.51
They follow the
trail along with.
00:21:54.54\00:21:56.95
Soon may find the next homestead
00:21:56.98\00:21:58.75
and are welcomed
into out of the rain.
00:21:58.78\00:22:01.75
Laura introduces herself
00:22:01.78\00:22:03.18
as she begins her
physical examination.
00:22:03.22\00:22:06.62
So I'm one of the
captains for positioning.
00:22:06.65\00:22:09.72
You?
00:22:09.76\00:22:11.26
But before I was a
captain, I was a nurse.
00:22:11.29\00:22:13.40
So I like to go
and do some nursing
00:22:13.43\00:22:15.03
because I never, you know,
00:22:15.06\00:22:17.03
I get tired of just flying,
00:22:17.07\00:22:18.40
I like to go and do nursing too.
00:22:18.43\00:22:21.30
128 over 64. Nice.
00:22:21.34\00:22:24.24
Perfect. Very good.
00:22:24.27\00:22:27.44
So ladies take some time
00:22:27.48\00:22:29.04
and chat about their
life here in their village.
00:22:29.08\00:22:32.18
Laura gets to know them
and a friendship is formed.
00:22:32.21\00:22:36.02
Bill and Arnold
also take the time
00:22:36.05\00:22:37.85
to talk to the men waiting
for their medical examination.
00:22:37.89\00:22:42.22
This simple home
has become a place
00:22:42.26\00:22:45.03
where ministry and
love are flourishing.
00:22:45.06\00:22:48.56
Laura again passes out dresses
00:22:48.60\00:22:50.80
and skirts for the
women that live here.
00:22:50.83\00:22:54.10
It's evident that
00:22:54.14\00:22:55.47
they don't have much
in this world's goods,
00:22:55.50\00:22:58.81
but Laura's happy to
share what she has with them.
00:22:58.84\00:23:04.31
These items were donated
by people in the United States
00:23:04.35\00:23:08.15
and shipped down in barrels
00:23:08.18\00:23:09.85
to be
distributed to those in need.
00:23:09.88\00:23:13.32
Laura also has
small stuffed toys
00:23:13.36\00:23:16.29
for the young children.
00:23:16.32\00:23:17.66
Soon more people from
this household show up
00:23:28.24\00:23:31.81
and also want examinations.
00:23:31.84\00:23:34.71
It seems everyone
in this house is fit
00:23:34.74\00:23:37.05
and in good health.
00:23:37.08\00:23:38.61
One gentleman tells
Laura of a household
00:23:38.65\00:23:41.18
that has many sick
people living in it,
00:23:41.22\00:23:43.92
not far distance from here.
00:23:43.95\00:23:47.72
Before they leave this home,
00:23:47.76\00:23:49.76
they again offer a
prayer and thanksgiving to God.
00:23:49.79\00:23:53.90
The villagers feel very honored
00:23:53.93\00:23:55.70
to have the
missionaries visit them,
00:23:55.73\00:23:58.33
and it is evident
they are truly touched.
00:23:58.37\00:24:01.40
Thank you so
much for this skirt.
00:24:01.44\00:24:03.94
We are happy about everything.
00:24:03.97\00:24:05.77
We thank you for everything.
00:24:05.81\00:24:08.14
AWA missionaries
venture out into the rain again,
00:24:08.18\00:24:13.05
in search of this needy home
00:24:13.08\00:24:15.45
that has many sick
people living in it.
00:24:15.48\00:24:17.52
It isn't hard to find
00:24:24.89\00:24:26.33
and Laura immediately
starts her physical exams.
00:24:26.36\00:24:30.63
You ain't never gone to clinic?
00:24:30.67\00:24:33.94
Well now, the
clinic has come to you.
00:24:33.97\00:24:39.21
The people living in this house
00:24:39.24\00:24:40.81
have never been
seen by a doctor.
00:24:40.84\00:24:43.75
They simply live too remotely.
00:24:43.78\00:24:46.61
As you look out the window
of this simple one room home
00:24:46.65\00:24:50.79
from this hilltop vantage point,
00:24:50.82\00:24:53.79
all you can see for
miles is jungle treetops.
00:24:53.82\00:24:59.03
Going to town especially
00:24:59.06\00:25:00.43
when one is sick
just isn't an option
00:25:00.46\00:25:03.63
for most of these people.
00:25:03.67\00:25:05.80
They live in a location
that's completely isolated.
00:25:05.83\00:25:09.44
Having medical help come to them
00:25:09.47\00:25:12.27
truly is a blessing.
00:25:12.31\00:25:14.28
Since they have
never seen a doctor
00:25:14.31\00:25:16.08
nor received any
medical education,
00:25:16.11\00:25:18.98
they don't have
much knowledge about
00:25:19.01\00:25:20.45
how to live a healthy life.
00:25:20.48\00:25:24.69
Simple things like
not smoking cigarettes,
00:25:24.72\00:25:28.19
and the importance of
drinking only clean water
00:25:28.22\00:25:31.99
aren't common
knowledge for these people.
00:25:32.03\00:25:35.00
Laura and Bill take
the time to talk to them
00:25:35.03\00:25:37.97
and educate them on ways that
00:25:38.00\00:25:39.57
they can live
healthier lifestyles.
00:25:39.60\00:25:43.30
One by one, they
see each of the people.
00:25:43.34\00:25:46.64
Thankfully none of them
are in serious condition.
00:25:46.68\00:25:50.78
The team still has
enough clothing left
00:25:50.81\00:25:52.98
to pass out to all the
folk that have gathered.
00:25:53.01\00:25:56.38
After more health
education and a prayer blessing,
00:25:56.42\00:25:59.75
the AWA missionary team
00:25:59.79\00:26:02.12
check to see if
there are any more homes
00:26:02.16\00:26:04.66
in this village that need help.
00:26:04.69\00:26:08.56
As they make their rounds,
they stop house by house,
00:26:08.60\00:26:12.97
talking, praying
and giving medical exams
00:26:13.00\00:26:16.91
with anyone that will accept.
00:26:16.94\00:26:19.61
They are thorough, making sure
not a single house is missed.
00:26:19.64\00:26:25.38
Opportunities like
this show villagers
00:26:25.41\00:26:28.22
the power of God's love.
00:26:28.25\00:26:30.85
Hallelujah.
00:26:30.89\00:26:33.46
It wasn't easy for our team
to get to this village today.
00:26:33.49\00:26:38.16
In fact, they were told that
00:26:38.19\00:26:39.53
this was the first visitors
00:26:39.56\00:26:42.23
they had ever
seen in that village.
00:26:42.26\00:26:45.60
Friends, this is the mission
of Adventist World Aviation
00:26:45.63\00:26:50.61
to share God's
love to the most remote
00:26:50.64\00:26:53.11
and isolated
locations on this planet.
00:26:53.14\00:26:58.31
While logistic transportation
is a large part of AWA's work,
00:26:58.35\00:27:03.35
it isn't the only focus.
00:27:03.39\00:27:06.86
Today's adventure is proof
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.42
that the number one goal
of Adventist World Aviation
00:27:09.46\00:27:12.63
is to help people
00:27:12.66\00:27:15.66
whenever and wherever they are.
00:27:15.70\00:27:19.47
Sometimes that's accomplished
with the help of aircraft.
00:27:19.50\00:27:23.61
Sometimes it's accomplished
by using ground vehicles.
00:27:23.64\00:27:28.74
And sometimes like today,
00:27:28.78\00:27:31.38
it's accomplished
by sheer determination
00:27:31.41\00:27:34.62
of dedicated people using canoes
00:27:34.65\00:27:37.89
and walking to
reach isolated people
00:27:37.92\00:27:42.52
no matter how
difficult the journey might be.
00:27:42.56\00:27:46.46
One of the things that
00:27:58.87\00:28:00.38
I really had my eyes open
to when I first came to Guyana.
00:28:00.41\00:28:03.35
I always thought of
missionaries as being people
00:28:03.38\00:28:05.41
that are out
there pounding on doors
00:28:05.45\00:28:07.05
and just shoving Bibles
down people's throats and,
00:28:07.08\00:28:09.55
you know, trying
to get their message
00:28:09.58\00:28:11.65
and their agenda across to them.
00:28:11.69\00:28:13.39
And after I got down here,
00:28:13.42\00:28:14.76
I really realized that
really isn't necessarily
00:28:14.79\00:28:16.22
what mission work is all about.
00:28:16.26\00:28:17.69
It is about
sharing the gospel message.
00:28:17.73\00:28:19.96
But a lot of
times a sermon lived
00:28:20.00\00:28:23.63
is worth much more
than a sermon preached.
00:28:23.67\00:28:25.87
And when you go down, and
you live among the people,
00:28:25.90\00:28:27.60
and you show them love,
00:28:27.64\00:28:29.74
you will show them Jesus
Christ by living among them,
00:28:29.77\00:28:32.54
helping them with
their difficulties
00:28:32.57\00:28:33.91
and their problems.
00:28:33.94\00:28:35.28
They will want to know
more about what you know,
00:28:35.31\00:28:36.91
what makes you this way?
00:28:36.95\00:28:38.28
Why do you come here
00:28:38.31\00:28:39.65
and do these
types of things for us?
00:28:39.68\00:28:41.02
And it gives you a chance
00:28:41.05\00:28:42.38
to tell them
about the love of God.
00:28:42.42\00:28:43.75
And then Bible
studies just follow naturally
00:28:43.79\00:28:45.15
because they want
to understand more
00:28:45.19\00:28:46.76
about what you believe.
00:28:46.79\00:28:48.19
It's the greatest joy on
earth and I can't imagine
00:28:48.22\00:28:51.36
why we as human
beings don't do more of it.
00:28:51.39\00:28:54.56
But I can guarantee you
coming to the mission field
00:28:54.60\00:28:56.40
and working in
an area like this.
00:28:56.43\00:28:58.60
You get opportunities
to do it every single day.
00:28:58.63\00:29:00.64
Your happiness batteries
00:29:00.67\00:29:02.00
get recharged
each day you're here.
00:29:02.04\00:29:03.74
And, you know, and
sharing your faith like
00:29:03.77\00:29:06.24
that strengthens your own faith.
00:29:06.27\00:29:08.34
And each day you
discover more victory
00:29:08.38\00:29:10.45
and more success in
your Christian walk.
00:29:10.48\00:29:13.08