Scattered across the globe,
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Adventist World
Aviation has mission outposts
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strategically
placed in rural locations.
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Often, aviation is the only way
to reach these remote villages,
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tucked away within jungles,
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or scattered
along world unaddressed.
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AWA connects the
inhabitants of these villages
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with the care that they
need by employing aircraft,
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traveling great distances,
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AWA missionaries
become a lifeline
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to those who are in dire need.
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Adventist World Aviation
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is dedicated to saving people
both physically and eternally.
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With aviation, AWA can
reach those off the beaten track
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and share the love of Jesus
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to the seemingly
unreachable of this world.
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One of AWA's mission bases
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is located in the Philippines
on the island of Palawan.
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This mission aviation
base was established in 2005.
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The base is centrally located,
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enabling missionaries
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to reach outlying
areas with aircraft.
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The Philippine
Islands are comprised
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of over 7,000 islands.
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Some of these small
islands are isolated
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because boats cannot
make the dangerous journey
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to reach them
during typhoon seasons.
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Journeys that would take
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a week by boat can be traveled
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in just a few hours
time with AWA aircraft.
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For this reason,
AWA was established here
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to be able to support
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the smaller outlying
islands with aviation,
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and help carry aid,
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supplies and pastors
to these remote islands.
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The history of this project
has not been a smooth one.
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A couple years ago,
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this project
suffered some major setbacks,
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has been sitting
vacant ever since.
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The LaBore Family
have been missionaries
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with Adventist World Aviation,
serving in Guyana since 2005.
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When the LaBores heard
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of the needs of this
project in the Philippines,
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they prayerfully made
the decision to relocate
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from their
mission field in Guyana
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to this project
in the Philippines
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in an effort to revive
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this much
needed aviation outfit.
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Our family started
as missionaries in 2005,
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we went to
Guyana, South America.
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And we spent over
nine and a half years
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there setting up a
mission aviation program.
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And we flew over 7,000
people in our airplanes,
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affected a lot
of lives down there.
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It was a great work.
We really enjoyed it.
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God was a blessing in everything
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that we did there.
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And it's amazing,
really that we did,
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it was by His grace alone.
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And when we saw
the Philippines project
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having some
trouble a few years back,
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I talked to the
Pastor Rick Swaningson,
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just mentioning that I
would, I would love to come down
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and just see what I could do
to help get it back on track.
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And he thought
that was a great idea.
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You know, and I
felt the experience
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that we gained in
Guyana would apply here
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and we'd be able to
really put some knowledge
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into how we might set
up a good program here.
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And now that I'm here,
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I feel even more encouraged
that we're on the right track.
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And this is really
what God wants us to do.
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And we know that
we're going to see
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some amazing things
happen in His timing.
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We have to be patient,
but I know that He has a plan.
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And I expect that
will be gradually revealed
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as we progress in this project.
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So we're pretty
excited about it.
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When the LaBores
transitioned here from Guyana,
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they left the Guyana project
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in very capable hands
of other AWA missionaries.
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Bill, Laura and their family
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are now ready to
embark on a new adventure
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of raising a
project from the ground
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and with God's blessings,
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transform it into a very
busy and active aviation base.
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We're just really
excited to be here.
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We've been
waiting for several years
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to make the transition
from Guyana to the Philippines,
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we saw such a need here.
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Our teammates are doing
wonderful work in Guyana.
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So we're really
happy about that.
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And we're just
excited to be here
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in Palawan and to
pick up the project
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and take it to new levels.
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The idea that, you know,
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we might be able to be
involved in some small way
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of really bringing
this thing to fruition
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or maybe to the plan that
God originally had for it.
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Yes, it is
emotional and as I think
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there's no better place to be
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than in the
center of God's will.
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And when you know that
this is where God wants you,
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there's a sense of connection
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you feel with the Lord
and that to me means a lot.
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I just mean, that's
why I'm a missionary
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to be honest with
you, I just like that.
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I like to see God work,
I like to be in situations
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where I know I can't do it
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that God's going to
have to work and do it
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and I can see Him
do things that just,
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you just don't get
to see back home often.
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Over the past few
years, the Philippines project
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has been without
aviation operations,
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because there was no
pilot or aircraft in place.
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Not having aviation operations
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has been a great
setback for this project.
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A large portion of the work
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being done here
involves aircraft.
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When the plane was
sent back for repairs,
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and the pilots left, the
project suffered greatly.
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However, this did not mean
that the project laid dormant
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while they
awaited new leadership.
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Faithful local missionaries
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continued their
work despite the absence
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of a project manager or pilot.
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Adventist World
Aviation is blessed to have
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these local
missionaries dedicated
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to the work of AWA.
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They faithfully continued
working within the community
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without knowing
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when more missionaries
might be joining them.
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Edgar is a pastor
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and he is our base manager here.
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He has kept the spark
alive in this property.
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He's been managing our property
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that we've had
here for about 10 years.
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Keeping it
active, keeping it clean,
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watching over it,
making sure that, you know,
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it's protected and
now that we're here,
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I'm even more
impressed with his abilities.
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Both he and
Raylene are a great team.
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Raylene
supports him in many ways
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and they work together.
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And this team we've had here
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there's been so much work to do.
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Having Edgar is irreplaceable.
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So we've been
grateful for his expertise
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and also I know I'm going
to learn guitar from playing,
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from being with him as
he plays excellent guitar,
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as does Raylene.
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And also, you know,
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he's a good pastor
and he's done a lot.
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He's started church here
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and very active
with other churches also
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and working with
people in the area.
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He's a true evangelist,
and so we appreciate him.
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I really am going to
enjoy living out here with them
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and working with them soon.
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The Espinosa Family
are AWA base managers
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who have been
working here for years.
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And while they
awaited the LaBores to arrive,
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they faithfully worked
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within the
community as missionaries,
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ministering to
their own Filipino people.
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They eagerly awaited
the arrival of the LaBores
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and are anxious to get this
base fully operational again.
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And we're happy that
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the LaBores Family are the here.
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We've been
waiting for it to come
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because of many years
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of without any manager you know.
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We will start the operation
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of flying the plane
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and go to different places
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to help, to help this,
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the people in the Philippines
and we were so excited.
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This project is
not for our family
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and for any individual,
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but this project
is for the Lord's.
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Even when things seemed bleak,
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the Espinosas
have worked faithfully
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to prepare for the arrival
of the new missionary family.
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They knew that God would bring
someone here to this project.
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Even as the years
passed with no hope in sight,
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the Espinosas
faithfully continued their work
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knowing that God
had a plan for them
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and for this
aviation mission project.
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I was in a missionary work
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since I
graduated in high school.
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And my promise to the Lord is,
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I will work even though
no one asked me to do it.
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And the Lord will bless
us even though no funding,
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but I know the Lord will feed us
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and we will work
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as long as there is
something to work on.
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We are thankful.
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We are grateful for the Lord
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that the long stay
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here becomes getting brighter.
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I mean, there is
hope, there is, you know,
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a little light come up
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and maybe this light will become
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more bigger and
bigger as the day went by
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because our
manager is already here,
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and we praise the Lord for that.
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Christine is another
dedicated AWA missionary.
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She has served with
Adventist World Aviation
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to her fellow Filipino people
alongside the Espinosa Family.
00:10:12.17\00:10:17.01
Christine uses her talents
as a full-time bookkeeper,
00:10:17.05\00:10:20.88
and logistical coordinator
for the Philippines project.
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She handles all
the legal paperwork
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and permitting that is
required by the local government
00:10:27.32\00:10:30.63
in order to have a project
00:10:30.66\00:10:32.13
established here
in the Philippines.
00:10:32.16\00:10:34.76
Christine is
just an amazing woman.
00:10:34.80\00:10:37.70
She's been with
us for a long time,
00:10:37.73\00:10:39.53
and she's so humble,
and just willing to do
00:10:39.57\00:10:42.70
whatever it takes to keep
this dream alive down here
00:10:42.74\00:10:45.34
and to keep this project going.
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Without her we would not
be here today guaranteed,
00:10:47.41\00:10:50.41
because it really,
00:10:50.45\00:10:52.11
she's kept the
foundation active all this time,
00:10:52.15\00:10:53.58
even when we didn't have
00:10:53.62\00:10:54.95
an operation
really working here.
00:10:54.98\00:10:56.32
She managed to keep it
alive until we could get here.
00:10:56.35\00:10:59.12
And so she does
all the accounting,
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she does the taxes,
she keeps the, or up the,
00:11:00.86\00:11:04.16
you know the foundation legal
from a financial standpoint.
00:11:04.19\00:11:07.80
And, you know,
among other things,
00:11:07.83\00:11:10.67
she coordinates
projects, she has helped
00:11:10.70\00:11:12.80
with all of our
volunteer transportation
00:11:12.83\00:11:14.64
and really is very
well networked also.
00:11:14.67\00:11:18.21
She knows people
all over Puerto Princesa
00:11:18.24\00:11:20.34
so we can be
assisted when we need things
00:11:20.38\00:11:22.21
that she knows how to find them,
00:11:22.24\00:11:23.58
how to get it done.
00:11:23.61\00:11:24.95
And she's connected
with the local mission.
00:11:24.98\00:11:27.32
So really another
irreplaceable individual
00:11:27.35\00:11:30.29
that I'm proud
to be working with.
00:11:30.32\00:11:31.69
For many years, the
AWA team has just been
00:11:31.72\00:11:34.89
the Espinosas and
herself working to keep
00:11:34.92\00:11:37.69
this project afloat.
00:11:37.73\00:11:39.33
When she got word that
00:11:39.36\00:11:40.70
the LaBores
would be joining them,
00:11:40.73\00:11:42.20
Christine was overjoyed.
00:11:42.23\00:11:46.23
Well finally, after
some years of waiting,
00:11:46.27\00:11:51.01
the LaBore Family
has finally launched here
00:11:51.04\00:11:54.61
in the Philippines,
00:11:54.64\00:11:55.98
and we're really
happy that the project
00:11:56.01\00:11:58.65
is now going to
resume its operations again.
00:11:58.68\00:12:03.02
It is a relief,
because it's been so many years
00:12:03.05\00:12:06.92
that we were just waiting.
00:12:06.96\00:12:10.23
And it really takes patience
00:12:10.26\00:12:13.33
and trust in the Lord that,
00:12:13.36\00:12:16.93
you know, this is His
work, and in this time,
00:12:16.97\00:12:20.97
it will move forward again.
00:12:21.00\00:12:23.24
Christine is very
dedicated to her work
00:12:23.27\00:12:25.61
even when there
was no help in sight.
00:12:25.64\00:12:28.54
For years she prayed that
00:12:28.58\00:12:30.68
another missionary
family would come and join them,
00:12:30.71\00:12:33.58
and they could
relaunch aviation operations.
00:12:33.62\00:12:37.02
She knew that in
God's perfect timing,
00:12:37.05\00:12:40.02
He would send
someone there to help them
00:12:40.06\00:12:42.49
rebuild this project
that would once again
00:12:42.52\00:12:45.33
be fully operational.
00:12:45.36\00:12:47.20
She patiently continued her work
00:12:47.23\00:12:49.30
preparing for that day.
00:12:49.33\00:12:51.07
We are excited
to once more fly out
00:12:51.10\00:12:54.64
to the far-flung areas
00:12:54.67\00:12:57.31
where we can reach other peoples
00:12:57.34\00:13:00.08
who are in need
of the gospel work.
00:13:00.11\00:13:03.08
And we fully need your support
00:13:03.11\00:13:07.05
and prayers for the furtherance
00:13:07.08\00:13:12.72
of the work of AWA Philippines.
00:13:12.75\00:13:15.82
When the LaBores
arrived in the Philippines,
00:13:15.86\00:13:18.03
they had a team of
very dedicated missionaries
00:13:18.06\00:13:20.70
waiting for them.
00:13:20.73\00:13:22.10
It's really humbling
00:13:22.13\00:13:23.47
and to look at
the Espinosa Family
00:13:23.50\00:13:26.63
and Christine in that...
00:13:26.67\00:13:29.74
There was time here
00:13:29.77\00:13:31.11
where there just
wasn't nothing happening,
00:13:31.14\00:13:32.47
no project because the families
were gone and it didn't,
00:13:32.51\00:13:35.18
just nothing was going on.
00:13:35.21\00:13:36.85
And yet they remain
faithful in staying with it
00:13:36.88\00:13:40.12
and managing the
base here at Sapangan,
00:13:40.15\00:13:43.02
and Christine
managing the foundation,
00:13:43.05\00:13:44.75
keeping it alive,
having a faith that,
00:13:44.79\00:13:48.02
to me is
extraordinary to realize that
00:13:48.06\00:13:51.53
they stuck it out
in faith knowing that
00:13:51.56\00:13:53.53
AWA was going to
send another family here
00:13:53.56\00:13:55.70
to put this project on track.
00:13:55.73\00:13:57.60
And I'm not saying that's us,
00:13:57.63\00:13:59.27
and we're going to do
our best by God's grace.
00:13:59.30\00:14:01.07
It certainly is going to be
00:14:01.10\00:14:02.44
all His glory though
if it does come about.
00:14:02.47\00:14:04.71
We're going to
do what we can but,
00:14:04.74\00:14:06.61
but I just,
00:14:06.64\00:14:07.98
the commitment
of these individuals
00:14:08.01\00:14:09.61
that I've seen here is rare,
00:14:09.64\00:14:11.75
and I wish we could find
about 200 more of them frankly,
00:14:11.78\00:14:15.52
people like this.
00:14:15.55\00:14:17.22
They're
inspiration to our family,
00:14:17.25\00:14:18.69
and it's going to
motivate us to work hard
00:14:18.72\00:14:20.62
and do what we can to
bring this dream to reality
00:14:20.66\00:14:23.06
because of their faithfulness.
00:14:23.09\00:14:24.76
Together, this
group of dedicated people
00:14:24.79\00:14:28.06
are passionate about
reviving this project
00:14:28.10\00:14:31.43
to once again be an
impactful mission base.
00:14:31.47\00:14:36.20
Jud Wickwire, Vice
President of Operations
00:14:46.98\00:14:50.09
is also heavily involved
00:14:50.12\00:14:51.95
in helping relaunch
the Philippines project.
00:14:51.99\00:14:55.06
Jud has traveled here
many times to this project,
00:14:55.09\00:14:58.46
often with dental teams
and evangelistic mission trips.
00:14:58.49\00:15:03.06
During his visit
in the Philippines,
00:15:03.10\00:15:05.27
Jud has been
establishing relationships
00:15:05.30\00:15:07.70
with local church leadership.
00:15:07.74\00:15:09.67
He visits with Pastor Malabad,
00:15:09.70\00:15:11.97
President of the
Palawan Seventh-day Adventist
00:15:12.01\00:15:14.74
Conference and discusses ways
00:15:14.78\00:15:16.88
that Adventist World Aviation
00:15:16.91\00:15:18.68
can support the
churches in this area.
00:15:18.71\00:15:22.02
Adventist World Aviation
has a supported ministry.
00:15:22.05\00:15:24.49
And that's why we're sitting
00:15:24.52\00:15:25.85
here talking today
is because our purpose
00:15:25.89\00:15:27.72
of Adventist World
Aviation is to support the work
00:15:27.76\00:15:29.72
of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church worldwide
00:15:29.76\00:15:31.93
wherever that transportation
service is needed.
00:15:31.96\00:15:34.93
And this is a perfect example
of Adventist World Aviation
00:15:34.96\00:15:38.73
partnering with the
Palawan Adventist Mission
00:15:38.77\00:15:42.60
to further their work,
00:15:42.64\00:15:44.01
to strengthen their
ability to reach the people
00:15:44.04\00:15:47.31
who are far out,
more difficult to reach.
00:15:47.34\00:15:50.78
And, again, a perfect example
of a partnership that helps
00:15:50.81\00:15:55.28
the Palawan
Adventist Mission do more,
00:15:55.32\00:15:57.39
and we can provide
that resource to do that.
00:15:57.42\00:16:00.89
It's a great
blessing to all of us
00:16:00.92\00:16:03.19
here in Palawan
Adventist Mission.
00:16:03.22\00:16:05.99
And we appreciate so much,
your commitment and dedication.
00:16:06.03\00:16:10.53
And I know for sure
00:16:10.57\00:16:13.84
that this is not an accident,
this is God's providence.
00:16:13.87\00:16:17.77
God led you, has led
you to come here in Palawan.
00:16:17.81\00:16:20.98
So the people
here will be blessed
00:16:21.01\00:16:23.45
and will know
Jesus as, you know,
00:16:23.48\00:16:27.45
the only way where they
can, you know, get help,
00:16:27.48\00:16:31.49
and eventually be
saved when Jesus comes.
00:16:31.52\00:16:35.82
Each of Adventist
World Aviation projects
00:16:35.86\00:16:38.26
throughout the
world seek to serve
00:16:38.29\00:16:40.40
the local
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:16:40.43\00:16:43.13
The first step is
establishing this is by
00:16:43.16\00:16:45.63
creating strong
connections and partnerships
00:16:45.67\00:16:48.40
with local Seventh-day
Adventist Conferences.
00:16:48.44\00:16:51.51
Each of AWA projects
have strong partnerships
00:16:51.54\00:16:55.14
with Seventh-day Adventist
Conferences in the area.
00:16:55.18\00:16:58.35
The goal is to work hand in hand
00:16:58.38\00:17:00.75
with the Global Adventist Church
00:17:00.78\00:17:02.95
and offer them aviation
support to transport pastors,
00:17:02.98\00:17:07.26
Bibles, Bible workers to areas
that are not easily accessible
00:17:07.29\00:17:12.83
by normal means
of transportation.
00:17:12.86\00:17:15.33
Each of the AWA global
projects works in harmony
00:17:15.36\00:17:19.53
with the local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:17:19.57\00:17:21.97
and never independently.
00:17:22.00\00:17:24.71
One of the philosophies
00:17:24.74\00:17:26.17
of Adventist
World Aviation is that
00:17:26.21\00:17:27.94
we don't see ourselves
as an independent ministry.
00:17:27.98\00:17:30.78
We are independent
from receiving funding
00:17:30.81\00:17:33.72
from the General Conference
00:17:33.75\00:17:35.08
of Seventh-day Adventists,
but we are supporting ministry.
00:17:35.12\00:17:37.22
We come into countries,
00:17:37.25\00:17:38.79
and the first thing we
try to do is get together
00:17:38.82\00:17:40.86
with the local officials
in the church to find out
00:17:40.89\00:17:43.29
how we can
partner and work together.
00:17:43.32\00:17:45.89
And the Philippines is
no exception to the rule.
00:17:45.93\00:17:48.76
We're going to be
working very closely
00:17:48.80\00:17:50.37
with Pastor Malabad,
00:17:50.40\00:17:51.73
who is the president of
a mission here in Palawan,
00:17:51.77\00:17:54.24
as well as the union president,
00:17:54.27\00:17:56.20
division personnel and
they have many believers
00:17:56.24\00:18:00.64
in various areas of the islands
that they can't even support
00:18:00.68\00:18:03.91
because they
can't get out there.
00:18:03.95\00:18:05.48
And we can really I
think increase the, you know,
00:18:05.51\00:18:10.42
the support that's available
00:18:10.45\00:18:11.79
to these churches
through our aviation program.
00:18:11.82\00:18:14.09
Here in Palawan,
00:18:14.12\00:18:15.52
there are many
surrounding islands
00:18:15.56\00:18:17.33
that pastors cannot reach
without the aid of aircraft.
00:18:17.36\00:18:21.53
In past years,
many of these islands
00:18:21.56\00:18:23.77
have been unreached.
00:18:23.80\00:18:25.20
And people living on them
00:18:25.23\00:18:26.57
never received
the gospel message.
00:18:26.60\00:18:29.14
The future plans
for the AWA mission base
00:18:29.17\00:18:31.97
heavily involve
evangelism outreach
00:18:32.01\00:18:34.74
and transporting
pastors to these outlying areas.
00:18:34.78\00:18:38.81
We look forward to servicing
00:18:38.85\00:18:41.88
the other missionaries
where they need to reach
00:18:41.92\00:18:46.62
far-flung areas as
well as the pastors
00:18:46.65\00:18:50.03
who are assigned
in the other islands
00:18:50.06\00:18:52.96
where normal transportation
00:18:52.99\00:18:55.00
takes so long
especially when the rainy season
00:18:55.03\00:19:01.10
or does the typhoon season
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.04
is in the country,
00:19:04.07\00:19:07.41
and sea
00:19:07.44\00:19:12.48
or water transportation is
00:19:12.51\00:19:16.65
very hard to access.
00:19:16.69\00:19:20.99
Well, if you
summarize it, you know,
00:19:21.02\00:19:22.46
a project like this, you
know, what is the ultimate goal?
00:19:22.49\00:19:24.96
I mean, it's really very simple.
00:19:24.99\00:19:26.96
I mean, the whole
idea behind all this,
00:19:27.00\00:19:29.06
it's not about airplanes,
it's not about medical work.
00:19:29.10\00:19:32.07
It's not about even outreach,
all these things we have to do,
00:19:32.10\00:19:34.60
it's important.
00:19:34.64\00:19:36.40
But the idea is to show people
00:19:36.44\00:19:40.61
that there is a
God that loves them,
00:19:40.64\00:19:42.48
and through our actions,
00:19:42.51\00:19:46.61
not just by thumping
a Bible over their head,
00:19:46.65\00:19:48.32
but by actually
demonstrating that
00:19:48.35\00:19:50.85
we care about them,
00:19:50.89\00:19:52.22
and we're here to help
them, we're here to serve them.
00:19:52.25\00:19:56.39
That is what's going
to break down barriers.
00:19:56.42\00:19:58.59
The goal is to take
as many people with us
00:19:58.63\00:20:01.10
as we can to God's kingdom.
00:20:01.13\00:20:02.93
I mean, there's no other
reason for us being here.
00:20:02.96\00:20:05.30
If we're not doing
that, we're just wasting time.
00:20:05.33\00:20:07.97
It boils down to the fact
00:20:08.00\00:20:09.47
that we want to
share God's love.
00:20:09.50\00:20:12.21
And we have to
do mission aviation,
00:20:12.24\00:20:14.01
medical work and
outreach to do that,
00:20:14.04\00:20:15.51
well, then that's
what we're going to do.
00:20:15.54\00:20:16.88
And I believe that
00:20:16.91\00:20:18.25
is the ultimate
vehicle that we will use.
00:20:18.28\00:20:19.85
But I know for a
fact that there are people
00:20:19.88\00:20:22.65
all over these islands
00:20:22.68\00:20:24.22
where the Holy Spirit
has been working with them.
00:20:24.25\00:20:27.09
Ultimately, that's what we want.
00:20:27.12\00:20:28.46
We want to bring
peace to people's lives.
00:20:28.49\00:20:29.96
We want to help
them understand that
00:20:29.99\00:20:31.33
there's a God that loves them
00:20:31.36\00:20:32.69
and in fact God
Jesus is coming back again.
00:20:32.73\00:20:34.93
And He's going to take all of us
00:20:34.96\00:20:36.87
home to His
kingdom rich and poor,
00:20:36.90\00:20:38.60
Filipino, American,
doesn't matter who you are,
00:20:38.63\00:20:40.94
or what's walk of life you
come from, He loves us all.
00:20:40.97\00:20:46.34
Over the past years,
Adventist World Aviation
00:20:46.37\00:20:49.24
has organized
evangelistic mission trips
00:20:49.28\00:20:52.08
to come to Palawan and
hold evangelistic meetings
00:20:52.11\00:20:55.48
all over the island.
00:20:55.52\00:20:57.49
These teams often had
more than 10 evangelists,
00:20:57.52\00:21:00.99
each holding meetings
00:21:01.02\00:21:02.36
in separate
locations around Palawan.
00:21:02.39\00:21:05.06
These meetings resulted
00:21:05.09\00:21:06.59
in many giving
their lives to Christ,
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.80
and were baptized
into the Adventist Church.
00:21:09.83\00:21:13.13
In the village of Sapangan,
where AWA's mission base lies,
00:21:13.17\00:21:17.97
many new believers
accepted Jesus Christ.
00:21:18.01\00:21:21.24
However, there were no churches
in the area for these people
00:21:21.28\00:21:24.81
to come together to worship.
00:21:24.85\00:21:27.15
In 2008, a simple bamboo church
00:21:27.18\00:21:30.15
was built to be
a place of worship
00:21:30.19\00:21:32.69
for these new believers.
00:21:32.72\00:21:34.62
They decided to have
00:21:34.66\00:21:36.02
an evangelistic
campaign here at Sapangan.
00:21:36.06\00:21:38.99
And they baptized,
00:21:39.03\00:21:40.60
I don't exactly
know how many souls,
00:21:40.63\00:21:42.16
but it was around 20 or so.
00:21:42.20\00:21:44.07
And they started a church.
00:21:44.10\00:21:47.27
I mean, it's right now
it's not actually a church,
00:21:47.30\00:21:49.24
it's still a company.
00:21:49.27\00:21:50.84
But they built a building there
00:21:50.87\00:21:54.08
and they have a
worship place to worship there.
00:21:54.11\00:21:56.48
You know, the Espinosas
were very instrumental in that.
00:21:56.51\00:21:58.65
Edgar's been
faithful as a pastor
00:21:58.68\00:22:00.02
here working with these
people, meeting in their homes,
00:22:00.05\00:22:02.65
dealing with
even demon possession
00:22:02.68\00:22:04.65
and various things
that you see down here.
00:22:04.69\00:22:06.69
Things that would make
Americans cringe honestly,
00:22:06.72\00:22:09.29
but he's been able to deal with,
00:22:09.32\00:22:10.83
by simply, you know,
00:22:10.86\00:22:12.83
surrendering to the Lord
and letting Him work using him
00:22:12.86\00:22:15.60
as His mouthpiece.
00:22:15.63\00:22:16.97
And so we're very excited
00:22:17.00\00:22:19.07
about the opportunity
to work with His church.
00:22:19.10\00:22:21.44
And we know that
00:22:21.47\00:22:22.87
there are many
believers out here
00:22:22.90\00:22:24.37
that God has
worked with already.
00:22:24.41\00:22:25.74
The Holy Spirit
is preparing hearts,
00:22:25.77\00:22:27.11
and I believe once we find them,
00:22:27.14\00:22:28.61
He's going to
lead us to these areas
00:22:28.64\00:22:30.11
and we're going to be
able to bring them in,
00:22:30.15\00:22:31.95
and that church is
going to grow and so,
00:22:31.98\00:22:34.45
you can pray for that.
00:22:34.48\00:22:36.15
The church has stood
strong for almost 10 years,
00:22:36.18\00:22:40.02
even despite the
harsh jungle elements.
00:22:40.06\00:22:43.66
However, the church building
00:22:43.69\00:22:45.63
is now showing signs of distress
00:22:45.66\00:22:48.00
and in much need of repairs.
00:22:48.03\00:22:50.43
Unfortunately,
termites have come in
00:22:50.47\00:22:53.40
and ravish the bamboo structure.
00:22:53.44\00:22:56.17
One of the
first projects LaBores
00:22:56.20\00:22:58.24
intend to do is fix the church.
00:22:58.27\00:23:01.48
Bill LaBore, Edgar Espinosa
00:23:01.51\00:23:03.81
and Jud Wickwire
survey the church
00:23:03.85\00:23:06.38
and determined
that all of the Sawali,
00:23:06.41\00:23:09.28
the bamboo weave
material needs to be replaced.
00:23:09.32\00:23:13.76
Together, they take measurements
00:23:13.79\00:23:15.49
and devise a plan
to revive this church
00:23:15.52\00:23:18.09
and save it from disrepair.
00:23:18.13\00:23:20.86
So we're here in
Sapangan in this church
00:23:20.90\00:23:22.93
that we're in here
was started in 2008.
00:23:22.96\00:23:25.73
And it's held up pretty well,
00:23:25.77\00:23:28.30
but it is in need of repair now.
00:23:28.34\00:23:31.04
Termites have taken their toll,
00:23:31.07\00:23:32.41
the elements
have taken their toll,
00:23:32.44\00:23:33.81
and we're going to
refurbish this church
00:23:33.84\00:23:36.34
so it can last a few more years
00:23:36.38\00:23:38.58
until we get
another construction project
00:23:38.61\00:23:40.15
down to actually
build a concrete church.
00:23:40.18\00:23:42.45
And we're
looking forward to that.
00:23:42.48\00:23:43.89
In the meantime,
between now and then,
00:23:43.92\00:23:45.32
we're going to be
growing the church
00:23:45.35\00:23:46.69
to increase the membership.
00:23:46.72\00:23:48.09
And actually right
now, it's only a company,
00:23:48.12\00:23:49.99
by that time you will
have by God's grace church.
00:23:50.03\00:23:54.16
This church was built
in 2008 and we've been here
00:23:54.20\00:23:57.83
for nine years
00:23:57.87\00:24:01.24
and we are trying
to improve the church.
00:24:01.27\00:24:07.41
So Edgar given us
00:24:07.44\00:24:08.78
a list of
materials that we need,
00:24:08.81\00:24:10.18
and we're gonna head off to town
00:24:10.21\00:24:11.61
and pick up what we need,
00:24:11.65\00:24:13.78
so we can make
this church look pretty
00:24:13.82\00:24:15.85
much like the new you can get.
00:24:15.88\00:24:17.69
The men go into town to
pick up the massive rolls
00:24:17.72\00:24:20.66
of Sawali needed in
order to repair the church.
00:24:20.69\00:24:24.73
The improvement of the
church is only a temporary fix.
00:24:24.76\00:24:28.60
However, there are plans
00:24:28.63\00:24:31.00
to establish a construction crew
00:24:31.03\00:24:33.20
and have them come
over from North America
00:24:33.23\00:24:35.80
on a mission trip
to build a larger,
00:24:35.84\00:24:38.97
more permanent
concrete block church
00:24:39.01\00:24:41.34
to replace this one.
00:24:41.38\00:24:43.01
We need to renovate
the existing building
00:24:43.04\00:24:44.91
because it's
kind of falling apart.
00:24:44.95\00:24:47.68
That's not going to be too bad,
00:24:47.72\00:24:49.05
maybe $2,000 we can
actually get that church
00:24:49.08\00:24:52.65
to where it's going to be
fine for a couple more years.
00:24:52.69\00:24:54.79
But then we're
going to grow the church
00:24:54.82\00:24:56.32
through evangelistic
efforts and Bible work efforts.
00:24:56.36\00:24:58.96
And once we grow
the church enough
00:24:58.99\00:25:00.70
and the next thing we're
going to do is bring down
00:25:00.73\00:25:02.23
a crew to build
a concrete church
00:25:02.26\00:25:04.30
and actually get it established
00:25:04.33\00:25:05.67
as a
full-fledged mission church.
00:25:05.70\00:25:08.10
Growing and expanding the church
00:25:08.14\00:25:09.77
is a high priority
00:25:09.80\00:25:11.17
for AWA missionaries
living here in Palawan.
00:25:11.21\00:25:16.28
Despite the absence
00:25:23.72\00:25:25.05
of an airplane to provide
them with transportation,
00:25:25.09\00:25:27.96
the mission
team keeps very busy.
00:25:27.99\00:25:31.29
None of the team
members sit idly by
00:25:31.33\00:25:34.06
while they wait for
the aircraft to arrive.
00:25:34.10\00:25:36.77
Each missionary uses their God
00:25:36.80\00:25:38.97
given talents to share His love
with the local Filipino people.
00:25:39.00\00:25:44.04
This mission project
is truly a team effort.
00:25:44.07\00:25:48.68
The dedication and willingness
00:25:48.71\00:25:50.95
of the existing
mission team is unmatched.
00:25:50.98\00:25:54.85
Although the conditions
and situations are not ideal,
00:25:54.88\00:25:58.75
they all know that
God's timing is best.
00:25:58.79\00:26:02.46
With the whole team
here working together,
00:26:02.49\00:26:04.56
they are now able to efficiently
00:26:04.59\00:26:07.46
and effectively move forward
00:26:07.50\00:26:10.47
to bring this aviation base back
00:26:10.50\00:26:13.10
to full operational capacity.
00:26:13.13\00:26:16.20
Laura LaBore is a pilot,
00:26:16.24\00:26:18.91
a nurse and an
airplane mechanic.
00:26:18.94\00:26:21.91
The aircraft that
00:26:21.94\00:26:23.28
she will be flying
here in the Philippines
00:26:23.31\00:26:25.61
is currently being refurbished
00:26:25.65\00:26:27.75
and overhauled in
the United States.
00:26:27.78\00:26:30.65
Before it is
shipped to the Philippines,
00:26:30.69\00:26:32.85
it needs to be in
perfect working order.
00:26:32.89\00:26:36.56
Ironically, this airplane
00:26:36.59\00:26:38.89
that is being worked
on is the same airplane
00:26:38.93\00:26:42.03
that Laura first flew
00:26:42.06\00:26:43.73
when they launched to
their project in Guyana.
00:26:43.77\00:26:47.80
Laura is very
excited to be reunited
00:26:47.84\00:26:50.57
with one of her
favorite airplanes.
00:26:50.61\00:26:52.97
Right now we have a
plane that's been worked on,
00:26:53.01\00:26:55.21
it's the same
plane that I used to fly
00:26:55.24\00:26:56.98
when we are in Guyana is
the Pathfinder 1 airplane.
00:26:57.01\00:27:00.58
And we are excited
to be able to bring it
00:27:00.62\00:27:04.45
to the Philippines.
00:27:04.49\00:27:05.85
Now it is back in the
States, it is being worked on
00:27:05.89\00:27:08.49
and we're going to get
it here to the Philippines
00:27:08.52\00:27:10.86
in the next
three to five months.
00:27:10.89\00:27:12.69
And I can't believe
00:27:12.73\00:27:14.46
I'll be flying
the same plane again.
00:27:14.50\00:27:16.10
I'm looking forward to
it, it's my first love.
00:27:16.13\00:27:18.53
This aircraft
is almost completed
00:27:18.57\00:27:20.74
and ready to be
shipped to the Philippines.
00:27:20.77\00:27:23.54
It is being
meticulously reviewed,
00:27:23.57\00:27:26.47
inspected and
updated to make sure that
00:27:26.51\00:27:29.88
it is in perfect working order
00:27:29.91\00:27:31.75
before it is
returned to the mission field.
00:27:31.78\00:27:34.68
Dedicated volunteers
in North America have been
00:27:34.72\00:27:37.59
working on this
plane for months.
00:27:37.62\00:27:40.09
Soon the plane will be completed
00:27:40.12\00:27:42.52
and ready to be
00:27:42.56\00:27:43.89
put in service
in the Philippines,
00:27:43.93\00:27:45.93
where it can be
used to save people
00:27:45.96\00:27:48.33
both physically and eternally.
00:27:48.36\00:27:51.83
This project here
in the Philippines
00:27:51.87\00:27:54.34
is in the beginning
stages of what will soon
00:27:54.37\00:27:57.37
be a very
powerful aviation base.
00:27:57.41\00:28:00.41
Each missionary in
the AWA Philippines team
00:28:03.65\00:28:06.92
knows that God has
great plans for their lives.
00:28:06.95\00:28:10.79
Together, they
follow God's leading
00:28:10.82\00:28:13.99
as they push forward.
00:28:14.02\00:28:19.83
Our mission here
isn't just about aviation.
00:28:19.86\00:28:22.20
Yes, we have a plane or
we will be getting a plane,
00:28:22.23\00:28:25.97
but you can fly all day long
00:28:26.00\00:28:27.60
and if you don't win
anybody to Jesus Christ,
00:28:27.64\00:28:29.80
then what are we doing here?
00:28:29.84\00:28:31.51
So it goes beyond that.
00:28:31.54\00:28:32.87
The plan is just opens
up doors to people's hearts
00:28:32.91\00:28:36.78
and medical work
just opens up doors
00:28:36.81\00:28:38.61
to people's hearts.
00:28:38.65\00:28:39.98
And we've enjoyed going
00:28:40.02\00:28:41.85
and getting involved with people
00:28:41.88\00:28:43.82
on a one to one basis,
00:28:43.85\00:28:45.19
and we're looking forward
00:28:45.22\00:28:47.16
to where those
doors are going to lead.
00:28:47.19\00:28:50.19
We're really,
really looking forward
00:28:50.23\00:28:52.06
to helping the
people here and ultimately,
00:28:52.09\00:28:55.76
through helping them physically,
00:28:55.80\00:28:57.30
you hope to help
them spiritually.
00:28:57.33\00:28:58.80