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,
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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
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are comprised 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 a week by boat
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can be traveled in
just a few hours time
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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
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to relocate 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 there
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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,
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I would love to come down
and just see what I could do
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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 into
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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 are now ready to embark
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on a new adventure
of raising a project
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from the ground 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 in Palawan
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and to pick up the project
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 you feel
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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
that God's going to have to work
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and do it 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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Reviving a project does not
come without its challenges.
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One of the first
things that LaBores must do
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when they arrive
in the Philippines
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is to find a place to live.
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In essence, it's almost
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as if they were starting
the project from scratch.
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When they arrived,
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the LaBores had no
housing waiting for them.
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They arrived knowing that
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they would need
to construct a house
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on the AWA property
which currently lies vacant.
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Making the best
of the situation,
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the LaBores pitched a
couple of tents to live in.
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One for Bill and Laura
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and the other for
their two children,
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Danny and Micah.
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This is their
living accommodations
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for the next couple of months
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until a new
mission house is built.
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Here in Sapangan,
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we are starting
out with square one.
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We are building a house.
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As right now we
have nowhere to stay.
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We're staying in a tent.
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We're living out of a
tent is kind of interesting.
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I mean, you know,
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we've done it a lot
and we've been camping.
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This is the first time
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I've actually had
to live out of a tent
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where I have to work in there.
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That's where I
do my computer work
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and my correspondence and,
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you know, all
that kind of thing.
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It's exciting. I
think it's motivating.
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I don't mind having to
deal with living in a tent
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knowing that things are
going to change in the future
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and the work we're doing now
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will be a long-lasting
legacy that we can leave here.
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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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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
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of the LaBores
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and are anxious to get this base
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fully operational again.
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And we're happy that
the LaBores Family are 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
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and we are 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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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
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will become more
bigger and bigger
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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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Before the
project can move forward,
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the LaBores desperately
need to secure a place to live.
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The leadership of AWA
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have a plan to
bring that to a reality.
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Some dedicated AWA volunteers
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who work in
construction, step forward
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and offer to
travel to the Philippines
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to oversee the
construction process
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of the new missionary housing.
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When the LaBores
arrived in the Philippines,
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all that awaited them
was this dusty plot of land.
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However, before long,
this land will be transformed
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into an aviation mission base
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with housing,
hangars and a runway.
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As the
construction crew arrives,
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the LaBores are
eager to get started.
00:10:05.43\00:10:08.04
They do not sit on the sidelines
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and let other
people do the work.
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Instead, each
member of the family
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rolls up their
sleeves and chips in
00:10:14.01\00:10:15.98
with the
backbreaking construction work.
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Day after day, they
work in scorching hot sun
00:10:18.71\00:10:22.28
alongside the construction crew
00:10:22.32\00:10:24.52
to bring this house
one step closer to reality.
00:10:24.55\00:10:28.66
First on their agenda
00:10:28.69\00:10:30.03
is preparing the
land for construction.
00:10:30.06\00:10:32.33
The grounds need to be surveyed,
00:10:32.36\00:10:34.36
cleared and leveled.
00:10:34.40\00:10:36.46
Each of the
LaBore Family members
00:10:36.50\00:10:38.27
finds ways to be involved
00:10:38.30\00:10:40.24
and lend a helping hand
00:10:40.27\00:10:41.74
to the
professional construction crew.
00:10:41.77\00:10:44.67
Despite the LaBores inexperience
00:10:44.71\00:10:47.08
in construction work,
00:10:47.11\00:10:48.61
the skilled laborers mentor
00:10:48.64\00:10:50.35
each of the
LaBore Family members
00:10:50.38\00:10:52.48
and teach them the skills
00:10:52.51\00:10:53.85
they need to be helpful
on the construction site.
00:10:53.88\00:10:57.72
Next, they will
need to procure water
00:10:57.75\00:11:00.32
for the construction site.
00:11:00.36\00:11:02.36
Water is imperative.
00:11:02.39\00:11:04.23
Without it, they
cannot mix concrete
00:11:04.26\00:11:06.80
or the mortar to build
00:11:06.83\00:11:08.56
the block
framework for this house.
00:11:08.60\00:11:11.57
They must find a
permanent solution
00:11:11.60\00:11:13.57
to access water
on this empty land.
00:11:13.60\00:11:16.64
Many years ago,
00:11:16.67\00:11:18.07
previous missionaries dug a well
00:11:18.11\00:11:20.01
here on this property.
00:11:20.04\00:11:21.84
The well project was
never finished, however,
00:11:21.88\00:11:24.28
and laid abandoned for years.
00:11:24.31\00:11:27.25
The construction
team is prayerful that
00:11:27.28\00:11:29.88
they can get this
old well operational.
00:11:29.92\00:11:32.95
If they cannot,
00:11:32.99\00:11:34.32
they will have
to dig a new well,
00:11:34.36\00:11:36.49
which will push
them over budget.
00:11:36.52\00:11:38.76
The team is able
to find materials
00:11:38.79\00:11:40.76
that they need for the well.
00:11:40.80\00:11:42.60
This well will pump water
00:11:42.63\00:11:44.20
from the ground into the drum
00:11:44.23\00:11:46.27
that sits in the
high water tower.
00:11:46.30\00:11:49.10
The water will
collect in the drum
00:11:49.14\00:11:51.21
and provide water
pressure needed to supply water
00:11:51.24\00:11:54.14
for the construction process
00:11:54.18\00:11:56.11
as well as for the
house once it is finished.
00:11:56.14\00:11:59.31
Even though they can
access water from the old well,
00:11:59.35\00:12:02.38
it still needs to be tested
00:12:02.42\00:12:04.35
to make sure that the water
00:12:04.39\00:12:06.02
it brings is not
contaminated and safe for use.
00:12:06.05\00:12:10.03
God greatly
blessed this project,
00:12:10.06\00:12:12.79
because after testing,
00:12:12.83\00:12:14.26
it was determined
that this water is safe
00:12:14.30\00:12:17.10
and that this well
is fully operational.
00:12:17.13\00:12:20.60
This is excellent news.
00:12:20.64\00:12:22.84
The crew can move forward
00:12:22.87\00:12:24.24
with construction
and the water tower.
00:12:24.27\00:12:27.24
They know that
there is clean water
00:12:27.28\00:12:29.01
under the ground awaiting them.
00:12:29.04\00:12:31.11
They hoist the large
drum up into the water tower.
00:12:31.15\00:12:35.18
Next, they need
to install the piping
00:12:35.22\00:12:37.82
and the pumps needed
to complete the system.
00:12:37.85\00:12:41.72
With this milestone finished,
00:12:41.76\00:12:43.86
they can finally break ground
00:12:43.89\00:12:46.09
and begin the
construction process
00:12:46.13\00:12:48.73
on the house.
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.67
The construction
site becomes busy
00:12:50.70\00:12:52.63
with activity as each
person plays an important role.
00:12:52.67\00:12:56.64
The beginning stages
00:12:56.67\00:12:58.01
of the house are
starting to take shape.
00:12:58.04\00:13:00.58
Forms are made that will
soon be filled with concrete.
00:13:00.61\00:13:04.41
It is all hands-on-deck
on this construction site.
00:13:04.45\00:13:07.68
Even the young
children are instructed
00:13:07.72\00:13:09.88
and given tasks to
help work on the house.
00:13:09.92\00:13:13.29
For weeks, this
skeleton crew works tirelessly
00:13:13.32\00:13:17.79
in the open
elements of scorching sun
00:13:17.83\00:13:20.70
or pouring rain,
00:13:20.73\00:13:22.06
they push forward
with determination.
00:13:22.10\00:13:24.70
And efforts to help
the LaBores transition
00:13:24.73\00:13:27.07
into more
permanent living conditions,
00:13:27.10\00:13:29.37
Jud Wickwire, Vice
President of Operations
00:13:29.40\00:13:32.21
for Adventist World Aviation
has arranged for multiple teams
00:13:32.24\00:13:35.91
to travel to Palawan to
build a missionary house
00:13:35.94\00:13:40.12
on a vacant
piece of AWA property.
00:13:40.15\00:13:43.28
This land will be
the new mission base
00:13:43.32\00:13:45.72
and will have on
it missionary housing,
00:13:45.75\00:13:48.16
an airstrip, a
hangar for the aircraft
00:13:48.19\00:13:51.39
and farmland.
00:13:51.43\00:13:53.70
So the mission house
that we're building here
00:13:53.73\00:13:55.26
is for Bill and Laura LaBore.
00:13:55.30\00:13:57.40
They are, Bill is
the project manager here
00:13:57.43\00:13:59.87
and Laura is the
pilot for this project.
00:13:59.90\00:14:03.34
And we just are so
excited to be able to help them
00:14:03.37\00:14:07.41
get established
here with a home to be
00:14:07.44\00:14:09.98
able to work out
of and to launch,
00:14:10.01\00:14:12.58
relaunch this work
here in the Philippines
00:14:12.61\00:14:14.72
in a huge step forward
with getting airstrip done,
00:14:14.75\00:14:18.62
a place for them to live.
00:14:18.65\00:14:20.46
Jud has traveled many
times to this project,
00:14:20.49\00:14:23.32
often with dental teams
and evangelical mission trips.
00:14:23.36\00:14:28.16
He has formulated a plan
00:14:28.20\00:14:30.07
to kickstart this
construction project
00:14:30.10\00:14:32.57
and help get it one
step closer to completion.
00:14:32.60\00:14:36.47
We just have a
really exciting event
00:14:47.72\00:14:49.05
happening right now.
00:14:49.08\00:14:50.42
We're building a mission house
00:14:50.45\00:14:51.79
for the mission pilot
project manager family,
00:14:51.82\00:14:54.86
and we have two groups
00:14:54.89\00:14:56.73
of students here on two
back to back mission trips
00:14:56.76\00:15:01.50
to construct the house along
00:15:01.53\00:15:02.86
with a number
of other volunteers
00:15:02.90\00:15:05.17
to get the concrete work done,
00:15:05.20\00:15:06.53
that sort of
thing, but just been
00:15:06.57\00:15:07.90
an amazing
experience for everyone.
00:15:07.94\00:15:11.11
To encourage
the mission mindset,
00:15:11.14\00:15:13.21
Jud Wickwire has arranged
00:15:13.24\00:15:14.88
two separate mission
trips of high school students
00:15:14.91\00:15:18.31
who will be involved in
the construction project.
00:15:18.35\00:15:21.75
And, of course, a
mission trip for youth
00:15:21.78\00:15:23.15
is far more than just coming
00:15:23.18\00:15:24.59
and building
something for someone.
00:15:24.62\00:15:26.15
It's also a rich, spiritual,
cultural experience for them.
00:15:26.19\00:15:31.79
And we want to make that
00:15:31.83\00:15:33.16
as abundant as possible for them
00:15:33.19\00:15:34.56
and a growth that
00:15:34.60\00:15:35.93
they can take back home
with them for years to come.
00:15:35.96\00:15:39.63
The thing about
these mission projects
00:15:39.67\00:15:41.90
is these young people
are getting a chance to do
00:15:41.94\00:15:44.67
something with their hands
00:15:44.71\00:15:46.04
that is going to
impact God's kingdom.
00:15:46.07\00:15:47.88
And they, I believe,
00:15:47.91\00:15:50.25
often receive the seed
of missions in their heart
00:15:50.28\00:15:53.38
when they see this
happen, I would not be surprised
00:15:53.42\00:15:55.92
if many of them come
back to be missionaries.
00:15:55.95\00:15:58.95
You know, maybe not here
but other areas of the country
00:15:58.99\00:16:01.52
because of their
experiences they have here,
00:16:01.56\00:16:03.12
so it's pretty cool.
00:16:03.16\00:16:04.49
The first team of
students to arrive
00:16:04.53\00:16:06.46
is from the Okanagan Adventist
Academy in Kelowna, Canada.
00:16:06.49\00:16:10.87
This group of
students will arrive to help
00:16:10.90\00:16:13.30
construct the walls
and framework of the home.
00:16:13.34\00:16:16.60
The students might not have
all the knowledge and skills
00:16:16.64\00:16:19.37
that they need
to construct a home,
00:16:19.41\00:16:21.58
but they arrive with
willing and eager hearts.
00:16:21.61\00:16:25.28
The primary work for
them will to be assist
00:16:25.31\00:16:27.85
the skilled construction crew
00:16:27.88\00:16:29.85
and help them lay
block and mix cement
00:16:29.88\00:16:33.99
for the
advancement of the project.
00:16:34.02\00:16:37.99
When we arrived
here, the construction was,
00:16:38.03\00:16:41.60
it was just bare bones,
00:16:41.63\00:16:42.96
there were just
pillars and a foundation laid,
00:16:43.00\00:16:46.17
just kind of
basically showing us
00:16:46.20\00:16:47.84
the outline of
what would be the house.
00:16:47.87\00:16:49.97
On the first day all
the kids went out there
00:16:50.01\00:16:52.21
and every hand was busy.
00:16:52.24\00:16:55.94
But it quickly became apparent
00:16:55.98\00:16:57.51
that it would be a lot of work
00:16:57.55\00:16:59.28
At first, it was
a little daunting
00:16:59.31\00:17:00.65
because it was a bunch of
tasks I hadn't done before.
00:17:00.68\00:17:04.05
But the guys on the
job were really helpful.
00:17:04.09\00:17:06.62
And I learned how
to work with cement
00:17:06.65\00:17:08.96
and I ended up
laying some block,
00:17:08.99\00:17:11.56
which was really
heavy, but it's really cool.
00:17:11.59\00:17:14.50
So I built a couple of walls.
00:17:14.53\00:17:16.90
So we got the
foundation finished
00:17:16.93\00:17:18.57
by the time the
academy groups arrived.
00:17:18.60\00:17:20.64
And the first one came,
00:17:20.67\00:17:22.00
we're so happy to have
them, have more helping hands.
00:17:22.04\00:17:24.97
And they helped lay
more block, mix more cement,
00:17:25.01\00:17:28.28
and we quickly
built up the walls.
00:17:28.31\00:17:31.38
So God has provided
just so many resources
00:17:31.41\00:17:33.28
to make this possible.
00:17:33.31\00:17:34.65
And it's come together
as only God could plan.
00:17:34.68\00:17:38.72
Travis and Michelle
Maloney came in advance
00:17:38.75\00:17:41.32
and began the
groundwork for the construction,
00:17:41.36\00:17:44.06
got the construction
far enough along that
00:17:44.09\00:17:46.03
when the students arrived,
00:17:46.06\00:17:47.40
they all had so many
tasks that they could complete
00:17:47.43\00:17:50.90
and activities that
00:17:50.93\00:17:52.63
they could really
sink their teeth into
00:17:52.67\00:17:54.84
and work hard mixing
cement and laying block.
00:17:54.87\00:17:57.14
Just speaking
from my own experience,
00:17:57.17\00:17:59.37
and I learned to lay blocks
on mission trips years ago.
00:17:59.41\00:18:03.81
And it's a skill that
00:18:03.85\00:18:05.85
I don't
necessarily excel at but I can,
00:18:05.88\00:18:07.98
I can do that.
00:18:08.02\00:18:09.35
And the only reason
I'm able to do that is
00:18:09.38\00:18:10.92
because a leader
on a mission trip
00:18:10.95\00:18:13.15
when I was younger
took the time to show me
00:18:13.19\00:18:16.86
how to do that.
00:18:16.89\00:18:18.23
And so, in this case
now with these young people,
00:18:18.26\00:18:22.16
the experienced
construction people
00:18:22.20\00:18:23.93
are taking the time to show them
00:18:23.97\00:18:26.23
how to do some of these tasks.
00:18:26.27\00:18:27.60
We know, they're not
going to be experts at them,
00:18:27.64\00:18:28.97
but at least they can have
the exposure to some skills
00:18:29.00\00:18:31.97
that maybe they didn't know that
00:18:32.01\00:18:33.34
they can do and
hopefully, they can apply
00:18:33.38\00:18:35.84
that in something
that they do in the future.
00:18:35.88\00:18:39.31
Many hands make light work,
00:18:39.35\00:18:41.35
and the construction crew
is able to work much quicker
00:18:41.38\00:18:44.49
with the extra help of
the students from Canada.
00:18:44.52\00:18:47.59
Having students travel
to the Philippines to be
00:18:47.62\00:18:50.16
part of the construction process
00:18:50.19\00:18:52.03
is only part of
the reason they came.
00:18:52.06\00:18:54.36
For many, this is a
life changing experience.
00:18:54.40\00:18:58.50
What impacted me personally
00:18:58.53\00:19:00.24
is just the whole concept
00:19:00.27\00:19:02.44
of being a
missionary going to people,
00:19:02.47\00:19:04.74
complete strangers
that you don't know,
00:19:04.77\00:19:07.04
and stepping out
of your comfort zone
00:19:07.08\00:19:09.68
and just reaching out to them
00:19:09.71\00:19:12.58
and telling them about how much
00:19:12.61\00:19:14.05
God loves them,
especially the kids.
00:19:14.08\00:19:16.69
I love the little children.
00:19:16.72\00:19:18.72
Well, it's my
first mission trip.
00:19:18.75\00:19:20.69
So I'm sure I'll take on
a lot of memories of this.
00:19:20.72\00:19:24.39
And really, I enjoyed
the whole time I've had here.
00:19:24.43\00:19:27.50
So it's been a good experience.
00:19:27.53\00:19:29.50
Mission trips are important too.
00:19:29.53\00:19:30.87
So you can go out
00:19:30.90\00:19:32.23
and reach out to
other people in the world.
00:19:32.27\00:19:33.97
And it's not like you're
giving more than you're getting.
00:19:34.00\00:19:38.97
It's also you
get a lot from this
00:19:39.01\00:19:40.61
and maybe even take back
more than you have given.
00:19:40.64\00:19:43.45
This trip has
definitely impacted me
00:19:43.48\00:19:45.21
in many ways.
00:19:45.25\00:19:46.88
I love spending
time with the kids
00:19:46.92\00:19:48.55
and it just really
puts into perspective
00:19:48.58\00:19:50.79
what we have at
home, and to just remind me
00:19:50.82\00:19:54.16
personally to be
grateful for what I have.
00:19:54.19\00:19:57.69
God has really blessed
me while I have been here,
00:19:57.73\00:20:01.10
and He's opened my eyes
00:20:01.13\00:20:02.46
to see this is
what I want to do.
00:20:02.50\00:20:04.07
I want to go
places and help people.
00:20:04.10\00:20:07.24
I want to be a missionary now.
00:20:07.27\00:20:08.60
I used to, want
to be a biologist
00:20:08.64\00:20:10.47
or something but and so I...
00:20:10.51\00:20:14.38
That's one of the things
I'm taking home, just God.
00:20:14.41\00:20:18.05
God has a plan for
me. And this is His plan.
00:20:18.08\00:20:21.48
Adventist World Aviation places
00:20:21.52\00:20:23.28
high priority on finding ways
for anyone to be able to serve.
00:20:23.32\00:20:27.89
A life dedicated to
service is a fulfilling one.
00:20:27.92\00:20:31.53
And AWA wants to expose
00:20:31.56\00:20:33.56
these young
students to this opportunity.
00:20:33.60\00:20:36.36
The house isn't complete
and when I leave right now,
00:20:36.40\00:20:38.90
but we do have all the walls up.
00:20:38.93\00:20:42.80
The house has come a long way
00:20:42.84\00:20:44.51
since we first started.
00:20:44.54\00:20:46.17
It started out
just as a foundation
00:20:46.21\00:20:47.84
and got all the dirt in
00:20:47.88\00:20:50.55
and basically the
first floor is done.
00:20:50.58\00:20:53.95
It's ready to go
on to the second,
00:20:53.98\00:20:55.38
so I'm pretty happy.
00:20:55.42\00:20:57.15
This house is now ready
for the next team of student
00:20:57.19\00:21:00.26
to arrive to continue the work
00:21:00.29\00:21:02.19
that the
Okanogan students started.
00:21:02.22\00:21:05.26
Once the first team of students
00:21:05.29\00:21:06.96
has finished their time
00:21:07.00\00:21:08.33
in the Philippines
working on the house,
00:21:08.36\00:21:10.40
a second mission group
from Chetwynd Adventist Academy
00:21:10.43\00:21:13.94
arrives in Palawan
to continue to work
00:21:13.97\00:21:16.74
and get the new mission house
00:21:16.77\00:21:18.41
another step
closer to completion.
00:21:18.44\00:21:21.28
My name is Darren Shankel.
00:21:21.31\00:21:22.78
I am the principal of
Peace Christian school
00:21:22.81\00:21:24.65
at Chetwynd, BC.
00:21:24.68\00:21:26.31
We are a K-12 school,
00:21:26.35\00:21:28.32
and the northern most
K-12 school in the NAD.
00:21:28.35\00:21:31.15
We place a high
value on mission trips,
00:21:31.19\00:21:33.46
because it allows our students
00:21:33.49\00:21:35.12
to see the reality
of most of the people
00:21:35.16\00:21:37.59
that live on this planet.
00:21:37.63\00:21:38.96
One of the biggest things
that we want our kids to see
00:21:38.99\00:21:41.23
is that service is
something that is very valuable.
00:21:41.26\00:21:46.53
Anytime that we
can encourage a student
00:21:46.57\00:21:50.11
to see something
other than themselves
00:21:50.14\00:21:52.77
and the joy and the reward
00:21:52.81\00:21:54.64
of doing
something for somebody else.
00:21:54.68\00:21:57.01
That's a big
goal that we're hoping
00:21:57.05\00:21:59.21
to achieve with
projects like this.
00:21:59.25\00:22:02.85
When the students arrive,
they are eager to get to work.
00:22:02.88\00:22:06.19
Right away they dive
straight into the hard labor.
00:22:06.22\00:22:09.49
As you can imagine,
these high school students
00:22:09.52\00:22:11.86
do not have much experience
00:22:11.89\00:22:13.90
when it comes to laying
block or construction work.
00:22:13.93\00:22:17.23
Each of the
students who work alongside
00:22:17.27\00:22:19.33
one of the more
experienced skilled tradesmen
00:22:19.37\00:22:22.84
and assist them in
the bricklaying process.
00:22:22.87\00:22:26.01
They are now
working on building up
00:22:26.04\00:22:28.34
the interior walls of the house.
00:22:28.38\00:22:31.35
The older, more
experienced workers
00:22:31.38\00:22:33.48
mentor each student in
the tricks of the trade.
00:22:33.52\00:22:37.35
With great
teamwork playing a key role,
00:22:37.39\00:22:39.89
the construction site
00:22:39.92\00:22:41.26
is a constant buzz of
activity and progress.
00:22:41.29\00:22:45.36
Adventist World Aviation strives
00:22:45.39\00:22:47.73
to always bring
meaningful change
00:22:47.76\00:22:49.56
to people's lives,
wherever the project might be.
00:22:49.60\00:22:53.54
Most of these students
00:22:53.57\00:22:54.90
have not
traveled internationally.
00:22:54.94\00:22:56.81
So for them, this
mission trip is a new
00:22:56.84\00:23:00.14
and significant experience.
00:23:00.18\00:23:02.91
Once I found out that our school
00:23:02.94\00:23:04.28
was planning on a mission trip,
I thought it would be great
00:23:04.31\00:23:06.75
since it's my
last year at the school
00:23:06.78\00:23:09.52
to get on board with
it, and I was super stoked
00:23:09.55\00:23:11.95
when I found out that
00:23:11.99\00:23:13.32
we were coming
to the Philippines.
00:23:13.36\00:23:15.09
My school has been
going on mission trips,
00:23:15.12\00:23:16.69
like every
about two years or so.
00:23:16.73\00:23:19.13
And I heard about this one
and I had the opportunity to go
00:23:19.16\00:23:21.86
and I was really
excited about it.
00:23:21.90\00:23:23.57
I've haven't traveled very much.
00:23:23.60\00:23:26.13
This is the first time
I've even seen the ocean.
00:23:26.17\00:23:28.74
And I'm from British Columbia.
00:23:28.77\00:23:30.27
Like it's nice to
see different cultures,
00:23:30.31\00:23:32.37
I've never been
anywhere like international,
00:23:32.41\00:23:34.94
so it's nice having
a different experience.
00:23:34.98\00:23:37.35
I thought it would be
a really good experience
00:23:37.38\00:23:41.25
just to be able to see,
00:23:41.28\00:23:45.05
I don't know, a
different way of life.
00:23:45.09\00:23:48.76
I think just like seeing
00:23:48.79\00:23:50.59
how lucky we are to
live in the place that
00:23:50.63\00:23:53.36
we are and just
seeing the poverty here
00:23:53.40\00:23:56.16
and the attitudes,
you know, people here,
00:23:56.20\00:23:59.43
they're living in
such poor conditions,
00:23:59.47\00:24:02.34
but their
attitude is just so upbeat
00:24:02.37\00:24:05.37
and so happy and
just way out there.
00:24:05.41\00:24:09.78
They don't have
the same attitude
00:24:09.81\00:24:12.61
we do in Canada.
00:24:12.65\00:24:14.68
Definitely a
different appreciation
00:24:14.72\00:24:16.65
and perspective.
00:24:16.69\00:24:18.22
You realize that the people
here don't have very much,
00:24:18.25\00:24:22.12
but they're just so happy
00:24:22.16\00:24:24.83
with their lives
and what they do have.
00:24:24.86\00:24:27.30
And that's just
something refreshing
00:24:27.33\00:24:29.90
from the North
American lifestyle.
00:24:29.93\00:24:33.13
Within a few short weeks,
00:24:33.17\00:24:35.17
the AWA base is
completely transformed.
00:24:35.20\00:24:38.57
From what used to be
an empty plot of land
00:24:38.61\00:24:41.14
now lies a strong
framework of a mission house.
00:24:41.18\00:24:44.71
Students from two
separate academies in Canada
00:24:44.75\00:24:47.85
were instrumental
00:24:47.88\00:24:49.35
in the construction
of the mission house.
00:24:49.38\00:24:52.15
They poured their young
00:24:52.19\00:24:53.52
and eager hearts
into this project.
00:24:53.56\00:24:56.26
They were not deterred
00:24:56.29\00:24:57.63
that they were not professionals
00:24:57.66\00:24:58.99
in this field.
00:24:59.03\00:25:00.36
Instead, they
gave their willingness
00:25:00.40\00:25:02.33
and God blessed their labors.
00:25:02.36\00:25:04.83
For many of the students
00:25:04.87\00:25:06.37
this was more
than just a work trip.
00:25:06.40\00:25:09.24
For some, it was a
life changing event.
00:25:09.27\00:25:13.07
I feel happy that God
has blessed us so much
00:25:13.11\00:25:15.28
to allow us to get so
much done in so little time.
00:25:15.31\00:25:18.58
It's, yeah, it's
quite amazing really.
00:25:18.61\00:25:23.28
Well, it makes me
feel kind of accomplished.
00:25:23.32\00:25:26.12
Now seeing it
standing, it's like,
00:25:26.15\00:25:28.49
you can tell it's
a very good house,
00:25:28.52\00:25:30.03
going to be
standing for quite a while.
00:25:30.06\00:25:31.86
Where there was
once an empty field
00:25:31.89\00:25:33.80
now sits a formed
house that will be used
00:25:33.83\00:25:37.33
for mission service
for many years to come.
00:25:37.37\00:25:41.40
The students were only here
00:25:41.44\00:25:43.07
in Palawan for
a few short weeks.
00:25:43.10\00:25:46.07
After they leave,
00:25:46.11\00:25:47.44
the construction work continues.
00:25:47.48\00:25:49.14
Many months pass
00:25:49.18\00:25:50.75
but the house slowly
continues towards completion.
00:25:50.78\00:25:54.15
The
construction crew from the US
00:25:54.18\00:25:55.98
makes several
trips over the year
00:25:56.02\00:25:58.25
to work on the house.
00:25:58.29\00:26:00.02
Dedicated
volunteers built this house
00:26:00.06\00:26:03.12
from all over the world.
00:26:03.16\00:26:05.39
The LaBores feel so
blessed to see how many people
00:26:05.43\00:26:09.03
have rallied behind them
00:26:09.06\00:26:10.63
to help the construction
of this mission house.
00:26:10.67\00:26:13.67
It's been fun
seeing the house built,
00:26:13.70\00:26:16.60
just to start off with a
piece of grassy dirty land,
00:26:16.64\00:26:21.11
and just to see it come
up in 3D form has been fun,
00:26:21.14\00:26:25.95
fantasy that, oh,
00:26:25.98\00:26:27.42
this is where the kitchen's
going to be and the bathroom.
00:26:27.45\00:26:29.68
And sometimes, you
know, we'll say our house,
00:26:29.72\00:26:31.92
but it's not really our
house, this house is going to be
00:26:31.95\00:26:33.92
here for many,
many years to come
00:26:33.96\00:26:36.42
and will house many missionaries
00:26:36.46\00:26:38.03
we're praying.
00:26:38.06\00:26:39.49
But it's been a lot of fun
00:26:39.53\00:26:40.86
just to see being
built up block by block,
00:26:40.90\00:26:43.47
and we're
looking forward to seeing
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.03
the finishing touches go on too.
00:26:45.07\00:26:47.44
Having a groups
out there working,
00:26:47.47\00:26:49.30
it makes me very joyful.
00:26:49.34\00:26:51.27
It's just knowing that
00:26:51.31\00:26:55.54
they're helping you
build your own house.
00:26:55.58\00:26:58.61
It's really exciting.
00:26:58.65\00:27:02.38
It's kind of exciting to get
00:27:02.42\00:27:03.99
to see the house
getting built so fast.
00:27:04.02\00:27:06.82
This mission project
truly is a team effort.
00:27:06.86\00:27:10.09
Without the dedication
and willingness to help,
00:27:10.13\00:27:13.19
this house would
still not be a reality.
00:27:13.23\00:27:16.03
This project here on
the Philippine Islands
00:27:16.06\00:27:19.07
is still in the beginning stages
00:27:19.10\00:27:20.74
of what will soon to be
a powerful aviation base.
00:27:20.77\00:27:25.41
Together, the
Philippine team knows
00:27:25.44\00:27:28.51
that God has great
plans for the lives.
00:27:28.54\00:27:31.78
Well, if you summarize it,
you know, a project like this,
00:27:31.81\00:27:34.22
you know, what is
the ultimate goal?
00:27:34.25\00:27:35.78
I mean, it's really very simple.
00:27:35.82\00:27:37.69
I mean, the whole
idea behind all this,
00:27:37.72\00:27:39.92
it's not about airplanes,
it's not about medical work.
00:27:39.95\00:27:42.89
It's not about even outreach,
all these things we have to do,
00:27:42.92\00:27:45.59
it's important.
00:27:45.63\00:27:47.23
But the idea is to show people
00:27:47.26\00:27:51.53
that there is a
God that loves them,
00:27:51.57\00:27:53.23
and through our actions,
00:27:53.27\00:27:57.37
not just by thumping
a Bible over their head,
00:27:57.41\00:27:59.11
but by actually demonstrating
that we care about them,
00:27:59.14\00:28:02.81
and we're here to help
them, we're here to serve them.
00:28:02.84\00:28:07.38
That is what's going
to break down barriers.
00:28:07.42\00:28:09.42
The goal is to take
as many people with us
00:28:09.45\00:28:11.75
as we can to God's kingdom.
00:28:11.79\00:28:13.69
I mean, there's no other
reason for us being here.
00:28:13.72\00:28:16.19
If we're not doing
that, we're just wasting time.
00:28:16.22\00:28:18.83
It boils down to the fact that
we want to share God's love.
00:28:18.86\00:28:22.93
And we have to
do mission aviation,
00:28:22.96\00:28:24.73
medical work and
outreach to do that,
00:28:24.77\00:28:26.47
well, then that's
what we're going to do.
00:28:26.50\00:28:27.84
And I believe that
is the ultimate vehicle
00:28:27.87\00:28:29.34
that we will use.
00:28:29.37\00:28:30.71
But I know for a fact that
00:28:30.74\00:28:32.57
there are people
all over these islands
00:28:32.61\00:28:34.98
where the Holy Spirit
has been working with them.
00:28:35.01\00:28:37.85
Ultimately, that's what we want.
00:28:37.88\00:28:39.21
We want to bring
peace to people's lives.
00:28:39.25\00:28:40.72
We want to help
them understand that
00:28:40.75\00:28:42.08
there's a God that loves them
00:28:42.12\00:28:43.45
and in fact God
Jesus is coming back again.
00:28:43.49\00:28:45.75
And He's going to take all of us
00:28:45.79\00:28:47.69
home to His
kingdom rich and poor,
00:28:47.72\00:28:49.39
Filipino, American,
doesn't matter who you are,
00:28:49.42\00:28:51.73
or what's walk of
life you come from,
00:28:51.76\00:28:53.93
He loves us all.
00:28:53.96\00:28:55.30