Winter 2004/2005

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Psalm 37:7, 8

The last couple of months have been busy. After having the laptop hard drive wiped clean to eliminate a virus, it has taken until just recently to get our data back up to date. We lost about a year's worth of data. Our thanks to Marshall Stevens and Jim Ridley of Calvary Baptist Church of American Canyon, CA for their help in getting the ministry computer cleaned up and a lot more secure. We now back up all of our data almost weekly.

The Christmas break (?) had us helping our daughter to pack and get her furniture moved to Washington, D.C. where she will be working for the government. She has an advantage over most government workers in that she has read the last "chapter" and knows where this old world is heading and how it will end up.

We are in need of some technical help. Currently, we use eight different software programs and several databases in conducting the ministry. These are not easily interfaced and the structure is lacking standardization. The main program we need to use is ArcView GIS 3.3 to integrate data and quickly display it. However, this program is not user friendly. We are looking for someone proficient in ArcView who could help us to understand how to use the program effectively and design the database for input into the program. If any one knows of such a person, please get in touch with me and let me know.

Also, we are attempting to redesign our databases before they get any bigger. If someone could help in database design directed toward specific programs, we would be very grateful. Ideally, if we could put all eight software programs in a pot, shake it up, cook it down, and produce a single application for the ministry, that might be the easiest for us to use.

On New Year's Day, I received two calls for assistance in getting missionary families flown to be with loved ones. The first call came from western Brazil. The couple had just learned of the sudden death of their son, leaving a wife and three precious little children. All we could do was give some advice about how to approach the airlines for special treatment and what documents to have when they talked to an airline representative. I would like to thank Pastor Dave Brown of Yakima, WA and Bro. Bob Drinkhouse in Phoenix, AZ for their help in understanding the process.

The second call came later that night around 7:30pm. A missionary couple who were in NW Texas had just learned that their son had been placed on life support and could we fly them to Louisiana. We were unable to find anyone that late on New Year's Day to help fly them down to LA. They drove straight thru about 18 hours to be with their son. That makes for a very long trip. In a time like that, we wish we had an aircraft in AMI.

During the missions conference in Tampa, FL, with Bro. Bruce Turner, in late January, I received a call at 8:30pm, Saturday night from Bro. Roger Green asking if we could help get a missionary airlifted from Mexico. I started making calls immediately and continued until well after midnight. The next morning, I made calls until Sunday School started. I informed Bro. Turner of the need. He opened Sunday School with prayer for this 61 year old diabetic missionary who had crushed both ankles and leg bones three days earlier and who was told by the Mexican doctors that he must get back to the USA for proper treatment before gangrene set in. When Bro. Turner started praying, my cell phone buzzed. I stepped out to take the call. An airplane had been identified and would fly down and get him on Monday to take him to Fort Worth where he had family. I got a call a little after 8:00pm Monday night from inside the ambulance from his son telling me that his dad was on the way to the hospital. Of course, we rejoiced.

I talked with his son recently and learned that his dad, missionary to the Mexican people whom he loved so dearly, went home to be with His Lord Friday, Feb 4th. Eleven doctors were working on him; but, God's timing is perfect and called him home. His son said that the whole family was so thankful that his dad was able to be with his family and grandkids for a couple of weeks before going home. They had such a sweet time of fellowship. We are saddened at his home going; yet rejoice in the knowledge that he is with Jesus. We have lost a front line soldier, a hero of the faith.

I wish to express my thanks to Bob Warinner with Wings as Eagles for helping to start the ball rolling that involved many people in doing whatever they could to get this missionary evacuated.

This year we will be working to increase the number of organizations and aircraft cooperating with AMI in our effort to provide support to our missionaries. This will involve many hours on the phone and trips to meet with the leadership of these organizations. All of this while we are in the middle of deputation. Please pray with us that God will move on the hearts of pastors and people to become co-laborers with AMI and start providing monthly support to this ministry. We thank God for those churches who are now co-laboring with us.

Also, please make it a matter of prayer that we will be able to get more meetings scheduled in 2005. At these meetings, we not only are looking for monthly support but are meeting pastors and missionaries that help us get the word out about AMI.

We wish to thank those who have been praying for us while we are on the road. It has been evident that God's people have been praying as we watch Him work on our behalf, day by day, mile by mile.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.