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We Love to Fly...and it shows!
"We Love to Fly ... and it shows!" Such is the tagline for Delta Airlines. This company flys people and products around the country and around the world for profit. It provides a reliable service to meet the transportation needs of many.
The UIM International Aviation team loves to fly ... and it shows! However, we are motivated by a completely different profit margin. Our profit margin is people coming to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We don't simply fly people from point A to point B, we bring the message of God's grace in Christ Jesus that transforms people from spiritual darkness to light, from spiritual deadness to life in Christ Jesus, from a Christless life to life in Christ for eternity!
UIM Aviation provides strategic air service to connect tribal people with the Gospel and ministries that will bring about spiritual maturity and local church development and growth.
I invite you to read further in this edition of UIM Connection! to learn of some of the ways the UIM Aviation team is working together to serve others. You will learn that we not only love to fly, we are also MAD about flying. Read on. As you read, also pray and praise the Lord for His wonderful work of grace.
Pray that the Lord will meet the needs of mission aviation. It is expensive, and can be sustained only by significant commitment on the part of God's generous people.
Pray that the Lord will raise up skilled personnel willing to give of their talents and abilities to fly skillfully with a heart to reach people with the Gospel.
Pray for safety as pilots and missionaries make numerous landings and take-offs on very primitive airstrips in remote areas.
Thank you for staying connected in this way on behalf of UIM International!
In Christ Jesus,
Dan Fredericks, UIM Executive Director
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Mission Aviation Day
"Go into all the world and make disciples" is a mandate to all believers from the Lord Himself. This takes people with many different skills working together to do it. Missionary aviation is just one of those skill sets necessary to accomplish the "going" part. Many, many others collaborate to do the "making disciples" part.
Two missionary aviation agencies are headquartered in southern Arizona, but not many local Christians know that. In 1996 UIM Aviation (the aviation arm of United Indian Missions, Inc.) and NTM Aviation (part of New Tribes Mission), along with Wycliffe Bible Translators (also based in the region), began hosting an event at the general aviation airport in Tucson for the express purpose of informing local Christians of the work that God is doing using missionary aviation. This year Flying Under the Son brought their new Kodiak from California for a static display and gave rides to several drawing winners. Each visitor had a chance to chat with representatives from approximately 20 different missionary groups.
The event, which took place this year on Saturday, March 19, has morphed into a big and anticipated family event every two years. This year:
- Rides were given in mission aircraft. Throughout the day, 10 airplanes made 95 flights carrying 403 visitors.
- Five hangars were open, each housing a distinct activity such as children's crafts, a special speaker, music for teens, mission displays and concession stands run by church youth groups as fund-raisers.
Most importantly, it was a beautiful, fun day full of many significant conversations.
Plans for the next Mission Aviation Day and Ministry Fair are already underway!
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John Weber, representing LeTourneau University |
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A Connection Named Paula
During a train trip on the Copper Canyon train line, UIM aviators Dave and Olivia Wolf met a mother with a six-month-old baby who had a cleft palate. God touched their hearts for this child. Through a neighbor they found a doctor who would do restorative surgery for free and also a government children's hospital in Chihuahua that offered free care for such services and housing for families. In November, Dave and Olivia made arrangements with the family, drove them to Chihuahua, and cared for their needs during the 17-day hospital stay. The baby, a girl named Paula, responded well to the first surgery. Dave and Olivia gave the parents a MegaVoice player that has Scripture portions recorded in their dialect so during the boring days in the hospital they were able to listen to it.
On March 29, the second surgery was performed and Paula is now healing at a government dormitory in Chihuahua with her family, where food is provided. Dave and Olivia continue to visit each day and bring the family treats. Please pray that the family will feel the love of the Lord through Dave and Olivia. Paula will need a third surgery in about six months. Dave and Olivia are helping the family set the date.
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