Some great news! We recently received the following message from New Tribes Mission Aviation (NTMA) – “We have long felt a helicopter would be the best fit for the region (that’s our island 🙂 ), but have not felt the timing was right to pursue it until now. We have decided to begin the process of acquiring a helicopter which we hope will only take 2 years to complete the transition. Normally we plan for a 3 year transition so we are stepping out pretty far to attempt to do it within the next 2 years.”
What a blessing a helicopter would be for us! No more need for our 4×4 off-road truck that needs constant maintenance because of having to cross a river with water up over the engine in order to get to our airstrip five miles away. No more needing to deal with the weeds and grass on that airstrip which is 55ft wide and about 1000ft long – a major continuing maintenance project. A helicopter could land right next to our village.
Each of our two pilots will have to train to pilot a helicopter. From research we’ve done it appears that helicopters are much different to pilot than a fixed wing plane. One pilot will soon start 12 months of training in the States. When he is done the other pilot will take his training. Cost just for helicopter time for each pilot to train is $90,000 which they will be looking to the Lord to provide.
NTMA will be looking to the Lord for funds to purchase a helicopter. Two different helicopters are being considered. One cost $450,000 and uses aviation gasoline which is sometimes in short supply. The other helicopter cost $900,000 but uses jet fuel.
Please be PRAYING for this helicopter project – years ago an airstrip could be built by hiring logging company bulldozers very cheaply. Now, logging companies are gone and also it is very difficult and expensive to lease land to build an airstrip plus the Department of Environment and Natural Resources permits to build one are very difficult to acquire. We were not able to acquire one when we wanted to build an airstrip closer to our village. So a helicopter would also be a blessing for New Tribers starting ministry in new areas.
Another exciting development. A month ago 40 young people expressed interest in listening to the evangelistic phase of the Manubu’ teaching program. Mahan has taught them 4 lessons so far (once a week), and we hear that all 40 are listening. Please PRAY that all listening will continue listening and be saved and go on with the Lord as well at the children whom Piduy is teaching the evangelistic phase.
Plus there are 3 saved young men whom Mahan is disciplining to teach God’s Word so they are in the process of training by helping to teach the 40. Please PRAY for these 3 being discipled to teach – that they would be faithful to prepare for each teaching session and become good and faithful Bible teachers. Their names are Jundrey, Ebet, and Ipel.
And please continue to PRAY for Gene. He seems to have hit a plateau in improvement in relation to the after-effects of his strokes. Head “swimming” most of the time and sometimes becomes weak and faint. Looking at computer screen or book seems to be what most often intensifies the “swimming” head and faintness. It does not seem to be related to blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen level. But, PRAISE the Lord for his grace because in spite of the stroke after-effects Gene has been able to do a final revision of 22 Bible lessons since we came back here to our tribal location 5 weeks ago. That is as fast as he anticipated revising lessons when well!
“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.” Psa 150:6
Gene and Carol Trudeau says
Hi. Just now saw your post – have passed it on to our pilot.
Ben Hays says
You may want to reach out to the US Army. They’re getting rid of a LOT of helicopters in the next 2-5 years and you could probably get a couple of them for a VERY good price. If you need a helicopter pilot, please let me know. I have over 4000 hours of helicopter time and have been praying about my next job after the Army and thinking I’d like to do mission work with Heli-mission or some another similar organization.