When we were using an airstrip 5 miles from our village we used a 4×4
off road truck to take cargo and us back and forth to that airstrip.
Now, that our mission aviation department is using a helicopter it is
able to land right near our village so we no long have need for the
truck. A few days ago there had been a few days without rain so Mahan,
our Manubu driver, was able to drive our truck down the terrible road
from our village to the lowlands where he parked it next the house of
Dani, a Manubu’ Bible teacher. We were planning to fly by helicopter to
nearby where the truck is and Gene would drive it to the city where a
friend at an off-road repair shop offered to sell it for us. Was not
looking forward to that trip as it would take about 10 to 12 hours and
Gene hasn’t driven more than a 2 hour trip since his stoke three years
ago and not able to drive that trip straight through. It would involve
a number of overnight stays on the way.
A couple of days ago, Dani called and said that a government engineer
living near where the truck is located wants to buy it – and for the
amount we have been hoping to get for it! How to get together with the
engineer to go to a lawyer to make the transfer of ownership has been a
problem because he wants to buy it right away and we have no way to get
where he is because our pilot is in the States for more than two weeks.
However, we are in the city buying supplies and the engineer has said
that is willing to drive the truck to us here. That is in the process
of being worked out.
Our not having to make that trip ourselves is a real blessing from the
Lord. So, please *PRAY* that it will work out for the sale to be made
including safety for the engineer as he drives and also that the truck
wouldn’t fail him on the way. It really is a sound vehicle, but it is
21 year old.
We are so thankful for Kevin and Jenny who arrived last month to manage
our guesthouse. They are the retired parents of our pilot’s wife. We
spent a few days orienting them to the ministry. They are getting right
into and doing a good job. It is a big job. The guesthouse consists
of a large building which includes 5 guestrooms, a kitchen, living room
and dinning room, library, and kitchenette for guest use. There is also
a separate building with 2 guestrooms and also a workshop building, a
storage building, and another building where tribal people from our
villages who come out to town for various reasons can stay. For
example, our translation helpers whom we flew out from our village a
couple of times while we were managing the guesthouse stayed there.
There is also a generator to service and start and stop during the
frequent power out-ages. There are also two vehicles for the managers
to keep serviced and in repair. Mangers also oversee the yardman and
our house girl who cleans and cooks. And managers also do the
accounting for guest charges, worker hours, things bought for the
guesthouse, etc. A very big job.
So, thank God with us for Kevin and Jenny. We are now freed up to
return to our tribal village and will be doing so soon.
We along with you all are praying for those recovering from the
hurricanes in the USA. We have so many friends who live in those areas.