Dear Friends,
As we drove toward Miami, headed home to Venezuela, it was with mixed feelings. Yes, it would be good to be home, but how much we miss being able to spend time with our sons and dropping in to visit friends, which we enjoy while in the US. Our trip down was good, and now I'm back making flights—touching the lives of people who need help. In the past several weeks some I've flown out for medical help have recovered and been able to return home.
Today I want to tell you about Elizabeth. It was back in 2003 that the director of the Adventist school here at our base asked if I could pick up two girls from San Francisco who wished to attend school. "Sure," I told him. The next time I had flights that direction I notified the person closest to their home that I'd be coming. I got word that the girls were waiting, but when I arrived they weren't at the airstrip. After inquiring around I discovered that the message had not reached the girls and they lived in a different village. I had to leave without them.
Some time later I made arrangements to pick them up, but upon arriving at the nearest airstrip I learned they had left and wouldn't be back for several days. Time passed, and once again I was asked to go after these two girls. "Get them to San Francisco and keep them there until I arrive to pick them up," I told the school director.
A few days later I was told that the girls were waiting, so I left once again to transport them to school. This time they were ready with all of their luggage—two little bags. That's all they possessed.
A few weeks at the school passed, and Elisabeth was doing fine, but her friend was homesick and not adjusting to boarding school life. So, when I flew near her village I had to take her back home. However, God had a plan for her at home. She'd seen a glimpse of God's love through the support AMA and the school had provided to help her village, and get her and Elizabeth to school. A seed had been planted in her heart. She studied and learned more about God from His word, and when there was a baptism in her village she was baptized. In fact, within a year most of her village became Seventh-day Adventists and now worship in a little hut church.
Last weekend Elisabeth graduated with honors, one of the top of her class. Besides studying hard she has been the assistant cook during her school years. She accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and was baptized a few months after coming to school. She has endured many health problems, but through it all I always saw her smiling. As I watched Elizabeth receive her diploma, and saw the joy on her face, I thanked God that I'd not given up trying to bring her to school. Not only has she received a good education, her life has been changed.
Don't be afraid to reach out and touch someone's life. And remember to keep us in your prayers as we continue serving here.
Bob & Neiba
P.S. - Yesterday morning made an emergency flight to the village of Domasco. A 10 year old girl was fishing with her brother Friday
afternoon, and when she reached for a fish her brother had caught and thrown onto the grassy bank I very poisonous snake bit her twice on her hand. Since this village doesn't have a radio they had to send a runner several hours to the nearest village, Apuri, early the next morning.
I got the call around 9:00 and went after the girl, who was already bleeding from her mouth. The hospital here in Santa Elena sent her on to a larger hospital in Bovista, Brazil.
Humanly speaking she doesn't have much of a chance of living, but we can pray for healing. Nothing is too hard for God. Thanks for praying for this girl and her family.
~Bob~