Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

We had messaged one of Many Hands Haitian staff to say we are excited to see him as we will be returning to Haiti on Thursday, July 31. His response was, "Mwen menm tou. Ke Bondye Kouvri nou ak zanj de pwoteksyon li yo pou vin akonpanye nou e gen kontrol pilot yo pou dirije nou nan destinasyon an." (I am excited too. May God cover you with his angels of protection to come and accompany you. And that the pilots will guide you to the destination.)

There are several perspectives to be seen here. Immediately this hymn came to mind,  JESUS, SAVIOR, PILOT ME. (Written in 1871!) As we return to Haiti to continue serving God among the poverty of Haiti, we ask this...

Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach'rous shaol;
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

The obvious, more literal perspective would be the actual pilots that will fly the DC-3 cargo plane to guide us tomorrow morning from Fort Pierce, Florida to Pignon, Haiti. 

That is where we spent the day today, arranging cargo and preparing all things to arrive tomorrow.

MFI, Missionary Flights International, is a HUGE partner for us and the work we are called to do. The organization is bursting with QUALITY people who work together to execute all the complex logistics.

One such quality young gal is Tiki, pictured above and with the 'new' DC-3 300MF shown in the background which MFI is adding to the fleet. Tiki's dad is a pilot for MFI. She is following in her father's footsteps. In August she will begin a year of aviation training at SMAT, School of Missionary Aviation Technology, in Ionia, Michigan. She has logged many hours of flying and also has developed the art of stitching a 'felted' replica of the DC-3 plane she aspires to fly in the very near future. 

Above, a mural of the plane Tiki will fly, on the wall of the MFI Hospitality Center. 

Below, two of Tiki's Hand crafted DC-3 Cargo planes alongwith names of some of the wonderful people that we are privilged to know and visited with today as we were at the hangar.

This is the sight we will see tomorrow, the view of the city of Pignon from the air as we approach the grass runway on that DC-3 cargo plane.

Above, the aerial view of the Pignon Marketplace, lower right corner.

Below, the aerial view of Many Hands main campus in Sylvain, Haiti, where we live and work.

Much has been happening as we have been stateside. We could look at that concept of the 'Pilot guiding in order to reach the destination' as our role of leadership within the organization of Many Hands to include 'piloting' the dedicated Haitian staff to be guided in the direction the vision of Many Hands is designed to go! During the past months, we have been doing just that, only remotely. AND, NOW, we have the privilege again of doing that face to face.

Construction of a new school pod continues for Many Hands 'School of Light' Fundamental School, which will house the class of students entering 7th grade.

This 'breezeway' connects the 7-8-9 grade 'pod' with the other two pods... grades 4-5-6 and grades1-2-3.

And a new school latrine. 3 faculty stalls on the end with 4 boy's stalls and 4 girl's stalls on the back.

The challenges of  'a day in the life' of Many Hands Haitian staff include navigating the primitive paths to reach daily destinations to minister to the poorest of the poor to bring the encouraging GOOD NEWS of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST.

Above is Many Hands Pastor Jean-Ronel as he shares The Good News with people in the community of La Bel Mer.

Also one of 8 community bibles studies Many Hands hosts that meet weekly, often the location...

under the shade of a mango tree!

Many Hands 'First Thousand Days' program which begins accompanying women during pregnancy has been continuing daily. 

The ministry of mobility cart distribution and repair goes on!

Summer School is currently in session for Many Hands fundamental school. English speaking skills and French writing skills are being taught.

Do you see the determination on the face of this man as he labors to provide for the daily needs of his family? It is people like this that cause us to have determination as well.

... and more determination!

We ask for prayer for the Haitian people as well as for us. We GO in confidence because we know that Jesus, our Savior, is in control to guide us through the challenges of mission work in Haiti. Just as the last phrase of the hymn quoted at the beginning of this writing says: 

I will hear Thee say to me,
"Fear not, I will pilot thee."