This update is written by Hollie Dodd. She and her husband Brent are one of our pilot families living in Mexico. These stories are just the end result of your support of Paul and I and this ministry. Each one of us are part of the chain that goes down into Mexico and impacts hearts for Christ. Thank you for choosing to be part of this team!

Love,
Laurel

UIMA June 2018 Update

Medevacs Save Lives

Written by Hollie Mae Dodd, UIMA pilot’s wife

One of the facets of serving the Lord in aviation, in Mexico, is that the pilots are on call for medevacs, offering an air ambulance service. Due to the unimproved airstrips they fly into (short, dirt and mountainous airstrips), they cannot fly after dark. The pilots also have to deal with gusting winds, at various times of the year, so your prayers for safety are much appreciated.

There have been a number of medevacs, lately. One medevac was for a lady who is from a very remote village, deep in the mountains. After having her baby, she had some serious complications, so she hiked about 5 hours with an older daughter, her toddler and her newborn to get to a mission station that has medical missionaries, who have a clinic.

This little girl is her toddler.

After assessing her condition, the missionaries were amazed she had survived the hike. Truly, the Lord spared her life. Her situation was too grave for the clinic to be able to help her, so they sent Brent Dodd, a UIMA pilot, a WhatsApp message, requesting a medevac. We praise the Lord that He gave workable weather, so Brent was able to fly her to a hospital where she could receive the help she needed.

One Saturday night, Brent got a call on the radio, asking for him to medevac an infant who had arrived at the small mission hospital with his mother. The infant was unable to urinate and if he didn’t get to a bigger hospital that could perform the medical procedure he desperately needed, he would die. At daybreak, on Sunday, Brent was able to fly the infant, his mother, his grandmother, and a medical person who cared for the baby in flight, to Chihuahua, to admit the baby to the children’s hospital, there.

Believer’s baptism

A highlight for Brent, this past month, was flying a missionary couple back to where they were initially ministering, so they could attend the baptism of a believing Tarahumara man. What a celebration, as the man publicly declared his faith in Christ. Due to how dry it is where the man lives, they had to hike 45 minutes to get to a place where he could be baptized.

It truly was a joyous time, and Brent is thankful he was able to attend the baptism. Ministering with UIM Aviation is so much more than just flying aircraft. It also means being present for the missionaries and the indigenous people one flies for and loving them, well.

John 15:11-17, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye may love one another.” ~ Jesus

What a joy it is to serve the Lord in the remote reaches of Mexico, not just as His servants, but as His friends. Please pray the Lord will keep each family safe, that the UIMA team will love others well and that we will bear much fruit.