Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from Yap Island! Here are a few highlights and lowlights from the last few months since you heard from us last.
FRANKLIN GRAHAM VISIT TO YAP
On January 19, we had a very special visit from Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse, who was on his way to Southeast Asia for an Evangelistic Festival. He only had a couple hours to stop, but we prepared lunch for him and his team and they toured our Yap Aviation facility ate lunch with us and we even had some worship songs played by Dennis Agajanian.
When Franklin had first given us the two King Airs, he told me he would stop by Yap some day and so this was a visit we had been looking forward to. Our PMA CEO, Nob Kalau, also came to Yap for this visit and Franklin committed to helping PMA with some needs we have in Aviation, our Sea Haven medical ship ministry and also helping us with our PMF Church construction project. What a blessing Samaritan’s Purse has been to our small organization out here in Micronesia.
CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
Our Pacific Mission Fellowship (PMF) Church has been looking for some land and saving money to develop the land into a campus that can reach the youth and adults in Yap for Christ as well as discipling young leaders from the outer islands. This last year has been such a blessing in this endeavor, because the Yap Evangelical Church (YEC) whom we partner in Ministry with, invited PMF to co-own their land and develop their land for use by both churches. This was an unexpected blessing because the property they have is in an ideal location in town. So, in the last two months, the PMF Church was added to the land title, and an MOU was signed between the leadership of both churches to detail the partnership that we will have in this ministry. This also allows us to move forward with development. Phase 1 is to build a large gymnasium that will be used for youth activities, discipleship and also to hold church services in, while a multi-purpose church building is being built. Samaritan’s Purse has committed to helping PMF with this first phase and this is a huge blessing because then the building will go up much faster with their help.
CHECK RIDES & TRAINING
In February, I had to go to North Carolina to do my annual flight training in the simulator. At the end of that was a check ride and then I flew to Wichita, Kansas for two weeks of King Air maintenance training at Flight Safety International. This was part of the training that Franklin Graham had promised to us when we first got the King Airs, but I had never had time before to do it. I REALLY enjoyed this course. I have been working on the King Airs for 5 years now, and have learned the systems just from fixing the planes. But there were gaps in what I knew. The instructor was excellent and knew where to find all the answers I had to ask him if he didn’t already know it. I usually struggle in the classroom setting, but I really enjoyed this training and learning all the systems.
AMOS’ DAD PASSING
As some of you may have known, my dad was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called Amyloidosis which has been slowly attacking his organs over the last couple years. In November 2025, his doctor only gave him a couple months left to live and his energy was going down very quickly. I was able to make a trip in February to visit him for a couple days and we had a memorable time together.
It seemed that he held on long enough to be strong for my visit, because after I left, his health went down fairly quickly. On March 30, when I was back in Yap, I received word that he had gone to be with our Lord. My dad was a spiritual role model to all his children and grandchildren. He was a hero of mine and he will be missed.
MEDEVAC TO GUAM
On Tuesday April 7, we got a call from the Marines doing an exercise in Peleliu, Palau that one of their soldiers had a ruptured appendix and needed immediate medevac to Guam. We had to shuffle around our schedule for that day, but ultimately picked up the 19 yr. old Marine in Palau, and then flew him to Guam. He was in a lot of pain and vomiting on the way. The medics were faily tense the whole flight, but we got him to the Navy Hospital in Guam and they were able to do surgery in time. The next morning, I flew back to Palau, because I had a full load of people there waiting to fly to Yap.
TYPHOON RELIEF WITH SAMARITAN’S PURSE
In the middle of April, Super Typhoon Sinlaku tore through the Northern Marianas Islands with devastating winds. Immediately Samaritan’s Purse mobilized a Direct Response Assessment Team to Guam ahead of their Boeing 767 Jet which was being loaded with a mobile hospital and tons of relief supplies.
Samaritan’s Purse reached out to PMA to assist them with flying their team from Guam, the hardest hit island of Saipan.
Although we only had one aircraft flying at the time and full schedule during the week, they needed us on the weekend, so we quickly flew up there ahead of their team and were ready to move them first thing Sunday morning April 19. We ended up flying 3 flights on Sunday and then one more early morning Monday, before we had to return to our prior commitments in Yap. We wanted to stay longer and help, but there were also other aircraft that could help them in the days and weeks to follow. We were just super excited to be able to assist them right at the start when they needed us most. We also got to be in Saipan when the 767 arrived and got to park our plane next to them and visit with their crewmembers.
SUMMER FURLOUGH
This summer we are finally able to go on furlough. Mark Abbot, who is a pilot that joined our team this past December, will be holding down the fort in Yap and doing the flights, which allows us to have a furlough for as long as our kids are out of school, which is from May 24 till August 15. We will start by going to the Seattle area and spending a few weeks with our family and friends. If you are from that area, we look forward to reuniting with you. Then we are planning a very hectic roadtrip around the U.S. to visit some of you who have faithfully supported us for so many years. I’m sorry in advance that we won’t be able to see everyone, or spend much quality time with those of you who we do see, but hopefully we can have dinner or a lunch together and see each others’ faces for a few hours to reconnect.
FAMILY
Tommy (16) is a Junior in high school and just got his drivers license. Raina (15) is a Sophomore and has excelled on the track team as a runner. Honora (13) jumped from 7th grade to 9th grade and has worked really hard in school. All three of them have worked hard at this very challenging high school and had 99% on their last report cards. Theo (11) is also doing well in the home school and has a posse of boys his age to hang out with. Owen (5) started Kindergarten, but prefers playing in the jungle with his best friend.
Heidi homeschooled 9 students this past year and is just as excited for summer holidays as the kids!
HEIDI’S DAD’S VISIT & KIDS BAPTISM
Tommy, Raina and Honora made a decision to be baptised as a public profession of their faith. Heidi’s dad Pieter Tuit was visiting us at the time and was able to participate in this wonderful occasion. It was a nice day which ended with a potluck at the waters’ edge.
YOUTH MINISTRY
The youth ministry among the Yapese, Outer Island, and Palauan youth continues, with a monthly meeting on top of their regular individual Bible studies. The youth really enjoy getting together and studying the Word.
We are also gearing up for VBS and Youth Camp this summer. Because we will be on furlough this summer, we won’t be able to be involved, so Heidi is trying to do as much to help as she can before we leave. She and her fellow leaders have been busy fundraising and planning the schedule for both outreaches. A ministry team from Palau is flying to Yap with PMA to help with these events, and we are thankful for their help.
(Just a reminder for those of you who send donation checks or who give through PayPal: Please attach a note that says, “Preferred for the Collins Family.” This is a requirement per IRS rules.)
HOME ADDRESS:
AMOS & HEIDI COLLINS P.O. BOX 460
YAP, FM 96943
FED. STATES OF MICRONESIA
PMA HEADQUARTERS: PACIFIC MISSION AVIATION P.O. BOX 3209
HAGATNA, GUAM 96932 USA
Thank you again for all your prayers and support!
Amos & Heidi Collins Tommy, Raina, Honora, Theo, & Owen
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