We are still here…summer always gives us an extra layer of tan despite the loads of sunscreen, but that will fade over the winter months. Our trip to Virginia in early August was a whirlwind of Gabriel and Miriam arriving from overseas, getting Miriam what she needed for starting at Liberty University, seeing family from Germany, a wedding, and finally a wonderful week spent with 4 of our 5 kids at the beach. We are back in Tucson and in full swing of UIM Aviation work, school, and ministry opportunities. We appreciate your prayers as we continue to share the GREAT news of Christ in our community and into the mountains of Mexico!
Dental Brigade: Do you know about our dental brigades? This is when our pilot flies a team out into the mountain villages with a Mexican dentist doing evangelism … and of course dental work for surrounding villages. Our Tepic team shops for groceries/supplies for these groups (Nathan and Jasson above). We do these brigades (dental and medical) whenever we have a team and the doctors or dentist available. We appreciate prayers for safety and that God’s Word be accepted. If you would like to be part of donating toward supplies for these type of ministry trips, click here Medical/Dental Supplies.
During this brigade the electricity was not reliable and even when it was on, it wasn’t strong enough to run the equipment needed. Tools ran off of a generator to get the jobs done, and flashlights were handy for night time.
34 individuals were helped on this Dental Brigade. The focus was on making dentures. You can see for yourself the difference these made! This is a physical way of showing the love of Christ while the team is also verbally sharing.
51T in the process of getting air-worthiness certificate.
51T with its new look!
Work at the UIM Aviation Hangar continues as the guys are pushing to get N4651T completed and down to Mexico. This is the aircraft we purchased from MAF. It just came out of the paint shop, and we are installing a new headliner and interior. It takes about a month of fitting and finishing the interior. After that the aircraft will be weighed and all the paperwork for the maintenance completed will be done. We hope to have it ready for ministry at the end of October. It will be flown here in Tucson for a little bit to work out any bugs.
In January, our Aviation team (around 52 people) is having a Staff Conference in Mexico. I (Laurel) and a Co-worker are planning this event together. It is a time for our aviation team to be away and together for fellowship and teambuilding. I would ask for prayer that the planning would come together smoothly.
I should probably also share that our support is low. We’ve had some regular supporters move to heaven and have had an increase in housing and ministry expenses (due to increase prices everywhere) and these together have dropped us to 83% currently. Regardless, God has supplied our needs. UIM has sent out a letter sharing that information with our supporting churches and individuals…so you may have received that. If you have been praying for us and following this ministry and feel the Lord leading you to join our support team, we would be happy to welcome you. (I’ll just say, sharing about needed funds is one of the most awkward things ever… It’s a lot easier to raise funds for someone else!)
Family news
We are excited to share that Bethany is expecting baby #3 sometime the first week in April! Filipe will tell you that HE is also expecting as he goes through the pregnancy cravings, nausea, and moods … with her! We LOVE the grandbabies. What an amazing gift from God to have these beautiful little people to enjoy and then give back to Mommy and Daddy for the work!
Matthew and Karizma are very busy and enjoying working with their church youth group. The couple (David & Julie) that have been their mentors since they were dating and are the leaders of the Youth Group have been amazing. David & Julie have walked with Matthew and Karizma through their relationship and marriage and have had such an impact in their lives. David has been fighting cancer for the past 14 years and earlier this summer the Lord called him home to perfect healing. This has been rough on the youth, of course on the family and also Matthew & Karizma, but God has been glorified through it all. As parents, we are so thankful for David and Julie and their part in the lives of Matthew and Karizma. It is a HUGE gift for someone to purposely pour into your children and help them in their walk with the Lord. There have certainly been others who God has used in our kids’ lives. We are so grateful!!
Gabriel worked with Samaritans Purse this summer. He did not end up in Niger as originally thought, but God knew the plans already. He was able to work at the NC headquarters and then jump in on a trip to Kenya and Ethiopia to view the SP projects there. Exciting news: Gabriel and Ruth just got engaged! We don’t have a date yet, but I hear this wedding will be on the East Coast so we will be working our ministry travels around that date.
Miriam is settled into Liberty University and is adjusting to life in America. She was just recently accepted into the NewLife International School of Midwifery, so that is super exciting for her. She will be moving to the Philippines in March 2025. She and Mercury are still dating … long distance now. We are looking forward to Mercury coming for a visit this December!
Jesse-Ana is holding down the family fort. She is back at Faith Christian Academy in 11th grade now. Jesse is a unique kid who loves school/learning, enjoys working on media for the praise team, and is a LITer (leader in training) for AWANA. She keeps quite busy and loves her quiet home time when she gets it.
And that is a wrap on our news. Thank you again so much for your prayers and support for us here working with UIM Aviation.
With love,
Laurel and Paul
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