above: my copilot needed a nap 🙂
Montezuma’s revenge
I once ate ice cream from a sketchy street vendor in Mexico. Though this treat was delicious, it was not my best idea. The rest of that evening and throughout the entire night, Montezuma was avenged.
I survived with the help of friends, docs, and Pepto-Bismol, but in isolated areas in the world, this little episode could have ended way worse. Below is a story from an Africa Inland Mission missionary named Joel, whom I got the privilege of knowing recently. He needed to be medivac’ed from the people group he was ministering to in South Sudan.
Living in the bush of South Sudan, in an area long disturbed by tribal warfare and unfortunate roadside attacks, AIM AIR was a lifeline for us as roads were most frequently deemed impassible. While they and MAF both supported our work by providing different shuttles in and out of our village for leaves and food deliveries, AIM AIR I learned, were the people we depended on like family. I learned this from the very first stories told about AIM AIR; they’d be ready and willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of AIM missionaries. That’s the idea we were given about them from other missionaries and pilots alike. Because AIM AIR was invested in the same ministry we were, they cared like we did.
This all became personal for me when I got sick after a year and a half on the field, registering a 104+ degree fever for the third day in a row with vomiting and diarrhea. We had tried some medicine and had consulted with AIM’s medical personnel before a group chat started regarding a possible medical evacuation (medivac). The AIM AIR pilot in Uganda was in the chat and gave us a timeframe on when he needed an answer to make it back to Uganda legally. Once the call was made for him to come pick me up, it was not much longer than the length of the flight before he was landing on our little dirt runway. AIM AIR made a plan and got me to the hospital in Arua, Uganda by evening. I was diagnosed with salmonella, amoeba, and malaria and was on IV and was beginning other medication by the end of the night. The team in Uganda figured out my housing needs for me. I was able to stay to recuperate for the next few weeks as I let my body heal and some medication cleared up my systems. While this was not totally life-threatening, living in a location without proper medical care would not be possible without the support of AIM AIR. Countless other stories could be shared about how God has used AIM AIR as a means of his grace and mercy to his children over the decades of their service in Africa.
Praise God Joel is alive and well today! Meeting him, his wife, and his beautiful child was a reminder of the generational impact good health care can have. Ensuring the health and spiritual well-being of isolated people groups and the missionaries serving them is the whole reason AIM Air exists. We are excited to be taking these next steps in service with them, and doing our part fighting Montezuma.
Below is another field report video highlighting the work of AIM Air.
AIM “Engage” week
Our current relationship status with AIM is best described in a dating relationship terminology. We are not yet “married” but we are close to getting “engaged” 😊 The “Engage Africa Inland Mission” week was a time for us to learn more about AIM, how we would fit, and what overseas service would look like. We were so honored to have our ministry there for the first day. They traveled for nearly 24 hours to be there, and worst of all, they had to spend time in Newark! It was an encouraging and confirming week, and we are excited to take these next steps with AIM.
The Girls
We are having a GIRL! Baby Tanker (the name the children have given her), is confirmed to be a girl! Freddie and I are now overwhelmingly outnumbered, and I have resigned to the fact that glitter will fill my future. We are looking for girl names so any idea will be heard, but many will be discarded 😊.
11 years
Maria and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this April. I remember when I was younger I thought that really old people celebrated 11 years of marriage… but now I realize that my younger self was wrong, because I’m not old… Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!
Mexico
In May I’ll be flying in Mexico! Part of my training here at Missionary Air Group will be flying in Mexico with United Indian Missions (UIM). UIM serves the indigenous tribes in the remote and rugged mountains of Mexico. Believe it or not, there is still Bible translation work to be done, and even unreached tribes in Mexico! UIM serves these tribes, and I will be flying their Cessna 206 to help at a medical clinic in May.
Prayer
Pray for Baby Tanker as she continues to grow. We were both surprised and delighted to add another daughter to the Martin clan…. Now it’s time to buy more bows and pink things.
Pray for me as I head to Mexico. My time in Mexico will be fun, helping with UIM, flying real mission flights, but it will definitely be hard to be away from the family. Please pray for Maria as I am gone May 14th -28th.
Pray for guidance for us as we continue in applications with AIM. The process is still long, and there are still many big steps to be taken, but pray that God will make our path clear as we take these next steps.
Praise
Praise that Maria is feeling better. Maria is 95 percent of what makes our family work, so when she was out, I fed the children mostly cold hot dogs and crunchy Ramen. Thank you so much for all who prayed for her!
Praise that we were able to attend the “Engage” event at AIM. This was such a good week, and really opened our eyes to the work of AIM on the African continent.
Praise God for our safe travels. Honestly the miles we put on the family minivan over the last several years would make any tire salesman smile. But praise God, He has always been there protecting us.
Love y’all,
In loving memory of my Aunt Elanie Weaver, loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
Flyin' Bryan 