Provide a Life-Saving Flight

This last Sunday I received a WhatsApp text message from a missionary at a remote location a 25-minute flight away in the Cessna 206. A 15-year-old girl was in a motorbike accident and was believed to have head trauma. David Hardin and I scrambled. As I preflighted the plane, David removed the middle and aft seats on the right side and installed the stretcher. When I departed there was a light rain here, but sufficient visibility. The weather in route was good, but there were rain cells in the direction of the town where I would be taking the girl. It had rained earlier at the location where I would be picking up the girl. Upon landing they brought the girl to the airplane, and we secured her to the stretcher and loaded up the mother and older sister. After we prayed with the family, I fired up the airplane and we headed to the location where an ambulance was to meet us and take the girl to the hospital. (It was not Hospital Misión Tarahumara where I am based near.) Three quarters of the flight the weather was ok, but then it started to rain. Thankfully, when I flew over the airstrip, I could see it and was able to safely land even though it was raining. Upon landing, there was no ambulance waiting. An airport attendant was able to call, and an ambulance was finally on its way. When the ambulance arrived, she was loaded up and taken to the hospital and attended to. I heard later that evening from the missionary that because it was Sunday the lab tech would not come in, so no tests were done and she had to wait until Monday. (We have it good in the US when it comes to medical emergencies). By the time I was ready to head back to my home base the rain had stopped, and I had a clear path back home with no crazy winds to deal with on landing. PTL!

The family is a Tepehuan indigenous family who have heard the gospel. Praise the Lord the young girl has no long-lasting affects due to the accident. That is a huge answer to prayer.

The family is a Tepehuan indigenous family who have heard the gospel. Praise the Lord the young girl has no long-lasting affects due to the accident. That is a huge answer to prayer.

This is what the missionary lady texted, “We are super close to the family. They have heard a lot of teaching. Some are believers but not all. And these ladies have never made profession of faith but talk about God a lot.” Please pray that this difficult situation will draw these three to the Lord and that they will be saved.

Written by Brent Dodd, UIMA field pilot and Director of Operations

So many native people in Mexico are not able to receive the medical care they need, because they live in isolated villages too far from the nearest hospital. That’s when UIM Aviation steps in. We fly the people of Mexico to hospitals, so they can get the medical care they need, but the indigenous people have no way to afford these flights. UIM Aviation subsidizes the flight for the indigenous 100%. This is where we need you! $350 provides one flight hour.

Provide a Life-saving flight