December 18, 2010 Saturday – 6:25am (Haiti Time) – Undisclosed location – Haiti – Report submitted by Air Mobile Joe

Haiti experienced a rather uneventful day on Friday.  Traffic moved somewhat freely, no reported outbreaks of violence.  Thank God!  Every day like this let’s people get back to some normality and allows relief supplies and personnel to move to the greatest needs.  Speaking of supplies / personnel… less than 10% of the promised aid and help has reached Haiti.  

There are many reasons for this, some quite understandable, but the true victims are so often the weak and sick and particularly the children and the elderly.  In many cases, it would be better if the promises were just never made.  Far better that than broken promises.  Well, the thing that I continually marvel at is the ability of many Haitians to, as I said yesterday, just pick up the pieces and get on with life.  I know that our Lord has much to do with this.

Early yesterday morning, I met with Stan Brock and Jim of Remote Area Medical (RAM) at the airport.  Our mission – overfly and film the prospective new runway at Mador, an extremely isolated community in the Central Plateau region.  This is the area that RAM had brought in a medical team several weeks ago and Air Mobile assisted in airlifting them out via helicopter and Ti Burik due to political violence following the elections.  

We are, under direction of Bernard, preparing the study to submit to the Haitian Government for, hopefully, rapid approval of this vital runway.  From the air, the strip is beautiful.  We made numerous low passes and began setting up the “Approach Procedure”.  I am blessed and honored that our mission aircraft, Ti Burik, made these first preliminary flights.  This runway will allow vital access  for medical and emergency care as well as help to develop the whole region.   Please pray again for rapid approval.

Now, in earlier reports, we have spoken of several delicate and complicated negotiations going on.  Still can’t give any specific details but….yesterday we had a MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH VICTORY!  I truly thank you for your prayers!  We are so thankful to our Lord for intervening.  

Late yesterday evening, met the RAM flight crew at the airport to assist in getting the grand old lady, the 66 year old DC-3 (C-47) ready for another mission.  This one will carry the RAM flight crew back to their home base in Tennessee.  Toward the end of the evening, this missionary was just beat.  Stretched out under the engine (not directly under or I’d be splattered with oil) when the mechanics prepared her for flight.

I must tell you one of the wonderful benefits to doing this kind of international relief work.  It is the incredible fellowship and cooperation between the organizations.  It is very cool to show up in some distant, isolated, ravaged country and find old friends.  In this kind of work, the “world gets rather small”.  It is so often through overcoming obstacles that we come together and help one another to help others.  

The RAM flight crew fired the old bird up and ran the engines up in preparation for the early morning flite back to Tennessee.  The bird is beautifully equipped.  There is something absolutely marvelous about hearing those old “round” (radial) engines fire up.  To a pilot, this is like beautiful music.  Glad I could be there to experience it.  

After getting the flight crew all cleared and situated, it was back to our base on the little motorcycle.  No incidents on the road, light traffic no attacks.  For that, I am thankful.  

In just a few minutes, I should hear the old DC-3 fly overhead headed back to the U.S.  Then, it will be off to another day.  Will be assisting a team of midwives to get to a “hard to reach” area of Haiti.  Will also be assessing their need for clean water and another prospective location for a Rescuer (when we get more into country). 

 Have that “Joy” thing working this morning.  The beauty of the “Joy of the Lord” is that we can have all that we want.  We simply need to ask for it.  With that wonderful thought and truth, I’ll sign off.  God Bless and remember, “this is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be glad in it!!

Air Mobile Joe