I got a call from one of our contacts on a small island here in the Philippines called Batanes. Batanes is well known for its tourist attraction spots but for me it’s known for most of the amazing stories behind each medevac fight that the Lord uses me to fly. This mission was to transport a patient who needs to go to the hospital for a gall bladder surgery.
For this flight I usually have the tanks topped off with 80 gallons of fuel, life vest and a life raft, seeing most of the flight will be over open waters. Total distance from our airbase to the airport to pick up the patient, then drop them off and return home is 475NM (880km). Thanks to our small little 5 seater airplane which is a 1975 Cessna 182Q model, it will take me about 4.5hrs to get the mission done and return home to base.
The patient was just discharged from the Batanes Government Hospital
The patient and his wife boarded the airplane after 2 hours flight from base to pick them up. Weather enroute was really nice and the Lord sure answered my prayers to keep that engine humming through the skies. After picking them up from the airport in Batanes, it took me 1.5hrs to drop them off at the airport where I was expecting to see either an ambulance or a private family vehicle waiting to pick them up to take them to the hospital for the surgery.
No ambulance or family ride was waiting
I landed and I quickly noticed that no one was there to pick them up. I inquired with them and they said they will take public transportation to the hospital. I asked if they knew how to get such services and they said no. I opted to help them because I was stranded at that airport before, so I knew where to get a public ride to help them get to the hospital. At this point I knew very well that this family would be having financial challenges. I knew I have to be praying for them. The airport of choice to drop them off is known to be the hottest part of the Philippines and in my eager to help I almost lost my phone to the heat because I left it on the tail of the airplane. When I came back 20 minutes later, it was hot and the screen was blank.
Social media connections
The wife and I exchanged Facebook names to be added for communication later. As soon as I got home I shared the story of the missions on my Facebook page and and many people expressed that they were really blessed to read it. I also got a number of private messages from family members of the patient who reached out to say thanks for “going beyond flying the airplane” to help their loved one.
The wife messaged me a photo of her husband in the hospital room after the surgery, asking me to pray for his speedy recovery. I sure kept them in prayers each day. Few weeks later I did not hear from them about going home and I was worried because, thanks to the Covid-19 virus, travel is not easy. Our little missionary airplane is the only way in and out of that island. After a few messages, I learned that they don’t have the means to help with the total fuel cost to get back home. I thought, “Hey, why not post on my page to ask people if they could contribute $200 USD for the fuel to fly them home.” Help came quickly, thanks to my Facebook followers! We flew back to Batanes safely.
This experience reminds me of what Christ went to all length to ensure that you and I have access to salvation. It is such a blessing to be used by the Lord to go the extra mile to help others. To this day I still have contact with this family.
Praise the Lord mission accomplished!
