Field report

Cornerstones

I continue to sum up my work in Guatemala as laying corner-

stones for effective operations while building critical relationships

with other missionaries and national workers and ministers.

Recently, I have continued to establish our non-profit

organization called “Grupo de Aviacion Medico de Guatemala”.

Gratefully, I have an understanding and caring lawyer who is

patient with me as we work through this process in Spanish. My

hope is that at the time you read this newsletter, we will be

established as a non-profit organization in this country.

Another milestone that is moving forward quickly is the

development of our own airstrip and hangar. If you follow me

on Facebook, you have heard me mention

my friend Jimmy. He and his family have

been missionaries in this region for 8

years. Their seminary and agricultural

school, Kekchi Bible Institute (KBI), is

located on 180 acres, 15 miles south of

my house. He has granted us the privilege

of build our own hangar and airstrip on

the property. This will be very helpful to

our operations as flying out of the larger

municipal airport has been full of

bureaucratic challenges. I am not

consistently permitted to drive my truck

to the plane to off load cargo, we must

pay taxes for everything, and perhaps the most challenging

thing is no one is permitted to fuel airplanes on the ramp. This is

problematic as there is no fuel to be purchased in the region. Having

our own facility will greatly ease our operations and allow me to

respond to emergency calls more quickly.

I have also been very involved in the development of the flight

program for Jungle Breezes Youth Ministry (JBYM). They are the

new owners of the plane we are currently borrowing. I have been

advising them on the rebuilding of their own remote airstrip,

teaching one of their future pilots, and serving as their current pilot.

I have flown many trips for them over the past year, saving hundreds

of hours of travel time for their staff and volunteer teams.

Another important task has been creating brochures which give

clear instructions on how to use our ambulance service and will be

distributed throughout the rural communities of the Peten. Traveling

to these communities with pastors and others who are known there

will become a huge part of my job this upcoming year.

Our Future Facility

I have spent a lot of my time jumping through the legal

hoops for developing our own airstrip. I am once again

astounded that I have been doing this in the Spanish

language. Recently I met with a businessman who owns a

construction and earth moving company. He is excited to

help us as we develop our airstrip. He is willing to build the

runway for us for only the costs involved. This will be

approximately $8,000. Not bad for carving a 3000 foot

airstrip out of the jungle! We will harvest suitable trees as

we clear the land and use them to construct the hangar.

Some friends here have a portable lumber mill and we will

use it to process the trees.

One of the cool things about being located on the KBI

property will be the opportunity to

be involved in the ministry that is

going on there. I have been asked

to help teach some classes at the

institute including basic bible

courses and also technical classes

such as small engine repair. Pictured

to the right is Henry, one of the KBI

students. Here we are flying in

copies of the Bible in his native

language, Kekchi. I have also been

helping him with his guitar skills.

Here is my

Postal box

address:

Ludin and Becky Reyes are two people God uses greatly

to encourage me both personally and technically. Ludin is

a missionary pilot in southern Guatemala. He has taken

me under his wing to show me the ropes. I often stay with

them when in the capitol city.

Paul Jones

Apartado Postal 17

Santa Elena

Peten, Guatemala 17029

Guatemala

Feel free to send letters or padded envelopes. Boxes

will tend to get held up at the central post office and

I may never receive them.

The JBYM property. I am helping to redevelop the

airstrip in the middle of the picture.

Here I am flying by JBYM to say goodbye after dropping

off some missionaries. Flying to JBYM saves 10 hours of

travel each way compared to driving.

I had the opportunity to fly a group of dentists out to a

mountainous area to check on the development of a

dental clinic they are building.

I had my first “team” come to help with some work

projects. Tom Houser, a pastor and friend from my church

in Columbus Ohio, and his sons came to help for a week.

One of the cool things I get to do is bring relatives of

missionaries out to remote places for visits. This is very

encouraging to the missionaries and often I get to hang

out and spend some time with them as well.

Name:_______________________________ Phone:___________________ Email:_________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________________________________