NEWS
February 1, 2006
by Donna Gibson
Missionary Jon Bamford needed to get his brother and niece to Manila.
They had visited his ministry among the Isnag people and now needed to catch their Saturday morning flight back to the US.
But heavy rains Wednesday and Thursday made it impossible for the missionary pilot to risk the flight.
The only other way out of the tribal location is an 18 hour bus ride to Manila after an 11 hour hike, which featured forging a river that at flood stage was impossible to cross. Due to the recent rains, going by land was no longer an option.
"As I prayed for them all," wrote missionary Vicky Martin, the Bamford's co-worker, "wondering what the Lord would do, I had to remind myself that the Lord has a plan and this situation is not too hard for Him."
Friday came with no alternative but to wait at the airstrip two miles from the village. Jon waited with his brother and niece for four hours.
When the weather cleared a bit, the pilot went to get them but as he flew over the airstrip it was too overcast to find a way through the clouds to land. He flew to an airport about 30 minutes away and refueled.
Missionary Heidi Bamford would communicate to the pilot's support center using Instant Messenger on the computer. Then, the center would text the pilot at the airport to tell him what she had written.
In the afternoon, the pilot took off again and circled for 15 minutes before he could find a way to get through the clouds.
When he did land, he unloaded the much-needed supplies the missionary supply buyer had packed for the Bamfords and loaded up his passengers.
Finally, Jon's brother and niece were on their way.
The supply buyer drove an hour to pick the two up when they landed and drove them several hours to Manila. They arrived at the missionary guest facility at 1 a.m., with three hours to spare before they had to get to the international airport to make their flight.
"They do over and above for us often," wrote Vicky about support missionaries. "Thank the Lord with us for them and pray for them too as they really need wisdom from the Lord."
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