Flights During Difficult Times

This past Friday Rick received a call from a church in Pennsylvania.  There were five women from their church who had been serving in the Peten department of Guatemala.  (top northeast department of the country) All U.S. citizens had been directed to return to the U.S. and they found themselves in a very remote area without a safe way to reach the evacuation flight to the U.S. from Aurora Airport in Guatemala City.  Rick immediately contacted our pilot and director of A.G.A.P.E. ministry, Eri Alas, who within two days was able to receive permission to land at an army base in the Peten .  He flew the group out early this morning in a small Cessna 206 so they were able to make the last evacuation flight to the US today. 
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We are thankful for Eri and our team with AGAPE!  When we first came to Guatemala, Eri was a volunteer mechanic in the hangar.  He went to seminary and underwent rigorous flight training and now has his commercial pilot’s license.  Instead of working for a major airline, his ministry is with A.G.A.P.E., directing this ministry to edify the rural churches and flying to assist various ministry groups to access areas harder to reach in Guatemala. They are in a very difficult situation right now with the entire country in lock down to avoid transmission of COVID-19, especially to remote regions without the medical facilities to care for the sick.  Although this is the best way to slow the virus, the economic ramifications are severe for Guatemala and our national team there.  Although our teams have had to suspend all classes in person in the Quiche region, they are still working to share biblical teaching and  the love of Christ in any way that they can.  Please keep the ministries of H.O.P.E. Bible Mission and A.G.A.P.E.  in Guatemala in your prayers as we lift each other up here in the US as well. ​​