Up to the Minute:
January, 2007 - present
Up to
the Minute: July - December, 2006
Up to
the Minute: January - June, 2006
Up to the Minute:
July - December, 2005
Up to
the Minute: July - December, 2004
Up to the Minute: January - June, 2004
May 25, 2005
PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
For the third time in four years, MFI has
received an eviction notice. Four years ago, due to renovation and
new construction, we were asked to leave the hangars we occupied at PBIA.
The Fixed Base Operator (FBO) assured us we would be allowed to return
to the airport after the construction was complete. MFI moved our
office and warehouse to Lake Worth, but the invitation to return to the
new facility never happened. Two years ago, the same FBO asked us
to remove our aircraft from their ramp. MFI complied and relocated
our DC-3's to another area on the airport. At that time our small
maintenance office was allowed to remain inside a large hangar fairly
close to the aircraft. During the trying time with the FBO, MFI
applied for a direct lease from the Palm Beach Airport, but that request
was denied in favor of leasing the land to the FBO. The most
recent eviction requires that our maintenance location be vacated by
June 30, 2005. We appealed the eviction and asked for an extension
from the FBO so we could locate another facility. Our request for
an extension was denied. Along with the maintenance facility
eviction, we will also not be allowed to utilize any of the ramp space
or corporate terminal at the FBO, even though we offered to pay the
published service charge. We are not sure how our passengers will
board the aircraft for the flights to Haiti. Currently we
desperately need your prayers. We are pleading with the county for
help, but that is slow in coming. There is a warehouse on the
airport that may be a possibility for MFI to lease, but it is three
miles from the aircraft. You can imagine the inconvenience for the
mechanics as they try to maintain the aircraft from three miles away.
Please pray earnestly for MFI. As of now, the Lord is the only one
who knows the answer to our situation. We need His clear leading.
Please keep praying and giving toward the new MFI home. You may
send your gift to our mailing address listed below, or click on this "On
Line" giving link. Once the new location is determined,
the move and the expenses will begin.
The
following pictures show how MFI is currently maintaining our aircraft. Click
on any of the thumbnail photos to see them full-size.
|
|
|
|
Two of MFI's pilot/mechanics work on the Turbine DC-3.
|
|
|
|
Missionary Maintenance Services, from Ohio, often comes to assist MFI. Here they help build up a new engine to be installed on one of MFI's DC-3's.
|
|
|
|
Wes Norton and Ray Oostdyk look over the wheels of a DC-3 that have been removed for inspection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenny Gumpel makes sure there is plenty of grease on the large wheel bearings before reinstalling them on the DC-3.
|
|
|
|
Chief of Maintenance Larry Campbell and Assistant Chief of Maintenance Roger Sands examine the underside of an MFI DC-3.
|
|
|
|
Transporting parts 1/4 mile can be done easily now, but moving MFI's maintenance facility 3 miles away from our aircraft would make it more difficult.
|
|
|
[
Top ]
April 27, 2005
BACK IN THE AIR FOR MISSIONS
After three weeks and $62,000, the MFI
turbine DC-3 is back in the air for missions. Palm Beach Avionics
installed all of the new FAA-required navigation equipment, and the MFI
mechanics worked on various other projects on the aircraft. A new
cargo restraint system was installed, along with a cargo bulk head that
will make the aircraft safer for our cargo/passenger configurations.
Both propellers had to be overhauled, so Palm Beach Propeller removed,
overhauled, and re-installed both propellers while the aircraft was
grounded. On April 26th N200MF took to the air again, transporting
6500 pounds of cargo and mail to Haiti and Dominican Republic, along
with a work team to Haiti. Would you like to help MFI keep our
fleet in the air for missions? You may send a gift to our mailing
address listed below, or click on this "On
Line" giving link.
The
following pictures show the recent work done on the propellers of MFI's
Turbine DC-3, and its first flight back in service for missions. Click
on any of the thumbnail photos to see them full-size.
|
|
|
|
A member of the Palm Beach Avionics team puts the finishing touches on the new navigation equipment, while the propellers are off for overhauling.
|
|
|
|
This is a close-up view of one of N200MF's turbine engines before its propeller was re-installed.
|
|
|
|
An overhauled propeller is shown here. Small tape strips on each blade were part of the electronic balancing of the propellers.
|
|
|
|
With the overhauled props and new navigation system in place, MFI's Turbine DC-3 is ready to return to the air for missions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
N200MF's cockpit is seen here before takeoff yesterday. 1943-vintage gauges are now complimented by a blue "21st Century" navigation screen.
|
|
|
|
MFI crew and support staff unload cargo from the Turbine in Cap Haitien, Haiti.
|
|
|
|
A Canadian work team arrives in Cap Haitien, where they will spend 3 weeks assisting at the EBOC orphanage.
|
|
|
|
Returning to PBIA, with various weather & air traffic issues, can be challenging. N200MF's new navigation system makes it easier and safer.
|
|
|
[
Top ]
April 15, 2005
MFI's Turbine DC-3 Receives Needed Updates
MFI is updating our turbine DC-3 to new
FAA standards. Effective April 1, 2005, the FAA requires that any
turbine aircraft that transports more than 6 passengers must have a TAWS
system installed. TAWS stands for Terrain Awareness Warning
System. In other words, the new equipment will warn the pilots of
any terrain that may be a threat to the flight path of our aircraft. We
are also installing a new T-CAS system. T-CAS stands for Traffic
Collision Avoidance System. T-CAS warns the pilots of any other air
traffic that is flying in the vicinity of our aircraft. Since there is
no ground radar in Haiti to warn us of air traffic flying in our area,
the T-CAS will be a welcome addition to our pilots and provide another
margin of safety. The photos below show the work being done on
MFI's Turbine DC-3.
[
Top ]
March 27, 2005
ALL OF THE PRAYERS WORKED!!
MFI received a report early on Friday, March 25th, 2004 that Karl De
La Fuente is back with his family in Cap Haitien, Haiti. Karl had
been kidnapped by armed men on Tuesday the 15th of March. We do
not know the details of the release but we are grateful that he is safe
with his wife and parents. A BIG THANK YOU to all who prayed for
Karl.
[
Top ]
March 21, 2005
Missionary Kidnapped in Cap Haitien, Haiti
On March 15th, Karl De la Fuente was
kidnapped from his car in Haiti. His mother and young wife were in
the car with Karl when the incident happened. Karl's father is a
business man in Haiti and the kidnappers are attempting to obtain a
ransom for Karl. The demands that the kidnappers are making on the
family are far above the resources of the family. As you might
imagine, this is an extremely stressful situation for Karl's family.
Please add Karl De la Fuente to your prayer list. Pray that Karl
will be released soon and that he will be unharmed by the kidnappers.
MFI provides service to Karl and his family through one of our
affiliated missions. Karl's mother teaches in one of the "MK"
schools in the Cap Haitien area. Karl recently graduated from
college in the United States. He and his new bride Mary had
committed to returning to Haiti to serve in ministry. Karl and
Mary traveled to Haiti in January with MFI to begin serving the Lord in
that troubled country.
[
Top ]
March 8, 2005
Pignon, Haiti "Sees the Light"
Several
years ago, Mr. Donald Trump donated a very large 75 KW generator to
Missionary Flights International. Mr. Trump had removed the
serviceable generator from a local home that he had purchased and was
renovating. That big generator sparked a vision in the heart of
MFI and Hosean International Ministry.
The village of Pignon, Haiti had never had any electricity in its entire
200 years of existence. They did not have a generating plant, nor
poles, nor transformers or wires. Rev. Caleb Lucien, President of
HIM, appealed to MFI, asking for the generator for his village of Pignon.
MFI agreed to give HIM the generator, and the long process of providing
electricity to Pignon began. It is exciting to report that after many
years of cooperative efforts on the part of MFI and HIM, Pignon now has
electricity. Through the efforts of missionaries and God's people who
donated to this project, Pignon has an even brighter light to shine for
Jesus. The generator will help power a hospital, a radio station,
and Christian schools in the village. The reality of electricity
for Pignon began with a dusty used generator and a vision.
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee." Isaiah 60:1
Help support MFI today by going "On
Line" with a
donation.
The
following pictures share the recent activities as electrical crews were
flown in from the US to install the equipment. Click
on any of the thumbnail photos to see them full-size.
|
|
|
|
Representatives from the National Rural Electric Co-ops of America came to help "turn the lights on" in Pignon, this group from Minnesota.
|
|
|
|
As part of learning more about the new electrical co-op, a town meeting was held in an unfinished Baptist church in Pignon.
|
|
|
|
Drilling equipment is brought in for digging holes for the new power poles.
|
|
|
|
A local Haitian gets a ride on the drilling equipment!
|
|
|
|
Pignon residents and team helpers look on as a power pole is raised into place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local Haitians took part in the laying of wires for the new Pignon electrical system.
|
|
|
|
Teamwork helps to get the job done!
|
|
|
|
A member of the Minnesota team climbs a pole to install electrical wires.
|
|
|
|
The roads of Pignon, Haiti will soon see lights from the wires being strung!
|
|
|
|
A job this big takes everyone's help - here's the rest of the crew!
|
|
|
[
Top ]
February 11, 2005
MFI helps restore Gonaives water system
You will recall that MFI quickly responded to the needs of Gonaives,
Haiti immediately after that city was nearly washed away during tropical
storm Jeanne. Our DC-3's took to the air hauling tons of relief
supplies. Now, months later, long after the flood waters have
subsided, MFI continues to help that battered city. Please read
the following report from missionary Neil Van Dine who serves with Haiti
Outreach.
"After the flood, the international community in the form of CARE,
OXFAM, ACF (Action Contre Faim), and the Red Cross, put out a huge
effort to get water to the people of Gonaives. Haiti Outreach also
sent our water truck (that usually services our drilling rig) to haul
water to people in Gonaives.
The problem was that all these groups had only a three-six month
mandate to provide water until the "regular" system could be brought
back on line. They were phasing out in late Dec. 2004/early Jan.
2005, and would no longer provide water to the city.
We (Haiti Outreach) researched the possibility of restoring the city's
pumps. We worked with the Haitian government's potable water department
(in Gonaives and Port) to research possible solutions, and came up with
specifications for new pumps. Two 60hp submersible pumps capable
of delivering over 1,000 gpm each into the city water system, at a cost
of about $18,000 US each, were selected. We worked with the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) and OXFAM, who provided
funding for purchasing the pumps. We found a dealer in California
willing to sell us the pumps at reduced cost. However, the only way to
get the pumps to Haiti quickly (in less than 2-3 months) was to ship
them on MFI, along with many replacement valves for the city water
lines, about 5,000 pounds altogether.
MFI really made this happen, allowing us to schedule the pumps and
persons to install it for mid January. I knew I could trust MFI to
get them in as soon as they showed up in WPB.
It was close; the last of the boxes for the pumps came into Cap the same
day the installers flew into Port.
We (Jim Kirzeder and Ronald Ringhand, both from MN, and myself) spent
the next 10 days installing the pumps and sorting out the terrible
electrical system feeding the pumps (another whole story in itself).
Huge praises go to Hydro-Quebec International for their assistance in
repairing the electric lines to the pumps. Without their help we
would just have some expensive hardware sitting in the ground there.
We finished on Jan 26th, with the water system pumping over 2,000 gpm,
and having pumped over 1 million gallons the first day. The first
release of water came the next day. Many lines still need to be
repaired, but they continue to work on this on their own."
Missionary Neil Van Dine
The photos below show MFI preparing to
ship major parts for the new Gonaives water system, as well as repair
work being done in the field. Click on any of the thumbnail photos to see
them full-size.
[
Top ]
January 12, 2005
Work teams kick off the new year
January, February, and March are busy work
team months for MFI. Since it is cold in the Northern U.S. and
Canada, work teams are eager to get to Haiti to help their missionary
friends. Of course the temperature is much warmer in Haiti and of
course...NO SNOW! The teams work on various projects. Some
teams work in hospitals and clinics, while others accomplish
construction work such as building churches or schools. Some teams
provide preaching and teaching ministries for the Haitian churches and
Bible schools. Whatever the goal of the work team, their effort is
a blessing to the mission community.
Since work teams take nearly all of their supplies with them, MFI is
very busy loading baggage, cargo, and passengers on the morning of the
flights. With the combined effort of the teams and our staff, the
early morning rush is soon accomplished and the planes are on their way
to the mission field.
Would you like to be a part of the MFI ministry? We need prayer
partners that will pray for our safety and the safety of the work teams.
We also need regular monthly financial supporters to help sustain our
air support to missions. If you would like to help MFI monthly,
please click on our "On
Line" giving link.
The photos below show MFI flying one of the first
work teams of 2005 to Haiti. Click on any of the thumbnail photos to see
them full-size.
|
|
|
|
A work team prepares to fly to Haiti, where they will assist at the Cap Haitien Children's Home.
|
|
|
|
After a short shuttle van ride, passengers board an MFI DC-3.
|
|
|
|
MFI passengers are briefed and then led in prayer before takeoff.
|
|
|
|
One of MFI's first work team flights of 2005 takes to the air.
|
|
|
[
Top ]
