Ministering Confidence and Creativity

Robin recognized nearly 15 years ago that work, survival, and family expectations, leave girls and women in rural communities with few options. We began to formulate ministry outreaches that would teach practical sewing skills while touching hearts and minds and opening the door to the Gospel of salvation. Often these classes serve as an outlet (valuable me time) for the marginalized Mayen youth in the western highlands of Guatemala. Once …

A Funny Thing Happened…..

Santiago is just fourteen nautical miles, as the crow fly’s, from Quetzaltenango and Serving God by Serving His People (SGSP) Aviation Ministries mission base. It is one of several municipalities that dot the shore of Lago Atitlan, I’m told each is named after an Apostle from the Bible, (Santiago is James in English). Robin and I took to the sky’s climbing up to 10,500 ft., to clear the ridge between …

The ladder of Success

It was early. The sun had just broken over the 10,000 ft mountain range on the east side of our valley. The city of Quetzaltenango, in the western highlands of Guatemala, was awake and moving, even in darkness before the dawn. Curious about a noise outside of our home early that morning, I opened the creaky metal door and found this ladder against the wall. A young man was preparing …

It’s a Good Thing…Really!

After a 18 months of service, the tire on the left is worn to the limits of safe operation, and has been replaced with a new one. Aircraft tires are exposed to punishing rough surfaces, and hard braking with every landing on rural strips.  Here at SGSP Aviation in the western highlands of Guatemala, its business as usual with one exception. There is a glaring empty spot on the shelf …

Make the Time!

  Here at SGSP Aviation Ministries, at our base in the western highlands of Guatemala, we wear a variety of hats daily. Wearing my aircraft mechanic hat, I may be facing a single task or several separate tasks. Actually doing the work is the easy part, it’s the preparation and the finalization phases that demands discipline and time. Reviewing a work order, gathering equipment, prepares you for the actual work. …

Some Days You Celebrate

Robin’s sewing classes have been going strong for many years, focusing on skill building, social connections, and Bible teachings. Her classes continue to be a popular and rewarding ministry. The Mayen women are from close-knit families and communities. Warmth in Latin American cultures is expressed by physical closeness, hugs, and kisses on the cheek—a traditional and almost mandatory greeting. All of this changed because of covid-19 and feelings of isolation …

Neighbors United Against…

SGSP Aviation Ministries, sharing another missionary moment from our home base in the Department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. In the rural regions like our western highlands, people have little patience for crime. These banners appeared recently at the entrances to our municipality. In very direct terms the “neighbor’s” give fair warning. The banner loosely translated says this: We, the neighbors, are united against delinquency. If we grab you, you will find …

Try Not to Breath

The best helper in the world, Robin is happy to do her bit assisting during a recent annual inspection. A clean freak by nature, her attention to detail can make an engine compartment shine. I explained that industrial chemicals can really make short work of otherwise difficult cleanup tasks. On this day I introduced her to one such miracle chemical, Methyl Ethel Ketone (MEK), and mentioned in passing, that the …

Serving Creatively

When I was a young boy growing up in San Antonio TX, my family lived in a house with a large front yard covered with a dense, spongy carpet of St. Augustine grass, a gleaming white concrete walk made a lazy “S” from curb to front door.  When the lawn was cut and edged it was the greatest thing to run around barefooted feeling the coolness of the deep grass …

One Last Detail

“We Give Wings to Good Works” is the God-inspired mission and vision of SGSP Aviation. Good aviation comes from giving even the smallest detail adequate attention. Before I kick the tires and light the fires, prayer is always the first and final detail.