Complex Simplicity

  I was 15 when my father, a career Marine, was nearing retirement and assigned a final duty station. A small pickup carried us across the Mojave Desert to Barstow CA. Every military base has a mission. This was a supply depot. At the edge of town was a train yard (aka Hump Yard), where military beans, bullets, and band-aids arrived or departed. On the first night, just as I …

Let None Be Forgotten

In the aftermath of tropical storm Eta, the rural people in the northeastern regions of Guatemala begin to take stock of what is left of their lives and livelihoods. These are the fortunate ones. For others, land and mud slides have completely wiped away meager and fragile family dwellings. Their reality is grim. Just hours after the rains subsided, Christian relief organizations began to mobilize, preparing 30 lb. bags of …

Small Step or Giant Leap?

“If the Great Commission is true, our plans are not too big, they are too small.” –Pat Morley Rummaging through the filing cabinet of our missionary commitments, postings, outreaches and sacrifices, Pat Morley’s words could not be more fitting. At one time, it seemed as if our plans were too big, but looking back, we know see them as not big enough. We, Chuck and Robin Martinez (or C & …

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. …

Leave Nothing to Chance

In July, SGSP Aviation Ministries completed annual inspections on mission aircraft in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Now it’s time to take a hard look at every piece of GSE. The goal is to clean, overhaul, service, and test every piece of gear. While it is true, you will not need GSE every day, it is also true that when that day comes, it will be on short notice and mission critical.  Robin …

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 …

Get Thee Behind Me…..

Since March here in Guatemala, curfews periodically kept us behind closed doors, the last digit on our vehicle license determines if driving is allowed, and even your age group limits your movements. On this day neither rain nor sleet, nor snow, (nor government restrictions) could keep us from our appointed rounds. Today we walk the high street of our municipality, making purchases in small shops (bodegas) along the way. Arms …

On a Day Like This…

Guatemala is known as the “Land of Eternal Spring” and on a day like this it is easy to understand why. The western highlands continue to be Chuck & Robin’s mission field, home, and ministry base for SGSP Aviation Ministries. Looking over the back wall of our home, through the obligatory spirals of razor wire, the fields are bursting with life. This is the 3rd harvest of the year with …

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 …