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Venezuela Missions - Meet the
Volunteers & Staff
Shannon & Bucklee Eller have joined AMA and IRR, planning to serve for 1-1/2 years. Bucklee is a registered nurse, pilot, EMT and airplane mechanic. Shannon has a degree in elementary education and training in evangelism. They will be actively involved with Union College students, flying with Bob Norton, working with student missionaries and assisting church groups that come to serve. Bucklee is one of the "sons" of Eller & Sons Trees Inc., devoted to full circle reforestation in the U.S. as well as planting "Gospel trees" by spreading the word about missions to anyone who is interested.
Henry Fernández, a native of Venezuela, is another devoted volunteer helping out wherever he can make himself useful 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. IRR provides food and lodging, plus helps with personal items he needs. He's 26 years old, single, and from a very poor family. Henry finished High School six years ago, and greatly desires to get a two-year degree in Education. Corrie Sample (at left) appears to be bringing in some oranges to be washed for the next meal.
Another valuable asset to IRR and AMA is Lynn Wallington from Cortez, Colorado. He is a licensed instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and Airline Transport Pilot. He is also a certified flight instructor, instrument flight instructor and multi-engine flight instructor, as well as advanced ground instructor. Lynn spent many months during the Spring and Fall of 2005, working on construction of the buildings needed for the IRR program and other volunteer groups.
David Gates is high-energy, a man of faith, and dreams big when it comes to discovering bigger and better ways to spread the Gospel around the entire globe. His projects include schools, prison ministry, mission planes, satellite TV networks, and much more. David's policy is total dependence on the Lord, moving forward as opportunities arise, always trusting God to provide the funds. Time after time his faith has been tested, and often the money arrives within hours of the payment deadline.
David has so many projects going on, he rarely gets to stay in one place more than a few days. Here's his plane, leaving the AMA base in Venezuela, headed out to another destination.
His poor wife Becky must get very lonely, because she often gets left behind. But she's strong, good-natured and supportive of David's ministry. They have five children, and it must be really rough on them as well. Their oldest daughter Lina is married to Brad Mills, and their daughter Katrina plans to marry during the summer of 2006.
Becky Gates (center) spent several weeks during January and February at the AMA compound while David attended to other commitments in South America. Then he returned to give a Week of Prayer at Colegio Gran Sabana. Here she's helping Corrie and Susan shop for produce at the open market in Santa Elena.
Back at the IRR base, Corrie enjoys her lunch.
Then it's time to study those lettuce leaves from Corrie's sandwich under the microscope to check for those nasty bacteria that make you have to run to the outhouse every few minutes . . .
Daniel, Susan & Neiba Norton
(Bob's wife) get
When the IRR group and other volunteers arrived on January 26, they were warmly welcomed by the natives of nearby Maurak. Daniel (left) translated the welcome speeches, then the entire group listened to the most awesome music produced by the Children's Choir. Daniel reports they have perfect pitch, sing in multi-part harmony, and even raise or lower their voices in the appropriate places to produce the most pleasant tones throughout their songs. Apparently these descendants of the original inhabitants still retain the musical talents received more than 100 years ago, when angels taught them to sing choir harmony and many other things before the first missionary ever arrived at their area. See this link for the fascinating account. ~ Fred Adams ~ |
