John & Maria Van Wormer

John & Maria went to Chihuahua Mexico in 2005 to learn Spanish while waiting for their Venezuelan visas to arrive. They were planning on joining New Tribes Mission’s aviation team there. In the middle of Spanish study, New Tribe’s aviation department was shut down in Venezuela and John and Maria were left without a field to go to. While NTM’s Mexican field is quite large, it does not have an aviation program in Mexico because UIM Aviation has faithfully filled this need for many years. UIM Aviation had a need for another pilot/mechanic in Mexico and so the Van Wormers started flying for us while maintaining there status as members of NTM Mexico. “A person plans his course but the LORD directs his steps.” Prov. 16:9. And we’re so glad he does.

John and Maria went to Mexico with three little girls: Bonnie, Noël, and Katherine. While in Mexico they added some boys to the family: Nathanael and Samuel.