UIM Aviation in Tepic, Mexico

UIM Aviation can meet a need to provide air support for UIM Mexico, the Mexican church, and displaced Huichol Indians in and around the city of Tepic in Nayarit, Mexico.

UIM Mexico is increasingly involved in a ministry with a Mexican pastor to Huichol Indians in the Tepic area. Together they are implementing several community development projects in various villages, one of which is a refugee settlement where Huichol Christians have fled from persecution for their faith in their home villages. Due to the poverty in which so many of the people live, the community development projects thus far have included gardening, composting, and basic hygiene seminars.

Unhindered by the poverty in which they live, many of the Huichol Indians have demonstrated a desire to know more about Christ. They have been faithfully attending and completing a theological training course administered by missionaries. They are eager to learn about God’s word and are dedicated to maturing as God’s children. They have a great desire to return to their home villages and share their new-found lives with

family and friends. Currently, most have to travel about 20 hours by ground. Many of these trips can be reduced to 20 minutes by air. If UIM Aviation partners with UIM Mexico, the local church, and the Huichol Indians, flights would allow the people to make more frequent visits to villages, spend a larger part of the day in the village, and ultimately aid in reaching more of the Huichol people for Christ.

On a recent survey trip, UIM Aviation staff met with UIM Mexico, the Mexican pastor, and several Huichol leaders. We presented our ideas to them and were received openly and favorably. Most of the surrounding airstrips we would use are registered airstrips, meaning they are officially recognized by the government. The suspicious activity in Mexico is assumed to take place on unregistered strips, which was the primary reason our flight operations in Durango had to be closed. Furthermore, Tepic is centrally located between the states of Durango and Jalisco, both of which have ongoing and developing ministries that could benefit from air support.

In order to immediately begin serving the Huichol people, we would schedule a monthly flight from our base in Chihuahua, Mexico. The trip would last about one week and cost roughly $1200. As we move toward a base in Tepic, we will plan to station two UIM families and one airplane there. All of this needs considerable prayer and we place our trust in the Lord to guide us through the decision-making process as well as provide funding.

- Pray with us as we seek to expand in Tepic, Mexico.
- Pray for UIM Mexico and the pastors who are working in this area already.
- Pray for the growth, protection, and safety of the Huichol believers.

Misionera Aventura Infantil ~ Children’s Missionary Adventure

Children everywhere! Hundreds of them, in all shapes and sizes, and they kept coming. This was sure to be an adventure, a missionary adventure.

For one day, the sights, sounds, and smells of world missions came alive for Mexican children aged 6 to 13. Participants were divided into traveling groups of about 35, plus guides, and spent the day rotating throughout the grounds learning about world missions in different countries as well as different types of ministries.

The UIM Aviation team welcomed each traveling group into a mock airplane. Kids took their seats, buckled in, and received pre-flight briefing. Via video on a large screen, our passengers experienced a missionary flight into some of the most remote parts of Mexico. They learned how God uses the airplane as a tool to reach the lost. We challenged them to develop their God-given gifts and abilities for His service.

This annual event is vital in exposing Mexico’s future missionaries to world missions. We give all praise and glory to God for the chance to be a part of His kingdom work. Pray for these children who have now returned to their homes. Pray that God is working in their hearts and minds to open their lives to missionary service.

UIM Aviation Video – STOL Techniques

Here is a great two minute glimpse into the STOL technique used daily in UIM Aviation missionary aviation flights.

http://www.vimeo.com/6416958

UIM Aviation Video – About UIM

Enjoy this five minute video that briefly tells the story of UIM Aviation and what we do.

http://www.vimeo.com/6155460

The UIM Aviation Reporter Newsletter

The UIM Aviation Newsletter is now available on line for download.  Enjoy!

Spring 2009

Summer 2009

UIM Aviation – God provides new hangar in Chihuahua!

“Your rent is going up,” said the owner of the eight-plane hangar at Chihuahua International Airport.

For 12 years UIM had rented a space here for $500/month. However, a short while later, this hangar was seized by the airport for unpaid fees. Thanks to a friend, we were informed the night before and removed the airplane, parking it in the more vulnerable out-of-doors. We needed a solution fast. The Lord had obviously prepared us for change.

Nosing about, Dennis Joyner and Wolfgang Grotendiek inquired about space at a private owner’s airstrip, just minutes from the International Airport. The owner, Fernando Amaya, was willing to work with us.
Dennis, UIM’s Chihuahua Area Manager, punched some numbers and realized that over a period of 10 years, UIM could build a hangar at a lower cost than 10 years’ worth of rent. He, Dave Wolf and a Mexican friend went to visit Fernando and see what they could work out. Fernando agreed to the idea of constructing a hangar in lieu of monthly rent.

The project was approved but there was no way to get funding from the budget. Our Chihuahua staff researched possibilities. Dennis shared the dream with his brother in Arkansas. The Lord impressed their church, Freedom Fellowship, to raise enough money for a 60’x60’ slab, which UIM staff plus a few volunteers promptly poured. Later the Lord touched Mountain View Baptist Church in Tucson as well as an interested individual to fund the poles, trusses and roof tin, so the team put up the poles and the roof. What a blessing that the Lord so skilled our staff that they could do this work.

The next phase in the project was to enclose the walls and hang the main doors. Would the Lord still provide?  He did indeed. An Indiana couple and a visitor to the July Oshkosh Air Show donated enough funds for these materials. An unexpected gift from another Indiana man will be used to complete a bathroom. Dennis expects to have enough money left from all the donations to paint the hangar floor and hook up electricity.

The Lord’s people have freely given an astonishing $20,500 for this hangar. We hope to finish the building for around $25,000. How exciting to watch God work! Step by step, He has provided for each phase of the project from totally unexpected sources and construction has proceeded with continuity.