[Guyana-Mission-Report] Dengue Fever

At times during our lives certain events happen which leave us scratching our head and wondering whether Romans 8:28 is valid, or whether it has expired. A month ago our family drove 5 hours to Seattle Washington with every intent to board the airplane that would take us to New York, and then on to Guyana.  But after standing in an unbelievably long line, we encountered complications with the baby's paper ticket.  We tried to reason with the agent, and even offered to pay for an extra ticket so we wouldn't miss our flight.  But to no avail...  Almost in tears we walked back to the car, and retraced the long journey home.  How come this happened?  Here's just one reason... A week ago our bible worker called me from Lethem, and told me the bad news.  He had contracted Dengue Fever.  Dengue Fever is spread by day feeding mosquitoes, and since the rains have been falling incessantly in Lethem, the mosquito populations have been thriving.  The illness includes strong fevers and body aching.  There is no cure for Dengue, and like a bad flu virus, it just has to be endured.  Certain strains of the disease are extremely deadly. As I was listening to Jacob tell about his "woes" all of a sudden it struck me.  Two weeks prior we would have traveled straight from Georgetown to Lethem.  With the road to Shea washed out, we would have been stuck at the mission house Lethem, and almost certainly, most of us would be sick at this moment with Dengue. But God in his mercy allowed two things to happen.  First he delayed our arrival in Guyana by two weeks, and then he sent such a deluge of rains that the only road from Georgetown to Lethem washed out, preventing traffic from passing.  So we've had to say here in Georgetown for an extra two weeks.  God truly sees the end from the beginning, and occasionally he allows us to encounter trials and hardship if it will bring honor and glory to His name.  But at other times, in  mercy, He throws road blocks into our path so that we can continue to move forward in good health and with grateful hearts. Please pray for our Amerindian bible worker (Jacob) that he would make a rapid recovery because he's been sick for over a week and he's still not fully recovered. God bless, James, Joy, Jenna, Julianna James & Joy Ash 121 Durban Backlands Georgetown, Guyana 011-592-629-5141 www.guyanaaviationevangelism.org James & Joy Ash Gospel Ministries International Project Name: Guyana Aviation Evangelism 874 South McDonald SW McDonald, TN 37353 1 (423) 473-1841 or 1 (423) 473-1842

[Guyana-Mission-Report] (no subject)

We're back in Guyana. (Really, truly!) The plane that was to fly us from New York to Guyana was delayed 1hr. 30min. due to president Obama's departure.  I guess everything grinds to a halt when the president drops in for a visit. We eventually landed safely in Cheddi Jaegan International Airport at 8:30am last Friday, and stepped off the plane to be greeted to a blast of hot and muggy tropical air.  After 16 hours of continuous travel with a red eye special to finish us off, we were pretty spent.  While Joy and the girls crashed at the hospital guest apartment, I decided to hit the streets of Georgetown to check off a few more items of my never-ending-to-do-list.  By Friday, evening we were nicely camped out in the new "temporary" abode.  Little did we know that the dirt road that winds through the dense jungle and mountains from Georgetown to Lethem had been washed out at Mabura.  And from the pictures in the local newspaper, they haven't even begun to repair it!  The rains are still falling off and on, the local people say that it will be this way till the end of the month. The bible worker also informed us today over the HF Radio that the road to Shea is also washed out in a couple places and only tractors with experienced drivers can pass.  The last one carrying school children took 3 days to make an 8 hour trip.  The Savanna's are saturated and in some cases flooded with rain.  Streams and rivers which used to be but a trickle during dry season, are now raging torrents.  Airplanes are the only transportation that can effortlessly get in and out.  There's only one other full-time pilot down in region 9 so even air travel is in short supply. There is some good news though.  Malaria appears to be under control in Shea.   That is good because during rainy season with limited transportation, malaria drugs can be in short supply.  Even more miraculous is the report that the new church has sustained almost no rain damage to the unprotected walls!  It's almost as if our Heavenly Father has allowed heaven's floods gates to open, but at the same time put a sheltering hand over the new church building.  It will still be many weeks before we can get the zinc up to Shea but with your continued prayers, the church will come through in fine order. We praise the Lord for the progress on the new airplane.  I just got word that they are presently fitting up the wing tip extensions.  Once this is completed, it will be painted and the last items will be finished up and the plane will be ready to for its pilgrimage south. It will take some time to get it approved by the Guyanese government for work in Guyana, but with each day that goes by we're getting closer to the end goal.  What does that mean for our immediate plans?  We're going to see if we can arrange some sort of air travel to Lethem and hopefully Shea Village but this might be a bit of a challenge.  We're exploring all our options, and praying for direction.  Take care, James, Joy, Jenna, and Julianna James & Joy Ash 121 Durban Backlands Georgetown, Guyana 011-592-629-5141 www.guyanaaviationevangelism.org James & Joy Ash Gospel Ministries International Project Name: Guyana Aviation Evangelism 874 South McDonald SW McDonald, TN 37353 1 (423) 473-1841 or 1 (423) 473-1842