Just had a swarm of bees pass over my head with that fearful ‘zzzoem’ sound.  If you’ve ever had bees in your hair you would know how alarming the sound of a swarm of bees sound.  And that is how the year started here on the base.  The first week has gone by so quick ….. that I have totally forgotten where I was on the 1st of January.  Much good and wonderful things are currently happening on the base here but also mixed with a little sad news.  But let me get right into it:

STARTED OFF WITH A 40 FOOT BANGER

At last all the materials for the hanger arriving after 2 1/2 months on the open seas from the US of A!  Ron Wayner (Mercy Air) was responsible for organizing all the equipment and worked hard to make this miraculous reality.

Joao Benjamim (left) …. chief in charge with the driver of the truck that carried the container.  Joao made all the paperwork possible and had to ‘rescue’ the container from Beira.

Taking out the new grader for the runway.

Due to the fact that we do not have much equipment in the bush the arrival of this welder will make a huge difference here.

HOW TO MOVE A 40 FEET CONTAINER IN DA BUSH!

Ron Wayner on the backhoe in full action.  The base was in full action from 06:00 in the morning to move the big 40 feet container.  The container had to be dragged for about 3 km and were carrying 26 steel trusses that were approximately 37.5 ft long.  A huge task in itself!

“Stop Captain!”  Bridge ahead.

“Ugh ….” after scratching his head …. the captain had a plan!  In Africa you never have a plan ready …. you make one on the way!   Two logs were put under the container to simply role it over the bridge.  Did I just say … ‘simply’?

‘Will the bridge hold?’, is on the minds of many careful onlookers.

And there she goes …. with the bridge still in tact!  Ron said afterward he had to wheelie the backhoe to get the container uphill.  “It was my longest wheelie ever”, he said with his soft smile.

Unpacking the container.  The most amazing miracle about the container was that it was never locked when it left the US and arrived safely on the mission base.  Nobody touched it!  Awesome GOD!

Precious cargo.

AND THE WORK IS NEVER DONE ……

Now figuring out how to putt everything together.    Constructing a cement wall for the hangar with the help from our Mozambican brothers.  Ron asked many times:  “So where is the cement truck when you need one?”

Very sharp building skill were needed to place the 20 cm wide strips accurately.  Ron and McGuyver (dog that is) busy teaching our Mozambican friends how to do the job.

Corners and rebar in place.  Ready to pour some pillars.  Now I am extremely  technically challenged so I am always puzzled on just how great all these guys are at getting these things done.

Ron Wayner (kneeling) the master of his crafts.  He can just about do anything.  A great pilot who survived 2 crashes in the icy waters of the Alaskan sea, a phenomenal carpenter and well …  I can go on and on!  Great man with a great plan.

Why do we do all this stuff?

Yes we are in the process of building a hangar for the runway … but why do we do this stuff?  Valid question.  Ron and Barb always answers:  “To rub shoulders with people, who otherwise wouldn’t get to know JESUS.  To teach them job skills that will help them support their families.  It’s not really about building hangers and houses, and bridges and flying airplanes, it’s about touching people for Jesus!  Thanks for helping us do that!

Lastly and sadly ……

A few days after this photo was taken Ron was busy cutting wood, when through a freak accident he cut off his index finger of his left hand.  It was a traumatic incident for everyone on the farm.  Please keep praying for Ron as he is working through this.  We have NO hospitals or doctors nearby and rescuing the finger was not possible. All photos taken by:  Barbara Wayner Thanks Barb for putting together the documentary!