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A Missing Aircraft

I was weary.

Weary from six hours of futile searching for a missing aircraft. Weary from the thought of having to do it all over again the next day ... and perhaps the next, and the day after that. Weary from the thought of all the important ministry flights we were canceling to help the local operator find their lost airplane. Weary from the increased concentration needed to conduct safe search operations in mountainous terrain.

As I peeled myself out of the aircraft, I told a teammate that I really didn’t want to go back out the next day.

But at 4:30 the next morning, I found myself preparing for another day of searching. We gathered in the dark, waiting for enough light to launch toward the search area. Four YAJASI* crew and three men from Indonesia’s search and rescue team (SAR) bowed our heads to pray.

I knew that the SAR guys didn’t share my faith, but I also knew we had only one source of help to look to. I prayed in the name of Jesus, declaring before all present that "only you, Jesus, can lead us to this missing aircraft."

The gauntlet was down ... His honor and glory were on the line.

An hour later, as we approached the area we planned to search, our path was blocked by clouds and rain. Forced to abandon my carefully thought-out search plan, we were pushed in a different direction as we deviated along the edge of the storm.

About halfway along the perimeter of the bad weather, there was an opening through the clouds toward the area I had planned to search first. I began to bank the aircraft toward the break in clouds.

"Go straight."

Paul, sitting next to me, hadn’t spoken. The voice was quiet and calm. I recognized it. I leveled the wings and headed back around the outer edge of the storm.

Several minutes later, we were able to turn the corner on the weather and start heading toward the mountains. On the other side of the storm, only one peak was visible; the rest were covered in a blanket of clouds.

As we approached the mountain, the clouds appeared to be closing on this one remaining peak. We began our first pass. Almost immediately: "I’ve got him!" This time it was Paul’s voice. Quiet and calm had been replaced by a shot of adrenalin.

Unmistakably, the Lord had circumvented my plans—plans that almost certainly would have caused us to arrive in the area too late, after the mountain top had closed over with clouds. Instead, He led us directly to the missing aircraft and brought honor to His name.

Upon returning to the base, in the general press of people meeting our aircraft, I didn’t get a chance to speak with the SAR guys who were on our airplane ... but I hope they were wondering, Who is this Jesus who answers prayer like this?

More Missing Aircraft

With our current fleet, YAJASI is able to serve about 80 of the approximately 300 airstrips in Papua, Indonesia. Yet roughly 100 people groups still wait for someone to start translating the Word of God into their language.

YAJASI’s commitment is to make sure that reaching these people with the life-changing Word is possible. With our aging Helio Couriers (35–40 years old!) slated to retire soon, we’re watching the task expand while our fleet shrinks.

In a way, we’re in a wonderful position. We desperately need two more Pilatus PC-6 aircraft, worth well over $3 million total ... and we’re basically broke!

Only God can do this—we trust in the same power that led us to the missing aircraft on the mountain to bring us the new aircraft we need.

* YAJASI is our aviation partner in Indonesia.